It seemed like such a good idea at the time.
Todd Hundley. Born during the 1969 season in Virginia but raised in the Chicago area, graduate of Fremd High School in Palatine, son of one of the revered Cubs of 1969... and a guy who had hit 24 or more homers in four of the five seasons from 1996-2000 for the Mets and Dodgers (his 41 homers in 1996 is still the Mets' team record, tied by Carlos Beltran in 2006).
And the Cubs, losers of 97 games in 2000, had only 36-year-old Joe Girardi on the roster to catch (Jeff Reed, the other catcher in 2000, had retired at the end of the season).
So GM Andy MacPhail signed Hundley to a four-year, $24 million contract. For a catcher at Hundley's age at the time (turned 32 in May 2001), it might have been one too many years, but it didn't seem that much at the time, and the move was widely hailed by fans and media alike.
It started turning sour before Hundley played even one game in his hometown. Manager Don Baylor decided to start Girardi, now Hundley's backup, on Opening Day, claiming it was a better matchup against Montreal's Javier Vazquez, the scheduled visiting starter. (Sounds strange, I know: Girardi hit righthanded and Hundley was a switch-hitter, but that was Baylor for you. FWIW, Hundley was 1-for-8 vs. Vazquez in his career; Girardi was 3-for-10.) Hundley whined and complained, and then when he did play, he didn't hit. His highest average in 2001 was .213 -- and that was on April 26, when he was 10-for-47. He wound up hitting .187 with 12 homers in 79 games -- a decent power output, although he still had a Neifi-esque .374 slugging percentage. He was also miffed that Damon Buford, who had been a teammate of his with the 1995 Mets, wouldn't give up his #9 (Randy's number) so that Todd could wear it. Todd took #99 instead, but quickly switched to #9 when Buford was released on May 16, 2001. At one point he flipped off some fans at Wrigley Field and that, along with the poor performance, turned fans against him and he was routinely booed the rest of his time in Chicago.
The next year was just about as bad, and Todd did hit a little better: .211/.301/.421, but at one point gave an interview in which he said it was "too cold" to hit early in the season, thus giving rise to what some of us called the "Too List": too cold, then too wet, then too hot, then too early (Todd wasn't fond of all the day games)... after Baylor was fired, Hundley sat on the bench quite a bit, playing in only 47 games in the second half of the season. He hit his 200th career homer off ex-Cub Steve Trachsel on September 18, 2002, his final homer as a Cub. The Cubs lost the game anyway, 2-1.
Finally, Jim Hendry, who had replaced MacPhail as GM halfway through the 2002 season, found a way for Todd to contribute. He sent him and the two years remaining on his contract (and backup OF Chad Hermansen) to the Dodgers, who wanted to dump the contracts of Mark Grudzielanek and Eric Karros.
You know the rest of the story. Karros and Grudzielanek became key parts of the 2003 Cub NL Central champions, and Todd... well, he played in 21 games for the Dodgers, catching in only 10 of them, and sat out the 2004 season, the final year of the contract, with an injury.
0 recs | 67 comments
Boo
Not Hundley, but Al. I think this entire series of posts is in bad taste. If this is what the Winter content is going to be, I’ll see you in March.
Orval Overall - October 30, 2008
Seriously?
This is all in fun. I’m not sure why you think it’s in bad taste.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
Boo...
Ah… come on Orval. Why are you so desperate to ruin things for everybody. It’s not like we are actually trying to ruin anybody’s lives or anything. We are fans, and we have opinions. Sometimes their positive, sometimes not. I don’t live everything said on BCB either, but I’m not out to ruin anyones experience posting.
(I say all of this because he was complaining on the “Worst in a Cubs Uniform Board.”)
TheHawkRules - October 30, 2008
Meant LOVE
I don’t love everything said on BCB either, but I’m not out to ruin anyones experience posting.
TheHawkRules - October 30, 2008
Hundley
Randy’s family is friends with my sister in laws family and Todd is actually a really nice guy.
I am just happy that the whole thing didn’t sour Randy’s relationship with the Cubs.
puckishcubsfan - October 30, 2008
Todd Hundley has to be one of the Cubs' worst free agent signings ever
I can’t think of a Cubs player more hated by the fans than him. Thank god Jim Hendry was able to get something of worth from him.
Mordecai - October 30, 2008
LaTroy Hawkins
was more hated.
elgato - October 30, 2008
LaTroy was terrible
but he wasn’t a jerk to the fans like Todd was.
