Remembering probably the most dominant begin ever

When you are a right-handed pitcher from Texas, and also you throw laborious, and you’ve got been tabbed as “The Next Big Thing,” the comparisons are inevitable.

Nolan Ryan. Roger Clemens.

Wood was nonetheless a fresh-faced child starring at Grand Prairie High School when the comparisons to Ryan and Clemens first surfaced. They adopted Wood to the Draft because the Cubs’ No. 1 choose in 1995, by his three years within the Minor Leagues, and to his Major League debut on April 12, 1998, in Montreal.

And it definitely was on the forefront of the dialog when Wood took the mound towards the Astros — a Texas workforce — at Wrigley Field three begins later.

Within Cubs circles, in fact, there was already intrigue surrounding Wood. But it additionally prolonged to Wood’s dwelling state, the place fireballing right-handers are a supply of pleasure, given the others who match that invoice and have been raised within the Lone Star State.

Surely Wood, solely 20, was nonetheless too younger and inexperienced to deal with the lofty expectations of turning into the following Ryan or Clemens. But then, on May 6, 1998, he resembled each. In a dramatic, record-setting day towards the first-place Astros, Wood mowed by a lineup that was, on the time, the very best in Houston’s franchise historical past.

Not unhealthy for a child whose Major League resume up till that time consisted of 1 mediocre begin, one good one and two unhealthy ones. Wood’s fifth profession begin put him on the Major League map and flummoxed a Houston lineup that consisted of a number of All-Stars and two future Hall of Famers, all of whom later lifted the Astros to a club-record 102 wins whereas main the NL with 874 runs scored.

In 2018, MLB.com put collectively the next, to commemorate the twentieth anniversary of one of many biggest performances in Major League historical past, as advised by those that lived it. Five years later, the lore of that efficiency stays charming.

Jeff Bagwell, Astros first baseman: We had heard this younger child from Texas threw laborious. But no matter — we had a very good workforce again then, in ’98. You hear issues — “Oh look, this guy’s going to come up. He’s the greatest.” Then it is this man, and this man, and this man, and this man.

Dave Clark, Astros outfielder: The 12 months earlier than, I used to be with the Cubs. It was all you heard about — this prospect Kerry Wood, and he throws 100 mph with a very, actually good breaking ball. We did not get an opportunity to see him in large league camp, however that was all of the discuss in Spring Training of ’97.

Brad Ausmus, Astros catcher: I keep in mind listening to the identify and understanding he was a extremely touted pitcher that threw laborious. But fairly frankly, once you’re on the large league degree, you hear that about lots of people. It’s widespread for the overblown fame to precede the participant, particularly once you’re speaking a couple of excessive Draft choose. So you do not actually get too frightened about it.

Bill Brown, Astros TV announcer: The legend of Kerry Wood had been fairly well-publicized from his Grand Prairie days, and the truth that he was a Texan and threw laborious. People consider Nolan Ryan and different Texans who threw laborious within the large leagues, and that was enticing to baseball followers. The identify was on the market. But seeing it on the Major League degree is kind of totally different generally.

That day at Wrigley Field, a couple of Astros gamers watched Wood heat up within the bullpen and received what they thought was a preview to what they may see that day. They have been incorrect.

Bagwell: I used to be like, “OK, he throws pretty hard, he looks all right, 93, 94 [mph] … he has a curveball, maybe a slider.” And then [Biggio] stepped within the field. And I noticed the primary fastball. And I am going, “Where did that extra five, six miles an hour come from?” And it was all downhill from there.

Moises Alou, Astros outfielder: I used to be a cocky hitter and I did not care who was pitching. Bags and [Biggio], they at all times knew who was pitching the following week. Sometimes I came upon who’s pitching after I was doing my sprints earlier than the sport. I just about knew a child was pitching and that he was a phenom. Then I noticed the electrical stuff reside and I mentioned, “Oh [bleep].”

Wood: I do not assume I threw any strikes warming up. I used to be far and wide. Balls have been far and wide. I feel I truly shut it down early and flipped the ball to [pitching coach] Phil Regan and mentioned, “We’re done. I’m loose. It’s only going to get worse. It’s time to start save my bullets.” It was an unsightly warmup.

That half continued — briefly — when the sport began. Wood’s first pitch — a fastball — missed catcher Sandy Martinez’s glove and hit home-plate umpire Jerry Meals squarely within the masks.

