What Not to Wear

Most sports fans have experienced it. A player on your team stands out, does well in games you go to, reminds you of yourself when you played. Whatever the reason, they become your favorite player. And to let everyone know, you buy his jersey. Very few people get lucky enough to have their favorite player stay with their team for the long haul, retiring in that very jersey you bought. But for most of us, that doesn't happen. Our player becomes a free agent, or gets traded or just doesn't quite live up to your expectations.

So what do you do with his jersey? Do you still wear it to games? I mean you spent a good chunk of change on it. Or maybe you bury it in the back of your closet. Do you really want to be seen at a game supporting a has been? So to help everyone out, I've decided to let you know what ex-Cubs jerseys are acceptable to wear to Wrigley Field, and which ones aren't. Now you should know that you can wear a Mark Grace jersey, and you should also know that you shouldn't be caught dead in a Todd Hundley jersey. These are the questionable calls, the grey area of Cubs jersey wearing.

Unacceptable:

6. Michael Barrett #8 - Not only did he love playing in Wrigley Field, but his first three years as a Cub were even better than expected, putting up a .800+ OPS in each of them. He won the Silver Slugger in 2005. He was the first catcher since Scott Servais in 1997-1998 to catch the majority of the games for two years in a row. He even took a swing at the most hated Cubs rival. But then he took things a little too far. He went after the Cubs ace, Carlos Zambrano, in the dugout during a game, which is generally frowned upon. To make matters worse, he went after Zambrano again and paid for it with a busted lip and a trip to the hospital. He was having a bad season already, and going after Zambrano made it even worse. It was an easy decision to trade him and he hasn't been the same player since. Neither has the value of his jersey.

5. Matt Murton #19 - The Big Murt was a bleacher fan favorite. I mean it was hard not to like the red headed left fielder who was just happy to play at Wrigley Field. But he never really lived up to his potential. Most would say he was never given a chance, which could be true. But when he was, he was just average. In 2004, he was given the starting left field spot for the whole season and put up average numbers. He didn't hit for much power with only 13 homeruns and 22 doubles. The best part about Murton was he was used to trade for Rich Harden. However, Oakland then traded him at the end of the season to Colorado. This year will probably his best chance to show if he is better than average. However, as a Cub, he was average. An average hitter, an average fielder, and overall an average player. People don't buy average players' jerseys. Can you imagine the United Center packed with Luol Deng jerseys?? Oh wait.

4. Nomar Garciaparra #5 - When the Cubs traded for Nomar at the 2004 trading deadline, I was as excited as everyone else. He played decently well down the stretch, but not well enough for the Cubs to hold on to their 2.5 game lead with 9 days left. Then in 2005, he missed over 100 games with a torn groin. The Cubs parted ways after that, thinking he was finished. Then to spite us, he signed with Los Angeles, and had his best season in 4 years. He put on that Cubs jersey a total of 105 games, probably less than most of the Cubs fans who bought it.

3. Juan Pierre #9 - Going into 2004, all the Cubs needed was a lead off hitter to put them over the top. They paid a high price to get one, giving up Ricky Nolasco (15-8, 3.52 ERA and 186 Ks in 2008) as well as Sergio Mitre and Renyel Pinto for what ended up being one season of Juan Pierre. He had a .718 OPS which is below average for a center fielder. He stole 58 bases, but was caught 20 times (61% success rate). His arm was the worst in baseball. And we finished the season 22 games under .500. Anyone with a Pierre jersey should learn from Hendry. It was a mistake to acquire it the first place, no need to keep it around for longer than necessary.

2. Corey Patterson #20 - He was the can't miss prospect that missed. He was hailed as being a five tool player and made his Major League debut after only 3 years in the minors at age 21. He finally started to put it together in 2003, but then injured his knee running to first base. However. it was the only time he would flash any All Star potential. He struggled the next 3 years and was traded to the Baltimore Orioles in 2006. Cubs fans waited and waited for him to fulfill his potential, but were never rewarded for their patience. Instead, they were told about the Cubs other five tool center fielder, Felix Pie. He was slated to take his spot the following few years, but he never played much in the big leagues. He too was shipped to Baltimore. He would also be on this list, however I doubt many people purchased his uniform. Well, at least I hope not.