PurpleLineToWrigley - October 30, 2008
arguable
Hawkins was active in the community, FWIW.
elgato - October 30, 2008
LaTroy
I will defend.
Hundley not so much…..
mjk83 - October 30, 2008
Yeah, but...
Dusty Baker was a moron sending him in as a closer when it was obvious Hawkins wasn’t able to close games effectively. Hawkins was an 8th inning man, not a 9th.
Keith - October 30, 2008
I won't defend Dusty very often
but looking back at the ‘04 team — after Borowski got hurt — I don’t think Dusty had a better option than Hawkins. Farnsworth? Francis Beltran? Wuertz? Remlinger?
elgato - October 30, 2008
Dempster.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
haters
Felix Heredia? Antonio “El Pulpo” Alfonseca?
jlpcubsfan - October 30, 2008
Hundley was booed mercilessly during his Cubs tenure.
At the same time, his mother was quite ill, and eventually passed after Todd was back in Chicago. Additionally, Todd had a serious back injury that greatly affected his time with the Cubs. I can understand booing bad performance, dumb quotes & the like. Todd wasn’t the best, model roster player when he was in Chicago. However, I know that he tried quite hard to get it back- but his back wouldn’t allow it, and his head was messed up because of his mother’s illness and eventual passing. The fans would not let up on Hundley, and I can understand his reactions.
I will never forgive those fans who heaped on Hundley during what was probably the toughest time in his life. It was shameful then, and it is still shameful now…
Jimmyeatworld - October 30, 2008
Perhaps so.
But instead of trying to explain all this, Todd bristled and shot back at the fans. Maybe we’d have had a little more sympathy if we’d have known all of this at the time.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
As I said, it was a merciless piling on by the fans.
I heard vulgar, vile things that were shouted at Todd, that I can’t even say here. It was known that his mother was ill because Randy spoke about it frequently. Todd stated many times that he didn’t want to, and tried very hard not to, bring his personal issues to the park. Todd didn’t bring it up, because he didn’t think he had to defend himself. When it became apparent that he was going to be verbally abused, no matter what he did- he lashed out. I can totally understand this reaction.
Todd tried to deal with his mother’s illness and death in a private manner in his hometown. His hometown never let up on him, and demanded he perform- even when it was obvious that his back was going to end his career in just a few years.
Maybe we would have had a little more sympathy if we’d known? That’s fair I guess. However, in the end analysis; I think we all need to remember that these guys are not just baseball players- they are human beings with feelings, and lives that become difficult and troublesome- just like the rest of us.
Jimmyeatworld - October 30, 2008
Good Point, But...
…where was the Cubs management while this was going on? I feel bad for him that things went so sour, but, it appears nothing was handled right by either side. I think the front office, whoever was in charge at the time, should have stood up and said something public… if this would have happened, I’m sure the verbal abuse would have mostly ended on both sides.
TheHawkRules - October 30, 2008
I didn't know that his back was a problem.
That’s the problem with most players and the management is that they don’t want to admit there is an injury in fear of helping the opposition. So by hiding the injury, the fans boo and then when it all comes out, we all feel bad. Not sure what the solution is.
tucsoncubsfan - October 30, 2008
Yea, the back wasnt an issue when he cashed the $24 million dollars..
…family crisis are hard on everyone and everyone has to deal with them in their own way but it was his attitude and actions on the field that most fans loathed him for.
A lack a production certainly didnt help but he was perhaps one of the surliest and bitterest professional athletes I have ever seen in person and he was reportedly seen out drunk all the time.
Regardless of his situation he comported himself with zero class and as a representative of an organization that gave him millions and revered his father. That is unacceptable in any walk of life.
JB 23 - October 30, 2008
Randy's Stats vs. Todd's Stats
Randy hit .236 for his career. Todd hit for a career batting average of .234. Of course, Todd had an OBP of .320 and SLG of .443, while Randy’s OBP was only .292 and SLG was only .350. I was a little surprised to see that Randy had a better batting average.
I’ve heard that Randy was a much better defensive catcher than Todd was. Randy’s best years were in the late 1960’s before I was born. Statistics often don’t tell the tale accurately when judging defense. I’m depending on those of you older than I am to tell me how good Randy was behind the plate.
memphiscub - October 30, 2008
Todd was really an offensive catcher...
Randy was great behind the plate. Not a perennial all-star, but dependable & sturdy. He knows the game inside & out, did a good job with the pitching staff & had their respect. Randy came from a time when catchers were really everyday guys- he made the bulk of the starts behind the plate- and has the crippled knees & back to go with it. If you want a stat. that translates to today- check out the number of games he caught on a yearly basis, and imagine that many of them were day games, with heat & other factors figuring in. Suffice it to say that Randy Hundley was a stud, a real tough guy.
