Yellon: A Cubs uniform number mystery is solved

From SABR member Al Yellon at Bleed Cubbie Blue on October 16, 2019:

Many of you are familiar with the book I co-authored with Matt Silverman and Kasey Ignarski, “Cubs By The Numbers.” It’s a history of the Cubs by uniform number, with stories and anecdotes accompanying the lists of everyone who ever wore a number for the Cubs since they began in 1932. … Anyway, in the course of our research for the book, Kasey, Matt and I found who had worn every single Cubs uniform number.

Except one.

This is gonna be long, so pull up a chair and settle in.

The missing number was worn by a lefthanded pitcher named Charlie Gassaway, who started two games for the Cubs in late September 1944, both on the road. One was against the Phillies in Philadelphia, the other against the Braves in Boston. Neither went well for him. He allowed six runs in eight innings in the first game of a doubleheader in Philadelphia September 25, though the Cubs won the game 7-6 in 10 innings. On September 29 in Boston, he didn’t make it out of the fourth inning, allowing seven hits, three walks and five runs (two earned).

Read the full article here: https://www.bleedcubbieblue.com/2019/10/16/20916049/cubs-by-the-numbers-mystery-uniform-number



Originally published: October 17, 2019. Last Updated: October 17, 2019.