Among my earliest Cubs memories are of the 1971 season, exactly 50 years ago. The Cubs were on the fading end of their late 60s peak. Billy Williams and Ron Santo were still near their tops and Fergie Jenkins won the Cy Young Award, though center field was still a mystery. Joe Pepitone largely took over for Ernie Banks, even more so than in 1970. The bullpen was Phil Regan and guys Cubs fans didn’t want pitching in close games. However, what made 1971 what it was? The Cubs ran through an almost unfathomable six catchers. Are the 2021 Cubs to a point where they should surrender the future for a short-term catching backstop?
The Cubs’ backup backstop blues
