According to a release by MLB on April 8, fans can visit MLB.com/FranchiseFour to select the four most impactful players for each franchise who best represent the history of each franchise out of eight choices from its lineage. There is also a space for a write-in selection. Voting is live now until May 8.
The Ballot:
Ernie Banks (1953-1971)
Mordecai Brown (1904-1912, 1916)
Gabby Hartnett (1922-1940)
Fergie Jenkins (1966-1973, 1982-1983)
Ryne Sandberg (1982-1994, 1996-1997)
Ron Santo (1960-1973)
Sammy Sosa (1992-2004)
Billy Williams (1959-1974)
Shoestring Catches Recommendations for the Chicago Cubs:
Ernie Banks: Known as “Mr. Cub” after playing his entire career in Chicago, Ernie Banks was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977. Banks hit 512 home runs in his time with the Cubs and blasted over 40 in a season five times. He was the National League’s Most Valuable Player in 1958 and 1959, while appearing in 14 all-star games.
Mordecai Brown: A six-time 20-game winner for Chicago, Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown led the Cubs to a pair of world championships in 1907 and 1908. Brown had a career-high 29 victories in 1908 and won 239 overall and had a 2.06 ERA. He was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1949.
Gabby Hartnett: The NL MVP in 1935, Gabby Hartnett played in four World Series for the Cubs with the last being in 1938 when he was also the team’s manager. Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955, Hartnett was a six-time all-star.
Ryne Sandberg: After joining the Cubs via trade in 1982, Ryne Sandberg became a fixture at second base. Sandberg was the NL MVP in 1984 and led the league with 40 homers in 1990. A 10-time all-star with nine Gold Gloves, Sandberg was inducted in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 2005.