Athletes are very superstitious, they have their routines, they are very much creatures of habit. What is the line again from Bull Durham? If an athlete gets accustom to wearing a certain number, they do everything they can in order to retain it if they change teams, sometimes to the point of cash payouts or extravagant gifts in order to obtain their favorite number from a new teammate once the lucrative free agent contract as been signed or the blockbuster trade has been made,
The Cubs reassigned a few of the player's numbers on Friday after the signings of Ted Lilly and Daryle Ward were made official. However Lilly's comment about the number 31, that he had previously worn, not being available because of the imminent retirement of the number has raised a few questions....not to mention, what will they do with number 21?
The retirement of number 31 is just a matter of time....too much history has been made by the two main owners of that number, but which player deserves the right to have his name on the flag? If the Cubs do retire the number 31 that was previously worn by Ferguson Jenkins and Greg Maddux, among others, who's name should be on the flag that will one day join Ron Santo, Ryne Sandberg, Billy Williams and Ernie Banks as the only retired numbers in the organization's history?
Ferguson Jenkins is in the Hall of Fame and Greg Maddux is a first ballot Hall of Famer 5 years after he decides he cannot be successful in the league any longer. Both players deserve to have their name and number retired by the Cubs.
Ferguson Jenkins pitched for the Cubs from 1966-1973 and 1982-1983. Although he was near a shell of his previous self in his second stint with the Cubs in his first stint he was unbelievable. Jenkins won 20 or more games for 6 straight seasons (1967-1972), started 40 or more games 2 straight seasons (1968-1969) (started 38 games in two different seasons and 39 in two different seasons as well) and compiled more than 300 innings 4 straight seasons (1968-1971). He also completed 20 or more games for 6 straight seasons (1967-1972) and completed a remarkable (by today's standards) 30 games in 1971 while going 24-13 with a 2.77 ERA. Jenkins won a Cy Young in 1971 and he is one of two pitchers in the history of the game with more than 3000 strikeouts and less than 1000 walks....the other, Greg Maddux. His career record.... 284-226, 167-132 with a 3.20 ERA as a Cub.
Greg Maddux pitched for the Cubs from 1986-1992 and 2004-2006. Like Jenkins, father time had caught up with Maddux before he returned to the Cubs in 2004 but he was still very effective and threw over 200 innings in 2004 and 2005 and just over 136 innings before he was traded to the Dodgers at the end of July 2006. Maddux won a Cy Young for the Cubs in 1992, then departed to the Atlanta Braves where he achieved most of his success and even won a World Championship in 1995. Maddux will be voted into the Hall of Fame on the first ballot he is on....no doubt, book it! Maddux has a career record of 333-203 with a 3.07 ERA....133-112 with a 3.61 ERA as a Cub. 16 Gold Gloves, 4 Cy Young Awards and at least 15 wins a year for 18 of the last 19 seasons.
The resumes of Jenkins and Maddux speak for themselves, they are two of the best pitchers the game has ever seen. According to a report by Paul Sullivan in the Tribune, the Cubs are unsure of how they are going to handle the retirement of number 31, just a suggestion....retire both and hang one on the left field foul pole and the other on the right field foul pole. This is the only possible move that can be made and at least there would be three on each side at that point.
The Debate.... When the Cubs apparently agreed to terms last week with Jason Marquis, little did they know the number debate would follow. (Believe it or not, that was the second thing that popped in this writer's noggin.) So, should the Cubs allow Jason Marquis to wear number 21 when he officially signs his contract?
According to the report by Paul Sullivan, the Cubs are not planning on stopping Marquis from wearing the number, if he so desires. If Marquis wants his number, he can wear it with the Cubs, but should he? Sometimes an athlete might need, what is commonly referred to as, a change of scenery....so what about a change of number as well? Granted Marquis has had success at the highest level but with the way the former owner of number 21 in blue pinstripes departed Chicago, Marquis might look at an old high school or college number that he had success with. With the level of scrutiny that has surrounded his arrival to this point he might not want to add anything else that would take away from him doing everything possible to change the public perception of this signing.
Whether you liked Sammy Sosa or not, the bottom line is he was a larger than life figure for several years and was the face of the franchise for even longer....that combination does not bowed well for a pitcher looking to reestablish himself and fly under the radar.
