Cubs historical sleuthing: Shea Stadium edition
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Here’s what Getty Images says about this photo:
Catcher Jerry Grote #15 of the New York Mets in action against the Chicago Cubs during a Major League Baseball game circa 1970 at Shea Stadium in the Queens borough of New York City. Grote played for the Mets from 1966-77.
While Grote did in fact play for the Mets from 1966-77, the Cubs wore that style of road uniform only from 1973-77, so that narrows it down a bit.
The Cubs player has a “4” on his jersey. The only Cubs player to wear “4” during that time was Vic Harris that’s definitely not Harris. So it has to be a player wearing 40 through 49.
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CHICAGO The flags that fly atop the foul poles at Wrigley Field feature the most recognizable numbers in Cubs history digits no player will don again on the North Side.
There is No. 10 for Ron Santo and No. 14 for Ernie Banks. Ryne Sandberg s No. 23 ripples in the Lake Michigan breeze, along with No. 26 for Billy Williams and No. 31 for both Fergie Jenkins and Greg Maddux. They took those numbers to great heights, but what about the other numbers worn throughout the Cubs long history?
What follows are our picks for the most notable player to wear each jersey number in team history. Maybe he was the most famous, the best or simply the most memorable. In some cases, there was a long list to choose from, and it was a difficult task. In others, the choice was obvious. And in a few situations, only a handful of players (or perhaps just one) wore the number on his back.