1. Mark Prior #22 - The 2003 All-Star was being hailed as the second coming of Roger Clemens, the best college pitcher of all time. He came in third in the Cy Young race as a 22 year old. His mechanics were perfect. And then the wheels came off. He was no longer dominating games. He was missing games due to an Achilles tendon, a fractured elbow, shoulder tendinitis, and a torn right shoulder. He was the ace the Cubs needed to get them to the World Series, but instead he turned out to be an illusion, an aberration, a nightmare. I'd say give his jersey to a homeless shelter, but I wouldn't be surprised if they refused it.

Acceptable:

6. Moises Alou #18/Henry Rodriguez #40/Glenallen Hill #6 - Yes, none retired with the Cubs. And yes, none played more than 3 years with the Cubs. However, all three left fielders had very good numbers with in Cubbie Blue. Alou helped the Cubs make the playoffs in 2003, hitting 22 HRs and driving in 91 RBIs. He followed up that season with 39 HRs and 106 RBIs in 2004. Rodriguez hit 31 HRs in the Cubs playoff season of 1998. Also in 1998, Glenallen Hill posted an OPS of .987 after being acquired at the trading deadline. Each also had their special moments at Wrigley Field. Alou had the infamous Bartman incident. Rodriguez had his Oh Henry! bars thrown on the field after homeruns. And of course, Hill hit the mammoth homerun that landed on the rooftop across Waveland Ave.


5. Mark DeRosa #7 - Being recently traded, it's easier to wear his jersey to the ballgame this season. But his value to the Cubs these last two years makes his jersey more than acceptable. He was coming off a career year with the Rangers at age 31. Many attributed this to the Rangers ballpark being one of the most offense friendly in baseball. But this didn't stop Hendry from signing the versatile DeRosa for three years, despite the many baseball experts saying it was a bad deal. However, DeRosa proved them all wrong. He continued his good hitting, and had his best season in 2008 by far, nearly doubling his career high in homeruns. He played wherever Piniella put him in the lineup despite thinking he would be the everyday second baseman when he signed. It's hard not to like DeRosa after his two years here and it's even harder to tell you that you shouldn't wear it out to the ballgame.

4. Sammy Sosa #21 - He hit 541 homeruns in a Cubs uniform. When he would sprint to right field, he received the same "salaam" salute that Cub great Andre Dawson received. When he was in Chicago, he was one of the most loved players in all of sports. Then after the Cubs blew their 3-1 NLCS lead against the Marlins in 2003, his reputation went to hell. People blamed him for the Cubs collapse in 2004, saying he quit on the team. Many claimed he felt he was bigger than the team. Maybe it was true, but if that's true, Sosa wasn't the only to blame. He had three years of hitting over 60 homeruns. He was loved by fans in many cities because of his record setting homerun race with Mark McGwire in 1998. Even after corking his bat in 2003, the Cubs were winning, so it was easy to look past. But once the team stopped winning, everyone started pointing out his flaws. He swings for the fences all the time, his defense has gotten worse, he left the game early after the Cubs were out of the race. And then the video of him leaving was "leaked" and he was no longer the player everyone loved. Apparently, no one knows how the video of him leaving early got out, but it definitely made trading a player who had been a Chicago icon the past several years a lot easier. And of course, there's the steroid question. But again, no one seemed to care when him and McGwire were destroying records. Sammy Sosa did what everyone wanted him to do whether they will admit it now or not, they wanted to see homeruns. And he gave them what they wanted. I wouldn't be ashamed of my resume if I was him. And I wouldn't be ashamed to wear his jersey if I were you.

