Chicago Cubs: All-Underrated Team

Over the years, the Cubs have had nearly 2,000 players take the field for their storied franchise, among them some of the best players to every play the game.

Everyone knows the names Ernie Banks, Fergie Jenkins, Gabby Hartnett, Ron Santo, Sammy Sosa and so on. However, for every great player who has been revered in the eyes of history, there are two equally deserving of attention.

So here is a look at the All-Underrated Chicago Cubs team, a group of players who have not gotten the respect that they deserve for their contributions on the field.

Also, bonus points for whoever can identify the player in the introductory picture, a player who spent 20 seasons with the franchise but rarely gets the recognition he deserves and was snubbed again when he did not even make this list.

Catcher: Johnny Kling (1900-1908, 1910-1911)

Cubs Career Stats

.272/.317/.358, 16 HR, 438 RBI, 397 R, 21.4 WAR

One of the first great catchers in baseball history, Kling was a fantastic defensive backstop and was highly regarded for his terrific arm behind the plate.

He threw out 48 percent of would be base-stealers during his career, including an impressive 88-of-153 (58 percent) during the 1906 season.

Not only was he a great catcher, though, but he was also an accomplished pool player who was able to match his annual salary in baseball in the offseason by playing pool. He used that as leverage throughout his career when negotiating contracts, as he could always just retire from baseball and be a pro billiards player.

First Base: Bill Buckner (1977-1984)

Cubs Career Stats

.300/.332/.439, 81 HR, 516 RBI, 448 R, 7.8 WAR

The career of Bill Buckner will forever be remembered for one missed ground ball, but the fact of the matter is, he was a very good first baseman throughout his 22-year career.

That said, he was at his best during his eight-year stint with the Cubs, as he hit over .300 four different times and won the batting title in 1980 when he hit .324.

He was dealt early in the 1984 season for a young Dennis Eckersley, but his time with the Cubs should be remembered as the high point of his lengthy career.

Second Base: Mickey Morandini (1998-1999)

Cubs Career Stats

.272/.354/.360, 12 HR, 90 RBI, 153 R, 2.0 WAR

Following the retirement of legend Ryne Sandberg, the Cubs were in need of a second baseman heading into the 1998 season and traded Doug Glanville to the Phillies for Mickey Morandini.

Glanville had become expendable with the acquisition of Lance Johnson, and in Morandini, the Cubs got a 32-year-old veteran with postseason experience.

In his first season with the team, he posted the best numbers of his career, hitting .296 BA, 8 HR, 53 RBI with a WAR of 3.6, while playing stellar defense at second base, as he even received MVP votes.

He spent just one more season with the team before returning to the Phillies, but he more than made his mark on the team in helping them to the playoffs in 1998.

Shortstop: Woody English (1927-1936)

Cubs Career Stats

.291/.368/.386, 31 HR, 373 RBI, 747 R, 25.5 WAR

A solid hitter in an era where shortstops were expected to do little at the plate, English was one of the best offensive shortstops of the 1930s while still playing stellar defense as well.

His best overall season came in 1930, when he hit .335/.430/.511, 14 HR, 59 RBI with 17 triples. The following season he was impressive as well, as he finished fourth in NL MVP voting.

Third Base: Stan Hack (1932-1947)

Cubs Career Stats

.301/.394/.397, 57 HR, 642 RBI, 1,239 R, 54.8 WAR

Spending his entire 16-year career with the Cubs, Stan Hack was a staple at the hot corner in Chicago and a terrific all-around ballplayer.

While his power was minimal, he hit over .300 six different times, as he was a great contact hitter who never struck out more than he walked in any one season.

A four-time All-Star who received MVP votes in eight different seasons, Hack does not get nearly the recognition he deserves as one of the most consistent and productive third baseman in baseball history.

Left Field: Jose Cardenal (1972-1977)

Cubs Career Stats

.296/.363/.424, 61 HR, 343 RBI, 433 R, 9.3 WAR

Already a 28-year-old veteran of nine big league seasons when he joined the Cubs, Jose Cardenal had enjoyed mixed success in his career to that point.

In his first season in Chicago, he broke out with a .291 BA, 17 HR, 70 RBI, 25 SB season, as he hit all throughout the lineup serving as both a run producer and a table setter.

Over his first four seasons with the Cubs, he averaged a line of .301 BA, 12 HR, 70 RBI 25 RBI, as he was one of the most productive outfielders in the league. He fell off a bit from there, but was still a regular over his final two seasons with the team.

Center Field: Bill Lange (1893-1899)

Cubs Career Stats

.330/.400/.458, 39 HR, 579 RBI, 691 R, 400 SB, 25.1 WAR

After spending just one season in the minor leagues, Lange made his big league debut in 1893 at the age of 22, playing for what was then known as the Chicago Colts.

Lange had a terrific combination of power and speed, and his best season came in 1895 when he hit .389 BA, 10 HR, 98 RBI, 67 SB.

His career was short-lived though, as he retired from baseball at the age if 28 to get married when his father-in-law forbade his daughter from marrying a baseball player, a profession that was some what looked down upon at the time.

For all that he gave up, the marriage was a brief one and he was divorced within a year. Despite offers to return to the game, he remained retired and became one of the driving forces in promoting the game internationally.

Right Field: Bill Nicholson (1939-1948)

Cubs Career Stats

.272/.368/.471, 205 HR, 833 RBI, 738 R, 36.4 WAR

Originally a member of the Athletics, Nicholson was purchased from the Senators for $35,000 in what turned out to be some of the best money the Cubs have ever spent.

After a 58-game audition in 1939, he became the starting right fielder the following season and immediately made the All-Star team with a .297 BA, 25 HR, 98 RBI season.

By 1943, he was among the top power hitters in baseball, as he led the league with 29 HR and 128 RBI to finish third in NL MVP voting.

The following season, he was even better, leading the league in HR (33), RBI (122) and R (116) to finish second in MVP voting. He still sits at eighth on the Cubs career home run list and stands as one of the least appreciated players in franchise history.

Starting Pitcher: Clark Griffith (1893-1900)

Cubs Career Stats

152-96, 3.40 ERA, 129 ERA+, 573 Ks, 2188.2 IP, 36.9 WAR

Griffith may be best known for his time as the owner of the Washington Senators, but he was also one of the better pitchers of the 1800s before his time in the front office.

From 1894-1899, Griffith had at least 21 wins each season, and he enjoyed such great success thanks in part to his ability to doctor the baseball. He is also credited as the first pitcher to throw a screwball, as he brought innovation to the mound.

Perhaps most impressive of all of his stats, though, is the fact that he completed 240-of-252 starts during his time with the Cubs, as he was the prototypical turn of the century workhorse.

Relief Pitcher: Ted Abernathy (1965-1966, 1969-1970)

Cubs Career Stats

171 G, 9-12, 39 Sv, 3.14 ERA, 179 Ks, 6.2 K/9, 3.5 WAR

Abernathy was had a spectacular season in 1965, with an unheard of for the time 31 saves while posting a 2.57 ERA in 84 appearances.

He was purchased by the Indians midway though the 1966 season, but returned to the team in the offseason before the fabled 1969 season, and while the closer that year was Phil Regan, he served as the team's top setup man.