1971 Chicago Cubs Key Players: Profiles and Stats Overview
The page from the 1971 Illustrated Digest of Baseball highlights key players from the Chicago Cubs. Ernie Banks, a veteran first baseman, hit 12 home runs in the previous season, with a career total of 509 homers. Notably, he never played in the minors and has been a player-coach since 1967. Glenn Beckert, a top defensive second baseman, batted .288 last season and has consistently participated in over 130 games each year since his major league debut in 1965. Bill Hands, a pitcher who joined the Cubs in a 1965 trade, posted an 18-15 record with a 3.70 ERA, having won 20 games in 1969. Jim Hickman, a versatile first baseman-outfielder, had a standout season in 1970 with 32 home runs and 115 RBIs. Ken Holtzman, noted for his no-hitter in 1969, won 17 games each of the past two seasons. Randy Hundley, a catcher impacted by injuries, appeared in 73 games last season. Ferguson Jenkins, a dominant pitcher, won 20 or more games for four consecutive seasons, showcasing durability with over 300 innings pitched. Don Kessinger, a shortstop known for his speed and proficiency, played an integral role with a .266 batting average last season.