Chicago Cubs Report

Cubs, Sox share thoughts on Kerry Wood

May, 18, 2012

5/18/12

9:16

PM CT

By Scott Powers | ESPNChicago.com

The praise for Kerry Wood, who pitched his final major league game on Friday, was quick to come from both sides of Chicago.

Former Chicago Cubs player and Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins on Twitter: “Much respect for Kerry Wood. A true #Cub.”

Chicago Cubs first baseman Bryan LaHair: “Wow, that was pretty incredible just to see the fans' reaction and obviously (to) carry his son off the field like that, it was a pretty special moment. I'm pretty honored to be a part of that.”

Chicago Cubs pitcher Jeff Samardzija: “Woody was here when I got here in ’08. He was a great guy helping young guys and really showing everyone how to play this game the right way. He’s done great things for this team and this organization. It’s a tough day. It’s not a good day when Kerry Wood retires. Hopefully we’ll remember all the things he did great and all the great things he did for the city and remember him for that. Hopefully he decided to stick around a little bit and bug us. That would be nice.”

Chicago Cubs manager Dale Sveum: “It was an emotional day. The day that he came in and talked to me about it, obviously today was a very special moment. I wish I could have been out there to be the one that takes him out of the game and made that decision. I wish I would have thought about that before I got carried away because I did afterwards. I was like, 'Man, I'm going to miss this.' But the things he's done in this city, the person he is and the career goes unmatched sometimes. A lot of people just don't know the things behind the scenes that a guy like that brings to the clubhouse.”

Chicago White Sox pitcher and former Cubs teammate Will Ohman: “He’s a good human being, good family man, friend. Obviously, I don’t have as much as contact as I used to, but a guy I certainly respected after all the years I spent here. Good sense of humor, obviously fierce competitor. I don’t know. It’s like waking up in bizarro world hearing the news.”

Chicago White Sox first baseman Paul Konerko: “He’s obviously been a big part of Chicago and the Cubs. As far as playing against him, just a guy who would come right at you. Definitely had some at-bats against him. He had great stuff, obviously a great breaking ball and all that, but at the end of the day, he was a guy who came right at you and challenged you, so that’s what I’ll remember.”

Chicago White Sox pitcher Jake Peavy: “I can you tell you when you watch that (20-strikeout) game and you watch what he did to a big league lineup, I’m not taking anything away from any of these games, you can go watch Phil(Humber) and his perfect game, you can go watch Mark Buehrle and his perfect game, please don’t take this the wrong way, but there’s not a comparison to what he did and the domination and sheer fact (that) I’m so much better than you today. That’s incredible.”

Chicago White Sox manager Robin Ventura: “Before (Stephen Strasburg,) it was Kerry Wood. When he came up, he was as good as there ever was. He threw hard, great curveball, competitor, professional. It’s always sad when you see a guy like him kind of make that choice.”

Scott Powers | email

Reporter

Scott Powers is a general reporter for ESPNChicago.com. He is an award-winning journalist and has been reporting on preps, colleges and pros for publications throughout the Midwest since 1997.

Tags:

Chicago Cubs, 2012 season, Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Kerry Wood

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