Publisher's Synopsis
These were the heroes who owned the summers of the 1960s. Ernie Banks and Ferguson Jenkins. Billy Williams and Larry Jackson. Lindy McDaniel and Ron Santo. Don Kessinger and Glen Hobbie. During the summers of the 1960s, the heroes of the North Side wore Cubs uniforms. On their best days (which were, admittedly, too few), they were entertaining and inspiring. They smote hated rivals and sent their best to the All-Star game, in the decade when that mid-summer classic moved under the lights ... and into prime time. On their worst days, these Cubs heroes broke our hearts, squandering late-inning leads and pre-season hopes ... but they never lost our devotion. They were the heroes of our youth. Now their stories are collected in Cubs Heroes: Remembering the Chicago Cubs Who Helped Make the 1960s Baseball's Real Golden Age. The book profiles the best (and a few of the worst) of the Chicago Cubs of the 1960s. In all, there are 68 profiles of the infielders, outfielders, catchers and pitchers who played for the Chicago Cubs in the 1960s. Do you remember ... The hard-throwing right-hander who managed to win 20 games in 1968 despite losing 5 decisions by 1-0 scores? (page 100) The slugging third baseman who was a 9-time All-Star and won 5 Gold Gloves? (page 20) The shortstop who was a 5-time All-Star and led the league 3 times in assists? (page 15) The 6-time All-Star outfielder who averaged 162 games played from 1962 through 1970)? (page 51) The Cubs' workhorse right-hander who led the majors in wins in 1964 and lost 21 games in 1965? (page 98) The Gold Glove second baseman who was Rookie of the Year in 1962? (page 14) The journeyman reliever who spent 21 years in the minors, and led the team in ERA and winning percentage in 1961 (only 2 Cub pitchers that season had winning records)? (page 118) The hard-hitting first baseman who was an 11-time All-Star and hit 512 home runs? (page 12) The left-hander who went from a 20-game loser in 1962 to a 22-game winner in 1963? (page 94) The veteran reliever who won 13 games and led the league with 22 saves in 1963? (page 107) Their stories are here. Enjoy the memories.
