RIP Phil Cavarretta

Two Cubs greats in a month.

CHICAGO (AP) -- Phil Cavarretta, the 1945 National League MVP who led the Chicago Cubs to their last World Series appearance, died Saturday. He was 94.

Cavarretta died in Lilburn, Ga., of complications from a stroke, according to his grandson, Jeffrey Brown, of Lubbock, Texas.

Brown told The Associated Press in a phone interview that Cavarretta died Saturday evening in a hospice care center. Brown said Cavarretta had been battling leukemia and suffered the stroke several days ago.

A first baseman and outfielder, Cavarretta broke into the major leagues in 1934 and spent the first 20 of his 22 seasons with the Cubs before moving across town to play 77 games for the White Sox.

The three-time All-Star led the NL with a .355 batting average and a .449 on-base percentage in 1945, when the Cubs lost to the Detroit Tigers in the World Series. Cavarretta was one of the last living members of that team. The Cubs have not won a pennant since and their last World Series championship came in 1908.

Cavarretta finished with a .293 batting average, 95 home runs and 920 RBIs in more than 2,000 big league games.

Brown said Cavarretta is survived by his wife, Loraine, four daughters and one son, among others.

 

A local boy who glorified in being a Cub, and quite the character.

RIP.

 

Also, I believe, one of the last player-managers in the majors. He had a great career. RIP.

 

Hasn't been a couple of good weeks to be a Cub fan. RIP, Phil.

 

There were actually seven after him: Hank Bauer, Eddie Joost, Frank Robinson, Joe Torre, Don Kessigner, Elvin Tappe and Pete Rose.

 

Coupla weeks . . . 102 years . . . what the hey.

 

Anyone can have a bad century.

 

. . . but . . . but . . . they have Kerry Wood back! All is well!

 

Mid-80s computer users will remember Cavarretta as an f-in' stud in Micro League Baseball.