Cubs Encyclopedia

Jerry Kindall (1956-61)

MLB Career: 9 Seasons, -3.0 WAR
Cubs WAR: -3.4

Debuted with the Cubs 7/1/56, the day after signing a bonus baby contract, but only played in 16 games the rest of the season…Was a backup in 1957 before being allowed to spend 1958 & 1959 in the minors…Hit 13 HR in 1962 w/CLE

Rick Wrona (1988-90)
Cubs WAR: -0.1
MLB Career: 6 Seasons, -.03 WAR

Drafted by the Cubs in 1985...Had best season on 1989 division winners...178 PA in MLB career ending in 1994...Continued in AAA for four more seasons…His brother, Bill, tagged out Phil Stephenson in the 1982 CWS hidden ball play.

“How old is he?” she asks.

“Oh, he’s still in his Cody years,” I say, “but he’ll be a Tyler soon. Thankfully we’re still a decade from his Logan phase, but I’m getting nervous for when he’s a full-grown Spencer…”

Doug Strange (1991-92)
Cubs WAR: -1.2
MLB Career: 9 Seasons, 0.5 WAR

Signed to play at Iowa in June 1990…117 PA for the Cubs resulted in a slash line of .182/.261/.233...Starter in Texas in 1993 who earned 2.5 WAR with an 86 OPS+...Also played for Mariners, Expos & Pirates until 1998

Roger Metzger (1970)
MLB Career: 11 Seasons, 3.5 WAR
Cubs WAR: -0.1

Cubs 1969 1st Round pick…Grounded out to 1B 2x as the starting SS June 16 as his only appearance as a Cub…Sent to Houston for Hector Torres after the season…Starting light-hitting SS for next 7 Astros seasons, won 1973 Gold Glove

Garry Jestadt (1971)
MLB Career: 3 Seasons, -0.3 WAR
Cubs WAR: -0.1

Chicago native originally drafted by the Cubs but taken by the Expos in the 1968 expansion draft…Traded back to the Cubs in 1970…PH 2x and took 1 AB as a 3B…Sent to San Diego in April ‘71 and spent most of 1971-72 as a backup 2B/3B

Doug Strange (1991-92)
Cubs WAR: -1.2
MLB Career: 9 Seasons, 0.5 WAR

Signed to play at Iowa in June 1990…117 PA for the Cubs resulted in a slash line of .182/.261/.233...Starter in Texas in 1993 who earned 2.5 WAR with an 86 OPS+...Also played for Mariners, Expos & Pirates until 1998

Garry Jestadt (1971)
MLB Career: 3 Seasons, -0.3 WAR
Cubs WAR: -0.1

Chicago native originally drafted by the Cubs but taken by the Expos in the 1968 expansion draft…Traded back to the Cubs in 1970…PH 2x and took 1 AB as a 3B…Sent to San Diego in April ‘71 and spent most of 1971-72 as a backup 2B/3B

Gene Hiser (1971-75)

MLB Career: 5 Seasons w/Cubs, -1.9 WAR

1970 1st Rd pick who shuttled between AAA Wichita and the Wrigley bench…Appeared in 204 G as a Cub but only started 40…Seemed to solve AAA in ‘72 & ‘75 but the production didn’t continue…Spent all of ‘73 w/Cubs, accruing a .483 OPS

Tommy Shields (1993)
Cubs WAR: -0.1
MLB Career: 2 Seasons, -0.1 WAR

All 36 PA of his career were with the Cubs (was a pinch runner for Baltimore in 1992)...Hit a double off of Doug Brocail 10/2/93 in SD…Finished career w/Iowa in 1994…Minor league coach and manager since 1996, w/Royals org in 2025

Gene Hiser (1971-75)

MLB Career: 5 Seasons w/Cubs, -1.9 WAR

1970 1st Rd pick who shuttled between AAA Wichita and the Wrigley bench…Appeared in 204 G as a Cub but only started 40…Seemed to solve AAA in ‘72 & ‘75 but the production didn’t continue…Spent all of ‘73 w/Cubs, accruing a .483 OPS

Rob Sperring (1974-76)

MLB Career: 4 Seasons, -2.0 WAR
Cubs WAR: -1.6

Poor-hitting part-time utility-man…Showed offensive promise in the AA Texas League but not in AAA…Sent to SF as part of the Bill Madlock trade and then to Houston in Spring Training 1977…Retired after 1978-79 at AAA Charleston

Lance Johnson (1997-99)
Cubs WAR: 0.7
MLB Career: 14 Seasons, 30.2 WAR

Traded for Turk Wendell and others in August 1997...Did not fulfill the need for a catalyst at the top of the order...Excellent career before arriving in Wrigley...Last played in the Atlantic League in 2002

Tommy Shields (1993)
Cubs WAR: -0.1
MLB Career: 2 Seasons, -0.1 WAR

All 36 PA of his career were with the Cubs (was a pinch runner for Baltimore in 1992)...Hit a double off of Doug Brocail 10/2/93 in SD…Finished career w/Iowa in 1994…Minor league coach and manager since 1996, w/Royals org in 2025

Dave Martinez (1986-88, 2000)
Cubs WAR: 0.6
MLB Career 16 seasons, 19.1 WAR

2.1 WAR in 1987 as a 22 year old CF…Traded for Mitch Webster in July... Had 3 fine season w/White Sox...Returned to Cubs for 4 weeks in 2000 season, then dealt for Brant Brown...Won World Series as Cubs coach & Nats manager

Rob Sperring (1974-76)

