Cubs of Yore Battle Royale Round 1, Pete LaCock Region

After a much longer than anticipated hiatus, the Cubs of Yore Battle Royale is back and continues on with first round matches in the Pete LaCock Region. But first let's recap the final scores out of the Jose Cardenal Region.

Glenallen Hill - 23
Doug Glanville - 9

Rich Harden - 13
Rey Sanchez - 15

Mike Bielecki - 14
Glendon Rusch - 12

Mark Grudzielanek - 19
Doug Dascenzo - 10

Just like before, I will outline each matchup, giving the readers a little background about each player. Once you've finished reading, you are then encouraged to vote for your favorite player to win the battle in the polls located in the right sidebar. The polls will run until Thursday afternoon-ish where they will then be closed and the winners announced.


PETE LaCOCK REGION, ROUND 1

#1 Steve Trout vs. #8 Ron Cey
STEVE TROUT FAST FACTS*

• Hails from Detroit.
• Played with Cubs for 5 years.
• The last Cub to pitch back-to-back complete game shutouts, which were his last games with the Cubs.
• Helped the team reach the playoffs in the oft-heralded 1984 season.
• Was no stranger to the occasional burrito-eating contest.
• This.

RON CEY FAST FACTS*

• Nicknamed "The Penguin" for his slow waddling running gait.
• 6 time All-Star, but never as a Cub.
• True to his nickname, only eats krill.
• Waddled his way around the bases with an inside the park home run at Wrigley in 1983.
• Has one reascended testicle.

#4 Eric Karros vs. #5 Les Lancaster

ERIC KARROS FAST FACTS*

• Received Degree in Economics from UCLA with thesis entitled: "The Economicon: How to Use The Army of Darkness in Everyday Economics".
• Most famous person from Hackensack, New Jersey.
• Has secret footage of the infamous downfall of the 2003 Cubs postseason. (link)
• According to Tommy Lasorda, "(Karros) looks great in a speedo."
• 1992 NL Rookie of the Year.

LES LANCASTER FAST FACTS*

• Hails from Texas.
• Played with the Cubs for 5 years.
• 1.36 ERA in 1989, and won Game 2 of the NLCS against the SF Giants.
• Greatest MLB pitcher ever named Les. (Sorry Mr. Walrond)
• Current manager of the Sioux City Explorers.

#3 Turk Wendell vs. #6 Reed Johnson

TURK WENDELL FAST FACTS*

• Hails from Massachusetts.
• Played with Cubs for 5 years.
• Insisted that the umpire roll the ball to the mound rather than simply throw it to him. If an umpire would ignorantly throw the ball to him, Wendell was known to let it go past him, or even to let it bounce off his chest, after which he would retrieve it from the ground.
• Wore a necklace made from the claws and teeth of various animals he had hunted and killed.
• The "Ted Nugent" of baseball.
• Was incredibly vocal about Barry Bonds and Sammy Sosa using steroids.
• Beaned Vlad Guerrero in a game once and afterward said, "If he doesn't like it, he can freakin' go back to the Dominican and find another line of work."

REED JOHNSON FAST FACTS*

• Robbed Prince Fielder of his first career Grand Slam. (link)
• One of only five major league players to have a lead off and walk off home run in the same game.
• Has been hit by a pitch in three different at bats in one game twice in his career.
• Along with Aaron Miles, Joey Gathright and Mike Fontenot, is a member of the 2009 Hobbits of Wrigley.
• Suffers from automatonophobia, the fear of wax statues.
• Seemingly well liked everywhere he plays.

#2 Matt Clement vs. #7 Brian McRae

MATT CLEMENT FAST FACTS*

• Had sixth lowest run support in NL in 2004 at 2.63 runs per game.
• Had seventh highest number of K's in 2004 at 190.
• 2004 record 9-13 in 30 starts.
• Despite peer pressure from many teammates, has never been to an IKEA.
• Now the Head Coach of his High School's basketball team.
• Blamed for this stupid fad.

BRIAN McRAE FAST FACTS*

• Hails from Florida.
• Son of All-Star DH Hal McRae.
• Played with Cubs for 3 years.
• Acquired from the Royals for Geno Morones and Derek Wallace. Wallace threw in 33 career major league innings. Morones never even got a cup of coffee.
• Known for his speed, McRae led the '96 Cubs in stolen bases with 37. In '95 he stole 27, which was second best on the team behind Skinny Sammy Sosa.
• Was born with a full five o'clock shadow.
• Took pain killers while playing in New York, more than likely to deaden the feeling of playing for a worse franchise at the time than the Cubs.

*Some of the Fast Facts may not be true.