Wood must be last Cubs star to go out like this
As if Theo Epstein didn't already know his assignment, this weekend has been a great reminder.
The Cubs' president of baseball operations has to make sure that Kerry Wood is the last beloved Cubs' player to retire without reaching the World Series, much less win one.
The name Woody now is etched in futility along with the likes of Ernie, Billy, Fergie, Ronny and Ryno.
Wood retired Friday after 15 seasons as a major leaguer, 13 of them with the Cubs, and said Saturday along the third-base line, "I couldn't have asked for anything more."
What about a World Series?
What's a World Series, right?
As Wood was worshipped the past couple days for being the player and person he has been since arriving here in 1998, it was almost as if he served as the latest consolation prize for Cubs' fans: Good guy, great teammate, earnest pitcher, symbol of perseverance and contributor to the community.
Combine all that and a player is worthy of a fan base's admiration.
Yet Wood is just one more Cubs' player who could provide fans with an individual moment or two for the ages but not that one team moment that baseball is supposed to be all about.
Championship?
What's a championship?
The final day of Wood's career was heartwarming but had to be one of the oddest in sports history.
Many an athlete signs a one-day contract with his favorite team. Then he retires with a pen in hand, not the ball the way Wood did like this were a spring-training exhibition game.
Only in Wrigley Field does this happen.
Oh, by the way, the Cubs lost Wood's final game to the White Sox, as if that matters. Then they lost the day of his official retirement 7-4 to the Sox, as if that matters.
This weekend has been so Cubbish so far: Less bread, more circuses.
That's OK because fans love Woody and Woody is happy and 40,228 fans paid to see this mess on the field.
Like Kerry Wood, Ernie Banks never played in a World Series. Billy Williams didn't. Ferguson Jenkins didn't. Ron Santo didn't. Ryne Sandberg didn't.
Those great names in Cubs' lore often received standing ovations similar to the one Wood received after his final major-league appearance.
Maybe the applause was their reward for enduring what Cubs' fans have endured for what seems like forever.
NL pennant?
What's an NL pennant?
Cubs' fans always have had players like Wood to embrace. But it has been 104 years since anybody associated with the Cubs embraced a World Series trophy.
In a way, Kerry Wood was the perfect Cub, so Cubbie if you will, because this player's career was as star-crossed as this team's history.
Unfulfilled promise, it's called, Wood's because of unavoidable injuries and the Cubs' because of self-inflicted wounds they didn't do anything about.
In 2003, Wood had the best opportunity a Cubs' pitcher could have - win a decisive playoff game that would clinch the National League pennant. Naturally, almost fittingly, Wood lost it.
Now, Kerry Wood will live happily ever despite never playing in a World Series, which is the way it goes in Wrigley Field.
The team loses.
The players win.
"There's tremendous things happening here on the North Side with this management and this staff," Wood said.
Their assignment is to make sure the next beloved Cub doesn't retire without a championship.