They should put Sosa's number on Ice for the time being. Hopefully, the Cubs will extend an olive branch in the future. For a few years there, Sosa was THE TEAM, he quit on them for one game, and that was the day after they got eliminated. Sosa, wasn't the sole reason why the Cubs didn't go to the playoffs in 2004. Injuries, Baker's poor in game decisions, Baker's failure to control his players were the main factors for that disappointing year. For the record, I do believe that he was on steroids but I also believe he hit a bunch of Home Runs off pitchers who were on the junk also he just cheated better, and remember, he was OUR cheat.
I think that in time(years from now) Sammy will find his way back into the good graces of both the Cubs and baseball as a whole. Many might think that both McGuire and Sosa were both taking performance enhancers but they did provide one of the most exciting memories for the sport at in my lifetime. I agree his number 21 should be put on ice for a while and let time tell what should happen. And I think that #31 should be left alone but only as it pertains to Fergie. I love Greg Maddux but if his number is retired and gets memorialized at a stadium it should be in Atlanta. I may always think of Maddux as a Cub but the reality is that he did his best work in Atlanta and it would be a shame if they don’t do him the honors.
That being said, the only reason he came back to Chicago was because Atlanta did'nt even offered him a contract. He was a FA and the Cubs gave him a fair offer. Clearly, he is a Brave and that is fair and Ok. No question he likes Chicago but #31 should be retired in Ferguson Jenkins honor who unlike Maddux had his best stuff with the Cubs.
Sammy, that is a serious ball player, Hall of Famer and without a doubt the best player the Cubs have had ever. Yeah he is an ass!@#$, but not even did he carried the Cubs by himself for a long time, He, Big Mac and the retirement of Micael Jordan brought back baseball from a deep economic hole. Look at the way baseball is making money again...Ask Soriano. If Sosa cheated was with the corked bat, because that we saw. But untill somebody prooves him or Mac or even Bonds[who aparently all did]that used steroids, legally they are innocent. MLB owes Sosa bigtime and by the way, he lost to Mac that HR chase on the final week, because pitchers were soft pitching Big Mac while the Cubs were fighting for a playoff spot the Cardinals were far out...
sorry 4 the long post
agustin rexach, geen, Jim (Tinley Park)
I am in total agreement with you. It was becasue of that HR chase that I came back to baseball. After the strike and NOT HAVING A WORLD SERIES in 94 I was done with these whiny millionairs. Sammy Sosa and BigMac gave CPR to a league that was having problems filling seats even the ones that always sell out. MLB owes those two big-time. Now there is talk of Sammy not even making the Hall. The guy is the best player to ever wear the blue pinstripes. Wait about 5 years and offer Sammy to come back and sing the stretch and get a reaction. Hopefully everyone realizes how special he was to watch. Yeah I don't personally like him but we in Chicago are the reason for him being the way he is. We treated him like a God and now he thinks he is one. Who's fault is that. Marquis should not get to wear that number let alone be on the team. If he promises to win 25 games for the next 3 seasons we can talk. Sosa hit 60 HR's 3times in 4 years. 66,63,50 and 64. Thats amazing and unheard of. So yeah we need to make sure that credit is given when it is deserved.
Speaking of numbers, Rocky 6 (Rocky Balboa) comes out this week. I CAN'T WAIT!
Well I disagree on Sosa being the best player to ever wear the blue pinstripes. He may have helped bring back the game, but if he did it because he was jacked up, then it cheapens the whole thing. Looking back at Cubs greats like Jenkins, Billy Williams, Ron Santo, Ryno, Dawson...well those are guys who I know played the game the right way and are forever elevated over the shadows Sosa brought.
It doesn't matter how much excitement someone brings if they cheated to do it. Everyone can have their opinions on whether cheating occurred, I just happen to be convinced that he did.
He's not legally innocent agustin, he's legally not guilty. There is a major difference.
I just read that the Jays are thinking of giving up Alex Rio for a decent starting pitcher. Why not put him in center for Marmol or Guzman or A decent #4 or 5 starter for them? (only in the case of trading Jones)
Personally I'd like to see both Maddux and Fergie retire the number 31 - Fergie's a no brainer from my standpoint, so although no less deserving than Maddux, I'll keep my points to Maddux :-)
The only question with Maddux isn't whether he deserves it, but rather whether or not that honor should be reserved for Atlanta. I think it would be fitting that we share the event with them - maybe retire it here when the Braves are in town and vice versa. He'll be headed to the Hall wearing a Braves cap, but he'll always be associated with both teams. He's the second best pitcher of his generation (Clemens is probably the best all time) and he's in the argument for the top five all time.
