The Cubs Come Back

In the preseason prognostications, the Chicago Cubs were the only team in the National League East given no chance whatsoever to top the division. How could they? In a frenzy of house cleaning after the disappointing fifth-place 1973 season, exasperated Owner Phil Wrigley had traded away his strongest players like so many bubble-gum cards: slugging Third Baseman Ron Santo, All-Star Second Baseman Glenn Beckert and the team's longtime pitching ace, Ferguson Jenkins. Result: the Cubs toppled into last place in 1974. Wrigley's response: last winter he unloaded lifetime .296 Hitter Billy Williams to the Oakland A's for three little-used players.

Did that mean one more season of misery? Apparently not. After losing on opening day, the Cubs won their next seven games. They have been in first place ever since, piling up the lustiest team batting average in the majors (.280).

Much of the Cubs' unexpected punch is coming from two relatively recent acquisitions: Leftfielder Jose Cardenal and Centerfielder Rick Monday. The ebullient Cardenal, who played solidly but unspectacularly for four major league teams before coming to the Cubs from Milwaukee three seasons ago, has been peppering pitchers with line drives and was hitting a potent .363 last week. Monday, signed by A's Owner Charlie Finley with a much publicized $100,000 bonus ten years ago and traded to Chicago in 1971, is finally playing up to his early promise. The clubhouse jester and clean-up hitter was batting .337. Not far behind at .321 was Manny Trillo, a surprisingly effective second baseman acquired last winter in the trade for Williams.

Hitting has not been the Cubs' only strength. A year ago the team had the worst fielding record in the league; now it has a sure-handed outfield, as well as a first-class double-play combination. With some intensive tutoring by low-key Manager Jim Marshall, a former major league first baseman who took over the Cubs midway into last season, Chicago fielders are no longer making careless errors.

There are also fewer mistakes on the mound. In fact, the major reason for the Cubs' turnaround is former Oakland Reliever Darold Knowles, who has given the team an injection of confidence. "On the A's, we knew we would win," says Knowles. "I've told the guys here to think the same way." No one has practiced the philosophy better than Steve Stone, a scholarly righthander (Kent State, '69) who publishes poetry and helps manage three restaurants in his spare time. Coming off a mediocre performance last season, Stone is already 4-0 this year and sports a miserly 1.45 ERA. How far can he and the new 1975 Cubs go? The pennant still seems a long shot. But then, a month ago, so did first place.

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