John Upham--1967
Noted as Rookie Stars for the Cubs in
1967; John Upham fell short of Topps’
prediction, while Rich Nye had one good
season for the Chicago North Siders.
Nye would win 13 games for the Cubs in
1967, though register just 26 total
victories during his 5-year big league
career with Chicago and Montreal.
As for Upham, the Cubs never could
quite figure out what to make of their
Rookie Star.
Originally signed by the Phillies as an
outfielder off the campus of the
University of Windsor (CN), the Cubs
drafted Upham after the 1965 season
and continued the conversion of the fly
catcher to hurler. Sporting strong
numbers at the plate in the low minors,
Upham posted pedestrian results at
Triple-A leading to his move to the
mound.
Surprisingly, after just nine minor league
outings between A-ball and Double-A, in
which Upham walked 10 batters in 20
innings of work; the card company
predicted stardom for the southpaw.
Unfortunately, matters didn’t improve for
Upham in the bigs, as he walked five in 8-
1/3 innings, allowing five runs in posting
a career 0-1, 5.40 mark over the ’67 and ’
68 campaigns.
In fact, the Cubs used Upham more as a
pinch hitter in 1968, than as a pitcher.
In the end, Upham would bat .308 in 13
major league plate appearances, leading
us to speculate that Upham probably
should have just kept on swinging the
lumber.
Editor’s Note: In 2005 Upham would be
honored by his alma mater for his
Achievement in Sports. Besides being a
big league pitcher, the former Cub would
become a renowned coach in Canada at
the amateur level, while also playing on
Slo-pitch softball teams that earned
medals at the National Championship
level.
(10/23/10)
1967; John Upham fell short of Topps’
prediction, while Rich Nye had one good
season for the Chicago North Siders.
Nye would win 13 games for the Cubs in
1967, though register just 26 total
victories during his 5-year big league
career with Chicago and Montreal.
As for Upham, the Cubs never could
quite figure out what to make of their
Rookie Star.
Originally signed by the Phillies as an
outfielder off the campus of the
University of Windsor (CN), the Cubs
drafted Upham after the 1965 season
and continued the conversion of the fly
catcher to hurler. Sporting strong
numbers at the plate in the low minors,
Upham posted pedestrian results at
Triple-A leading to his move to the
mound.
Surprisingly, after just nine minor league
outings between A-ball and Double-A, in
which Upham walked 10 batters in 20
innings of work; the card company
predicted stardom for the southpaw.
Unfortunately, matters didn’t improve for
Upham in the bigs, as he walked five in 8-
1/3 innings, allowing five runs in posting
a career 0-1, 5.40 mark over the ’67 and ’
68 campaigns.
In fact, the Cubs used Upham more as a
pinch hitter in 1968, than as a pitcher.
In the end, Upham would bat .308 in 13
major league plate appearances, leading
us to speculate that Upham probably
should have just kept on swinging the
lumber.
Editor’s Note: In 2005 Upham would be
honored by his alma mater for his
Achievement in Sports. Besides being a
big league pitcher, the former Cub would
become a renowned coach in Canada at
the amateur level, while also playing on
Slo-pitch softball teams that earned
medals at the National Championship
level.
(10/23/10)
