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Cubs historical sleuthing: Joe Pepitone edition

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Chicago Cubs’ Joe Pepitone is show [sic] here as he bats against the New York Mets.

Pepitone was acquired on waivers by the Cubs (from the Astros) in July 1970, . Pepitone hit well for the Cubs in 1970 and 1971, then he got into a contract dispute and “retired” in 1972, only to come back at the end of May. Leo Durocher had supported Pepitone, a colorful guy (as Durocher had fancied himself during his playing days), but after Durocher was fired, Whitey Lockman wasn’t as big a Pepitone booster and Joe’s performance suffered.