Like many of you, I was there for Jon Lester’s debut in a Chicago Cubs uniform that freezing Easter Sunday at Wrigley Field in April 2015. And anyone at the stadium that day could tell how electric the park was. Jon Lester’s arrival in Chicago marked the end of reconstruction and the start of something truly special, even though we don’t have exactly to know still.
There was a sense of destiny at the stadium that day. I swear it was palpable.
And while the Cubs may have given Lester 155 million reasons to come to Chicago that winter, he still chose to join a young, unproven team on a journey that so many talented players tried and failed to complete before him. Obviously, this time it was different. Jon Lester was the most significant and the best free agent in the history of this franchise and one of the greatest Cubs of all time on and off the field
Unfortunately, the career of the Lester Cubs came to an end in 2020, when no fans were allowed in the stands. And launching after Yu Darvish and Kyle Hendricks in the postseason rotation, Lester didn’t even have a chance to defend his playoff team on the mound against the Marlins at Wrigley Field. And that means that none of us was there to send him away in the right way. To give him the goodbye he deserved. And since Lester’s first return to Wrigley Field with the Nationals will take place at the beginning of the season (May), I’m afraid we won’t have a chance to show him the love and respect he has earned in this city personally / together soon (Who you know … maybe we’ll be lucky and get back to the stadium sooner than we thought? Or maybe we’ll be unlucky enough to meet him in the postseason …).
In any case, the Cubs production team completed an absolutely wonderful farewell video, directed by fans and hype for Jon Lester and I’m sure you will love it. I went through many different emotions watching this video. Jon Lester was really one of the greats.
Goodbye, old friend. I hope you absolutely dominate this season.
Field toughness. Generosity off the field.
A leader, a teammate, a role model.
A champion.Thanks for everything, @ JLester34. #NVRQT pic.twitter.com/zxzTDYyLdm
– Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) January 27, 2021