Jenkins, Maddux honored to have Cubs retire No. 31

MESA, Ariz. - For Fergie Jenkins, it was a long time coming. And that wasn't lost on Greg Maddux.

The Cubs announced Wednesday they'll honor a pair of their legendary pitchers by retiring uniform No. 31, worn by both. The ceremony will take place before the May 3 game against the Marlins at Wrigley Field.

Jenkins, a Hall of Famer, pitched for the Cubs from 1966-73 and 1982-83. Maddux, who retired in December and is bound for the Hall of Fame, wore No. 31 for the Cubs from 1986-92 and 2004-06.

"I thought maybe they didn't think about it," Jenkins said after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch before the Cubs-Giants game at HoHoKam Park. "They had a day for me in July after I got inducted into the Hall of Fame in '91. They kept saying, 'Oh, it will probably happen.' I didn't lose any sleep over it. It finally happened, which is nice. To have your flag flown with four other great players - (Ron) Santo, Ryno (Ryne Sandberg), Ernie (Banks) and Billy (Williams) - fantastic. And now with Greg Maddux, there will be six of us."

Maddux said he remembered walking into the Cubs clubhouse in '86 and being given No. 31.

"I thought that was pretty cool that they gave me Fergie's number," Maddux said by conference call. "I knew he was one of the best pitchers that ever played for the Cubs and for baseball, period. I was honored to have his number - Hopefully, I wasn't the reason for (Jenkins having to wait). Fergie was a great pitcher. He's still a great person, and I wish him all the best."

Jenkins is the Cubs' all-time strikeout leader, with 2,038, while Maddux is fifth, with 1,305. In victories, Jenkins ranks fifth in Cubs history, with 167. Maddux is 13th, with 133.

Jenkins came to the Cubs from the Phillies in 1966 and was traded to Texas after the 1973 season. He wound up finishing his career as a Cub. Maddux left for Atlanta as a free agent after winning the Cy Young award in 1992. Cubs fans had a hard time forgiving Maddux, but they gave him a hero's welcome in 2004, when he returned to Chicago as a free agent. Later that season, he notched the 300th win of his career.

The Cubs traded Maddux to the Dodgers in the middle of the 2006 season. He played for the Padres and the Dodgers again, but he said his second Cubs stop was something special. During Maddux' retirement announcement at the winter meetings last December, many Cubs people were present to applaud him.

"I kind of came up with the Cubs, and I feel like I kind of ended with the Cubs, as well," he said. "I know I spent the last two years on the West Coast. That was more for family reasons and selfish reasons to be as close as I could be to Vegas (his hometown). When you talk about loyalty, Chicago and Atlanta are right there 50-50. Both places were great."