Ian Happ becoming a cornerstone in Chicago Cubs history

Chicago Cubs' left fielder Ian Happ had two home runs during the team's loss against the Oakland Athletics on Tuesday night and each was further proof of the offensive impact that Happ not only has on the Cubs moving forward but also in the history of the organization.

With his home run against Athletics' starting pitcher Mitch Spence in the third inning of Tuesday's game, Happ recorded his 149th career homer in a Cubs uniform. It's a number that placed Happ ahead of the former Cubs fan favorite.

Grace has always been considered one of the best first basemen to play for the Cubs and the 2024 season, as crazy as it may have seemed in May, is cementing Happ's legacy as one of the best left fielders to call Wrigley Field his home.

For all the projected longevity there was for Javier Baez and Kris Bryant when they started their careers with the Cubs, it has been Happ who has climbed the ranks of most games played in a Cubs' uniform. Tuesday marked Happ's 980th game in a Cubs uniform. A number that has Happ already within the Top 40 in the Cubs' organization for most games played is a position player. Assuming health next season, Happ could finish the season within the Top 25 of most games played with the Cubs by a position player.

Happ wasn't done making history on Tuesday.

With his home run off Mason Miller in the ninth inning, Happ made history in the Statcast era.

After his two-home-run night on Tuesday, Happ cemented that the 2024 season was a career year for the Gold Glove left field. Entering play on Wednesday, Happ has 26 home runs on the season along with 85 RBI. Each represents a career-high for Happ.

Happ isn't just a good offensive player; he is one of the cornerstones of the Cubs' starting lineup. As the focus shifts to constructing the 2025 roster, Happ is firmly in place as one of the players that the team will build around.