By: Carrie Muskrat

The Big 50 is a sports series that covers the 50 most important players and moments that define a team. Carrie Muskrat covered the Cubs for almost two decades for MLB.com. This is her second book on the Cubs (she also has several books on individual players and a cookbook). She is a good writer with a lot of connections. As a lifelong Cubs fan I’ve heard many of these stories before – but it was good fun revisiting them. I have a few minor quibbles on who is in, who got an aside, and which players and moments have been left out. The books focus is on the modern Cubs – Banks to the present.

My only major complaint is that the first man to have 3,000 hits, the man who is still the team leader in hits and doubles – as well as WAR, who led the team to six pennants – is mentioned but not truly examined. He shows up as a source. His teammate (whom he recruited) the popular “King” Kelly gets an aside. And yes, Cap Anson was a racist who kept people of color from playing in the majors. But he is also the team’s best, most durable hitter. I wish a modern Cubs book would quit sidestepping the Hall of Famer in the room – and discuss the good and the very bad that was Pop.

Overall, I found this to be a fun introduction to the Cubs.

272 Pages

4.5/5