Meals: I wasn’t certain if I wanted to eject someone proper there or what. It simply did not make a complete lot of sense to me at the moment. It was stunning greater than something. I could not determine how he did not catch it. He knew a fastball was coming. He simply could not get it. It was like the remainder of the sport — the Astros could not catch as much as him, both. It was a bizarre starting.

Wood: I’d gone 50 pitches within the bullpen and did not throw one strike, and the primary pitch of the sport, I hit the umpire within the masks, and I’m like, “Here we go.” It wasn’t reassuring for me.

CHAPTER 2: COMING OUT HOT

In the opening body, Biggio swung at a excessive fastball out of the zone for strike three, Derek Bell whiffed on a curveball and Bagwell checked out a fastball down the center. Wood ended up placing out the primary 5 batters.

Clark: I keep in mind after Baggy’s first at-bat, he got here again and mentioned, “Boys, it’s going to be a long day. Or maybe it’s going to be a short day.”

Ausmus: In ’96, I used to be with the Tigers when Roger Clemens struck out 20. So this was my second one. I keep in mind pondering within the dugout, “Clemens struck out 20. I’m afraid this guy might strike out 27.”

Clark ensured that would not occur. In the second inning, Wood fanned Jack Howell and Alou on fastballs, however Clark made contact, sending a fly ball to deep heart.

Clark: I made contact my first at-bat and I’m pondering, “You know what, I’m going to see him a couple more times, and I’ve got a shot. I’ll get him next time.” And my God, after I noticed him mowing these guys down, I’m like, “Oh my.”

Bagwell: I simply by no means noticed a ball break like that.

Jim Riggleman, Cubs supervisor: We knew we have been watching one thing very particular after a couple of innings. It was simply strikeout after strikeout, making some hitters — Hall of Famers — have unhealthy days.

Ricky Gutierrez, Astros shortstop: We knew we have been in hassle within the first inning. I at all times used to ask [Alou] about pitchers. He would have a look at a pitcher and say, “Yeah, he’s throwing good.” I might simply gauge it on him. After Wood struck him out the primary time, he walked into the dugout and I mentioned, “Moises, how is he?” He simply checked out me and mentioned, “Good luck.”

Alou: I used to be glad I solely had three at-bats. I might have had struck out 4 occasions.

The Cubs pushed throughout a run within the backside of the second, when Mark Grace hit a leadoff double, superior to 3rd on an error and got here round to attain on a Henry Rodriguez sac fly, giving Wood all of the run help he would wish. Unfortunately, Wood’s no-hit probabilities disappeared within the third inning. Gutierrez made average contact with a dangling curveball and reached safely when the ball barely nicked third baseman Kevin Orie’s glove and trickled into left area.

Orie: Had I dove, and dedicated to the dive sooner, I completely may have stopped the ball. Whether or not I may have gotten up and thrown him out, I’m undecided. You would hope so, however I had this sense on the final second that I wanted to succeed in out and seize it and attempt to get him at first. That little hesitation and attain simply price me slightly little bit of floor.

Gutierrez: You do not need to go down as being the workforce that struck out 20 occasions and likewise received no-hit. So you be ok with it, having the ability to [get a hit].

The play was shortly dominated successful by official scorer Don Friske, who, like everybody else watching that recreation, had no thought that will be the final hit Wood would permit.

Wood: The solely method Kevin will get that ball is that if he lays out and dives. At that time, Ricky most likely nonetheless had respectable wheels, and you are not going to get him on a slow-hit ball the place it’s important to depart your toes. It nicked [Orie’s] glove, however [Gutierrez] was in full stride, full stretch and all the pieces. It was a base hit — base hit all the best way.

Gutierrez: I noticed it hit the tip of his glove. I believed it was successful. I by no means second-guessed that.

Friske: Nobody within the press field mentioned something. Everybody simply assumed it was successful. I did not begin getting questions till it was the seventh, eighth innings, and it was only a few reporters. Nobody mentioned a phrase when it occurred.

Jim Deshaies, who on the time was the Astros’ tv colour announcer, initially thought the play ought to have been dominated an error. “I’m surprised that’s not an error,” Deshaies mentioned on the telecast. “Especially in this ballpark, with this kid pitching.”

Deshaies: That could have been my pitcher’s bias. I have not seen that play in a very long time. I watched it the opposite day. I sort of got here away with a sense that it was a play that would have been made, however I’m undecided it ought to have been made.

Friske: [Deshaies] was the one one who questioned it. None of the Cubs’ broadcasters ever questioned it. [Deshaies] truly could not imagine it was successful, and principally as a result of Wood was pitching a very good recreation and he was shocked. That’s the one one who semi-questioned it when it occurred.

