Kerry Wood. This man is, without question, one of the most well-known pitchers in the history of the Chicago Cubs. He was a staple for this organization in the late ’90s, and throughout the 2000s; pitching alongside the likes of Mark Prior, Greg Maddux, and even Carlos Zambrano.

He is “Cubs’ Royalty” of sorts, and two days ago, we celebrated the most DOMINANT pitching performances to come from his career;

27 years ago.
Kerry Wood.
20 strikeouts.

(#OTD x @Prevagen) pic.twitter.com/zWvdrMVGIK

— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) May 6, 2025

20 strikeouts. On May 6th, 1998, a young Kerry Wood struck out a total of 20 batters in a game against the Houston Astros, which would end up tying the league record for most K’s in a 9-inning game. The best part? This was only the man’s 5th career start EVER! He was just coming into the league at a very young age, and decided to etch his name into “Cubs lore” right off the bat.

He absolutely MOWED DOWN his team’s then-division rival, shutting out Larry Dierker’s bunch at the ‘Friendly Confines.’ He sent some big names packing MULTIPLE TIMES on that fateful day; forcing the likes of Jeff Bagwell, Jack Howell, and Moisés Alou to whiff on three separate occasions.

Thankfully, Jim Riggleman’s merry band of bat swingers would go on to win this game 2-0; thanks to a sac-fly by Henry Rodriguez, and a fielders-choice by Jose Hernandez. It would end up elevating Wood’s record on the year to 3-2, while bringing the Cubs as a unit to two games over .500 (17-15).

This was, WITHOUT QUESTION, one of the most memorable games in baseball history. A rookie stepped into an iconic ballpark like Wrigley, took in the vast history of the players who came before him, and showed the world that he meant BUSINESS. It was a moment that my Father and I talked about for years, and it is a moment that I will tell my children about when they get older.

No one will ever match the greatness of Kerry Wood, and I (like many other Cubs fans) will continue to celebrate this day until the day I die. But in the end, as always….what do I know? I’m just a guy from the Midwest, with a beer and a laptop, trying to make sense of this world.