5 fan favorites who aren’t in the Cubs Hall of Fame but need to be

Carlos Zambrano was a great ace pitcher, but had even better on-field theatrics

While Wood would bring the heat, Carlos Zambrano had no problem getting fired up to pitch every fifth day. He spent nearly all of his big league career in Chicago. Though his numbers will be lost to time, he was so much fun to watch pitch during his prime with the Cubs in the mid-2000s. The three-time NL All-Star could also rake at the plate with three Silver Sluggers on his mantle as well.

Zambrano won at least 10 games each season for the Cubs from 2003 to 2008, leading the league with 16 in 2006. He finished fifth in NL Cy Young voting on three separate occasions while in his prime. Zambrano was a complete player at his apex, but that was not even the best part about him. He would get a little animated on the mound from time to time, pitching with his emotions.

While Wood and Prior were more talented than him, the passion in which Zambrano took the mound was not rivaled. If he was a bit more stoic, maybe he would have had plaque already? Then again, he would have just been another guy with 100-something wins in a Cubs uniform. His arm, his bat and his fiery passion were separating factors for him and ones that should be celebrated.

Of course, there is one more painfully egregious absence from the Cubs’ new team hall of fame…