The Official End of an Era

There are certain moments as sports fans that which we remember every detail.  We remember where we were, who we were with, and what we were wearing.  We remember the feelings of joy, the agony of defeat, and the athletes that made the moments so special.

While I'm only 23 years old, there are many moments which I can remember in vivid detail--the Bartman game, Devin Hester's kick return to begin Super Bowl XLI, and John Paxson's three-pointer to lift the Bulls to their first three-peat in 1993 (scroll to 7:45 in the clip), just to name a few.

(They were playing Phoenix.  Paxson nailed the shot from the left wing.  I was sitting on my uncle's couch with my dad, my uncle and my Grandpa.  I was eight.  I was wearing a red replica Michael Jordan jersey and black sweatpants.  Right before the play, when Phoenix went ahead 98-96, my uncle said, "It's over."  

I countered quickly.  "We're going to win.  I know it.  I just know it."  Granted, I had the unbreakable optimism of a child, and was hoping that the Bulls could just find a way to win. Seconds later, MJ slashed past half court, Pippen sliced through the lane, flung it out to Paxson and he drained the shot.  The final 3.9 seconds came off the clock, the Bulls won, and we all jumped off the couch and raised our arms in the air the way Pax did when he sprinted back to the bench.  We mobbed each other like we were on the bench with the other players.)

That happened 15 years ago, and I'll always remember it.  And yet I don't remember what I ate for lunch yesterday.

One of those moments recently came to mind:  Kerry Wood's 20-strikeout performance May 6, 1998.  It popped into my head just after I read that the Cubs decided not to go to arbitration with the free agent closer, officially ending his career with the Cubs.  I remember exactly what happened the day "Kid K" made his mark on Chicago forever.

I had come home from school with a fever.  I was just 12 at the time.  I was wearing pajamas, a white long sleeve shirt with matching white pants.  I was trying to sleep off the sickness in my parents bed in our old house.  I remember being excited that day I could watch the game.  At least I'd have something to do, I thought.

At the time, Kerry Wood was just a rookie.  At just 2o years old, the former 1st round pick (drafted 4th overall by the Cubs in June, 1995) was less than a month into his major league career.  He had "great stuff", an "explosive fastball" and a "wicked slider", the experts said.  But after his performance against the Astros that cool May afternoon in 1998, he forever etched his name into the lore of Cubs baseball.

I fell asleep in the first inning.  I was trying to get over the fever.  But by the 5th inning, Wood had already racked up 8 strikeouts.

The phone rang, and I woke up from my nap.  Seconds later my mom entered the room.  My eyes were still in the process of opening.

"Jordan, wake up."  Dad just called.  "You need to watch this game.  Kerry Wood is striking out everyone in sight!"

Now I was up, and I witnessed maybe the greatest game ever pitched.  Woody struck out the side in the 5th.  Moises Alou looking, Dave Clark looking, Ricky Gutierrez watching as well.  I was entranced.

Wood continued to rack up the strikeouts, dominating hitters in ways I still have never seen. The explosion on the fastball, the bend of the curveball, and the break of his slider were devastating.  I couldn't stop smiling at what this guy was doing.  He was making major league hitters look silly.

At the end of eight innings, he had 18 strikeouts.  The commercial break heading into the 9th seemed to take forever.  At this point, I was standing on the bed, in my white pajamas, waiting impatiently for Wood to take the mound.

Bill Spiers pinch hit for Shane Reynolds in the 9th.  Strikeout number 19.  Craig Biggio then grounded out weakly to short.  The crowd booed.  They booed an out!

Finally it was Derek Bell.  Woody fanned him with a hook that dropped a foot.  He turned and pumped his fist, and catcher Sandy Martinez sprinted towards the mound.  He and Mark Grace mobbed him before the rest of his teammates reached the center of the diamond.  I jumped up and down on the bed, screaming at the top of my lungs.

Just 24 days into his major league career, Wood had tied a major league record.  The 20-year-old Texan had just three major league wins, but his performance had already made him a Cubs legend.

Now he's no longer a Cub.  After thirteen years with this organization, the only one in the major league's he's ever known, he'll be in another uniform next year.

Was it a good baseball decision?  Probably.  With Carlos Marmol the closer in waiting, Wood is a more expensive option to finish games next season.  The addition of Kevin Gregg gives the Cubs a viable set up man to replace Marmol in his former role.  Not to mention Wood always carries with him a great risk of injury.

But the loss of Kerry Wood is more than just performance on the field.  They have lost one of their leaders, the face of their franchise, and one of the most beloved players in team history. That's despite all his ups and downs, and his countless trips to the disabled list.

Next year the Cubs might be just as good as they were this season.  Maybe they'll win another 97 games.  And maybe they'll finally reach the World Series.  But if they win it with Kerry Wood in another uniform, the moment will have a slight bittersweet taste.

The man who lead the Cubs to their first post-season series win since 1908 with his brilliant performances in Games 1 and 3 of the 2003 post season.  The man who lost Game 7 of the National League Championship Series the same year, declaring "I choked" after the game.  The man who gave baseball maybe its best pitched game in history, and the man whose trips to the disabled list hit double digits.

 

If he pitches at Wrigley Field next year in another uniform, ask me in ten years what I was wearing.