Chicago Cubs: Villains who would join the Cubs

Chicago Cubs: Before winning a ring with the Cubs in 2016, he was a Cardinal who often owned Cubs hitters

“I didn’t come for a haircut; I came for jewelry.”

Who can forget that iconic quote from former Cubs hurler John Lackey? A few months after this quote, he celebrated with his Cubs teammates after winning the World Series. Lackey pitched 15 years in the majors with his career-ending in Chicago in 2017. His final season was rough…ut his 2016 season he pitched to a 3.35 ERA, 3.81 FIP, 1.1 WHIP and 8.6 K/9 in 29 starts.

Before being part of the Cubs championship run, he was a Cardinal in 2014-2015. Long story short, he was not liked at all by Cubs fans in those days. Lackey was not the kind of guy who cared about being liked and had an old fashion “rough and tough” personality that could get under people’s skin. Add the fact he was on the Cardinals, which escalated that villain status.

2015 was the peak year of that Lackey-Cubs battles. The young Cubs could not solve Lackey in the regular season as he put up a 1.25 ERA in three starts against them. When the Cubs faced the Cardinals in the playoffs, Lackey shut them out in game one.

Everything blew up on Lackey in Game 4 when the Cubs ambushed him and went on to win the game and series that night. The raucous crowd at Wrigley mock-chanted Lackey as he screamed in a fury on the mound. It was like demons of the past were exercised in the form of steam coming out of Lackey’s ears.

The next season when he came to Chicago, he certainly was not the most popular Cub, but many at least accepted him. He will always be a part of that 2016 season.