A Farewell to Kerry Wood

After 14 turbulent years playing Major League Baseball, Kerry Wood’s explosive arm has run out of gas.  Cub’s fans may be quick to point out the 14 disabled list appearances as an obstacle to Wood’s true potential.  There is a strong possibility that the flamethrower fell quite short of his expected career, but I would beg to differ. 

Kerry was drafted, in 1995, out of a high school in Irving, Texas by the Chicago Cubs.  The Cubs decided to grab the phenomenal right-hander, who grew up in a baseball hot bed, with the fourth overall selection.  Of course, Wood's childhood was during a time when pitcher’s mechanics and arm health were not nearly as closely monitored.  Since the ripe young age of eight the Texan’s arm has been overworked.  Even Kerry’s high school coach admitted mismanagement of the youngster from a young age.  Yet, no one knew any better and Wood continued to mow hitters down.

Wood spent three years playing minor league baseball for the Cubs until his 1998 call-up on April 12^th.  It did not take long for the rookie to earn his nickname “Kid K”.  In just his fifth career start Kerry Wood struck out his age in batters, 20.  The only other pitcher to do so is Bob Feller, 17 years old, in 1936.  Many baseball analysts consider his performance the most dominant in baseball history. The pitcher catapulted into the spotlight after allowing only two runners, one hit and one hit by pitch. Even Bill James scores the outing as the best in the history of baseball.  Despite missing the final month with elbow issues, Kerry won the National League Rookie of the Year by a landslide.  Few knew that the youngster’s minor elbow issues would begin a career of debilitating arm injuries.  Jim Riggleman continued to overwork the spectacular pitching prospect, picking up where his high school coach left off.  He would not be the final manager to push Wood a bit too hard.

High pitch counts in addition to poor mechanics would lead to Kerry’s first major injury, a UCL tear in his right elbow.  Wood required Tommy John surgery in 1999, which was a relatively unknown procedure.  He began his recovery in the 2000 season, never truly returning to form until late 2001 despite over 400 strikeouts in that two-year span.  After growing weary of Riggleman’s style, the Cubs hired Dusty Baker to run the team in 2003.  Although this becomes Wood’s career year, the righty endures an incredible amount of work throughout the season.  Kerry struck out 266 batters in a 2003 campaign that included a trip to the all-star game.   Along with Mark Prior, “Kid K” brought the Cubs to within mere innings of a shot at history.  The Cubs continued to look to the future with Wood as their ace.

A long 2003 season led to some residual wear and tear for the fire-baller.  Wood is unable to ever really regain confidence as a starter.  After multiple designated list stints over a span of three difficult years, Kerry moved to the bullpen in 2007.  He won the closer job in 2008 after suffering a 60-day disabled list stint in the prior year.  The newly donned closer converted 34 of 39 save opportunities in addition to achieving career bests with 11.4 K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings pitched) and 1.09 WHIP (walks plus hits per inning pitched).  He also earned his second and final All-Star game appearance. 

Wood's contract expired at the end of the season, but the Cubs management and Kerry wanted two different things.  The pitcher wanted a multiple year deal while the Cubs only wanted to extend his services for one more season.  Wood left Chicago for Cleveland.  After playing two years with the Indians and Yankees, “Kid K” returned to Chicago in 2011. He also knew when to call it quits.  Unable to win the closer role in his return to Chicago, Wood took the set-up role through the 2012 season.  He finished his career the way it started, with a strikeout.  On May 18 against the White Sox, Kerry was called on to finish the 8^th inning.  With two outs, the former rookie of the year made three perfect pitches to finish the inning.  Yet another incredible feat has Wood sitting second all-time in career K/9 (strikeouts per nine innings pitched) at 10.3 (Min. 1,200 IP: Randy Johnson (10.6), Kerry Wood (10.3), Pedro Martinez (10), Nolan Ryan (9.6), Sandy Koufax (9.3).  The one time Hall of Fame hopeful finished his career as one of the most dominant pitchers of all time. 

Upon returning to the Windy City the righty continued to establish himself as an ambassador for the city of Chicago, the Cubs, and Major League Baseball.  Many of Kerry’s charitable contributions, such as the Wood Family Foundation, have aided to cement an exceptional image.  Loyalty and class are widely viewed as characteristics of the one time phenom, leading many fans to classify Wood as a better man than baseball player.  And make no mistake, Kerry Wood was an excellent player.  An excellent player who stepped away from the game at the perfect time with a seemingly untarnished image.  I have no problem with Wood leaving the game, particularly for his family’s sake.  I am sure he just wants to be able to play catch with his son, Justin, as he grows old.  One thing is certain:  Kerry Wood will forever live in the hearts of Cubs’ fans.