3. Kerry Wood #34 - Most Cubs fans remember his performance against the Astros on May 6, 1998. He was unhittable. And actually if Kevin Orie's muffed groundball were ruled an error like it should've been, he would've had a no-hitter. That performance as well as 13 Wins and 233 strikeouts, led to his Rookie of the Year award that year. From 2000 to 2004 he pitched well, leading to the Cubs signing him to a 3 year/$32.5M contract. That's when his Cubs career went down hill. He couldn't stay healthy. No matter what he tried, he couldn't stay on the mound. But after a disappointing 3 years, he accepted a deal for less than he could've gotten from another team because he felt he owed it to the Cubs for not living up to his end of his contract. He accepted the closers role and thrived in it. The 2008 All Star finished with 34 saves and 84 strikeouts in 66.3 innings. The Cubs didn't make an offer to him in the off-season leading him to sign with the Cleveland Indians. I feel that if the Cubs made him a respectable offer, he would've accepted it and finished his career in Cubbie Blue. He took out several full page ads in Chicago papers and thanked the fans for his 10 years here. He expressed his love for the team and the city and said he will always be a Chicago Cub. Therefore, wearing his jersey should be a no-brainer.

2. Greg Maddux #31 - It doesn't feel like Mad Dog spent many years in blue pinstripes, but a decade is a pretty long time. Sure, we didn't get his best 10 years, but he still put up some great numbers here, especially in the early part of his career. During his two tenures with the Cubs, he won 128 games and won a Cy Young award in 1992. He went on to win three more consecutive Cy Youngs after that. Normally, it is an easy decision whether a first ballot Hall of Famer's jersey can be worn, but Maddux's first stay with the Cubs didn't end particularly well. Cubs general manager Larry Himes and Maddux's agent, Scott Boras refused to budge during contract negotiations. And in the end the Cubs decided to cease talks and move on to other free agents. Maddux eventually signed a 5 year/$28M deal with the Atlanta Braves and the Cubs acquired other free agents, Jose Guzman, Dan Plesac, and Candy Maldonado. Everyone knows the rest, Maddux ended up being one of the best pitchers of our time, if not all-time. And those three didn't. Maddux came back in 2004 and pitched well for us, however it was nowhere near his Atlanta Braves numbers. He was traded to the Dodgers in 2006, and bounced between them and the Padres the last 2 years. In the 2008 playoffs, he came out of the bullpen to face the Cubs in what ended up being his last game at Wrigley Field. Despite being on the opposing team, the fans gave him a standing ovation, and rightfully so. He retired this off-season and will go into the Hall of Fame wearing an Atlanta Braves hat in five years, but that shouldn't stop any Cubs fan from proudly wearing that #31 around the Friendly Confines.

1. Rod Beck #47 - The Shooter played a little over one season in a Cubs uniform, but he loved every minute of it. In his only full year as a Cub in 1998, he finished with 51 saves and helped the Cubs make the playoffs for the first time in nine years. Despite sometimes making games closer than some would like, fans loved him for his intensity, his pendulum arm motion while pitching, and of course his mullet and handlebar mustache. He always said the most fun he ever had was in a Cubs uniform. After being traded by the Cubs in 1999, and out of baseball for two years, he signed a minor league deal with the Cubs in 2003, hoping to get to pitch in the Friendly Confines again. He was the closer for the Iowa Cubs and became known for living in his RV, which he parked outside of the Iowa stadium. After games, he would invite players and fans in for a beer or two and just wanted to talk baseball. It's what he loved. He pitched well in Iowa but wasn't in the Cubs bullpen plans, so he was granted his outright release. He quickly signed with the Padres and saved 20 games, while their closer, Trevor Hoffman was injured. He finished that year with a 1.78 ERA. One can always say what if, but what if Rod Beck was the pitcher brought in to replace Mark Prior in game 6 of the 2003 playoffs instead of Kyle Farnsworht. He was nearly unhittable with the Padres and probably would've been as asset to the bullpen. One could only guess, but what's done is done. Beck died in June of 2007 at the age of 38. And to ultimately show how much he loved being a Cub, he was buried in his Cubs uniform. If that doesn't make you want to throw on a Cubs jersey, nothing will.