Do you remember ... when Hank Sauer was the mayor of Wrigley Field.

Former slugger became first N.L. MVP winner on a second-division club in 1952 when he led league with 37 homers and 121 RBI playing for the Cubs

DURING THE WINTER OF 1986, THE day after Billy Williams of the Cubs and Catfish Hunter of the Yankees were voted into the Hall of Fame, they were summoned to New York for a press conference. Almost all of the questions were directed to Hunter. Williams sat in silence, and finally said to a companion, "Let's get back to Chicago. They know me there."

So it was as well with Hank Sauer.

"They don't know me around here," said Sauer, when he was a batting instructor and later a scout with the San Francisco Giants. "But when I go to Chicago, I know I'm home."

Sauer, who died last August 24 at the age of 84 while playing golf, was the Mayor of Wrigley Field and among the most popular players in Cubs history. This was a half-century ago. He was the bridge between Gabby Hartnett and Ernie Banks and was with the Cubs for almost seven glorious seasons, from 1949-1955.

Today, his stats may not seem out of the ordinary. But he was among the best power-hitters of his era 288 home runs, including three successive seasons with 30 or more and, when at his peak, held the Cubs record for most home runs by a left fielder, 37, and for a right fielder, 41.

Often called "The Honker," because of his large nose, he was clumsy in the field, and at one time was part of the slowest outfield tandem in the majors--Sauer was in right while Ralph Kiner, no swiftie, was in left. Frank Baumholtz, who had good speed in center, was constantly on the run, covering ground for both Sauer and Kiner.