Chicago Cubs - 1930

In 1930, Woody and the rest of the team had a very good offensive year. Woody had his best batting average of his career with a .335 percentage. He compiled 214 hits, with 14 home runs, 36 doubles, 17 three-baggers and 100 walks resulting in 156 runs scored. Additionally, he was instrumental in Hack Wilson's record number of 190 RBI's, (a record that still stands today.) The Cubs were in the thick of the pennant race with the St. Louis Cardinals when "Marse" Joe McCarthy was replaced as manager by Roger Hornsby. Woody would later relate that he figured McCarthy would be replaced sooner because William Wrigley had paid so much for Hornsby, ($200,000, and five players) the year before. And with the loss of the World Series, it was inevitable. However, William Wrigley did not throw Joe out in the cold because he was instrumental in McCarthy getting the manager position for the NY Yankees, where he eventually acquired 6 World Series titles.

The starting line-up was:

Roger Hornsby, at age of 34, only played in 34 games. He still was a formable batter with a .309 batting average. Footsie Blair moved to second and Woody split his defense between short stop and third base allowing Clyde Beck playing time at short stop. Four other Cubs had batting averages over .300 including: Gabby Hartnett, (.339); Kiki Cuyler, (.356); Hack Wilson, (.355); and Riggs Stephenson, (.376). The team average score per game was 6.40 runs.

The Cubs ended the season 2 games behind league leader St. Louis which lost to the powerful Philadelphia Athletics in the 1931 World Series.

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