Books and articles about Randy Hundley

In December 1965 the Cubs made one of their best deals of the decade, acquiring two unproven players, Hundley and pitcher Bill Hands, from the Giants for Don Landrum, Lindy McDaniel, and Jim Rittwage. Hands became a 20-game winner, and Hundley turned out to be the best Cub catcher since Gabby Hartnett.

RELATED LINKS Submissions » Catching, A Family Affair: A Father's Day Tribute by Chuck Rosciam » Iron Men Catchers: Catching the Majority of a Team's Games by Chuck Rosciam Around the Web » Randy Hundley from baseball-reference.com Jump directly to Library content from any website!

In the years 1966-69, Hundley caught nearly every Cub game. He set a ML record with 160 games behind the plate (147 complete) in 1968, and became the first player in history to catch 150 or more games for three consecutive years (1967-69). This iron man accomplishment stems in part from his own stamina, but was also a result of manager Leo Durocher's reluctance to play the second-stringers. When he won the Gold Glove in 1967, he committed just four errors for a NL record. Hundley popularized a new hinged glove that permitted a one-handed catching style, protecting his throwing hand. His arm was strong and accurate, he called pitches well, and hit with power. When the Cubs made their unsuccessful run for the flag in 1969, Hundley's fielding and 18 HR were key contributions, but he was thoroughly worn out by season's end.

The effects of overwork began to show the following April when Hundley injured his left knee and missed more than half the season. The right knee popped in 1971, limiting his action to nine games. Never the same after that, he drifted to the Twins in 1973, the Padres in 1974, and returned to finish with 15 games for the Cubs in 1976-77. (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. » May 19, 1966: In the 5th inning, Cubs C Randy Hundley triples off P Dick Farrell and steals home against his replacement Gary Kroll. The Cubs beat Houston, 5–1. » August 11, 1966: At Wrigley, the Cubs down Houston, 9–8, in 11 innings. The Cubs are led by C Randy Hundley who hits for the cycle and drives in three runs. Houston is ahead 8–5 at the end of seven innings in the nitecap when the game is suspended on account of darkness. It'll be completed on August 26, with Houston winning, 9–8. » May 20, 1967: At Wrigley, the Cubs pound Brooklyn, 20–3 to give Ken Holtzman (5–0) a win before he leaves tomorrow for a 6-month tour of duty in the Army. The hitting stars are Adolpho Phillips with 6 RBI, Randy Hundley with a grand slam, and Glenn Beckert with a double and an inside-the-park HR. Rounding out the scoring is Ted Savage's steal of home. In the Dodger dugout in 7th inning, Don Drysdale waves a white handkerchief of surrender. Holtzman will pitch on weekend passes and tack on another 4 wins without a loss. » July 3, 1967: At the launching pad in Atlanta, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, and Randy Hundley homer for Chicago, and Rico Carty and Felipe Alou answer for the Braves—all in the first inning, a major league record. Carty adds another homer later, but Glenn Beckert's three-run shot helps put the game out of reach. Ray Culp emerges the winner, 12–6. » 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. » May 13, 1969: Cubs 1B Ernie Banks has seven RBI—including his 1,500th—on two 3-run homers and a double in Chicago's 19–0 blowout against San Diego, matching the biggest shutout margin in modern National League history. Cubs pitcher Dick Selma is the recipient, allowing just three hits, while Dick Kelley takes the loss. The Pads swapped Selma earlier in the season and he gives the Cubs their 3rd shutout in a row. Banks, Billy Williams and Randy Hundley leave after Oliver's home run in the 6th makes it 14–0, and Don Young caps a 5-run 7th with a 3-run homer. Selma's shutout follows consecutive shutouts by Ferguson Jenkins and Ken Holtzman. » April 10, 1970: The Cubs are down 1–0 with two out in 9th to Montreal when Ron Santo singles and Johnny Callison homers for the 2–1 win. The Cubs will lose tomorrow then win 11 straight to take over 1st place. During the streak, however, they will suffer the loss of Randy Hundley when he is rammed at home by the Cards Carl Taylor. Hundley will tear his knee and will be out month, then two more, until July 10, with surgery. » March 12, 1971: Cubs iron-man C Randy Hundley suffers a severely sprained right knee. He will play only nine games all season before submitting to surgery. » June 20, 1972: Randy Hundley caps the scoring in the 1st inning with a grand slam as the Cubs score 7, all off Don Carrithers, enroute to a 15–8 pasting of the Giants. The first three runs come on three walks, two wild pitches and three singles. Hundley singles in another run in the 5-run 4th as the Cubs win their 7th straight. » September 2, 1972: Milt Pappas of the Cubs hurls a no-hit game in beating the Padres 8–0. Pappas has a perfect game until pinch-hitter Larry Stahl walks with two outs in the 9th inning. Pappas and C Randy Hundley both said of the pitches to Stahl, "They were so close I don't know how Stahl could take them, but they were balls." Pappas later commented on the plate umpire, "he had a chance to become famous as the umpire in the twelve perfect game in baseball history, but he blew it." Pappas retires former Cub Gary Jestadt to finish the game. » July 1, 1973: At Wrigley Field, the Mets edge the Cubs 6–5 in the 1st game of a doubleheader. Then its the Cubs turn, as Randy Hundley bangs a 9th inning 3-run homer to give Chicago the 6–5 edge. Ron Santo has seven hits for the afternoon, five in the nitecap » April 14, 1976: At Chicago, the Mets' Dave Kingman launches a home run estimated at 550 feet that plunks a house some 530 feet from home plate, but the Cubs survive to win, 6–5, and tie for 1st. Buddy Schultz cops his only victory of the year, and Hank Webb, in his only decision of the year, takes the loss. Capping the day is Randy Hundley, signed after the Padres release him, who ignites a 3-run rally in the 7th with a pinch double.