Phil Cavarretta

Philip Joseph Cavarretta (July 19, 1916 – December 18, 2010) was an American professional baseball first baseman, outfielder, and manager. Known to friends and family as "Phil," he also went by "Philibuck," a nickname given by Cubs manager Charlie Grimm. He attended Lane Technical High School on Chicago's North Side, where he played baseball and basketball, and signed a professional contract with the Cubs before finishing high school. In his first professional game with Peoria at age 17 in 1934, he hit for the cycle as a right fielder, and that same year he was brought up to the Cubs.

Cavarretta's major league career spanned 22 seasons. He spent his first 20 with the Chicago Cubs—the second-most seasons in franchise history, behind Cap Anson's 22—before finishing his final two seasons with the Chicago White Sox. In 1945 he was voted the National League Most Valuable Player, leading the Cubs to the pennant while winning the batting title with a .355 average. He served as a player-manager for the Cubs in his final three seasons with the team.