Durocher's Rebuilding Program.
Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins said: "At the end of the '66 season, when we'd just lost 103 ballgames, Leo took Bill Hands, Joe Niekro, Rich Nye, Kenny Holtzman and myself, and he told us, 'You five young guys will battle for four spots in the rotation starting in '67.'"
Hands started and relieved in 1967, when the Cubs won 87 games and started their turnaround. He went 16-10 in 1968, establishing himself and setting the stage for 1969.
The next year he was part of one of the best rotations in baseball with Jenkins (21-15, 3.21 ERA), Holtzman (17-13, 3.59) and Hands at 20-14, 2.49 ERA.
Fergie Jenkins continued: "He was the third pitcher. I opened, Kenny was second and he was third. He was a hell of a pitcher. ...Froggy was a good teammate."
In 1968, the Cubs were in first place in mid-August before blowing a 9 1/2 game lead to eventual champion New York Mets.
--"Froggy"
Showing posts with label Bill Hands. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bill Hands. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 4, 2017
Monday, April 3, 2017
Death of Cubs Pitcher Bill Hands-- Part 2: Part of Youth Movement
This trade was the Cubs' first one after Leo Durocher came over to manage the club.
Don Landrum was with the Cubs from 1962-1965 and compiles a career batting average of .234 and 12 home runs. He played center field for the Cubs in 1965 and batted .226, with 6 home runs and 34 rbis. Lindy McDaniel had a career record of 114-119 and 3.45 ERA.
Leo Durocher said: "We're looking to rebuild and the only way to do that is with young. Hundley is only 23 and Hands 25."
Hands and Hundley became part of a core of young Cubs who turned the franchise from a laughingstock into a contender in just a few seasons. They broke a million hearts in 1969, but remain one of the Cubs' mist-loved teams.
Oh yes. That '69 Season. --Cooter
Don Landrum was with the Cubs from 1962-1965 and compiles a career batting average of .234 and 12 home runs. He played center field for the Cubs in 1965 and batted .226, with 6 home runs and 34 rbis. Lindy McDaniel had a career record of 114-119 and 3.45 ERA.
Leo Durocher said: "We're looking to rebuild and the only way to do that is with young. Hundley is only 23 and Hands 25."
Hands and Hundley became part of a core of young Cubs who turned the franchise from a laughingstock into a contender in just a few seasons. They broke a million hearts in 1969, but remain one of the Cubs' mist-loved teams.
Oh yes. That '69 Season. --Cooter
Death of Cub Pitcher Bill Hands-- Part1: 20-Game Winner for the ''69 Cubs
From the March 10, 2017, Chicago Tribune "Hands gave '60s Cubs reliable arm in rotation" by Paul Sullivan.
BILL HANDS (1940-March 9, 2017)
"Froggy" won 20 games as the No. 3 starter in '69"
"Former pitcher Bill Hands, a 20-game winner for the 1969 Chicago Cubs, died Thursday in an Orlando, Florida, hospital after a brief illness. He was 76. "He won 111 games over 11 seasons in the majors, including a 92-86 record and 3.18 ERA with the Cubs. Overall, he had a 3.35 ERA and struck out 1,128.
Signed by the Giants as an amateur free agent out of New Jersey in 1959 he had the nickname "Froggy" and came to the Cubs in one of the best deals they ever made. (Until recently, the club has been notorious for their bad trades.) He came over after the 1965 season with catcher Randy Hundley for outfielder Don Landrum and reliever Lindy McDaniel.
These are all names I am very familiar with as I am a big fan of the Cubs (when they are not playing my White Sox).
BILL HANDS (1940-March 9, 2017)
"Froggy" won 20 games as the No. 3 starter in '69"
"Former pitcher Bill Hands, a 20-game winner for the 1969 Chicago Cubs, died Thursday in an Orlando, Florida, hospital after a brief illness. He was 76. "He won 111 games over 11 seasons in the majors, including a 92-86 record and 3.18 ERA with the Cubs. Overall, he had a 3.35 ERA and struck out 1,128.
Signed by the Giants as an amateur free agent out of New Jersey in 1959 he had the nickname "Froggy" and came to the Cubs in one of the best deals they ever made. (Until recently, the club has been notorious for their bad trades.) He came over after the 1965 season with catcher Randy Hundley for outfielder Don Landrum and reliever Lindy McDaniel.
These are all names I am very familiar with as I am a big fan of the Cubs (when they are not playing my White Sox).
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)