Sports Illustrated released its nominees for 2016 Sportsperson of the Year on Monday. And the Chicago Cubs are one of 12 contenders for the award.
The Chicago Cubs ended the longest championship drought in professional sports earlier this month. The Cubs won the first NL Pennant for the franchise in 71 years by defeating the Dodgers in the NLCS. The Cubs dug out of a 3-1 hole to the Indians in The Fall Classic to capture the first World Series Championship in 108 years.
The Cubs were the best team in baseball all year. Joe Maddon’s team won 103 games (103-58-1) in the regular season and cruised to a NL Central Division title. The Cubs made history and became the biggest story in sports.
The Cubs, Michael Phelps, Simone Biles, Usain Bolt, LeBron James, Breanna Stewart, Katie Ledecky, Vin Scully, Steph Curry, Leicester City F.C., Jimmie Johnson and Von Miller are the contenders for Sports Illustrated’s 2016 Sportsperson of the Year.
The 2016 World Series Film
The Cubs World Series Film debuts Tuesday night to an invitation-only audience at the Lyric Opera House. The film that is narrated by Vince Vaughn will be premiered with a red-carpet event. Tom Ricketts, Crane Kenney and Len Kasper are among those scheduled to attend.
The World Series film and Collector’s Edition Blu-ray, DVD sets hit stores on Dec. 6 and Dec. 13, just in time for the holiday season.
- Report from The Tribune
- Cubs World Series Film and Collector’s Edition Blu-Ray, DVD Sets Available Soon
Hall of Fame Ballot
The Hall of Fame released its 2017 ballot on Monday. Among the first time candidates are Vladimir Guerrero, Manny Ramirez, Ivan Rodriguez, Jorge Posada and Derrek Lee.
Jeff Bagwell, Casey Blake, Barry Bonds, Pat Burrell, Orlando Cabrera, Mike Cameron, Roger Clemens, J.D. Drew, Carlos Guillen, Vladimir Guerrero, Trevor Hoffman, Jeff Kent, Derrek Lee, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, Melvin Mora, Mike Mussina, Magglio Ordonez, Jorge Posada, Tim Raines, Manny Ramirez, Edgar Renteria, Arthur Rhodes, Ivan Rodriguez, Freddy Sanchez, Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield, Lee Smith, Sammy Sosa, Matt Stairs, Jason Varitek, Billy Wagner, Tim Wakefield, Larry Walker
There are 19 first-year eligible players on the Hall of Fame ballot this year.
Jeff Bagwell, Tim Raines and Trevor Hoffman should receive their call to the Hall on Jan. 18.
Kelly Dugan
Kelly Dugan spent this past season in the Cubs’ system after inking a minor league contract last winter. Dugan became a minor league free agent and according to Baseball America he signed a minor league contract with the Diamondbacks. Dugan is the second player to leave the Cubs for the D-Backs on a minor league deal. Kristopher Negron also landed with Arizona.
Dugan played in 96 games for Double-A Tennessee. Dugan hit .266/.354/.471 with 17 doubles and 13 home runs for a .825 OPS.
Kelly Dugan turned 26 in September and spent the first seven years of his career in the Phillies’ organization.
News, Notes and Rumors
• Jayson Stark explained, as only Stark can, why MLB’s 2016 postseason was a game-changer.
• Gleyber Torres was named the Most Valuable Player in the Arizona Fall League last weekend. Torres has impressed scouts since pretty much the first day he played in the Cubs system after signing with the team. Torres is the youngest player to ever win an MVP award in the prestigious fall league. Comcast SportsNet reported Gleyber Torres may become a star, but Yankees GM Brian Cashman credits the Cubs for making the Aroldis Chapman trade.
• Aroldis Chapman’s elite arm could command a historic deal according to MLB.com. And David Adler gave five reasons why Chapman is in high demand.
• Hardball Talk reported that there should not be anything radical in the upcoming Collective Bargaining Agreement. According to Buster Olney, the “two sides are down to the tense nitty-gritty part of the talks.
• Iowa Governor Terry Branstad issued pardons for two turkeys as part of the Thanksgiving traditional. And the two turkeys were named Bryant and Rizzo after the Cubs’ superstars (Report includes video).
• Korean infielder Jae-Gyun Hwang worked out for 20 teams in a showcase at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, FL.
• Jeff Passan reported Rangers prospects questioned for allegedly sexually hazing an underage teammate.
• Jim Bowden posted a status check for all 30 teams.
• Buster Olney explained why the Orioles should inform the industry they’re ready to take offers on Zach Britton.
• The Rangers announced the one-year, $10 million contract with RHP Andrew Cashner. And according to Buster Olney, the Rangers “plowed past a lot of red flags” to sign him.
• The Cardinals announced the four-year, $30.5 million contract with LHP Brett Cecil. And to make room on the 40-man roster, the Cardinals designated catcher Brayan Pena for assignment.
• Jason Castro is garnering a lot of attention. The veteran catcher has “multiple three-year offers” on the table according to Ken Rosenthal. And the team that offers the fourth year will have the advantage in signing him. The Braves, Twins, Angels and Rays are among the teams in the mix for Castro.
• Nick Hundley is “Plan B” for several clubs according to Ken Rosenthal. The Orioles view the veteran backstop as “Plan A” according to Rosenthal and Dan Connolly.
• Danny Ecker posted a photo of Giordano’s Pizza new box to celebrate the World Series Champs … and the logo the Cubs incorporated for the Series Championship is just awesome while tipping the cap to the team’s history.
Cubs official partner @GiordanosPizza putting large deep dish pizzas in commemorative World Series box for IL locations starting Nov. 28. pic.twitter.com/hmULtj1UO4
— Danny Ecker (@DannyEcker) November 21, 2016
And last, but not least, David Kaplan has a book coming out about the Cubs … Lovable Winners: Bryant, Rizzo and the Rise of the Cubs. And Christopher Kamka helped Kap with the book.
This Day in Cubstory
2013 – Cubs signed free agent Darnell McDonald
2010 – Cubs signed free agent Bobby Scales
2004 – Cubs signed free agent Glendon Rusch
1999 – Cubs signed free agent Todd Van Poppel
1994 – Cubs selected Bryan Hickerson off waivers from the Giants
1989 – Cubs traded Rich Scheid to the White Sox for Chuck Mount
1974 – Joe Nathan, born
1972 – Billy Williams finished second in voting for the NL MVP Award to Johnny Bench
1954 – Cubs selected Vicente Amor from Oakland (PCL) in the Rule 5 Draft
1954 – Cubs selected Jim King from the Cardinals in the Rule 5 Draft
1934 – Cubs traded Babe Herman, Guy Bush and Jim Weaver to the Pirates for Fred Lindstrom and Larry French.
1926 – Lew Burdette, born