Philip Joseph Cavarretta (July 19, 1916 - December 18, 2010) was a Chicago native, graduate of Lane Tech High School, famed alma mater of legendary athletes Johnny Weissmuller and Fritz Pollard, and spent the majority of his career playing first base for the Chicago Cubs. Phil signed with the Cubs as a high schooler and hit for the cycle in his first professional game with the Peoria Tractors. In 1935, Cavarretta permanently replaced Charlie Grimm at first base and helped lead Chicago to the best record in baseball and the World Series against the eventual champion Detroit Tigers. Phil was a legitimate hitter with limited power and led the National League in hits in 1944 (197). In 1945, he led the NL in batting average (.355) and on-base percentage (.449) en route to the 1945 National League Most Valuable Player Award. The three-time NL All-Star helped lead the Cubs to three National League pennants (1935, 1938, 1945). After playing 20 years on the North Side in a Chicago Cubs uniform (1934-1953), Cavarretta signed with the South Side Chicago White Sox to finish his career (1954-1955). Phil Cavarretta finished his career with a .293 career batting average, 1,977 hits including 347 doubles and 99 triples, 990 runs scored and 920 RBI while posting a .989 fielding percentage over 22 years. From 1951 to 1953, Phil served as player/manager for the Cubs compiling a 169-213 record in 384 games.
