3 MLB legends you forgot played for the Chicago Cubs
By Rylie Smith
The Cubs are one of the most historic franchises in professional baseball. Many talented players have come and gone from the friendly confines of Wrigley Field.
The Chicago Cubs are one of the most well-known teams in MLB and have created a home for their players and fans alike at Wrigley Field, but who are some of the talented MLB players that may have been forgotten as Cubs?
No, we’re not talking about Ernie Banks or Ryne Sandberg. Those are Cubs legends for a reason. But some baseball legends wear several uniforms throughout their careers.
These players are not remembered as Cubs — hence the point of the article.
MLB legends you forgot played for the Chicago Cubs: Joe Nathan
Joe Nathan played the majority of his MLB career with the Minnesota Twins, but he spent some time with the Chicago Cubs during his final season in 2016. He only played three games with the Cubs before retiring with the San Francisco Giants. Nathan joined the Cubs while rehabbing an injury and was shortly let go when the MLB trade deadline hit. Though being released from a team so quickly is not always easy to face, Nathan seemed to handle the news well.
"“It’s natural to think ‘why did you do it?’ But at the same time they paid me to rehab. I appreciate the hard work their entire staff did, from Arizona all the way up to the big leagues. It’s full circle coming back here (San Francisco). Finishing the year with a team was the biggest thing for me, but hooking up with a contender is even better.” –Joe Nathan, via ESPN"
Nathan made a memorable career for himself with his high number of saves. He had 377 career-saves and currently has the eighth-most amount of saves in MLB history. Only 31 players in MLB history have had 300 or more saves. Though he wasn’t with the Cubs for long or while he was in his best health, he offered the Cubs plenty of potential as a veteran arm in the bullpen.