Books and articles about Bill Hands

In the Cubs clubhouse, Hands was the undisputed chess champion. He also had some fine years as a pitcher. In 1968 he was 16-10. Hands won 20 games and led the staff with a 2.49 ERA when the Cubs contended in 1969. Hands was the stopper, halting several losing streaks to keep the Cubs in the race against the Mets.

RELATED LINKS Book Excerpts » "When Tommie Agee came to the plate, he was knocked down by Hands": Ralph Kiner Submissions » Dick Selma: Striking Out the Side on 9 Pitches? by Jim Adams Around the Web » Bill Hands from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

He was 18-15 in 1970, but back ailments and muscle spasms in his pitching arm limited his effectiveness in later years. His finest outing came August 3, 1972, when he one-hit the Expos. A .078 lifetime hitter, Hands set a ML record by fanning in 14 straight official at-bats in 1968. (AA)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » December 2, 1965: P Lindy McDaniel and OF Don Landrum are traded by the Cubs to the Giants for C Randy Hundley and P Bill Hands. » April 18, 1967: The Cubs Adolfo Phillips drops a fly ball to allow three runs to score but homers and triple to help beat the Phillies, 8–4. Bill Hands is the winner over Chris Short. » June 25, 1967: Ernie Banks slams two 2-run homers to back rookie Joe Niekro's 3-hitter, and the Cubs win 80 over the Astros to sweep. Bill Hands hurls a 5-hitter in the opener to win, 4–1. Banks' 1st blast breaks up a pitching duel with Bo Belinsky and his 2nd caps a 5-run 7th. » July 11, 1968: Chicago Cubs P Bill Hands strikes out for the 14th straight at bat in the 2–0 Cubs win in the nightcap at New York. The 14 strikeouts in consecutive at bats (as opposed to plate appearances) are a ML record. » August 8, 1968: The Cubs trip the Braves, 4–0, behind Bill Hands, with relief help from Phil Regan. Ump Chris Pelekoudas goes the mound to inspect cap and glove of the Cubs' Phil Regan. When game continues, Pelakoudas accuses Regan of three illegal pitches nullifying a fly out, a K, and changing a strike to a ball. Wrigley fans toss garbage on field. Leo Durocher, Randy Hundley, and Al Spangler get tossed as well. NL prexy Warren Giles, after a special hearing, says umps should have better evidence before calling pitches illegal. » September 10, 1968: Billy Williams hits three home runs in a game for the first time in his career. It's all the Cubs' scoring, as they beat the Mets 3–1 behind Bill Hands. Added to two home runs on September 8th, Williams has a ML-record-tying five over two straight games. » July 10, 1969: The Cubs score five runs in the 5th inning to beat the Mets, 6–2, behind Bill Hands. The win halts the Mets' seven-game win streak and leaves the New Yorkers in 2nd place by four games. » July 14, 1969: At Wrigley, the Cubs top the Mets 1–0 to give Bill Hands (11–7) the win over Tom Seaver (14–4). Billy Williams singles home the winner, boosting the Cubs lead to five 1/2 games. After the last out, Ron Santo jumps up and clicks his heels, igniting a roar from the crowd. The Mets think it's bush. » August 13, 1969: Bill Hands pitches a complete game 4–2 win over San Diego. Chicago now has a seemingly comfortable eight 1/2 game lead. » August 29, 1969: Bill Hands pitches the Cubs to a 2–1 win over Atlanta and is helped by two spectacular catches by Oscar Gamble in the 9th. The Cubs lead stands at three 1/2 games. » September 3, 1969: The Reds Jim Maloney stops the slumping Cubs on two hits to win, 2–0. Bill Hands takes the loss. It's Maloney's 9th career two hitter; he's thrown three no-hitters and five one-hitters. The Cubs lead slips to four games. » September 8, 1969: At Shea Stadium, the Mets top the Cubs 3–2 on Tommie Agee's 2-run home run. Jerry Koosman beats Bill Hands and strikes out 13 Cub batters. Chicago has now lost five in a row and leads the Mets by one 1/2 games. » May 13, 1970: The Mets Gary Gentry stops the Cubs, 4–0, allowing just one hit. Bill Hands is the losing pitcher. » June 20, 1970: Behind the pitching of Bill Hands, the Cubs win 8–3 over St. Louis. But starting with a doubleheader loss tomorrow to the Birds, the Cubs will go on a 12-game losing streak, one short of the club mark set in 1944. » September 15, 1971: At Shea Stadium, Mike Jorgensen hits a 2-out single in the 7th to break Burt Hooton's no hit bid, and Ken Singleton follows with a homer to tie the match at 2–2. But Billy Williams clocks a pinch homer in the 9th and Hooton finishes the 3–2 victory with 15 strikeouts, notching his first ML win. In opener of the twi-night DH, Bill Hands beats Jerry Koosman, 6–2. Hands starts the Cubs' scoring with a 2-run single in the 2nd. » August 3, 1972: Cubs pitcher Bill Hands allows one hit, by Ken Singleton, in beating the Expos, 3–0, in the nitecap. The Cubs lose the opener, 2–1, as Jack Aker absorbs his 3rd loss in his last five save opportunities.