But, it was fun at Wrigley Gum Field... kids paid 25 cents for bleacher seats to watch Hank Sauer - the Major of Wrigley - and slugger Ralph Kiner do their heavy hitting.

First baseman Dee Fondy led the Cubs' team in batting with .309 and outfielder Frankie Baumholtz finished a close second with .306. The team's big-hitters were Ralph Kiner, Hank Sauer, 'Handsome Ransom' Jackson along with Dee Fondy, all-of-whom hit over 15 home runs in 1953.

Their main men of the pitching staff included Bob Rush, Paul Minner, Johnny Klippstein, Warren Hacker and relievers Howie Pollet, Turk Lown and Emil 'Dutch' Leonard.

1953 Chicago Cubs:

Batting Stats:

Dee Fondy .309 BA, 18Hr, 78 RBIs in 150 Games... Frank Baumholtz .306, 3Hr, 25 RBIs in 133G... Hank Sauer .263, 19Hr, 60 RBIs in 108G... Hal Jeffcoat .235, 4Hr, 22 RBIs in 106G... Roy Smalley .249, 6Hr, 25 RBIs in 82G... Ransom Jackson .285, 19Hr, 66 RBIs in 139G... Clyde McCullough .258, 6Hr, 23 RBIs in 77G... Eddie Miksis .251, 8Hr, 39 RBIs in 142G...

Ralph Kiner .283, 28Hr, 87 RBIs in 117G. Bill Serena .251, 10Hr, 52 RBIs in 93G... Phil Cavarretta .286, 0Hr, 3 RBIs in 27G... Toby Atwell .230, 1Hr, 8 RBIs in 24G... Joe Garagiola .272, 1Hr, 21 RBIs in 74G... Gene Hermanski .150, 0Hr, 1 RBI in 18G... Catfish Metkovich .234, 2Hr, 12 RBIs in 61G... Bob Talbot .333, 0Hr, 0 RBIs in 8G...

Ernie Banks .314, 2Hr, 6 RBIs in 10G... Tommy Brown .196, 2Hr, 13 RBIs in 65G... Bob Addis .167, 0Hr, 1 RBI in 10G... Gene Baker .227, 0Hr, 0 RBIs in 7G... Bob Ramazzotti .154, 0Hr, 4 RBIs in 26G... Carl Sawatski .220, 1Hr, 5 RBIs in 43G... Preston Ward .230, 4Hr, 12 RBIs in 33G... Paul Schramka .000 in 2G...

========================================

Players Bios: compiled from 'Who's Who Magazines'

Roy Smalley, Shortstop, RH, 6ft, 3inc, 189lbs - a popular player with young Cub fans during this era... the off-and-on shortstop fractured his ankle in '51, but Cub management pin great hopes on his full time play... In 1953 Smalley batted .249, lined 9 doubles and 6 homers in 253 at bats.

Eddie Miksis, Second Baseman, Right-handed - a defensive genius and a fine batter, Miksis hit .251 in 142 games in 1953. And, he produced a fine .343 slugging percentage in 577 at bats - including 17 doubles, 6 triples and 8 homers - and stole 13 bases. Was the keystone of the team in '52 and '53

Dee Fondy, First Baseman, RH - another all-time popular Cub during the '50s, Fondy batted a team-high .309 in 1953, lined 24 doubles, 11 triples and hit 18 home runs, scored 79 runs and had 78 RBIs and had a solid .477 slugging percentage... collected team-high 184 hits in 595 at bats.

Frank Baumholtz, Outfielder, Left-handed - the hustling flyhawk with a picture-perfect swing batted .306 and lined a team-high 36 doubles, 7 triples and scored 75 runs in 1953... he join the Cubs in '51 and hit .285 and a robust .325 in '52.

Ramson Jackson, Third Baseman, Right-handed - the critic don't include 'Handsome Ramson' in their jabs and jibes... Consensus rates him a sure fire star... In '53 he batted a fine .285, belted 22 doubles, 8 triples and slugged 19 home runs with 66 RBIs.

Preston Ward, First Baseman, Bats LH, T RH - stands 6ft, 2 and 1/2 inches, 187lbs - a slick fielder, he's been counted on to supply the team with power... In 1953, Preston Ward punched out 5 doubles, 4 home runs in just 100 at bats.

Bob Addis, Outfielder, Bats Left, T RH - traded to the Cubbies in winter of '50, as a pinch-hitter in '51 he made 12 hits in 36 tries for .333. In 1952, Addis hit a solid .295 in 292 at bats, including 13 doubles and had a fine .346 on-base-percentage.

Hal Jeffcoat, Center-fielder, RH - a veteran of World War II, he's a hustling, fleet outfielder... he collected 43 hits in 183 at-bats in 1953. Stardom has always been predicted for him - and he never stops trying.

PITCHING SUMMARY:

Warren Hacker 12-19 record, 4.38 ERA in 39 Games... Paul Minner 12-15, 4.21 ERA in 31G... Johnny Klippstein 10-11, 4.83 ERA in 48G... Bob Rush 9-14, 4.54 ERA... Dutch Leonard 2-3, 4.60 ERA in 45G... Bubba Church 4-5, 5.00 ERA in 27G... Sheldon Jones 0-2, 5.40 ERA in 22G...

Howie Pollet 5-6, 4.12 ERA in 25G... Turk Lown 8-7, 5.16 ERA in 49G... Duke Simpson 1-2, 8.00 ERA in 30G... Fred Baczewski 0-0, 6.30 ERA in 9G... Don Elston 0-1, 14.40 ERA in 2G... Bob Kelly 0-1, 9.53 ERA in 14G... Bill Moisan 0-0, 5.40 ERA in 3G... Bob Schultz 0-2, 5.40 ERA in 7G... Jim Wills 2-1, 3.12 ERA in 13G...

=======================================

Pitcher Bios - complied from 'Who's Who Magazines'

Bob Rush, Pitcher, Right-handed - In 1953 completed 8-of-28 starts, hurled a complete game shutout while posting a 9-14 W/L record... has been the Cub workhorse since debuting with them in 1948... One of the all-time popular Cub players - and a great autograph giver to kids... thanks for the memories.

Paul Minner, Left-handed - the big, 6ft, 4inch, 220-pound, Southpaw was one of the Cubs' mound-masters. In 1953, Minner compiled a 12-15 record, completed 9-of-27 starts and relieved in 4 others and gained a save in 201 innings of work.

Warren Hacker, Right-handed - has been on the Cubs' pitching since 1948... he led the team in innings pitched in '53 with 221 1/3... rates pin-point control, Hacker walked only 54 batters and struck out 106 in 1953.

Baseballhistorian.com - The Recorder of Baseball History