The year prior to coming to the Cubs, 1956, Long posted career highs in HR's and RBI's (27 and 91), was elected to his only all-star game and put his name in the record books for this feat: between May 19 and May 28 Long hit a homerun in eight consecutive games. Since then this has been matched yet never broken, twice Don Mattingly (1987) and Ken Griffey Jr (1993); however both were in the American League.
Long was traded to the Cubs in 1957 and hit 55 home runs in his two plus years at Wrigley. In 1959, Long put himself in the record books again by tying another home run record, hitting back to back pitch hit homeruns.
In his ten year career, Long hit 132 HR's, had 467 RBI's and hit .267 in just over 1000 games.
So . . . Happy Birthday Dale Long . . . you were a powerful force in the NL and for the Cubs and deserve to be remembered.
One other interesting Dale Long factoid: he caught two games for the Cubs in 1958, even though he is left handed. I am left handed and I always wanted to catch, but was never allowed to. Dale Long was my hero because he got to catch.
ReplyDeleteI think more people know Dale Long than other semi-average players from the '50s, just because of his home run streak. I know when Mattingly was on his streak, Long's name came up a ton.
ReplyDelete(By the way, I'm left-handed, but never wanted to catch. I always wanted to play second base. That was out, too).
Nice article. Great minds work in the same track. I just finished an article on Dale in the baseball card showcase on my site.
ReplyDeleteI just hope that poeple will continue to remember his accomplishment, though he does not have the reputation of a Mattingly or Griffey.
Some how I came across this article. Saw his Grand son last night at the batting cages, who used to play little league with my Daughter. Know his son as well and perhaps more important in real life is that he has a great legacy in terms of kids and grand kids who are class acts. By the way both their names are also Dale Long.
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