The Top 20 Cub HR Of All Time - #19 Kerry Wood 5/2/2000

by Al Yellon on Jan 24, 2008 10:06 AM CST in Baseball Stories

It figures, doesn't it, that one of the top home runs, among the most memorable, was hit by a pitcher? (Hint: this won't be the last pitcher HR on this list, either.)

Kerry Wood is still among the most popular of Cubs. 2008 will be his tenth season in a Cub uniform -- there aren't that many players who have played that long in a Cub uniform since 1945; Ernie Banks, Bob Rush, Don Kessinger, Randy Hundley, Fergie Jenkins, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Rick Reuschel, Ryne Sandberg, Mark Grace, Sammy Sosa, Greg Maddux and Shawon Dunston are the others.

And after his spectacular rookie season in 1998, he blew out a ligament in his elbow in his first spring training start in 1999 and missed the entire season.

When 2000 started, hopes were high for him to come back. But he began the season on the DL, and it took until May 2, the first game of a series against the Astros, for him to make his season debut. The Cubs had gotten off to a poor start and it was clear, even that early, that 2000 wasn't going to be a very good year on the North Side. They entered that series 10-17, tied for last place, already eight games behind the division-leading Cardinals.

But entering Wrigley Field the night of May 2, there was a buzz, because "Kid K" was going to take the mound for the first time in over a year. He started out a bit shakily, allowing a single to Roger Cedeno and wild-pitching him to second. Later in the first he walked Ken Caminiti, and issued another walk to Billy Spiers in the 2nd. His first strikeout followed -- he K'd Astros pitcher Jose Lima to end the second inning.

And the buzz got even louder in the bottom of the inning when, after a pair of doubles gave the Cubs a 1-0 lead and they scored again when Damon Buford reached on an error, Wood came to bat. He promptly smacked a two-run homer to a rousing ovation. My recollection is that it left the yard entirely and landed on the roof of what was then a small house just west of the beige-colored building at the corner of Waveland & Kenmore.

He threw six innings that day, allowing one run, walking four and striking out four, a successful return. The rest of 2000 wasn't as kind to him -- he wound up 8-7 in 23 starts with a 4.80 ERA, including this ugly pasting by the Cardinals on September 22, in which he walked eight in 1.1 innings before Don Baylor mercifully yanked him.

But all of us who were there will remember the "welcome back" home run that Kerry hit on May 2, 2000. He's not likely to hit many, or any, more home runs for the Cubs as long as he's a relief pitcher, because relievers just don't get that many at-bats (he only had one AB in 22 appearances in 2007).

And one other note, which I learned in doing a bit of research for this post. That HR gave Wood dingers in consecutive regular-season at-bats. He homered in his final at-bat of 1998, against the Reds on August 31.

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I love Kerry Wood

.....when it is all said and done I always wanted the year the Cubs won the WS to be a great GREAT year....with the feeling of fate the whole way through. What better way than to have Woody be OK this season and finish it off in the end.

"Hey.....Cubs win!!!" ---Harry "I strongly dislike Steve Stone." ---Hammer

by Hammer on Jan 24, 2008 10:12 AM CST reply actions

My thoughts exactly!

n/t

"WGN, Channel 9 Cubs Baseball, Excitingly, Importantly, Dramatically Yours." - Jack Brickhouse

by BigJohnAZ on Jan 24, 2008 10:23 AM CST up reply actions

from your mouth...

yo! You listening up there???

Worst to First in 2007, brought to you by Lou, Sori, A-Ram and D-Lee.

by drewishdrewid on Jan 24, 2008 10:46 AM CST up reply actions

Kerry

My dream scenario has Kerry hitting the series winning homerun.

The kid could always hit.

I remember watching batting practice in Mesa in 03. Got to see Kerry and Carlos take some swings. They were having fun together and hitting the ball a mile.

The Cubs have had some good hitting pitchers over the years. Sutcliffe was probably one of the best, Jenkins also outstanding, Carlos, Kerry, Steve Trachsel could also hit. Prior was halfway decent also.

I could see this even coming into play in a world series. Tight game late innings maybe Lou can leave Z in when the AL manager has to take his starter out.

And there have been a couple of games against the Sox at Wrigley where our pitcher got a key hit or sacrifice and their pitcher failed and it was key in a win.

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on Jan 24, 2008 11:20 AM CST up reply actions

Ken Holtzman

He was even sent up to pinch-hit a time or two.

by MN exile on Jan 24, 2008 3:35 PM CST up reply actions

Just once.

