Cubs 365, March 12

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 1939, future Cub Johnny Callison was born. The Cubs acquired him in November of 1969, in a trade that they hoped would put them over the top. They traded pitcher Dick Selma (who had been a favorite of the Bleacher Bums because of his cheerleading routine from the bullpen) and a young prospect, to the Phillies for the former all-star outfielder.

Unfortunately for the Cubs, that young prospect turned out to be Oscar Gamble. Gamble was only 19 years old at the time, but he had already gotten a taste of the majors with the Cubs.

How did that trade turn out? Gamble played in the majors until 1985, hitting 200 home runs. Of those 200 home runs, only one of them came for the Cubs. He went on to play in the World Series for the Yankees, and hit .358 for them in 1979. Most horribly, his best season was with the Southside Hitmen 1977 Chicago White Sox.

Callison had one semi-decent year, then was done. Needless to say, he wasn't the final piece to take them over the top.