1973 Chicago Cubs season

March 2026 November 2013 Chicago Cubs 1973 National League East Wrigley Field Chicago Philip K. Wrigley 77 84 y 5th John Holland Whitey Lockman WGN-TV(Jack Brickhouse, Jim West) WGN(Vince Lloyd, Lou Boudreau) chc CHC The 1973 Chicago Cubs season was the 102nd season of the Chicago Cubs franchise, the 98th in the National League and the 58th at Wrigley Field. The Cubs finished fifth in the National League East with a record of 77–84. Offseason October 27, 1972: Elrod Hendricks was traded by the Cubs to the Baltimore Orioles for Frank Estrada.https://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hendrel01.shtml Elrod Hendricks Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com April 24, 2018 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090331144021/http://www.baseball-reference.com/h/hendrel01.shtml March 31, 2009 mdy-all Regular season After a strong finish to the 1972 season,https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/1972-schedule-scores.shtml 1972 Chicago Cubs Schedule - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com April 24, 2018 live https://web.archive.org/web/20160425120105/http://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/1972-schedule-scores.shtml April 25, 2016 mdy-all the Cubs dominated the National League East for the first half of 1973. On June 29, they were 47–31 with an 8.5 game lead in the National League East.https://www.baseball-reference.com/games/standings.cgi?date=1973-06-29 MLB Scores, Standings, Box Scores for Friday, June 29, 1973 - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com April 24, 2018 But then the Cubs fell into a deep swoon, losing 33 of their next 42 games, including 11 straight losses from August 4–16, to fall below.500 and out of the division lead.https://www.baseball-reference.com/games/standings.cgi?date=1973-08-16 MLB Scores, Standings, Box Scores for Thursday, August 16, 1973 - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com April 24, 2018 However, the rest of the division was so mediocre that it was nicknamed the "National League Least", enabling the Cubs to stay in contention even as they remained below.500. In fact, 1973 was the only season between 1945 and 1984 in which the Cubs were still in contention on the last day of the regular season, September 30. Due to several rainouts, the Cubs still had four games to play against the first place Mets, so double headers were scheduled for September 30 and October 1, the day after the end of the season. If the Cubs were to win all four games, there could have been an unprecedented five-way tie for first place, with each team having a below.500 record of 80–82 (also unprecedented). It would have taken at least three days of games to break a five-way tie. Rain was still in the forecast for both days, and with Wrigley Field having no lights, National League president Chub Feeney ordered both double headers to start at 10AM (again, unprecedented), making it clear that the umpires would wait out any rain as long as there was daylight. The Cubs won the first game on September 30, and suddenly it seemed possible that the most unusual end to any season of baseball might happen. But the Mets won the second game, eliminating three of the teams, including the Cubs. On a dismal October 1, in light cold rain, the Mets won the first game and clinched the NL East. The second game was immediately canceled. Milt Pappas was scheduled to pitch for the Cubs in the second game, and the cancellation cost him his chance for his 100th victory in the National League as he retired during the offseason. Season standings Chicago Cubs Record vs. opponents CHC Notable transactions May 19, 1973: Joe Pepitone was traded by the Cubs to the Atlanta Braves for Andre Thornton.https://www.baseball-reference.com/p/pepitjo01.shtml Joe Pepitone Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com April 24, 2018 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090129134244/http://www.baseball-reference.com/p/pepitjo01.shtml January 29, 2009 mdy-all June 5, 1973: 1973 Major League Baseball draft Jerry Tabb was drafted by the Cubs in the 1st round (16th pick).https://www.baseball-reference.com/t/tabbje01.shtml Jerry Tabb Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com April 24, 2018 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090228211124/http://www.baseball-reference.com/t/tabbje01.shtml February 28, 2009 mdy-all Dave Geisel was drafted by the Cubs in the 5th round.https://www.baseball-reference.com/g/geiseda01.shtml Dave