It was in the 17th inning of a game against St. Louis on June 19, 1970. Obviously, they had run out of other players.

Holtzman struck out and the Cubs lost 5-3.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 24, 2008 4:25 PM CST up reply actions

I remember that HR

It was good to have him back. I can't believe it's been 10 years with Kid K.

crazy.

AC 00 00 00 - BELIEVE

by mike @ Bleed Cubbie Blue on Jan 24, 2008 10:23 AM CST reply actions

Kind of sad that

a meaningless home run by a pitcher on a last place team in a game being played in May even gets ranked. I guess all I can keep thinking is how a list from the Yankees or Dodgers or some other "storied" franchise would compare.

by CA Cub Fan on Jan 24, 2008 10:30 AM CST reply actions

Oh, just you wait.

There will be some more meaningful ones coming.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 24, 2008 10:51 AM CST up reply actions

Aside from Gabby Hartnett's,

and milestone homers by Banks and Sosa, there just aren't many meaningful homers for a team with the Cubs' woeful history.

I remember in '89, after the Cubs blew a big lead and the game against the Cardinals on a Friday, won Saturday on Dawson's race from first to home on Salazar's double, then dealt a real blow to the Cards' hopes on Sunday by beating them again. Dwight Smith homered to left center in the 6th on Sunday to give the Cubs a lead they never surrendered. Sadly, that's one of the biggest homers I've ever seen a Cub hit because it actually affected a division race.

Sosa's homers in '98 were big, too. But things like Kerry Wood hitting a homer, Kingman hitting one really far, Kingman destroying the Dodgers with 3 in a game, Dawson's final homer in '88 or Willie Smith's homer on opening day (which sent me out into the street yelling, by the way) now only remind me of how pitiful my favorite team has been and how so few of the games I've seen have had any consequence in any kind of a pennant race.

Most will be memorable because there's so little that's important baseball history-wise to remember.

by TR on Jan 24, 2008 12:34 PM CST up reply actions

Well, do you really want to talk about...

...Joe Tinker's game-winning home run in game two of the World Series in 1908?

...yeah.

I would suggest you learn to truly interrupt all stats before using any selective stats. -- cubswin

by cwyers on Jan 24, 2008 12:38 PM CST up reply actions

I was there.

I actually think Kling's ground rule double that followed was hit harder.

We were so excited we threw our hats in the air and those of us without TB let out a mighty cheer!

by TR on Jan 24, 2008 1:25 PM CST up reply actions

Thankless job

Would you want to write this list? How many "meaningful" home runs do you think Sammy hit? I remember a lot of end of game blow-out one run home runs by him before 98.

And, secondly, it's the Cubs. This HR had meaning because it gave fans HOPE for the season. Hope for a strong Kerry Wood return. Isn't eternal hope what the Cubs stand for?

by toaster on Jan 24, 2008 11:17 AM CST up reply actions

Part of doing this list...

... is HR that are MEMORABLE, not just MEANINGFUL. Eight years later, that Wood HR is still quite a memorable event.

I trust the difference is obvious.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 24, 2008 11:18 AM CST up reply actions

Agreed!

I agree with you Al. I'll never forget it, and am glad it's on the list! As mentioned in my other post, I was at both games.

by toaster on Jan 24, 2008 1:31 PM CST up reply actions

Actually the Cubs always do things a different way

Since I think there's a good chance this will make the list won't go into it further.

But isn't it totally Cubs that a major turning point of the 03 season was Carlos' homerun in Houston?

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on Jan 24, 2008 11:22 AM CST up reply actions

I was at both...

What was to be my first AZ Spring Training started off crazy. My friend from England picked me up at Phoenix airport and we went straight to the Angels game, seeing Kerry throw his only 26 pitches of the year.

Fast forward to May 2, 2000. I was there with a company outing, and one of my co-workers had never been to Wrigley. We had OK seats, but not the bleachers I am used to. I took him to show him the bleachers and say Hi to my left field friends (the banter group) and as we got there, Kerry's HR came sailing right at us. Of course, it either landed in the first row or the basket, but the place went nuts!

I miss the days of telling Marge (stadium side of the family section) that "I'm just going to say Hi to Ray" and getting a free visit to the bleachers for a few innings. Good times.

by toaster on Jan 24, 2008 11:11 AM CST reply actions

That night

I knew I was going to get all weepy.

I made it through the rousing ovation when people spotted him leaving the dugout to go to the bullpen, another one when he walked back to the dugout after warming up, when he took the mound but I lost it when he hit that homerun.

And I wasn't the only one. And I was very popular because I had some tissues.

