Kerry Wood's 5 Most Memorable Moments As a Chicago Cub

Cubs’ fans never thought they’d see the day…that Kerry Wood would no longer be a Chicago Cub. The Cubs severed ties with Wood this off season. It was almost like throwing away an old pair of shoes. You loved them while you had them, but now it’s time to move on.

Wood’s once bright future as the Cubs’ ace grew dimmer over the years as injuries took their toll on the right-hander.  Although when he was healthy he was as good as they come. He proved that to Cubs fans by striking out 20 Houston Astros in May of ’98.

The baby face Texan who fans came to know and love is now gone and has signed on with the Cleveland Indians since becoming a free agent.

Someone once asked me why Kerry Wood never filed for free agency and took a big money contract somewhere else. My response was that he chose to stay with the Cubs because of all that he has been through emotionally, mentally and physically. Winning the World Series with the Cubs would mean more to him then winning it any where else.

I never thought I’d see Wood in another uniform. Most fans thought that he would retire as a Cub. To most he was the modern day Ernie Banks. It’s something you don’t see much in baseball these days. There have only been a few guys here and there who have started and ended their careers with the same team. Wood could’ve been one of those guys, but alas it was not meant to be.

I wish Wood the best of luck in Cleveland and can’t wait for him to make his return to Wrigley this summer when the Cubs play the Indians.

Here are the most memorable moments of Woods career in a Cubs uniform.

5. Kerry Wood dazzled fans in ’98 when he dominated the Houston Astros.

1999 was not kind to the Cubs or Wood. He would be sidelined by a sore elbow that would later require Tommy John Surgery and that would cost him the whole season. 

However, when he made his season debut in 2000 he would come back with a vengeance. On May 2 2000 the Cubs were playing the Houston Astros. Wood came back in a big way. He belted a three-run homer in his debut an 11-1 rout of the stros. Wood proved he could not only beat you with his arm, but his bat as well.

4. Chicago Cubs vs.  New York Yankees; Kerry Wood vs. Roger Clemens.

It had the billings of a heavy weight fight. The entire series had a playoff-type atmosphere surrounding it. On June 2 2003 Clemens was going for his 300th career win. Wood on the other hand was going for his 50th.  

Wood along with help from an Eric Karros three-run homer and a big strike-out of Jason Giambi by Mike Remlinger the Cubs would go on to beat the Yankees and deny the Rocket his 300th victory.  

3. April 23 2008 the Cubs were playing the Rockies in Colorado and on the verge of their 10,000th franchise win. Kerry Wood was brought in to close out the game. He surrendered the game-tying run in the bottom of the ninth.

Wood would later be the winning pitcher as the Cubs would score the go-ahead run in extra innings. It was only fitting that he could be the winner of the 10,000th franchise win, especially after how much he has been through with this club.

2.  May 6 1998. Cubs’ fans everywhere remember this day like it was yesterday. Just the thought of the game gives me goose bumps. Wood became forever etched in Cubs lore when he struck out 20 Houston Astros.

He was absolutely filthy, blowing away Astro hitters with unhittable fastballs and knee buckling curveballs. Expectations of Wood were through the roof after this game. His future looked bright; however, injuries would hamper him all throughout his career as he has made 12 trips to the disabled list.

1.  The Cubs had not won a playoff series since game five of the 1908 World Series.  In 2003 Kerry Wood changed that.  He got the call for game one of the 2003 division series. 

Wood would dominate the Atlanta Braves to give the Cubs a one to nothing series lead, however it would be Wood’s performance in game five that would seal the deal for the Cubs. He threw eight innings of one-run baseball.

Wood’s performance helped the Cubs win their first postseason series since 1908. In my opinion the two games Wood pitched in this series were the best two performances of his career.