Pat Hughes, Cubs radio announcer: My feeling at that time instantly was “base hit.” I believed Kevin Orie did a reasonably good job to get his glove on the ball. As I used to be scoring the sport, I observed the ball went by him and into shallow left area and I put “Hit 7” — hit to seven [on my scorebook]. It was not a simple play in any respect. I feel Kevin did a very good job simply to get leather-based on it. Base hit all the best way.

Deshaies: If I’m the official scorer and that occurs within the seventh inning, I’m going to name it a straight error. Because it occurred earlier within the recreation, and having seen it once more, I’m most likely extra 50-50 on it.

As the sport progressed, there was appreciable dugout chatter speculating if the decision could be modified.

Gutierrez: There was discuss like, “They’re probably going to try to change it.” I mentioned, “I guess we’ll see what happens.” As the sport went on, someone talked about it: “They might take away that hit if it’s the only hit we got.”

Craig Biggio, Astros second baseman: It was so early within the recreation, nobody knew it was going to be a no-hitter. But you’ll be able to’t return and alter it within the sixth or seventh inning after which make it a no-hitter. That’s simply actually unhealthy.

Friske: I had a pair folks come up on the finish of the sport and say, “Are you thinking of changing that?” I mentioned, “No.”

Orie: Of course, the sport unfolded the best way it did. I mentioned, “You’ve got to be kidding me.” I went within the clubhouse [after the game] and was simply instantly making bulletins to all people: “Hey look, just give me an error. I’ll gladly accept an error on that. That’s fine, no problem.” Obviously, that is not the way it works, and they didn’t give me an error.

CHAPTER 4: GAINING STRENGTH

Meanwhile, as dominant as Wood was early, he turned otherworldly within the later innings. Wood struck out 5 in a row at one level, highlighted by placing out the aspect wanting within the fifth. By that time, he had fanned 11. Six of these 11 K’s have been on known as third strikes.

Wood: I felt it change in in regards to the first a part of the fourth inning. Bagwell’s second at-bat — that is after I buckled him on back-to-back breaking balls, and that is after I actually felt all the pieces click on in was Bagwell’s second at-bat.

Bagwell: I keep in mind sitting within the dugout after my [third] strikeout, and I received again and I used to be by the water cooler. Tony Eusebio was sitting there and he goes, “Baggy. That’s 15.” I mentioned, “Fifteen?” He mentioned, “Fifteen punchies.” I appeared up and mentioned, “We’re only in the [seventh].”

Sandy Martinez, Cubs catcher: I did not know till the seventh inning that he had that many K’s. In the seventh inning, for some purpose, I appeared to left area and the bleachers, and noticed all of the K’s and mentioned, “Damn, we got so many.” I did not notice he had that many K’s. The solely factor I had in my thoughts was to attempt to win the sport.

Larry Dierker, Astros supervisor: It was like the primary time I noticed Nolan Ryan. He was pitching within the [Astrodome], and guys have been sort of scattered alongside the dugout. Before the primary inning was over, everybody on our workforce was lined up in entrance of the dugout. No one had seen something like that. That’s the best way it was proper initially of that Kerry Wood recreation. It was like, “Nobody can throw like this.”

Brown: The method he did it, it was mainly like he was going through a bunch of highschool hitters — simply plowing by the lineup.

CHAPTER 5: FINISHING IN STYLE

The introduced attendance for this matinee on a wet Wednesday was 15,758, however within the remaining three innings, as Wood’s strikeout depend continued to rise, and the “K” indicators held by the followers within the left-field bleachers gathered, the ballpark grew louder. There was additionally one freshly painted “E-5” signal — one fan’s method of imploring the official scorer to alter Gutierrez’s hit to an error on Orie.

Wood: About the sixth, seventh innings, it appeared like folks began creeping down nearer to the sector. It was getting louder with two strikes on hitters in regards to the seventh inning. Every time I received forward of fellows and received two strikes, it appeared prefer it was getting louder. I began to really feel the followers within the seventh inning — finish of the sixth, begin of the seventh.

With Cubs nearer Rod Beck warming within the bullpen, Wood tied the NL document with a strikeout of Bill Spiers, who was pinch-hitting for beginning pitcher Shane Reynolds. That was Wood’s nineteenth punchout (the earlier NL document was held by David Cone, Tom Seaver and Steve Carlton). Houston’s remaining batter, Bell, flailed at three straight outdoors fastballs, ending the sport and giving Wood his record-setting twentieth strikeout in 2-0 Cubs victory. It additionally turned a spectacular eight-inning, 10-strikeout efficiency by Reynolds right into a footnote.