MLB Career: 4 Seasons, -2.0 WAR
Cubs WAR: -1.6

Poor-hitting part-time utility-man…Showed offensive promise in the AA Texas League but not in AAA…Sent to SF as part of the Bill Madlock trade and then to Houston in Spring Training 1977…Retired after 1978-79 at AAA Charleston

Augie Ojeda (2000-03)
Cubs WAR: -0.4
MLB Career: 9 seasons, 3.3 WAR

Won bronze w/Team USA at the 1996 Olympics…Acquired from O’s…Light hitting utility infielder (43 OPS+ w/Cubs)….Had more success w/Minnesota and playing time w/Arizona…Returned to Cubs org. in 2011 but was released from Iowa in July

Lance Johnson (1997-99)
Cubs WAR: 0.7
MLB Career: 14 Seasons, 30.2 WAR

Traded for Turk Wendell and others in August 1997...Did not fulfill the need for a catalyst at the top of the order...Excellent career before arriving in Wrigley...Last played in the Atlantic League in 2002

Steve Ontiveros (1977-80)

MLB Career: 8 Seasons, 4.8 WAR
Cubs WAR: 3.3

Sporting News minor league POY in 1973…910 PAs w/SF before arriving at 25 yrs old…Acquired w/Bobby Murcer for Bill Madlock…Best season was his first as the Cubs 3B, his HRs spiked (10)…Starred in Japan after his Cubs release

Dave Martinez (1986-88, 2000)
Cubs WAR: 0.6
MLB Career 16 seasons, 19.1 WAR

2.1 WAR in 1987 as a 22 year old CF…Traded for Mitch Webster in July... Had 3 fine season w/White Sox...Returned to Cubs for 4 weeks in 2000 season, then dealt for Brant Brown...Won World Series as Cubs coach & Nats manager

Bill Hayes (1980-81)

MLB Career: 2 Seasons w/Cubs, 0.0 WAR

1978 1st Rd pick moved quickly to AAA as he showed good offensive potential for a C…Appeared in the last few games of ‘80 season & one inning in 1981…Played 6 more years in AAA & managed in the minors for 14 years…Longtime Giants bullpen C

Kenny Lofton w/Cubs

Kenny Lofton (2003)
Cubs WAR: 1.8
MLB Career: 17 seasons, 68.3 WAR

Ranked 10th among all CF according to JAWS…6x All-Star w/Cle…Traded to the Cubs w/Aramis Ramirez for three minor leaguers to replace an injured Corey Patterson…120 OPS+ while leading Cubs to NLCS…Traded 3 times at the July deadline

Augie Ojeda (2000-03)
Cubs WAR: -0.4
MLB Career: 9 seasons, 3.3 WAR

Won bronze w/Team USA at the 1996 Olympics…Acquired from O’s…Light hitting utility infielder (43 OPS+ w/Cubs)….Had more success w/Minnesota and playing time w/Arizona…Returned to Cubs org. in 2011 but was released from Iowa in July

Steve Ontiveros (1977-80)

MLB Career: 8 Seasons, 4.8 WAR
Cubs WAR: 3.3

Sporting News minor league POY in 1973…910 PAs w/SF before arriving at 25 yrs old…Acquired w/Bobby Murcer for Bill Madlock…Best season was his first as the Cubs 3B, his HRs spiked (10)…Starred in Japan after his Cubs release

Terry Francona (1986)

MLB Career: 10 Seasons, -3.0 WAR
Cubs WAR: -0.8

Born in Aberdeen, SD while his dad managed the Pheasants…1st Rd pick of the Expos, but first drafted by the Cubs in the 1977 2nd Rd…Fast tracked to majors but lacked power as 1B/OF type…3x Manager of the Year & 2 World Series

Kenny Lofton w/Cubs

Kenny Lofton (2003)
Cubs WAR: 1.8
MLB Career: 17 seasons, 68.3 WAR

Ranked 10th among all CF according to JAWS…6x All-Star w/Cle…Traded to the Cubs w/Aramis Ramirez for three minor leaguers to replace an injured Corey Patterson…120 OPS+ while leading Cubs to NLCS…Traded 3 times at the July deadline

Jose Macias (2004-05)
Cubs WAR: -0.6
MLB Career: 7 seasons, 1.8 WAR

Utility player whose BB% collapsed in his last years in the majors…Had a fine 2001 w/Tigers when he stole bases and drew walks…Continued to play in Japan & Mexico another 6 seasons after leaving the Cubs

Bill Hayes (1980-81)

MLB Career: 2 Seasons w/Cubs, 0.0 WAR

1978 1st Rd pick moved quickly to AAA as he showed good offensive potential for a C…Appeared in the last few games of ‘80 season & one inning in 1981…Played 6 more years in AAA & managed in the minors for 14 years…Longtime Giants bullpen C

Tony Womack (2003, 2006)
Cubs WAR: 0.3
Career: 13 seasons, 2.4 WAR

Led the league in SB in his first three full years in PIT…Acquired in late August ‘03 but did not appear in the postseason…His best season was 2005 w/Cards when he had his peak OPS+, 91...Career ended with brief stint w/Cubs in 2006

Terry Francona (1986)

MLB Career: 10 Seasons, -3.0 WAR
Cubs WAR: -0.8

Born in Aberdeen, SD while his dad managed the Pheasants…1st Rd pick of the Expos, but first drafted by the Cubs in the 1977 2nd Rd…Fast tracked to majors but lacked power as 1B/OF type…3x Manager of the Year & 2 World Series