Either way there shouldn't be another Cub to wear 31 - but I think Maddux is worth honoring with a flag with his name on it.
and Mike - Alex Rios would be a great player to have - scouts think he'll be a star and he's starting to show it - but the Jays are looking to win now as the Cubs are.... but the Cubs went out and got Marquis rather than giving Marmol or Guzman a shot this year. The Jays would likely not like to count on the rooks either. They're going to want to find a proven arm versus potential.... but if they want to go for it I'm all for it :-) The kid's exciting.
Sosa is not even close on being the best Cub ever! Guys like Santo, Williams, Mr. Cub Ernie Banks, Ryno, Grace, Dawson, and even D.Lee are better all around ballplayers and most important are TEAM players. Sosa is all about himself and thinks he's GODS gift to Chicago. Just listen to Ryno's HOF speech, it was directed towards Sosa. Yes , he's put awesome numbers that are HOF worthy, but did the Cubs ever get into the World Series with those numbers!!
Here's a question to all about the SO CALLED best Cub ever: bases loaded, Cubs down by 2 runs with 2 out, bottom of the ninth, who do you want up to the plate in this situation? My answer would be Mr. Clutch Mark Grace. Anyone who really watched Sosa ,knows all you need to do is pitch him down and away and he swings every time. We've all seen him do this in these clutch situations many times and about 20% of the time he's succeeded and the other 80%: WHIFF! And this is the best Cub ever?? Sorry, but I too think he cheated and therefore believe he will never make the HOF. He can't even find a team that wants him for his so called come back and why a come back, so he can get to 600 hrs. How selfish can you get!!! No. 21 should be given to Marquis if he wants it and the Cubs better not even think about retiring that number, ONLY the ELITE belong on the flagpoles in Wrigley!! Hey, I have a better idea on what to do with the flagpoles- shove em' up Sosa's A--!!!!!
There are plenty of guys who are in the hall that cheated. There are plenty of guys in the hall that are selfish assh$#es. Its about the #'s. Ty Cobb was one of the biggest asses and biggets to ever play the game but he is in. I am not sure if Sosa juiced, but we all saw him cheat with the corked bat. Walking out on his team the last game of the season was inexcusable, but does that discount what he did on the field.
Yes, it does discount what he did on the field. While he hit 60+ HR's he made everybody on the team worse while leading his team to the memorable '01 and '02 seasons. Besides, he was a K machine.
We were talking about whether the numbers should be retired ya'll - which means does it make sense to retire the number 21 and have a Sosa flag flying in the OF... not whether or not he was the greatest Cub or worthy of the Hall of Fame.
So the question is - did his contribution to the Cubs make him worthy of honoring him by making sure his number does not adorn the back of another player ever wearing the Cubbie blue?
For a five year period - Sosa WAS the Cubs. He was the face of the organization and the guy who was the face of the organization. That makes him worthy in and of itself. The question is did the manner of his departure from the Cubs and the allegations of cheating (including the 'roids and cork) overshadow his contributions?
I could go either way on Sosa. I wouldn't mind if the Cubs retired his number, but I also wouldn't shed a tear if the Cubs chose not to feed his monster ego either. There's something worth considering though. For all he did on the field (and as manager), Pete Rose has not had his number retired by the Reds either... and he did more for the Reds than Sammy did for the Cubbies.
Jusy read that J.D. Drew might have failed his physical. If the Red Sox decide to not sign Drew, Jaque Jones becomes very appealling to them this late in the off-season. I still want to see Pagan in center unless we can find something better. I think with the possible lineup we have you can through a young guy in the 7th spot and let him develop. i.e. Pagan or Pie. One is a swith hitter and the other is a lefty. They both have shown good defense. I would really like to see Jaque jones go. Yeah they said that he did not ask for a trade but it sure took them long enough to deny it. I think he did and they hiding that fact and are trying to keep his PR up. Don't pretend that the Cubs are always telling us the truth.
All I can say(and have time to say) if they dont retire Sosa's number it would be a travesty.
By the wayJim, Rocky 6 is getting good reviews
don't forget about the best 1st baseman in the 90's! mark grace's number 17 should also be retired someday and i was so mad when i saw some spare wearing it last year. come on cubs
hey i saw rocky 6 early b/c i work at a theater and it is very good. not quite as good as 1 but MUCH better than 5. enjoy