This is another player that really does not need an introduction, our next #RememberThatCub features the flame-throwing kid, Kerry Wood. One of the Cubs top ambassadors now, Wood pitched for the Cubs for a long time and accomplished some historical feats. While it is unfortunate his skills were diminished at times due to injuries, Cub fans will never forget what he accomplished in blue pinstripes.

Kerry Wood was drafted by the Cubs in 1995 as the 4th overall pick out of high school. The Grand Prairie, Texas native made his major league debut in 1998 which began a 14-year MLB career. 12 of his 14 years were with the Chicago Cubs from 1998–2008 and 2011–2012 while playing stints with the Indians in 2009 and the Yankees in 2010. As a Cub his career numbers were as follows: 80–68 record, 3.67 ERA, 1,582 strikeouts, 1.267 WHIP in 446 games.

Wood was a full-time starter from 1998–2004. After a number of injuries he suffered from 2004–2006, his starting days were over. In fact in those three years he only played 47 games, only four in all of 2006. By 2007 he became a reliever and was the primary closer in 2008. Kerry Wood never started a game after 2006. But regardless of all that there are plenty of accomplishments that can be talked about him.

Wood was a two-time all star (03' and 08') and won Rookie of the Year in 1998. In 2003 he had the most strikouts by any pitcher in the National League with 266 and dominated the Atlanta Braves (8IP, 5 H, 1 R, 7 K) to clinch the NLCS. Also, despite losing game 7 of the NLCS to the Marlins that year, he did hit an epic game-tying home run in the 3rd inning before losing 9–6.

Yet his greatest all time accomplishment took place on May 6th, 1998 when he was only 20 years old and making his fifth career start. On a rainy afternoon at Wrigley Field against the mighty Houston Astros, the young Kerry Wood struck out 20 batters in that one afternoon. This was an Astros team that had two Hall of Famers (Biggio and Bagwell) at the top of their lineup along with Moises Alou, Derek Bell and Ricky Gutierrez. He went all nine innings and only gave up one hit with no walks. The only two baserunners for Houston was a Gutierrez single that glanced off 3B Kevin Orie’s glove and Biggio getting hit by a pitch. It was a historically dominant performance where only eight balls were put in play (seven outs and the single). Every single batter, including one pinch-hitter had struck out at least once and the 3/4/5 spots in the order were 0–9 with 9Ks! The cap Wood wore that game is in Cooperstown on display.

Wood’s final game in a major league uniform was on May 18th, 2012 at the age of 34 when he came in relief vs. the White Sox. He had struggled with a 8.31 ERA in nine games up to that point when he decided it was time to call it a career. He came on to face Sox’ Dayan Vidiedo and struck him out on a curveball, followed by him being taken out to a huge ovation.

Today he is an ambassador to the franchise and him and his wife, Sarah, proudly run the Wood Family Foundation.

Do you #RememberThatCub?

Alex Patt is a writer for Wrigley Rapport and you can follow him on twitter @chifanpatt1