Geisel Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com April 24, 2018 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090212221950/http://www.baseball-reference.com/g/geiseda01.shtml February 12, 2009 mdy-all Mike Krukow was drafted by the Cubs in the 8th round. Player signed June 10, 1973.https://www.baseball-reference.com/k/krukomi01.shtml Mike Krukow Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com April 24, 2018 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090215121131/http://www.baseball-reference.com/k/krukomi01.shtml February 15, 2009 mdy-all Joe Wallis was drafted by the Cubs in the 6th round.https://www.baseball-reference.com/w/wallijo01.shtml Joe Wallis Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com April 24, 2018 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090211180942/http://www.baseball-reference.com/w/wallijo01.shtml February 11, 2009 mdy-all August 13, 1973: Rico Carty was purchased by the Cubs from the Texas Rangers.https://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cartyri01.shtml Rico Carty Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com April 24, 2018 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090328173433/http://www.baseball-reference.com/c/cartyri01.shtml March 28, 2009 mdy-all August 29, 1973: Pat Bourque was traded by the Cubs to the Oakland Athletics for Gonzalo Márquez.https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bourqpa01.shtml Pat Bourque Stats - Baseball-Reference.com Baseball-Reference.com April 24, 2018 live https://web.archive.org/web/20090309070636/http://www.baseball-reference.com/b/bourqpa01.shtml March 9, 2009 mdy-all September 11, 1973: Rico Carty was purchased from the Cubs by the Oakland Athletics. Roster 1973 Chicago Cubs Roster Pitchers 38 Jack Aker 33 Bill Bonham 34 Ray Burris 40 Larry Gura 44 Burt Hooton 31 Ferguson Jenkins 17 Dave LaRoche 36 Bob Locker 32 Milt Pappas 35 Mike Paul 46 Juan Pizarro 48 Rick Reuschel Catchers  9 Randy Hundley  8 Tom Lundstedt 15 Ken Rudolph Infielders 18 Glenn Beckert 19 Pat Bourque 23 Carmen Fanzone 28 Jim Hickman 11 Don Kessinger 42 Tony La Russa 19 Gonzalo Márquez  8 Joe Pepitone 22 Paul Popovich 29 Dave Rosello 10 Ron Santo 12 Andre Thornton Outfielders 42 Matt Alexander  1 José Cardenal 43 Rico Carty 25 Adrian Garrett 21 Gene Hiser 24 Cleo James 25 Pete LaCock  7 Rick Monday 26 Billy Williams Manager 16 Whitey Lockman Coaches  2 Bobby Adams  4 Hank Aguirre 14 Ernie Banks  3 Larry Jansen 27 Pete Reiser Player stats Batting Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI C Randy Hundley 124 368 83 .226 10 43 1B Jim Hickman Jim Hickman (1960s outfielder) 92 201 49 .244 3 20 2B Glenn Beckert 114 372 95 .255 0 29 SS Don Kessinger 160 577 151 .262 0 43 3B Ron Santo 149 536 143 .267 20 77 LF Billy Williams Billy Williams (left fielder) 156 576 166 .288 20 86 CF Rick Monday 149 554 148 .267 26 56 RF José Cardenal 145 522 158 .303 11 68 Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI Paul Popovich 99 280 66 .236 2 24 Ken Rudolph 64 170 35 .206 2 17 Carmen Fanzone 64 150 41 .273 6 22 Pat Bourque 57 139 29 .209 7 20 Joe Pepitone 31 112 30 .268 3 18 Gene Hiser 100 109 19 .174 1 6 Rico Carty 22 70 15 .214 1 8 Gonzalo Márquez 19 58 13 .224 1 4 Adrian Garrett 36 54 12 .222 3 8 Cleo James 44 45 5 .111 0 0 Dave Rosello 16 38 10 .263 0 2 Andre Thornton 17 35 7 .200 0 2 Pete LaCock 11 16 4 .250 0 3 Matt Alexander 12 5 1 .200 0 1 Tom Lundstedt 4 5 0 .000 0 0 Tony La Russa 1 0 0 ---- 0 0 Pitching Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Ferguson Jenkins 38 271.0 14 16 3.89 170 Burt Hooton 42 239.2 14 17 3.68 134 Rick Reuschel 36 237.0 14 15 3.00 168 Milt Pappas 30 162.0 7 12 4.28 48 Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Bill Bonham 44 152.0 7 5 3.02 121 Larry Gura 21 64.2 2 4 4.87 43 Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G W L SV ERA SO Bob Locker 63 10 6 18 2.54 76 Jack Aker 47 4 5 12 4.10 25 Dave LaRoche 45 4 1 4 5.80 34 Ray Burris 31 1 1 0 2.92 57 Mike Paul 11 0 1 0 3.44 6 Juan Pizarro 2 0 1 0 11.25 3 Farm system Minor League Baseball AAA Wichita Aeros American Association Jim Marshall AA Midland Cubs Texas League Al Spangler A Quincy Cubs Midwest League Walt Dixon Rookie GCL Cubs Gulf Coast League Q. V. Lowe Notes 2 References Johnson Lloyd Wolff Miles The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball 2nd Durham, North Carolina Baseball America 1997 978-0-9637189-8-3 1973 Chicago Cubs season at Baseball Reference Category:Chicago Cubs seasons Chicago Cubs season Chicago Cubs Category:1973 in Chicago