“Handsome Ransom" Jackson was the Cubs’ regular third baseman from 1950 to 1955, and although some players complain about day games wearing them down, he enjoyed them. It was as close to being a nine-to-five job and a regular lifestyle as a ballplayer could get. Jackson played for Frankie Frisch, Phil Cavarretta, and Stan Hack and was present when young Ernie Banks and Gene Baker arrived in 1953, the first African American players on the Cubs. Jackson says he doesn’t recall a team meeting or special preparation. Banks and Baker just showed up and played. Jackson does remember some other details about playing in the ’50s.

I remember—and this is probably true for anyone who has ever played for the Cubs—they love the hours. It’s a daytime job. You go to work at 9:30 and get off at 4:30. It was a great place to play because of that.

Chicago fans were probably the best fans I was ever around. Back then, we drew only 6,000 or 7,000 a game—we were habitually a seventh- or eighth-place team. I think one year we came in fourth and everybody got a check for $200. The fans, you love the fans. I really enjoyed being around them. Of course, there were some . . . but the majority came out to see baseball and loved the Cubs win or lose.

I only see the Cubs on TV occasionally now. It’s the same old thing. They don’t win. I don’t know why they don’t win now. I played six years and we had some idiots up in the front office. They would automatically trade for any ballplayer that Brooklyn was ready to get rid of.

In 1955, I was the only Cub to go to the All-Star Game. I hit 21 home runs and I was out for a month and a half with an infected hand, and I had to fight for a $1,500 raise. Today, they get these three-, four-, five-year contracts. Back then, one year was the most, and they had people in the wings who were waiting to take our place. Today, you’ve got guys sitting on the bench making a couple million dollars.

In all honesty, Phil [Cavarretta] wasn’t the most brilliant manager in the world. We had some good guys and some idiots, too. Frankie Frisch, he was a great ballplayer but as a manager, he wasn’t very good.

We used to train on Catalina Island. Somebody had the great idea to go out two weeks early, and they had wild goats out there on the island. They had the idea to go out and run on the goat trails to build up leg strength and get in shape. Well, after two weeks, everybody got shinsplints.