Welcome to Wrigley Field Kosuke Fukudome!
I know what I will remember about Cubs Opening Day 2008. No, it won’t be the stellar seven innings Carlos Zambrano pitched. It won’t be the regular season debut of the new Cubs Closer Kerry Wood. It won’t be the rain, which is not atypical for opening day at Wrigley. It will be the debut Kosuke Fukudome!
After a so-so spring and a few people wondering if the Cubs spent their money wisely over the winter, Kosuke Fukudome made a good first impression to the home crowd. The “rookie” Chicago Cubs right fielder debuted with a double in his first major league at bat, got his first RBI, took a walk (and showed his teammates the meaning of patience at the plate) and then topped it off with a game tying three run homer in the bottom of the ninth. It could not have been scripted any better. As Bob Brenly said “People are jumping up and down all over the world right now”. I know I was.
Then Bob Howry came in to pitch the tenth and showed us that his slow start last season was no fluke. Doh.
But I’ll always remember jumping up and down, spilling my frosty mug of Old Style and chanting FU-KU-DO-ME along with the thousands in attendance. This is the kind of reception Jacque Jones could only dream of. It’s the kind of play that had him pegged as a rookie of the year favorite before the season even started.
Welcome to Wrigley Fukudome!
Maybe a Japanese company will buy Wrigley Field and rename it… “Welcome to Toyota Wrigley Fukudome Field” has a lovely ring to it, don’t ya think?