Chicago Cubs: Evaluating Jon Lieber's underappreciated body of work

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Jon Lieber, Chicago Cubs (Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Daniel /Allsport) /

The Chicago Cubs’ Jon Lieber was a significant factor when he joined; The 2001 season was a massive statement as he pitched lights out baseball.

There have been many pitchers for the Chicago Cubs organization, but probably the most unrecognized might be Jon Lieber. After nearly spend a decade and a half playing professional baseball, Lieber would shine during his 20 win performance in 2001.

Along with other Cubs, Lieber is another athlete that most of us nowadays don’t mention that often and discuss his time in the Windy City. Lieber pitching arsenal includes a fastball, a slider, and a changeup. Probably the best pitches to have in your repertory.

From a small town to the big stage

The 6’3 righty out of Council Bluffs, IA began his collegiate career with the hometown team. He went to Iowa Western Community College from 1988 to 1990. He decided to continue his college career and transfer to South Alabama.

Over the next two years, Lieber had great success for South Alabama. As he posted 12-5 records in both years. At the end of his junior year in college. The Cubs selected Lieber in the ninth round of the 1991 MLB draft. He decided to stay at South Alabama for his senior year leading him to become the Sun Belt Conference player of the year and was named a third-team All-American.

Kansas City Royals drafted Lieber in the 1992 MLB amateur draft. A little over a year after being drafted by the Royals, he got traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates. After bouncing around from starter and bullpen during his first three years, Lieber eventually becomes apart of their starting rotation for his last two seasons at a Pirate. Leiber was 38-47 before the Pirates traded him to the Cubs for an outfielder named Brant Brown during the 1998 offseason.

Jon Lieber, Chicago Cubs (Mandatory Credit: Ezra O. Shaw /Allsport) /

Chicago Cubs: A 20-win season

The Cubs were coming off a phenomenal year, statically speaking in 2000. Sammy Sosa had blasted 66 homers, and Mark Grace led the team with a .309 batting average. Starting pitcher Kevin Tapani came off a 19-9 performance.

Probably the most famous stat of that year was rookie pitcher Kerry Wood struck out 20 batters against the Houston Astros. But Wood suffered an injury during the 1998 season and did not play the following season. The Cubs needed to find someone to replace Wood, and they turned towards Lieber as that replacement.

Lieber’s first two seasons, he went 10-11 and 12-11. He led the National League in innings pitched in 2000.

The now 31-year-old Lieber was on fire during the 2001 season. His 20-6 record was fourth-best in the National League behind names like Matt Morris, Curt Schilling, and Randy Johnson. During his impressive season, he pitched a complete one-hit shutout against the Cincinnati Reds.

His performance during the season led him to become an All-Star. Lieber’s 232.3 innings pitched ranked him fifth in the league, and his five complete games tied for second in league with Javier Vázquez (behind Johnston’ ss six).

The following year Lieber ran into some trouble. His 2002 season was cut short due to right elbow problems that have been bothering him all season long. The Cubs placed him on the DL with right elbow tendinitis. Therefore Lieber went on to have Tommy John surgery ending his season. In 21 starts, Lieber went on to have a 6–8 record, a 3.70 ERA, 87 strikeouts, 12 walks, and 153 hits allowed in 141 innings pitched. After the season ended, Lieber became a free agent.

Jon Lieber, Chicago Cubs (Photo by Otto Greule Jr/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Starting a new adventure

During the 2002 off-season, Lieber signed a two-year contract with the New York Yankees. He would miss the 2003 season due to recovering from the surgery. In 2004 he returned and started 27 games for the Yankees posting a 14–8 record, a 4.33 ERA, 102 strikeouts.

His 14 win season would tie him with eight other pitchers for eighth in the American League. Lieber would go on to pitch in the postseason for the Yankees it would be the only time he would throw in the postseason in the AL and for his career. He went 1-1 in two different series, compiling nine strikeouts over the 21 innings he pitched.

Before the 2005 season, Lieber signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was named their opening day starter for the 2005 season. He would end up spending the next three years with the Phillies. In 76 games (74 starts), Lieber went 29-30, with a 4.55 ERA, and a 3.0 WAR. Injuries would come into play once again, as he would end his 2007 campaign with a ruptured tendon in his right foot.

Jon Lieber, Chicago Cubs (Photo by Brian Bahr/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Coming back to the Windy City

On January 16th, 2008, Lieber would return to Chicago. Although he was on the DL for most the season with the right foot injury. Lieber ended up making his final appearance on the mound against the Reds, as he gave up two runs in two innings. Upon his return to Chicago, Lieber pitched in 26 games, compiling a 2–3 record, a 4.05 ERA.

After the 2008 season, Lieber decided it was time to retire. In his 14-year career, Lieber had a 131–124 record, a 4.27 ERA, 1,553 strikeouts, 422 walks, 2,388 hits allowed, and 2,198 innings pitched in 401 games (327 starts). His strikeout-to-walk ratio of 3.680 ranks 23rd all-time among dominant league pitchers.

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Next. Will Grace ever be in the Hall of Fame?. dark

During his MLB career, the South Alabama alum became a member of their 2002 Hall of Fame Class. Just 13 years later, Lieber became a member of the Iowa Western Community College 2017 Hall of Fame class. This past February, Lieber was recognized once again by South Alabama by devoting in his name the newly built 2.3 million dollar clubhouse. Below is a short video of a tour through the clubhouse.

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