APRIL 6, 1969:
NL PREVIEW: CUBS by Jerome Holtzman (Chicago Sun-Times)
CHICAGO - The Chicago Cubs open the season with what may be big illusions. After two successive third-place finishes (following 20 years in the second division), the Cub players and management feel that this will be their year, the year they leap to a divisional championship and possibly to the National League pennant.
It could be and it is not our mission to dampen such spirit and confidence. But to go all the way, or even to the Eastern Division title, the Cubs will have to get considerably better pitching. Forgetting the pitching - which is difficult - the Cubs, indeed, may have the best or nearly the best eight-man ball club in the league.
Unquestionably, they have the best infield, both offensively and defensively. There can be no quarrel with Ron Santo at third, Don Kessinger at short, Glenn Beckert at second and the ageless Ernie Banks at first. Moreover, their iron-man catcher, Randy Hundley, is also among the best at his position in the league.
No one seems to know how much longer Banks can continue. He is a genuine baseball Methuselah and still lives and hits home runs, 32 last year to lead the club. Leo Durocher, the Cub manager, indicated to the press three years ago that he thought Banks was through. Now Durocher, occasionally repentant, asks Banks, "Where can I get some of those pills?"
Santo is an All-Star starting his tenth full major-league season. He hit .246 last season in the Year of the Pitcher and vows it won't happen again. It probably won't, either, because Santo is an extremely determined athlete, both at bat and in the field, and has broken or equaled more big-league fielding records than Baltimore's Brooks Robinson.
Kessinger and Beckert, also mature and possessed with competitive fire, may be the best second base combination in the league. Kessinger has outstanding range, a good arm and though without power, compensates by punching the ball where it is pitched. He is a superb breaking-ball hitter. Beckert is sure in the field and led all National League infielders in batting last season with a .294 average.
The outfield isn't as strong but it is major league, nonetheless. Billy Williams, who has played in 819 consecutive games and has a .290 lifetime average, is in left; Adolfo Phillips, injured in spring training, is the club's regular center fielder, and Jim Hickman probably will be in right.
The Cubs gave two rookie outfielders, Don Young and Jim Dunegan, a thorough test in spring training. Young is good defensively but doesn't hit. He probably will play center until Phillips returns, which should be soon. Dunegan is a big fellow, strong as an ox, and somewhat similar to Washington's Frank Howard, when Howard was in his apprenticeship. Dunegan was sent down for seasoning but figures to be back for a long stay.
The Cubs have one reliable starting pitcher, Ferguson Jenkins, a 20-game winner in each of the last two seasons. Jenkins, a workhorse, hasn't missed a turn in two years. He has an A-plus fast ball, in addition to good off-speed pitches, all of which he can control.
The other starters are Bill Hands, who blossomed with 16 victories last year; Ken Holtzman, the onetime "next Sandy Koufax"; Rich Nye and Joe Niekro. If Hands and Holtzman have big years and if the bullpen of Phil Regan, Ted Abernathy and Hank Aguirre can survive the strain, the Cubs could win a flag for the first time since 1945. If not, they should finish no worse than third place again.
ERNIE BANKS