Kerry Wood Ends Career With Strikeout, Leaves To Standing Ovation

Wood came out for a curtain call, tipping his cap. Cubs announcer Bob Brenly rejoined the broadcast booth after a short time, saying “this stuff always gets me. You rarely see a guy get to go out on his own terms.”

Seems to me there’s a lot less luck involved in a 20-strikeout game. A 20-strikeout game is almost all parts ability, and maybe one or two parts luck. If you strike out 20 batters in a game, it’s because you’re virtually unhittable. Look at Wood’s company. Clemens, Johnson, nobody else. Simply two of the most dominant pitchers in the history of the world.

Kerry Wood was 20 years old when he made his debut, and he couldn’t possibly have set the bar higher for himself. Here was this young power pitcher with an impossible curveball, and the only thing between him and being one of the greatest pitchers in the universe was nothing. He was already there. It was just on him to stay there, which meant it was just on him to stay healthy.

Wood does not have to make the start on Friday, according to Patrick Mooney. The Cubs will work him in as the game allows over the next three days. He also has 666 career walks, which probably means something.