Jimmyeatworld - October 30, 2008
The difference is not only the defense.
Randy Hundley played in a low-offense era, the late 1960’s (at least the bulk of his playing time was then). He hit .226 in 1968 — but the entire National League hit only .243 (comparison point: the entire NL hit .260 in 2008).
Randy caught 160 games in 1968, a record that likely will never be broken. And if you think that’s a record that was set because he caught a lot of partial games — not true. He started 156 games and 15 times caught both ends of a doubleheader.
Naturally, after catching 150+ games three years in a row, his knees started to go; one blew out in 1970 and the other a year later, and he was pretty much done at 28. He tried to come back in ’72, but at a much lower offensive level, and then was traded to the Twins.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
Hundly was a horse...
…and we was one of the better defensive catchers in the game for about a 5-7 year period. His offensive numbers aren’t impressive, but he did have the knack for the big hit once in a while.
I have met him a couple times, as he plays some golf with one of my brothers. He is a great guy, and he is paying the price of all the years beind the dish with numerous aches and pains.
MPH73 - October 30, 2008
Not to mention he was the guy who pioneered the fantasy camp concept.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
Todd Hundley's personal choices led to his demise
I’ll leave it at that. Andy McPhail was guilty of not doing thorough enough homework. I hope Hundley has been able to overcome.
MDBNIU - October 30, 2008
Exhibit A
Why do I think this is in bad taste? Many reasons. One is that it invites this kind of Page Six-style blind item implying that Hundley’s failures at the plate were because he was a drunk (or whatever implication is meant here).
Additional reasons include that this kind of negative posting is inspired by the frustration we all feel over the 07/08 playoff collapses, neither of which Todd Hundley had anything to do with.
As I said, Adios, I look forward to reading the Spring Training previews.
Orval Overall - October 30, 2008
Well, for one thing...
… not all these posts are going to be about that sort of thing (and I made NO implications of any kind — I simply stated that Hundley played poorly when he was expected to do well).
It has NOTHING to do with the playoff collapses either — in fact, it’s supposed to be a reminder of how GOOD we have it now compared to the past.
There will be humorous stories too. Just wait. And it’s not going to be the entire offseason content. Hope to see you stick around.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
Yeah I feel so bad for him and his $24MM
Don’t fall off your high horse on the way out.
PurpleLineToWrigley - October 30, 2008
Also....
… this allowed some discussion of how GOOD Todd’s dad was, and how sad it was that his career was shortened by injuries.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
Exactly. And how he is still a part of the organization.
PurpleLineToWrigley - October 30, 2008
I actually liked listening to Randy on the radio...
… during the few times he filled in for Ron Santo. He’s probably too old (67 next June) to be considered a successor, but he did a nice job.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
His career was shortened because of alcholism
MDBNIU - October 30, 2008
... and your college baseball career was shortened by lack of talent...
Almost everybody, (esp. ball players), drank heavily in those days. LBJ frequently consumed a fifth of scotch a night… It’s not an excuse, but to say that his career was shortened by alcoholism is not entirely accurate- accuracy counts Blue. His career was cut short by injuries. Why don’t you come down off your perch and join the human race?
Jimmyeatworld - October 30, 2008
You're entitled to your belief
I know directly in this circumstance. Good friend of mine is longtime friend of Hundley. These days Todd doesn’t shy away from the fact that he has battled alcholism for a great portion of his life.
MDBNIU - October 30, 2008
Let's make it clear here.
Randy Hundley’s career was shortened by injuries.
Todd Hundley’s career was also shortened by injuries… and alcoholism, which MDBNIU correctly states is something Todd has publicly admitted he has battled.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
noted...
Jimmyeatworld - October 30, 2008
I have no bone to pick with Todd Hundley
I have empathy for those who suffer from addiction and disease. It’s unfortunate that his playing days in Chicago were terrible. But the more important issue is that Todd Hundley be able to conquer his demons and lead a healthy, productive life and be good son, husband and father. Baseball is just a game.
MDBNIU - October 30, 2008
Exactly...
Bravo Blue!
Jimmyeatworld - October 30, 2008
From all indications
From all indications Todd has. Last time I talked to my sister in law about this she said Todd is doing really well.
puckishcubsfan - October 30, 2008
Yeah he moved to STL.
His family is still in Chicago burbs.
