Chicago Cubs: What’s the worst jersey you’ve gotten for the holidays?

It’s the time of giving. And what’s better than receiving Chicago Cubs gear or memorabilia as a gift? Nothing. Unless, that is, they’re traded right away.

Last December, everything I got for Christmas from my family had something with the Chicago Cubs World Series emblem on it.

My father gave me a Kris Bryant jersey with a World Series patch on the sleeve, a Bryant bobblehead with him holding the World Series trophy, multiple framed pictures from the postseason and of course, the eight-DVD box set of each World Series game.

My mother almost one-uped my father. She got me all the athletic apparel saying World Series champions in one way or another.

Arguably, it was the best Christmas ever for all Cubs fans.

Please, don’t go El Mago

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This year, father bought me a Javier Baez jersey with the World Series patch on the sleeve, and it got me thinking: “Man, he better not be traded before April.”

I can’t think of many things worse as a fan than seeing one of your favorite players traded, or see that player sign with another team after you already bought their jersey.

Luckily for me, it hasn’t happened to me with the Cubs.

As a passionate Chicago sports fan, however, it’s happened with the Chicago Bears and Chicago Bulls.

I have a Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffery jersey and what’s awful about it is I purchased them not long ago. Marshall was traded a year after I got his jersey. I got Jeffery’s jersey shortly after and he signed with the Philadelphia Eagles in the last offseason.

Bulls don’t know what they’re doing

For the Bulls, I got a Ben Gordon jersey when I was in high school. He was a fan favorite, but unfortunately, he signed with the Detroit Pistons in 2010. I also have a Derrick Rose and Jimmy Butler jersey.

Rose’s time was up in Chicago because of injuries, and the franchise chose a new direction. That led to the Butler trade this past NBA offseason.

Like I said, this hasn’t happened to me with the Cubs, yet. I had one Cubs jersey for the longest time. I got an Alfonso Soriano jersey for my birthday back in high school.

Shirzeys don’t count, right?

I did have t-shirts or shirzeys, as some call them, which included Kosuke Fukudome, Aramis Ramirez, Ryne Sandburg and Derek Lee.

Over the last three years, those numbers have increased. I have an Anthony Rizzo, Bryant, Baez Kyle Schwarber and David Ross jersey. Willson Contreras, Baez and Bryant t-shirts have been added as well.

When I think about the worst Cubs jersey to buy I think about Milton Bradley or Corey Patterson. Bradley might have been one of the worst signings I’ve seen in my lifetime. Patterson had plenty of potential and showed signs of being an All-Star, but injuries plagued that.

What other former Cubs could fit this unfortunate category?

I remember how sad I was when the Cubs traded Carlos Zambrano and Starlin Castro. He was one of my favorite players. There’s something about those battles with Gatorade coolers that made me smile.

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Castro had come up with the Cubs and played on a lot of bad teams. The Cubs broke through in 2015 and then the Cubs traded him in the offseason. It’s ironic that the New York Yankees have basically done the same thing to him after reaching the ALCS this past season.

What players fit this for you?

Overall, I think any player on the roster that was part of the 2016 squad will always have a piece of my heart, which means if one is traded, it will be hard to swallow.

That said, here’s to hoping Baez isn’t traded anytime soon.