Clark: Derek buckled and was similar to, “What the heck is this?”

Bagwell: I used to be [strikeout] No. 21 standing on deck in the event that they did not catch the ball when Derek struck out. It’s probably the most dominant recreation I’ve ever seen in individual.

Brown: In this one, there was no ball hit laborious. There was nothing. There was one hit batter, one sacrifice bunt and only a ton of strikeouts. Certainly, the very best recreation I’ve ever seen. Even the no-hitters — most no-hitters have one or two balls at the very least hit laborious and proper at someone. This did not have that.

Alou: Of course, I used to be embarrassed that day, however after that, I did not thoughts. Now, I look again, I do not thoughts being a part of historical past. He’s an ideal man. I received to be Kerry’s teammate for 3 years in Chicago. I’m joyful for him.

Riggleman: As lengthy as Wrigley’s been there, it was most likely the best recreation pitched ever at that stadium.

Meals: You can inform when guys are dialed in. It’s enjoyable to work these video games. You’re not making an attempt to maintain rating, however it’s enjoyable when guys are on.

Wood: It undoubtedly was a defining second. For me, it confirmed me that I belonged right here, it isn’t a fluke that I’m right here, I need to be right here. I can compete at this degree. It set the bar for the remainder of my profession, the remainder of my outings after that.

As quickly it was over, discuss of Wood’s efficiency was in all places. Bagwell spent the following day — an off-day — {golfing} with teammates. He observed a bunch of males watching a replay of the sport on tv on the clubhouse bar. And they have been laughing — laborious.

Bagwell: These guys are laughing and laughing, saying issues like, “Look at that. Oh God. Look at that.” One dude appears over at me and stops laughing and says, “Oh. You’re Jeff Bagwell, aren’t you?” And I mentioned, “It’s OK. I’ve never seen anything like that. And I’m not mad.” [Wood] was simply that good.

Alou: I went to the Bulls’ playoff recreation that night time. I stored listening to about it: “That kid’s pretty good? The kid’s pretty good?” I’m like, “Come on man, he just struck out 20. I just wanted to watch the Bulls.” But folks stored asking about Kerry Wood.

Biggio: I used to be within the cab with Ausmus the following day, and the cab driver had discuss radio on. The host says, “The Astros’ hitters were so bad. I don’t even know what the guy’s name was. He swung at a curveball that hit the grass — not even the dirt.” I mentioned to Brad, “That was you, right?”
Ausmus: I believed it was a fastball. If it was a fastball, I might have hit it completely. It simply occurred to be a breaking ball.

From that day on, the media highlight on Wood was intense.

Wood: I do not know if anyone may very well be prepared for that. I had hype popping out of highschool and was used to a few of the media consideration, however not on the nationwide scale of what was taking place. Everything I did turned actually vital, which was bizarre for me on the time. I used to be only a non-public man, and I simply needed to return to work and go play baseball.

He did, for 14 years. Fighting by accidents and surgical procedure, Wood later transitioned into a better, and he completed his profession in 2012 with an 85-75 document, a 3.67 ERA and 1,582 strikeouts in 1,380 innings. Wood credit his begin towards the Astros on May 6, 1998, in taking part in a big function in shaping him by his Major League journey, and it was additionally a springboard to him successful the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year Award, barely edging out Todd Helton. Wood completed that season with 13-6 document with a 3.40 ERA and an unbelievable 233 strikeouts in 166 2/3 innings for a league-leading 12.6 Okay/9.

Wood: When you are a younger child, you can also make quite a lot of errors, however I had a ton of media consideration. At the time, it was a foul factor, however it ended up being a very good factor, as a result of it stored me in line.

As Wood’s profession progressed, reminders of his epic begin vs. the Astros crept up infrequently. He later turned teammates with Gutierrez, who joined the Cubs for 2 seasons in 2000 and ’01. The two had a number of joking conversations in regards to the recreation, primarily as a result of Gutierrez introduced up his hit — typically.

Gutierrez: The first day of Spring Training, once we met, he checked out me, I checked out him. I mentioned, “I know you remember me, right?” He mentioned, “Get out of here. I don’t know what you’re talking about.” We hit it off from Day 1. I really like him to loss of life. Once I turned his teammate, I bothered him darned close to day-after-day about [the hit]. I advised him he ought to have by no means thrown me an 0-2 curveball. I threw daggers at him, and he would chase me across the clubhouse. I mentioned, “You’ll never forget my name for the rest of your life.”