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 1996, Cubs great Bill Nicholson passed away at the age of 81. Though he is known to history by his nickname "Swish", Cubs fans didn't call him that, Brooklyn Dodgers fans did. The big left-handed hitter had a routine when he came up to bat. He would swing his bat across the plate several times after stepping in to face an opposing pitcher. Obnoxious Dodger fans would yell, "Swish, swish, swish," in unison with each of his practice swings.
He may have struck out a lot, but he was truly a feared slugger. One time he was even intentionally walked with the bases loaded. Swish led the league in homers in '43 and '44.
Nicholson was also part of the '45 pennant team, but his power started to go that year. He wouldn't know it for a few more years, but he was losing his eyesight because he was diabetic. It's ironic that he starred during the war years, because his life long dream was to serve as a naval officer. Nicholson was crushed when he was rejected for service because he was color-blind.
