Vine and Deadly

Phil Cavarretta, among the last living evidence that the Chicago Cubs have played in a World Series, has died of complications from a stroke at the age of 94. Cavaretta played for the last 3 pennant-winning Cubs teams: 1935, 1938 and 1945. Being the Cubs, they lost all 3, although Cavaretta hit .462 and .423 in the latter two series. For the final pennant-winning season, Cavaretta was named the NL MVP while most of the better ballplayers were still serving or had just returned. Like George Bailey, Cavarretta was 4F because of a hearing problem. His 20-year career with the Cubs, including 2-and-a-half years as player-manager, made Cavaretta one of the most popular and longest suffering players in team history. In spring training 1954, fresh off finishing 8th, 5th and 7th, Cavarretta told owner Phil Wrigley that the team needed help at first base, third base and center field. Wrigley decided what the team really needed was help at manager and fired Cavarretta, inspiring the team to rally to a 7th place finish.