1964 Chicago Cubs season

Offseason

On February 13, Ken Hubbs, who had been the Cubs starting second baseman in 1963, was killed in a plane crash. He was replaced by Joey Amalfitano, who was acquired from the San Francisco Giants a few weeks later.

Notable transactions

• December 2, 1963: Byron Browne was drafted by the Cubs from the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1963 first-year draft.
• March 29, 1964: Joey Amalfitano was purchased by the Cubs from the San Francisco Giants.
• Prior to 1964 season: Dick LeMay was traded by the Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals for Lee Gregory.

Regular season

On June 15, the Cubs made one of the most infamous deals in baseball history, remembered today simply as "Brock for Broglio". There were six players involved in all, but the most prominent players involved were pitcher Ernie Broglio, who came to the Cubs from the St. Louis Cardinals, and outfielder Lou Brock, who went to the Cardinals from the Cubs. While Broglio was a serviceable starter for the rest of 1964, he would post ERAs over 6 in each of the next two seasons, and was out of baseball altogether by the end of 1967. Brock went on to star for the Cardinals for the next fifteen years, and eventually be elected to the Hall of Fame. It is to this day often held up as an example of a lopsided trade outcome.

The Cubs in 1963 had been a team that had arrived, finishing over .500 for the first time since 1946.

They had a great nucleus with Hubbs, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Ernie Banks, pitchers Dick Ellsworth and Larry Jackson, and Brock. In 1963, the Cubs finished second in the league in ERA and second in giving up the fewest runs, earned runs, and walks.

With Hubbs on the team in 1964, it is highly unlikely the Cubs would have pushed the panic button and traded Brock. With Brock batting first, Hubbs second, followed by Williams, Santo, and Banks in 1964, the Cubs would have fielded a strong lineup, as they had in 1963.

That 1964 lineup featured three future Hall of Famers even without Hubbs and Brock. Left fielder Williams batted .312 that year with 33 homers and 98 RBI, and garnered some MVP votes. Third baseman Santo batted cleanup, with a .313 average, a major league leading 13 triples, a National League high 86 walks, and a league leading .398 on-base percentage. First baseman Banks was fifth in the lineup. He batted only .264 that year, but had 23 homers and 95 RBI.

With the cloud of Hubbs' untimely passing hanging over their heads, however, the Cubs finished ten games under .500.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Notable transactions

• May 28, 1964: Chuck Hartenstein was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cubs.
• June 3, 1964: The Cubs traded $40,000 to the Milwaukee Braves for Len Gabrielson. The Cubs completed the deal by sending Merritt Ranew to the Braves on June 8.
• June 6, 1964: Jim Qualls was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cubs.
• June 15, 1964: Lou Brock, Jack Spring, and Paul Toth were traded by the Cubs to the St. Louis Cardinals for Ernie Broglio, Doug Clemens and Bobby Shantz.
• June 19, 1964: Don Kessinger was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cubs.

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Awards and honors

• Ron Santo, Gold Glove Award

All-Star Game

• Billy Williams, Outfield, Starter
• Dick Ellsworth, Pitcher, Reserve
• Ron Santo, Third Base, Reserve

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Treasure Valley

Notes

References

• 1964 Chicago Cubs season at Baseball Reference

References

1. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/brownby01.shtml Byron Browne page at Baseball Reference]
2. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/a/amalfjo01.shtml Joey Amalfitano page at Baseball Reference]
3. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gregole01.shtml Lee Gregory page at Baseball Reference]
4. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hartech01.shtml Chuck Hartenstein page at Baseball-Reference]
5. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/g/gabrile02.shtml Len Gabrielson page at Baseball-Reference]
6. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/q/quallji01.shtml Jim Qualls page at Baseball-Reference]
7. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/b/brogler01.shtml Ernie Broglio page at Baseball Reference]
8. [https://www.baseball-reference.com/k/kessido01.shtml Don Kessinger page at Baseball Reference]