I remember WGN radio's commercial to the song "Let the Sun Shine In"

I also remember his first outing that spring. It was against the Sox and only on the Sox station and give Ed Farmer credit for saying 'NO matter how a Sox fan feels about the Cubs you have to root for this guy'

I also remember an idiot asking him the next day if he was happy his arm felt good the next day and he answered no he wanted it to fall off over night.

By the way put your pinkie and your thumb together and the tendon that becomes prominent in your wrist is what they usually use for the Tommy John surgery.

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on Jan 24, 2008 11:15 AM CST reply actions

Home run location

I was at this game as well. If I recall, it landed in my section and was caught by a friend who still has the ball. I believe he got a free ticket on Southwest Airlines. But there was beer involved.

by gocubsgo22 on Jan 24, 2008 11:48 AM CST reply actions

Kerry Wood

For some reason, my memory of this particular HR is fuzzy. I thought he hit one in the game where he squared off against Clemens (6/7/2003), but I checked and he did not. He went 7 2/3 with 11k's and 1ER--but got no hits.

The 2003 NLCS game 7 is the one that really stands out in my mind. After game 6, I came to work the next day and called Western Union. I think it cost me well over $100 to send a telegram to Dusty in the clubhouse telling him I'd been praying for the Cubs and I was sure they'd pull it off. The telegram thing had worked well for me in 1984 when Harry announced my engagement on Channel 9--so I hoped Dusty would read it.

We fell behind 3-0 immediately--but when Kerry tied the game with a 2 run HR in the 2nd--i felt sure we'd win. There was no doubt in my mind when Moises hit another 2 run shot in the 3rd to put us up 5-3. But........

I'll never forget that kid in the clubhouse with tears in his eyes saying "I choked". He blamed himself and he'd done everything he could that season. Cub fans will always love him for that.

BBWAA's name should be changed to "Power in the hands of Fools"

by cubfever7 on Jan 24, 2008 12:03 PM CST reply actions

Rookie Year Grand Slam Vs. Braves

If I had a home run to pick it wouldn't be the one mentioned above. It is far and away one of my favorite baseball moments, that I was witness too. I had just moved to Atlanta and was missing Chicago something awful. My Mom's boss gave me two seats to the Cubs v. Braves game, 5th row right off first base. I could shoot spit balls at the guys on first and easily hit them. The rookie phenom Kerry Wood was on the mound. I couldn't wait.

Forgive I am not much for exact details or play by play, but I do remember it was bases loaded, and young Wood was up to bat. I leaned over the lady sitting next to me, wearing a full on Braves outfit complete with the sponge #1 hand on the left hand, and the sponge tomahawk in the right. I said, "Watch him hit a grand slam." Two pitches later, that ball was sailing over the fence! He did it; he hit a grand slam home run.

Seeing a Cubs game at Ted Turner Stadium here in Atlanta is a lot like seeing the Cardinals in Chicago. A lot of Saint Louis fans show up for the game. There were a lot of us Chicago transplants here for the game, and we were jumping in the isles. I sat down again after he tagged up at home, and giving a high-five to anyone wearing blue with in 100 feet of our seats , and looked at the lady sitting next to me. I said to her as she finished chugging the remains of a beer, "You know what made it worse? I called it." She choked on the last bit of foam, and shot me a nasty look.

I hope Mr. Wood can recapture some of that magic this coming year. A healthy Wood would sure make the dream of a Cubs World Series a little easier to turn to a reality.

by AtlantaDave on Jan 24, 2008 12:39 PM CST reply actions

Tapani or Clark

Didn't Kevin Tapani or Mark Clark also hit a grand slam that series?

We are all waiting for that glorious October night when we finally win it all. Until then we will continue to cheer, never do the wave and hope.

by puckishcubsfan on Jan 24, 2008 12:58 PM CST up reply actions

Kerry Wood....

... has never hit a grand slam in the major leagues. AtlantaDave is probably thinking of Kevin Tapani's grand slam against the Braves on July 20, 1998. That's the most recent grand slam by a Cubs pitcher.

Tapani wasn't a very good hitter -- .153 lifetime -- but he had 11 RBI in 1998. Cub pitchers had 35 RBI that year.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 24, 2008 1:09 PM CST up reply actions

Exactly

Tampani hit the grand slam, and gave Sammy guff about it for a week or so until he hit his first carreer GS.

This coming off of Sammy setting the record for the month of June. And, I remember the bomb SS hit off the porch railing of the house that June.

by toaster on Jan 24, 2008 2:16 PM CST up reply actions

That was the one...

