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Jimmy Slagle, the center fielder for the Chicago Cubs during their first three pennant-winning seasons of the 20th century, is ranked 98th in a series counting down the top 100 players in franchise history. According to his biography from the Society for American Baseball Research (SABR), as reported by sports.yahoo.com, Slagle’s arrival in Chicago was the result of a calculated move by manager Frank Selee.
A Strategic Acquisition
Selee, a Hall of Fame manager who achieved 1,000 victories with the Boston Beaneaters, left for Chicago in 1902 to lead the team then known as the Orphans. While in Boston, Selee had been impressed by Slagle. When Slagle suffered a broken finger in 1901, Selee released him but instructed the player not to sign with any other team, anticipating his own move to Chicago. Once in his new role, Selee convinced Cubs co-owner James Hart to sign Slagle, who remained with the franchise for the duration of his major league career.
Impact on the Field
Slagle quickly established himself as a vital contributor, serving as the team’s leadoff hitter and primary center fielder. His ability to draw walks was a significant asset; he recorded 53 walks in 1902, resulting in a .386 on-base percentage, and reached a career-high of 97 walks in 1905. Over his seven seasons with the Cubs, he accumulated 454 walks, placing him 25th on the franchise’s all-time list.
Beyond his plate discipline, Slagle was a prolific base runner. He stole 41 bases in his debut season with the Cubs, beginning a streak of six consecutive years with at least 25 stolen bases. His speed proved decisive during the 1907 World Series; in the fourth game, he stole home in the seventh inning to help break open a close 2-1 contest, contributing to a 6-1 victory.
Legacy and Retirement
Arm injuries hampered Slagle’s performance in 1908, which proved to be his final season in the major leagues. Following a two-year stint with the Baltimore Orioles, then a minor league team, he retired from professional baseball. He eventually settled in Chicago, where he passed away on May 10, 1956, at the age of 82.
His hometown of Worthville, Pennsylvania, honored his legacy decades later. On October 19, 2007—the 100th anniversary of the Cubs’ World Series sweep over the Detroit Tigers—a memorial was dedicated to Slagle. The monument, consisting of a bronze plaque on a 600-pound sandstone rock, commemorates his career and describes him as a “country boy who made his mark on the world.”
During his seven-year tenure with the Cubs, Slagle recorded 14.4 bWAR. The series profiling the top 100 Cubs will continue on Monday.