PurpleLineToWrigley - October 30, 2008
Probably best for him not to be in Chicago.
Good luck to him. Hope he does well.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
Al- May I request Mel Rojas
as a future topic of one of these posts? Or can we do a poll where we vote on who we would like you to research and compile your thoughts about? Could make things interesting :)
PurpleLineToWrigley - October 30, 2008
Go look at the original post..
… this one. Mel is mentioned in there, along with about 50 others. I’m taking most of the ideas out of that post, plus adding a few of my own.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
waitaminute...
weren’t you the one blasting Josh Hamilton a few months ago?
tootle - October 31, 2008
Ever notice...
… that when sanctimonious people say goodbye, nobody ever really misses them or notices that they are gone after a while?
Ross - October 30, 2008
What this post does
is explain what was going on. Since I didn’t know (or probably just forgot) about Todd’s bad back, this post was very informative for me. I’m sure other posts by Al will have information that may not be positive but will bring out other information from other posts that otherwise would not be known.
tucsoncubsfan - October 30, 2008
What a great trade that was...
Im still a little perplexed as to why they went with Todd Walker over Mark G a few years later though.
bren - October 30, 2008
That's the whole "GOTTAGETALEFTHANDEDHITTERWITHSOMEPOP" argument.
You can see where that got us (at least in the case of Walker).
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
Hmmmm...
Why does that sound familiar? Maybe I saw a recent post about it.
rlpete - October 30, 2008
Or maybe 50 recent posts about it.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
So a bit of compromising chemistry for needs with Todd Walker?
Gosh, seems like history could repeat itself – hope management learned their lesson.
Bill Potter - October 30, 2008
Todd
I think the Hundley situation was excacerbated (sp) by how excited we all were to have Randy’s boy come home.
Those seasons were also tough on Santo to call because not only are he and Randy best friends Todd is his Godson.
And to the above post Todd’s mom died the winter before he signed here.
puckishcubsfan - October 30, 2008
Of course that was the case.
Hometown boy, higher expectations. Todd wasn’t capable of handling that, for whatever reason.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
Hundley...
I remember being very excited when they signed Todd Hundley. He was the type of hitter that I wanted to see in the Cubs line up. I am still disappointed that things turned so sour…
From what I hear, Todd had some problems and really turned his life around for the better. This is something which should be publically praised, not ignored.
Hey, these things happened. Not every free-agent becomes a super-star. It’s always good looking back and learning…
Go Cubs Go ’09
TheHawkRules - October 30, 2008
In my relatively short time as a Cub fan...
…I think the fan “booing” started with Todd, and never left.
derv - October 30, 2008
a singularly gripping observation
and one that I think sounds pretty darn close to the truth
cubnational - October 30, 2008
I have nothing against Todd Hundley the man.
Todd Hundley, the player as a Cub, well…
He was signed to a big money deal and came with huge expectations based upon his stats and reputation from the Mets. His performance and attitude toward the fans caused the reaction.
All said, I’m certain his mother’s health and back issues impacted his outlook and behaviour. As a fan, my issue was he was signed to a big money deal to be a power hitting catcher based on those 41 HR’s. He didn’t deliver and was portrayed in the local media as a complainer.
I’m happy to hear he is doing well, but still believe he is one of the worst Cubs of all time.
N Oakley - October 30, 2008
Regardless of why,
Todd Hundley was a terrible player who acted surly toward the fans. These are on field occurrences. So fans booed. If someone doesn’t like to be booed or verbally abused they should get into an occupation that doesn’t involve public performance. At least when fans boo nowadays, someone isn’t thrown to the lions.
Topics like this are about a player and his stats. One of the things that makes the relationship between fans and players unique is the way we talk about their stats. In what other major sport do the fans take score? I know not many do, nowadays, (I remember one time when I was taking score, a nearby fan said to me, “It’s like you’re doing math homework at the game.” I don’t think I ever took score again.)
Hundley’s stats were awful. That leads us to, fairly or unfairly, speculate. I will mention the 400 lb. Brady Anderson in the living room: Was Hundley juiced? This is fair, because managament and fans make decisions about contracts and tickets. Are those buyers getting what they paid for?
What really angered me about it was the way the Trib and WGN covered for the guy. I don’t mean they need to expose his personal life, but they should be honest about his play. Case in point happened in June against the Mets. I took mental note of it when it happened. This was only the second series between the two. (They had opened in Japan I believe.) It was, at most, only the second time we had seen Steve Trachsel. We had seen Hundley, by this time, for 3 months. Remember. his average peaked in April. He was already awful. But the Cubs pounded Steve Trachsel that night, hard. What does Chip Caray say? He tells us what a big problem the Mets have because they have signed Trachsel to an expensive multi-year contract. He never, in all of Hundley’s years in Chicago, said something similar about him and the Cubs. It dramatically pointed out to me the “unhealthiness” of a major media outlet owning something they cover on a daily basis.
