Our "Random Retro Cubs" series is back. This time we take a look at Cubs' utility man of the 80s and 90s, Chico Walker.Years Played: 1980-1993
Teams Played For: Boston Red Sox (1980-1984), Chicago Cubs (1985-1987, 1991-1992), California Angels (1988), New York Mets (1992-1993)
Positions: Left Field (88 games) Right Field (42 games), Center Field (66 games), Third Base (122 games), Second Base (74 Games)
Bats/Throws: Switch/Right.
Career Line: .246 AVG, 150 R, 299 H, 17 HR, 116 RBI, 67SB, .305 OBP, .329 SLG, .634 OPS.
Best Cubs Season: 1991 - .257 AVG, 51 R, 96 H, 6 HR, 34 RBI, 13 SB, 33 BB, 57 K, .315 OBP, .337 SLG, .652 OPS.
Fun Facts: Walker was signed as a free agent by the Cubs on 3 separate occasions despite dismal stats. Walker was a favorite of Jim Frey who was both his manager and later his general manager while Walker was a part of the Cubs organization.
Walker still holds a record for the most at bats in a single pro baseball game. He recorded 14 ABs in a game for the Pawtucket Red Sox in the early 1980s. The game lasted 33 innings.
Chico is the Uncle of former professional Basketball player Antoine Walker.
My Take: My memories of Chico Walker are almost exclusively of his second stint with the Cubs in 1991-1992. I was still very young during his first stint, and didn't really become a big Cubs fan til 1988, when he had moved on.
My best and most vivid memory of Chico is of a game I watched while home sick from church. My family always went to church on Sundays and when I was younger, if I was sick, my mom would stay home with me and make sure I stayed in bed with no TV. That Summer My mom had mentioned in passing that once I was in 4th grade if I was sick, she would have me stay home from school or church alone from then on. It was too big of a hassle to stay home with me and I was now old enough. Well that September, I wasted no time in taking advantage. I planned a day, I knew I could watch the Cubs on WGN.
The game was against the Expos. The team I hated most back then. They were the team the Cubs battled for the East division title back in 1989 and for a while after that, they were my most hated team. Chico batted leadoff that day and hit 2 long home runs in his first 2 at bats of the game. I remember jumping up and down, running around my living room, having the time of my life while supposedly being sick. That is one Cubs memory that has always stuck. Researching it now, I see the Cubs actually ended up losing the game, which I didn't remember. The game took place September 15, 1991.
Years later, I bought a Chico Walker autographed baseball card from a baseball card booth at a mall in Las Vegas..... pretty sure it's still laying around here somewhere. Chico will always have his place in my Cubs memories.
