Happ celebrates 1,000th game with impressive diving catch
Ian Happ started the day with a nice tribute. As he stepped to the plate to lead off the first inning, the scoreboard flashed that this was his 1,000th major-league game, and fans at Wrigley Field responded with a nice ovation.
Then the first pitch from San Diego starter Nick Pivetta came in high and tight, roughly 3 inches in front of his nose.
“We're competing and it was a good start on the 1-0 count,” Happ said with a laugh.
Happ finished that at-bat by hitting one over the center fielder's head for a double. He later walked and drove in a run, but his personal highlight in Saturday's 7-1 victory was a diving, tumbling catch in left field in the seventh inning. Happ robbed former White Sox outfielder Gavin Sheets of extra bases and ended up sitting against the wall after rolling across the warning track.
“Yeah, it was a pretty good one,” Happ said. “Had to go a long way, warning track, wall over there.
“I've been fortunate enough to play left field here for a number of years in a row. Just knowing the way the ball moves and how it's going to come off the bat and where that wall is, that helps a lot.”
According to the Cubs, Happ is one of just three players drafted by the franchise to reach 1,000 games with the club — joining Shawon Dunston and Mark Grace. The MLB Draft began in 1965.
But he has a long way to go to reach the top of the leaderboard. He's the 32nd player in Cubs history to hit the milestone, but less than halfway to Ernie Banks' record of 2,528.
The top 10 in games played for the Cubs are Banks, Cap Anson, Billy Williams, Ryne Sandberg, Ron Santo, Phil Cavarretta, Stan Hack, Gabby Hartnett, Grace and Sammy Sosa. Happ got to chat with Williams before Friday's home opener.
“The organization's been around for a long time,” Happ said. “Anytime you're on a short list like that, it's usually pretty special. I was lucky to play with a lot of great players. Rizz (Anthony Rizzo) obviously played 1,000 games here. Rizz was taught by guys before him, and I hope to carry that forward to guys in this room.”
A special Cubs jersey with the No. 1000 hung in Happ’s locker after the game, signed by teammates.