... that hit off that rooftop. I got it confused with this Wood HR, which actually landed in the bleachers.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 24, 2008 2:49 PM CST up reply actions

Hold on a tick...

I just realized, is this hit on the list? I will need to cut and paste if it is. LOL. This is why I dont comment on this forum. I dont know what the hell I am talking about. :-)

by AtlantaDave on Jan 25, 2008 7:08 AM CST up reply actions

oops

Well boy my face is red, and it's not because it hit 17 degrees last night in Atlanta either. Like I said I am not one to remember all the numbers, and play by play, and I guess I am not to good with names either. For years I have thought that was Wood who hit that GS, now that I think about it I guess it was Tapani. It was still one hellofa game. Well at least now I will be able to tell the story correctly.

So since I have totally derailed this thread, and since someone else brought it up, was this the season that Sammy Roidsa, and Mark "its only vitamins" McGwire started the race for the HR record?

by AtlantaDave on Jan 25, 2008 7:05 AM CST up reply actions

NLCS Wood Homer

It's gotta be on the list. The homer that tied Game 7 and brought back hope for a half-inning or so.

I know someone mentioned it in the other thread as well, but I had to bring it up again.

Rich

by rgonzale on Jan 24, 2008 2:29 PM CST reply actions

Patience!

n/t

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 24, 2008 2:49 PM CST up reply actions

geeze...

i normally don't comment, but that homerun meant a lot to me... especially once i'd seen the press conference... it made me (a sabremetrics guy) a kerry wood intangibles believer... guh

by chrislykk22 on Jan 26, 2008 2:26 AM CST up reply actions

In response to the hint

if the other HR by a pitcher isnt the same pitcher, then i think there needs to be some revisions.

PIE!!!

by LilLPLancer23 on Jan 24, 2008 3:11 PM CST reply actions

Prediction

We will see Maddux's name on the list

and speaking of pitchers, what ever happened to Guzman and Mateo? Did they just drop off the map??

Live is boring until March 31st strolls by..

by Chanman25 on Jan 24, 2008 4:03 PM CST reply actions

Guzman...

... had Tommy John surgery last fall -- he won't pitch till midsummer.

Mateo will be in camp; he's on the 40-man roster and I suppose has a shot at the bullpen, though more likely he'll be the closer at Iowa.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 24, 2008 4:26 PM CST up reply actions

Guzman = Prior and Wood part deux?

he seems like he can't stay healthy

Live is boring until March 31st strolls by..

by Chanman25 on Jan 24, 2008 5:21 PM CST up reply actions

AL!!!

I really like this idea. But I was just snooping around other SB Nation sites, and the Red Sox are having their "Top 10 Moments of the Year" with a corresponding pictures going on right now. I think I'd be cool to hit that next.

1st Official Al-Wanna-Be! Feel free to become an Oficial Al-Wanna-Be Today!

by LilLPLancer23 on Jan 24, 2008 9:51 PM CST reply actions

Me too...

As I've told you before, I never repeat myself.

by santoswoodenlegs on Jan 24, 2008 9:54 PM CST up reply actions

I'd be willing to help out with it too.

By the way, you like my signature?

1st Official Al-Wanna-Be! Feel free to become an Oficial Al-Wanna-Be Today!

by LilLPLancer23 on Jan 24, 2008 9:58 PM CST up reply actions

Actually, let me put it like this.

Please let me help out, of course, if you want to do this.

1st Official Al-Wanna-Be! Feel free to become an Oficial Al-Wanna-Be Today!

by LilLPLancer23 on Jan 24, 2008 10:03 PM CST up reply actions

Well...

... if we had thought about this earlier, it would have been a good way to pass the offseason. But by the time I'm done with the HR list, pitchers and catchers will have reported and it will be time to look forward.

Anyway, it's an idea for NEXT offseason when hopefully we will have some championship moments to rank.

"That's my opinion and if you don't like it, well, I have others." ~ Groucho Marx

by Al Yellon on Jan 25, 2008 8:31 AM CST up reply actions

2003 NLCS Game 7

I'm assuming if this home run made the list and you say this won't be the last pitcher home run that Wood's homer in game 7 of the 2003 NLCS will be on this list. Let's wait and see. Nice job so far Al.

by gocubs40 on Jan 24, 2008 11:07 PM CST reply actions

other pitcher HR

The Z has hit a few but if you are going to include another HR from a pitcher, I would say that would have to be from Rick Sutcliffe when he hit it in the playoffs in 1984 against San Diego..

by goldmeier on Jan 27, 2008 2:44 AM CST reply actions