The All-Chicago team, 1960-1969

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By Tony Andracki and JJ Stankevitz
CSNChicago.com

This spring, we at Cubs Talk and White Sox Talk have decided to unify Chicago's two baseball teams into one in an effort to pick out the best players to grace each side of the city over the last 50 years. Each Wednesday during spring training, we'll roll out a different All-Chicago team, with today's version being the best Cubs and White Sox players from 1960-1969. Be sure to check out our 1970-1979, 1980-1989, 1990-1999 and 2000-2011 teams if you haven't already.

Tony: The 1960s were tough years for us. My parents were only children during the time but grew up with these guys, so I wanted to honor that. In some areas, there were shoo-ins, like Santo at third or Billy Williams and Ernie Banks. There were quite a few of Hall of Famers that played during this time.

JJ: My dad grew up a Cubs fan close to Wrigley Field while my mom grew up a Sox fan, so I've heard about plenty of these players. Of course, I'll be the first to admit I never saw any of them play, so we're relying pretty heavily on stats here.

Tony: Starting pitching was especially difficult. There were a good 10-12 guys that were deserving, so at least half of those were going to be cut. Pitching was definitely at a premium in this decade. The bullpen was easy -- just three Sox pitchers. The Cubs had some decent guys, but that's all they were -- decent. Meanwhile, Wilbur Wood was simply fantastic, as was Hoyt Wilhem.

JJ: That Juan Pizarro didn't make this cut speaks to the pitching depth the city had in the 1960s. Of course, pitching was pretty easy to find later in the decade with the raised mound. Plenty of these guys easily would've made the relatively-thin 1970s rotation.

Tony: Center field was another tough choice, begging the question: Why has it been so hard for Chicago to find a good, reliable centerfielder that sticks around for more than a couple seasons? Throughout all these lists that we've done, CF has been the only position where we've consistently struggled to find a clear candidate.

JJ: No kidding. In the last 51 years, only two Cubs center fielders have totaled double-digit WAR (Adolfo Phillips, Rick Monday -- although Brian McRae should count with 9.9 WAR). For the Sox, there are five, although only one of them played more than five years with the team. Check back next week for our All-City team from 1960-present to find out who gets the nod.

And now, to the roster:

C: Randy Hundley
1B: Ernie Banks
2B: Nellie Fox
3B: Ron Santo
SS: Luis Aparicio
LF: Billy Williams
CF: Jim Landis
RF: Floyd Robinson
DH: Roy Sievers

Bench: Minnie Minoso
Bench: Pete Ward

SP: Fergie Jenkins
SP: Joe Horlen
SP: Dick Ellsworth
SP: Gary Peters
SP: Tommy John

Closer: Hoyt Wilhem
Righty reliever: Eddie Fisher
Lefty reliever: Wilbur Wood

Now that all the decade-specific rosters are set, check back next week for the All-Chicago team of the last 50 years!

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