Chubby Cubbies: Rick Reuschel

I loved Rick Reuschel, he was a rock for the Cubs. After being traded to the Yankees, he was asked how it felt to put on the pinstripes. He said it was nothing new, he had been wearing pinstripes for the Cubs. Nice.

As for pudgy players: How about Rick’s brother Paul? Or Barry Foote?

I was a big fan of Rick Reuschel and followed his career all the way to the end in 1991. I hated to see him leave the Windy City and I think the Cubs were too quick to give up on him after the 1984 season. The former Chubby Cubbie fashioned an 11-3 regular season record against his old club with a 1.66 ERA. “Big Daddy” also got the pennant-clinching victory for San Francisco in game 5 of the 1989 NLCS with a 3-2 win over Chicago. One of the more memorable quotes about Reuschel came from former Pirates GM Syd Thrift who once said, “Rick Reuschel has a brain in his arm.” Reuschel, now 60, is slim and trim these days and in excellent shape. At a 20 year reunion for the ’89 N.L. Champs this past June, Kevin Mitchell actually described him as “Slim Daddy.”

A couple non-playing Chubby Cubbies who come to mind: Herman Franks & Don Zimmer.

That Rick Reuschel is now 60 makes me feel old.

Paul Reuschel is defintely slated for a future post, and Zimm and Herm are good calls!

didn’t he have a brother who also pitched?

Rick was outstanding