Sunday, March 25, 2012

Cubs 365, March 25

Every day in 2012, the Just One Bad Century blog will feature a story about this day in Cubs history. We're calling it Cubs 365.

On this day in 1909, future Cub Dutch Leonard was born. He was one of the oldest players to ever suit up for the Cubs. Dutch was already 40 when the Cubs acquired the three-time All-Star in 1949.

The Cubs switched the knuckleballer to the bullpen, and in 1951, Dutch Leonard made the all-star team a fourth time, at the tender age of 42. Dutch Leonard's impressive 20-year big league career ended in 1953. He was 44 years old at the time; the oldest player in baseball. After his retirement, Dutch became the Cubs pitching coach for three seasons.