Face of the Franchise: Chicago Cubs

[The Dude]

Ryne Sandberg (1982-1997)
Lee Smith (1980-1987)
Sammy Sosa (1992-2004)
Fergie Jenkins (1966-1973, 1982-1983)
Billy Williams (1959-1974)
Ernie Banks (1953-1971)
Gabby Hartnett (1922-1940)
Frank Chance (1898-1912)
Mordecai Brown (1904-1912)

[-Kyle-]

Whether he be the best Cubbie or not, Bank is the face of the Franchise.

[Windy City Fan]

Ernie is a slam dunk here. The guy is named Mr. Cub for crying out loud!

Seriously, he's a career Cub who is still closely identified with the team today. His cheerful, optimistic demeanor makes him a perfect ambassador for Cubdom.

If I had to pick a runner up, it would be a guy you didn't list. Ron Santo. He's basically a career Cub (one partial season on the southside) with a great career. And he bleeds Cub blue, and like Banks is still closely associated with the team in a very visible manner.

[Westlake]

When I think of the Chicago Cubs, I think of Ryne Sandberg, so I voted for him.

[vtbub]

Let's play two.

[2Chance]

How can it be anybody but....?

[hellborn]

I liked Billy Williams better when I was a kid, but Banks = Cubs.
I'd probably pick Charlie Grimm for #2.

[Minstrel]

I also picture Banks when I think of the Cubs, despite not having been around to see him play. That's how ingrained Banks has become to the Cubs' image.

Answer: Jerry Reinsdorf, Micheal McCaskey, Bill Wirtz, and the Tribune Company.

Question: Who are the worst collection of sports owners ever to be in the same city?

Hasn't Reinsdorf produced 7 championships for Chicago (Bulls six times and White Sox once)? That's a pretty nice bumper crop.

Sorry for the OT.

[Windy City Fan]

Hehe, haven't updated that in a while, but I'm still no Reinsdorf fan. He let Jordan, Pippen, and Jackson walk away because he thought Jerry Krause was more valuable. That worked out well. h

And the Sox won because Kenny Williams is a fine GM, who managed to put together a winner even though Reinsdorf wouldn't and still won't open up his considerable wallet to let the Sox payroll go to the levels of other major market teams. And I still remember the White Flag trade, a cowardly "financially responsible" move that gutted a team in the middle of a playoff run.

[Minstrel]

Hehe, haven't updated that in a while, but I'm still no Reinsdorf fan. He let Jordan, Pippen, and Jackson walk away because he thought Jerry Krause was more valuable. That worked out well. h

And the Sox won because Kenny Williams is a fine GM, who managed to put together a winner even though Reinsdorf wouldn't and still won't open up his considerable wallet to let the Sox payroll go to the levels of other major market teams. And I still remember the White Flag trade, a cowardly "financially responsible" move that gutted a team in the middle of a playoff run.

Well, it's always the GMs and players who accomplish the feats, but Reinsdorf deserves credit for paying Jordan/Pippen/Rodman so much ($40 million a season just for Jordan those last three years!), installing Phil Jackson and also in installing Kenny Williams, who was no slam-dunk GM choice.

Anyway, I shouldn't turn this into an extended debate on a baseball forum. I've just always been surprised how little credit Reinsdorf gets for the remarkable success he's had compared to most owners.

[CTaka]

I'd say that Brown was a better player than Banks, even though I don't like to compare pitchers and position players. But when I think face of the Cubs, I think of Mr. Cub even if he wasn't the greatest player in Cubs history.

[Windy City Fan]

I just have to reply to this, then I'll leave it be.

Krause was simply the luckiest GM in the history of the planet. He came in when Jordan was already there. In his entire career, Krause made 3 good draft picks - Scottie Pippen, Horace Grant, and Elton Brand. And he traded Brand for a draft pick that became Tyson Chandler!!!!!!!! Pippen and Grant were both relatively obscure picks that panned out, and even they I think benefited greatly from spending most of their careers with Jordan. Krause loved making obscure picks, but these were the only two to ever pan out for him. Krause's other big move was getting Rodman for a ziplock bag full of belly button lint, otherwise known as Will Perdue. Krause was just lucky that Rodman was crazy enough to scare every other team off and make the Spurs desperate to dump him for anything at the precise moment Jordan comes out of retirement and the team just needs a power forward to compete.

The Bulls were never a deep team, just look at all the Bulls players that signed big contracts to play elsewhere when the team was broken up. They all flopped. Pippen, Kerr, Longley, Buchler, Rodman ...

When the choice is the greatest player in the league (and in history if you ask me) or a half assed GM, it ain't much of a choice in my mind. You stick with MJ and tell Krause not to let the door hit him in his ample backside on the way out. But Jerry had other ideas and those have worked out so well for us .....

Kenny Williams was a good pick for GM. I'll give him credit for that, but he's also tying Williams' hands by being a cheapskate and not opening up the wallet. The Sox have a legitimate championship caliber team, and their making at best lateral moves to save money. They've pretty much written off signing Burhele and Crede next offseason, so I wouldn't be shocked to see a second White Flag trade this year. After all, its more financially responsible to trade your star players for cheap prospects than let them walk in the offseason and get no compensation.

[ChrisLDuncan]

I always think of Steve Bartman.

[Bench 5]

I always think of Steve Bartman.

I prefer to think of Marla Collins as the face of the Cubs.

[Minstrel]

Pippen and Grant were both relatively obscure picks that panned out, and even they I think benefited greatly from spending most of their careers with Jordan.

Not at all fair, especially regarding Pippen, but I'll PM you about it so as to end this in the thread.