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Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

Benjamin Grimm Dec 19 2010 09:16 AM

Former NL MVP Cavarretta dies at 94 Three-time All-Star led Cubs to 1945 World Series appearance Former Major Leaguer Phil Cavarretta, who won the 1945 National League Most Valuable Player Award while leading the Cubs to their last World Series appearance, died on Friday. He was 94. Cavarretta died in Lilburn, Ga., of complications from a stroke, his grandson, Jeffrey Brown, told The Associated Press. He told the AP in a phone interview that Cavaretta, who had been battling leukemia and suffered the stroke several days ago, died in a hospice care center. Cavarretta played in the Majors for 22 seasons from 1934-55 with 20 of those years coming with the Cubs before playing for the cross-town White Sox in his final two seasons. A three-time All-Star, his best season came in '45 when he led the NL with a .355 batting average and a .449 on-base percentage. He also helped lead the Cubs to the World Series that season but they lost to the Tigers in seven games. Cavarretta, a first baseman and outfielder, finished his career with a .293 batting average, 95 home runs and 920 RBIs in 2,030 games. Also... a former Mets coach.

metirish Dec 19 2010 09:30 AM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

Never heard of him..... Rest in Peace

Edgy DC Dec 19 2010 11:15 AM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

Wore the very uncoach-ly 44. Ernie Banks may be "Mr. Cub," but nobody played more seasons as a Cub than Cavaretta except for Cap F. Anson. Also taught John Milner to play first.

TheOldMole Dec 19 2010 12:20 PM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

I'm replaying the 1948 season in Diamond Mind - Cavaretta's heyday.

Met Hunter Dec 19 2010 01:16 PM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

Looks like Gene Clines in that photo.

batmagadanleadoff Dec 19 2010 01:36 PM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

Met Hunter wrote: Looks like Gene Clines in that photo. It's either Clines, or a glimpse into Cavaretta's top secret experiment to teach Milner how to switch-hit.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 19 2010 01:51 PM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

It is Gene Clines. But I don't think he was writing a caption. How about 22 years with the Cubs, then going to the White Sox? Amazin'

Edgy DC Dec 19 2010 02:50 PM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

No, that wasn't meant as a caption, unless I was trying to demonstrate how he taught Milner to play first with a bat. Phil looks a little like legendary cartoonist Frank Springer there.

G-Fafif Dec 19 2010 05:32 PM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

First dedicated Mets hitting coach who I can recall. Ralph spoke fondly of him from time to time. RIP, Phil.

Edgy DC Dec 19 2010 05:42 PM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

Those pictures I swiped come from this Centerfield Maz post, which does a good job summing up his career (including the Milner thing), while mis-spelling the name.

Met Hunter Dec 19 2010 09:31 PM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

The Clines comment was just an observation unrelated to John Milner.

G-Fafif Dec 20 2010 12:52 PM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

Eleventh-greatest Cub, by Bleed Cubbie Blue's reckoning. A Cub who played in a World Series. Can't be too many of those fellows left.

G-Fafif Dec 20 2010 04:03 PM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

With the passing of Phil Cavaretta, two Cubs who played in the 1945 World Series survive: Andy Pafko (immortalized by both Roger Kahn and Don DeLillo from his Brooklyn Dodger days) and Lennie Merullo (grandfather of 1989-1995 major leaguer Matt Merullo). National League Champion Cubs -- truly a dying breed.

Edgy DC Dec 21 2010 08:51 PM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

An absolute goldmine of recollections from a Mets era too rarely deemed worthy of recalling, from subjects rarely asked for their memories.

John Cougar Lunchbucket Dec 21 2010 09:20 PM Re: Phil Cavarretta dies at 94

I've been waiting for Jack Heidemann to write me back for 10 or 11 years now.