Jim Hickman passed away yesterday at the age of 79. Jim began his major league career with the Mets, but he played more games, hit more home runs, and drove in more runs with the Cubs. He played with the Cubs from 1968 through 1973. In 1970, he hit 32 home runs, batted .315 and drove in 115 runs. It goes without saying that he made the All Star Game that year. In fact, he got the hit that drove in the winning run in that game.
I have a picture signed by all eleven players who played for the Cubs on Opening Day, 1969. Four of them are gone now. Willie Smith was the first. Then Ron and Ernie. Now Jim Hickman.
Those remaining are Randy Hundley, Billy Williams, Glenn Beckert, Don Kessinger, Fergie Jenkins, Don Young and Phil Regan. Which is important because no matter how good the Cubs are this year (or any year), for Cubs fans of a certain age, the Cubs of the late 1960s and early 1970s will always be our team.
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