Lennie Merullo dies at 98, he was the last living Cub to play in World Series
It can now be said: There is no baseball player alive who has played for the Chicago Cubs in the World Series.
The last of ’em, shortstop Lennie Merullo, died Saturday at the age of 98, after complications from a stroke, according to the New York Times.
He played for the Cubs in the 1945 World Series, in the middle of his seven-year MLB career, all of which was with the Cubs. The team, of course, hasn’t won a World Series since 1908.
From the Times:
Even the most long-suffering Cubs fans might have had only vague memories of Merullo. He spent seven seasons as a Cubs infielder, playing mostly during the World War II years when many front-line ballplayers were in military service, and was never an All-Star. But he enjoyed a distinction that would elude hundreds of other Cubs who played at Wrigley in the last seven decades.
Sure, Merullo’s MLB career wasn’t spectacular (he was a lifetime .240 hitter), but his contributions to the game were more than that. Most notably, he worked as a baseball scout for more than 50 years. He spent 1950-1972 with the Cubs, becoming their chief scout. Then he worked for the Major League Baseball Scouting Bureau until he retired in 2003 at the age of 85.
He returned to Wrigley Field for what would be the final time last summer to throw out the first pitch and sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” The Cubs issued the following statement about Merullo’s death:
“We were saddened to hear the news our oldest living Cub Lennie Merullo passed away earlier today. While I have experienced many joys as owner of this great franchise, one of the most memorable was meeting Lennie last season. When the Cubs last appeared in a World Series in 1945, Lennie was a 28-year-old shortstop. Nearly 70 years later, he brought the same youthful spirit and excitement, as he threw out the first pitch and led the entire ballpark in singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame'” joined by family and friends. If there was any doubt Wrigley Field does make dreams come true, you could look into Lennie’s eyes beaming with joy as he visited his beloved ballpark for what would be the last time. He told everyone he would never forget that day. To his family, friends and loved ones, our organization will never forget him.”
Speaking of family, this may be the most impressive thing about Lennie Merullo: He was the first of four generations of Merullos to play pro baseball. His son Len was a prospect with the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1960s, then Len’s son Matt played for parts of six seasons in the big leagues and is now a minor-league manager in the Baltimore Orioles organization. Matt’s son Nick signed with the Orioles last summer.
You have to figure one of them will see the Cubs break their World Series drought.
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Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz
