Top Five Chicago Cubs by Last Name: "A"

With such a rich and lengthy history, the Cubs have seen roughly 2,000 players don the Cubbie blue over the years.

Because of that, I thought it would be fun to name who I feel are the top five players for all 26 letters of the alphabet, going by last name.

To qualify, the player needs only to have played at least one game for the Cubs. However, only stats and accomplishments that took place while the player was with the Cubs will be considered.

Because of that, you will not find someone like Richie Ashburn on the following list, despite the fact that he is a Hall of Famer and did play two seasons with the Cubs.

I welcome suggestions regarding anyone I may have left off the list and look forward to continuing the series in the coming weeks.

Honorable Mention

RP Terry Adams (1995-1999)
276 appearances, 37 Saves, 4.03 ERA, 109 ERA+, 7.8 K/9

RP Paul Assenmacher (1989-1993)
279 Appearances, 33 Saves, 3.42 ERA, 115 ERA+, 8.9 K/9

C Jimmy Archer (1909-1917)
.254 BA, 16 HR, 290 RBI

2B Sparky Adams (1922-1927)
.292 BA, 7 HR, 201 RBI, 115 SB

No. 5: Ted Abernathy

Seasons With Cubs: 1965-1966, 1969-1970
Stats With Cubs: 9-12, 39 Saves, 3.14 ERA, 1.328 WHIP

Abernathy is best known as the setup man on the fabled 1969 Cubs team, but in his first go-around with the team he was the closer.

Throwing from a submarine delivery, Abernathy tallied an NL-best 31 saves in his only full season as the team's closer in 1965, appearing in 84 games that season and pitching a whopping 136.1 innings in relief.

No. 4: George Altman

Seasons With Cubs: 1959-1962, 1965-1967
Stats With Cubs: .276 BA, 83 HR, 309 RBI
*2x All-Star

While his career numbers are not all that impressive, Altman was an All-Star in back-to-back seasons in 1961 and 1962 as he posted the best numbers of his career.

He averaged .311 BA, 24 HR, 85 RBI over that two-season span, as he gave the Cubs a fourth power bat to accompany Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, and Ron Santo.

His best season came in 1961, when he hit .303 BA, 27 HR, 96 RBI and led the league with 12 triples on his way to a 14th-place finish in NL MVP voting.

No. 3: Moises Alou

Seasons With Cubs: 2002-2004
Stats With Cubs: .283 BA, 76 HR, 258 RBI
*1x All-Star

Despite coming to the Cubs well past what most players would consider their prime at the age of 34, Alou turned in three very productive seasons with the North Siders.

His best season was his last in Chicago in 2004, as he put together a line of .293 BA, 39 HR, 106 RBI. He made the All-Star team and finished 14th in MVP voting in the process.

No. 2: Pete Alexander

Seasons With Cubs: 1918-1926
Stats With Cubs: 128-83, 2.84 ERA, 131 ERA+, 1.161 WHIP

While Alexander is in the Hall of Fame as a member of the Phillies, he was nonetheless very productive in his time with the Cubs.

In his seven full seasons in the rotation, he won 15 or more games six times and topped the 20-win mark twice.

His first season with the Cubs in 1920 is among the best single seasons in Cubs history, as he won the pitching triple crown with a line of 27-14, 1.91 ERA, 173 Ks. He also completed 33 of his 40 starts, saved five games, and pitched a league-high 363.1 innings. All in all, not a bad first impression.

No. 1: Cap Anson

Seasons With Cubs: 1876-1897
Stats With Cubs: .331 BA, 97 HR, 1,880 RBI
*Hall of Fame

Anson is among the most prolific hitters in baseball history, and he spent 22 of his 27 big league seasons as a member of the Cubs.

During his tenure, he won a pair of batting titles and seven RBI crowns. Perhaps most impressive of all, he hit over .300 in all but three seasons despite playing until the age of 45.

He ranks in the top 10 in career runs (1,999—eighth), hits (3,435—sixth), and RBI (2,075—third) and is truly a legend.