I know this is much more than the topic deserves (and says more about my life than Hundley’s), but it did sour me quite a bit on Cubs’ management and players.
Anyway, I think it is a great topic, Al.
mattvegas - October 30, 2008
+ 100
cubnational - October 30, 2008
Most of the more recent worst Cubs on the original post last week
and here with Hundley might also be called most disappointing since they are often players that came over with great hopes – Hundley, Hawkins etc. were payed a lot of money and didn’t play well. Now anyone who’s been a Cub fan for a long time knows that their were many catchers worse than Todd and pitchers worse than Hawkins, but guys like these personify so much that is disappointing about the Cubs.
I like the topic, Al. After the pitiful three game meltdown, t’s very cathartic.
the nth - October 30, 2008
FWIW
The year the Cubs opened in Japan was 2000 — the year Todd signed with the Cubs was 2001… so this must have happened in 2001.
Al Yellon - October 30, 2008
Gee,my memory faltered;
that’s never happened before in my entire life. LOL
Actually, that makes my point even more. I looked at the game stats at baseball-reference.com, and noticed that the Cubs hadn’t seen Trachsel at all yet that year (as a Met). And his won/loss record was terrible, 2-10. I was just wishing that the fans could have gotten the same candor about the Cubs players as they were being given about opponents. Of course, when Caray and Stone finally did that in 2004, the players cried and management stabbed the announcers in the back. Sox listeners owe Kent Mercker big time.
mattvegas - October 31, 2008
I really didn't care for him here...
…BUT, this article was informative. Whoever said it was in bad taste is missing the point. I learned a lot about things I didn’t know about Todd Hundley. I did not know about his alcoholism, nor was I aware of his back and family issues.
I don’t forgive how the situations were handled. I still think he should’ve been more upfront with us. Yes, it’s a personal matter, but when you’re a public figure and take so much scrutiny, you’ll get much more respect if you’re just honest about it. Of course, it was a two-way street, and the front office didn’t do much to help the cause, either.
But what makes this positive is the fact that Todd’s turning things in his life around for the better and things are looking more positively. I wish no ill will towards him and wish him the best in the trials of his life.
AeroZach - October 30, 2008
Well said.
Thank you.
Al Yellon - October 31, 2008
No kidding, this was well written article, there was nothing in bad taste.
Had an article been written about the zenith of Sosa’s career people (me) would be complaining about over-looking the negatives.
Hundley as a player had significant limitations to his game. GMs seemed to ignore those limitations and continue to ay for that power from prior seasons and for that career season. It’s an excellent example of not evaluating a player’s talent properly and over paying for the past.
Hundley would have been well received here and fans would have been sympathetic had his attitude been professional. Hundley is not the first or last millionaire ballpayer who at least gave the appearance to the fans that he didn’t give damn, regardless of how he actually felt. In that sense, he’s also a great example to players that you’ll never win when you take on the fans. I know some players will think it’s not applicable because in their circumstances they are “right” and Hundley was “wrong”, but it goes far beyond that. Fans never know all of the circumstances that a player goes through in his personal life or what they do. For example, I know for a fact that much disliked Dick Jauron is an amazing caring individual who did a tremendous amount of personal firsthand service for very sick children in Chicago, but he still struggled as head coach and the way things played out his replacement was justified. I still think Jauron is an excellent coach and even better person. In Hundley’s case, had he just responded better to the difficult times the fans would not have been quite so hard on him.
Hundley for Karros and Grudz was also a significant marker for Hendry and a huge help for the 2003 World Series team (the team that should have made it to the WS).
In the greater scheme of things no one should be going off and saying that they “hate Hundley” or ay other player, in general, with the exception tat people often make poor choices in their words. He’s just another guy like all of us, unfortunately his responses and apparent attitiude issues brought alot more heat on him from fans.
DudeVf11 - November 1, 2008
Well said.
All Hundley had to do was have a better attitude and own up to his on-field failures and fans would have been sympathetic. I think everyone wanted to like Todd because of his father, but given Todd’s attitude while he was in Chicago, that became impossible.
I’m glad to hear that he’s straightened his life out. Good for him.
Al Yellon - November 2, 2008
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