Tinker to Evers to Chance to ... David Ross? Connecting the 2016 Cubs to the 1945, 1908 Cubs
It really happened. The Cubs are going to the World Series for the first time in 71 years and are four wins away from securing their first title in an almost unfathomable 108. It's impossible to look at this World Series without thinking of its connection to the past. Naturally, nobody in the current Cubs organization was a part of the last pennant-winning team in 1945 or the World Series champion 1908 squad, but that doesn't mean connections don't exist.
We looked through the annals of baseball history and connected the current Cubs to the 1945 squad and, yes, even the 1908 team. Essentially, it's the Kevin Bacon Six Degrees of Separation game applied to baseball.
Our two rules in selecting which connections to highlight:
1. No repeat connections. This means you'll only see guys like Minnie Minoso, Ernie Banks, and Warren Spahn used as a step one time.
2. Find the most intriguing paths. Hall of Famers? You'll find quite a few listed below.
The possibilities for connecting modern baseball across 70 or even 100 years are endless. What follows below are just a few of the ones we enjoyed the most. Feel free to let us know about other shared connections in the comment section below. Click here for a larger version.
Hank Wyse to
The last pitcher to throw a pitch for the Cubs in the World Series was a guy named Hank Wyse. He threw the ninth inning of the Game 7 loss to the Detroit Tigers in 1945. The next pitcher to throw a pitch in the World Series for the Cubs is likely to be Jon Lester. Although their careers are separated by decades, here's how you can connect Wyse and Lester in just five steps:
Hank Wyse --> 1945 Cubs w/ Andy Pafko --> 1956 Braves w/ Hank Aaron --> 1972 Braves w/ Darrell Evans --> 1989 Braves w/ John Smoltz --> 2009 Red Sox w/ Jon Lester
Don Johnson to
The last player the Cubs sent to the plate in the bottom of the ninth in that Game 7 loss was Don Johnson. This makes Johnson the last player to take a World Series at-bat for the Cubs until, presumably, Dexter Fowler leads off Game 1 of the World Series on Tuesday. How closely connected are Johnson and Fowler?
Don Johnson --> 1958 Giants w/ Eddie Bressoud --> 1966 Mets w/ Nolan Ryan --> 1989 Rangers w/ Jamie Moyer --> 2012 Rockies w/ Dexter Fowler
Roy Hughes to
The last World Series hit for the Cubs was recorded by Roy Hughes, their shortsotp. Hughes was a 34-year-old utility infielder on the downswing of his career -- a description which couldn't fit the current Cubs shortstop less. Addison Russell is an exciting 22-year-old shortstop whose career is just beginning. How many steps does it take to get from Hughes to Russell?
Roy Hughes --> 1945 Cubs w/ Clyde McCullough --> 1956 Cubs w/ Ernie Banks (!) --> 1970 Cubs w/ Larry Gura --> 1985 Cubs w/ Shawon Dunston --> 2002 Giants w/
Phil Cavarretta to
First baseman Phil Cavarretta was the offensive star of the 1945 Cubs. That season he hit .355/.449/.500, which was enough to secure him the NL Most Valuable Player Award at the end of the season. The current iteration of the Cubs have their own offensive star and MVP candidate in Kris Bryant, who hit a tremendous .292/.385/.554 this year. How closely connected are Cavarretta and Bryant?
Phil Cavarretta --> 1951 Cubs w/ Hank Sauer --> 1957 Giants w/ Willie Mays --> 1973 Mets w/ Tug McGraw --> 1982 Phillies w/ Julio Franco --> 2007 Braves w/
Stan Hack to
Naturally, Cavarretta wasn't the only offensive threat for the 1945 Cubs. They also had third baseman Stan Hack, who batted .323/.420/.405 and finished 11th in MVP voting. Today's Cubs also have a menacing two-tiered offensive threat with Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo. Although Bryant may be the best bet to walk away with an MVP award at the end of the season, Rizzo's .292/.385/.544 slashline is terrifically impressive on its own. What path gets you from Hack to Rizzo?
Stan Hack --> 1945 Cubs w/ Hank Borowy --> 1950 Pirates w/ Gus Bell --> 1964 Braves w/ Rico Carty --> 1978 Athletics w/ Mike Morgan --> 1998 Cubs w/ Kerry Wood --> 2011 Cubs w/ Anthony Rizzo
Ray Prim to
The 1945 Cubs had a 38-year-old veteran starting pitcher in their rotation named Ray Prim. During the season, Prim pitched 165.1 innings and went 13-8 with a 2.40 ERA. On Sunday, a current member of the Cubs rotation, John Lackey, had his 38th birthday. He's been a solid presence in the rotation for the Cubs this year, going 11-8 with a 3.35 ERA in 188.1 innings. What does it take to connect these two veteran pitchers?
Ray Prim --> 1946 Cubs w/ Johnny Schmitz --> 1954 Senators w/ Harmon Killebrew --> 1971 Twins w/ Bert Blyleven --> 1992 Angels w/ Tim Salmon --> 2004 Angels w/ John Lackey
While connecting the current Cubs squad to the 1945 pennant winners in six steps or fewer is a fun exercise, it's nothing compared to connecting the team to the 1908 World Series champion Cubs.
Frank Schulte to
The 1908 Cubs had a 25-year-old outfielder named Frank Schulte. Although Schulte struggled mightily in '08 -- batting just .236/.294/.306 -- he would go on to be one of the key pieces of the Cubs' lineup. Three years later, in 1911, Schulte led the league with 21 home runs and put up an impressive .300/.384/.534 slashline, which was enough to win him the first ever National League Most Valuable Player Award. The 2016 Cubs may or may not have their own NL MVP player when awards are handed out next month, but they already have one of the major award winners from last season in 2015 Cy Young Award winner Jake Arrieta. Is it possible to connect Schulte to Arrieta in six steps or fewer?
Frank Schulte --> 1915 Cubs w/ Bob O'Farrell --> 1934 Cubs w/ Phil Cavarretta --> 1954 White Sox w/ Minnie Minoso --> 1980 White Sox w/ Harold Baines --> 1999 Indians w/ Jim Thome --> 2012 Orioles w/ Jake Arrieta
Johnny Evers to
Although getting from Schulte to Arrieta in six steps is exciting, it's nothing compared to the joy of connecting Johnny Evers -- the 1908 Cubs second baseman of Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance fame -- to David Ross. Let's just go ahead with it:
Johnny Evers --> 1929 Braves w/ Johnny Cooney --> 1942 Braves w/ Warren Spahn --> 1964 Braves w/ Phil Niekro --> 1985 Yankees w/ Rickey Henderson --> 2003 Dodgers w/ David Ross
Five steps! You can get from the 1908 Cubs second baseman to David Ross, the lovable veteran backstop employed by the 2016 Cubs, in just five steps!
Do you know what this means? Given that every current member of the Cubs roster is just one step removed from David Ross and Ross is just five steps removed from a member of the 1908 Cubs ... everyone on the 2016 Cubs roster is six baseball teammate degrees of separation from the 1908 World Series champion Cubs!
(Hat tip to Baseball-Reference's Oracle)
