Product Description

Cursed or not, the Chicago Cubs have been one of the most talent-laden teams in the history of baseball—and that tradition of excellence continues today. Cap Anson, Gabby Hartnett, Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, Greg Maddux, Sammy Sosa . . . the list is virtually endless. Rating the top five Cubs of all time at each position would be a daunting task sure to spark countless hours of heated debate among the Wrigley Field faithful, but former Cubs great Ron Santo has done just that. In Few and Chosen, he has selected the top five players at each position, as well as the five all-time greatest Cubs managers and teams. His compilation evokes cherished memories of one of the richest histories in sports and fuels the eternal optimism that has defined this beloved franchise.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #683170 in Books
• Published on: 2005-03-30
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 188 pages

From the Publisher
"How blessed I was to be a baseball player and to have played for the Cubs in the city of Chicago, with the greatest fans in the world. Cubs fans are like no other fans. . . . Let's play two, and I'll play both games: one at first base and the other at shortstop." —From the Foreword by Ernie Banks "It's hard to explain to people what's so special about being a Cub or a Cubs fan. But it is special. It's Wrigley field, so small and intimate that fans are close enough to the field to carry on conversations with the players. It's day baseball. It's the fact that Chicago is centrally located and the Cubs' fan base is stretched across the country." —from the Foreword by Ryne Sandberg

From the Inside Flap
Cursed or not, the Chicago Cubs have been one of the most talent-laden teams in the history of baseball—and that tradition of excellence continues today. Cap Anson, Gabby Hartnett, Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, Andre Dawson, Greg Maddux, Sammy Sosa . . . the list is virtually endless. Rating the top five Cubs of all time at each position would be a daunting task sure to spark countless hours of heated debate among the Wrigley Field faithful, but former Cubs great Ron Santo has done just that. In Few and Chosen, he has selected the top five players at each position, as well as the five all-time greatest Cubs managers and teams. His compilation evokes cherished memories of one of the richest histories in sports and fuels the eternal optimism that has defined this beloved franchise. Talk about a dream team: imagine what it would be like to be able to take a franchise with as rich a history as the Chicago Cubs have had—with all of the wonderfully gifted athletes who have graced the uniform over the past century—and assemble a lineup using only the very best players from that elite group. Would you take Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown or Ferguson Jenkins as your top right-handed starting pitcher? Or possibly four-time Cy Young Award-winner Greg Maddux, to throw out another name? At second base, your choices might include great players like Rogers Hornsby and Johnny Evers. But if you could put just one name in the top spot, wouldn't it have to be Ryne Sandberg? With all of the incredible talent the Cubs have had over the years, it becomes a fairly enticing—and challenging—exercise. Former Cubs great Ron Santo was up to that challenge; in Few and Chosen, he has ranked the top five all-time Cubs players at each position, as well as the top five managers and the five best teams. If anyone is qualified for an undertaking such as this, it's Santo, whose association with the Cubs began in 1960 and continues to this day as a broadcaster. Breaking down the strengths and weaknesses of dozens of ballplayers from different eras, Santo reveals his conclusions in this richly illustrated compilation of Cubs memories. The finished product is an entertaining and informative inside look at the best players to be a part of this great and beloved franchise. By bringing together the legends of Cubs lore, as well as the team's contemporary superstars, Santo has created the ultimate tribute to the Chicago Cubs—while fanning the flames of debate among the most passionate fans in sports.

About the Author
Ron Santo was a nine-time All-Star in 15 big league seasons, all but one of which were spent with the Chicago Cubs. He clubbed 342 home runs, hitting 30 or more in four straight seasons, finishing among the top 10 home-run leaders seven times. He hit .300 or better three times, led the league in on-base percentage and games-played twice, and even led the league in triples once. With five straight Gold Gloves at third base from 1964 to 1968, he was the National League's answer to Brooks Robinson. In fact, only Robinson, Mike Schmidt, and Buddy Bell have captured more Gold Gloves while playing the hot corner. Santo currently broadcasts Cubs games for WGN Radio.

Phil Pepe has authored more than 35 sports books, including collaborations with Mickey Mantle and Whitey Ford. He was the Yankees beat writer for the New York Daily News for 14 seasons, and is a past president of the Baseball Writers Association of America.

Customer Reviews

Daunting task
Mr. Santo certainly had his work cut out for him. Defining Cub greatness? I would have thought it only warranted a pamphlet or perhaps a column. I think the title should have been more like "defining Cubs great efforts, but disappointing results across the eras" no?

Must have for Cubs fans.
This item is an absolutely must have for all Cubs fans. There is something here for everyone. The long-time diehards will relive highlights from the careers of Cubs greats and the 'newbie' Cubs fans will meet the legends for the first time. Best of all, this book is brought to you by one of the legends himself... Ron Santo.