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The Top 10 Chicago Cubs greats who deserved to see a World Series

By Mark Carman

Jul 26, 2014; Cooperstown, NY, USA; Hall of Famer Ernie Banks arrives at National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 26, 2014; Cooperstown, NY, USA; Hall of Famer Ernie Banks arrives at National Baseball Hall of Fame. Mandatory Credit: Gregory J. Fisher-USA TODAY Sports /
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These Chicago Cubs icons passed away and will never see the team win a World Series 

Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks, passed away at the age of 83. If anyone deserved to see the Cubs win the World Series, it was Mr. Cub himself. Ernie was all class all the time both on and off the field. Banks joins an unfortunate list of icon diehards who should have been there if and when the Cubs ever win the World Series, but won’t be.

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10.  Steve Goodman

The popular singer-songwriter passed away way too young, four days before the Chicago Cubs clinched the division in 1984. He was only 36 . Goodman penned three Cubs songs that will live forever: “A Dying Cub Fan’s Last Request”, “When the Cubs Go Marching In” and “Go Cubs Go” which plays somewhat rarely today after every home win. Hopefully, the Wrigley faithful will hear it more in 2015.

9. Don Zimmer

Popeye spent his entire life from 1954 on working in baseball. He was a World Series winner six times with the Dodgers and Yankees, but always said his favorite year in baseball was 1989 when he led the underdog Cubs to the division crown. “The Boys of Zim” would lose in the NLCS to Will Clark and the San Francisco Giants 4-1.

8. Leo Durocher

Fiery “Leo the lip” had the Chicago Cubs 8.5 games up in mid-August on the Mets in the fateful 1969 season. The Cubs collapsed from there and the Mets didn’t lose taking the division by eight games. Durocher was not always popular with his players, but claimed his greatest regret in baseball was not being able to win a pennant with the Cubs for owner P.K. Wrigley.

7. The No Lights Crew

Baseball was meant to be played during the day. There is still no better way to enjoy a summer day then a trip to Wrigley Field. A spirited neighborhood group fought long and hard to keep it that way, but lost out to the mighty dollar. The Cubs played day baseball only for 72 years before lights were installed in 1988. Fittingly, the first night game was rained out. You can still buy these T-shirts somewhere.

6. Mike Royko

Life-long Cubs fan and the greatest columnist Chicago has ever had the pleasure to read daily wrote about his beloved suffering Cubs for decades. Few could sum up the Cubs fan pain like Royko who has also a believer in the ex-cub factor, a theory I subscribe to as well, which Royko explains here.

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    • 5. Yum-Yum Donuts

    Anybody who ever attended a Cubs game prior to pre-1990 should have got their hot dogs at Yum-Yum. They were cheap, they were good and you could bring as many of them as you wanted into the park. I went with the four pack. Yum-Yum was a popular place for vendors for a pre-game meal.

    4. Harry Caray

    Holy Cow! Way back, it might be, it could be, IT IS!!! I still get chills listening to Harry clips. The best salesman/ everyman to ever call a baseball game deserved to see a World Series winner as much as anyone. Harry was the best addition the Tribune company ever made while they owned the club, bringing him over from the south side White Sox. Harry did call two division winners in 1984 and 1989, but passed away February, 1998. The Cubs would win the wild card that year, but got swept by Atlanta in the NLDS.

    3. Jack Brickhouse

    HEY HEY!! Jack called Cubs game before Harry from 1948-1981. He never was in the booth for a Chicago Cubs playoff appearance let alone a World Series winner. Like Harry, Jack called both the White Sox and the Cubs. With Ernie Banks passing away, you will hear Jack’s call of his 500th home run over and over again this weekend. It never gets old.

    2. Ron Santo

    Hall of Famer, the best third baseman in club history, Santo became even more popular as a broadcaster then he was on the field. Santo’s real-time, authentic reactions to Cubs follies and game winners made him identifiable and lovable. Santo signed autograph after autograph and was happiest when he was at Wrigley Field. Nobody wanted the Cubs to win more.

    1. Ernie Banks

    Mr. Cub himself. His attitude and love for the sport and life was contagious to anyone who was fortunate enough to meet him. Banks was famous for his “Let’s play two!” desire, always wanting to play a doubleheader. Every year Banks had a new optimistic slogan for how the Cubs will “be great in 2008”. Like Santo, teammates on the 1969 Cubs, their statues reside outside Wrigley Field and will be there if and when the Cubs win it. Mr. Cub and everyone else on this list, would have given anything to be there in person.

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