Jon Lester will be sporting both an unfamiliar uniform and an unfamiliar jersey number next spring.
Lester was officially introduced as a member of the Chicago Cubs on Monday, and team president Theo Epstein presented him with a No. 34 jersey. Lester explained that he chose that number as a tribute to three people — Chicago Bears legend Walter Payton, former Cubs pitcher Kerry Wood and MLB Hall of Famer Nolan Ryan.
Wood said he was honored.
Kerry Wood told #Cubs it would be an honor if Jon Lester wore 34, so he took it
— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) December 15, 2014
Lester wore No. 31 with the Red Sox. But if he wanted No. 34 in Boston, a certain local legend who currently wears it claims he would have been happy to give it up.
Hey @JLester31 if you wanted my number all you had to do was ask jajajaja…..best of luck in chicago bro!!! pic.twitter.com/pjkTSzmxij
— David Ortiz (@davidortiz) December 15, 2014
No. 31 is not currently worn by anyone on the Cubs big league roster, so Lester didn’t have to change numbers.
At one point, Big Papi seemed confident that Lester would be returning to the Red Sox. Maybe Ortiz could have made it happen by offering Lester his number. Just kidding — we know the Red Sox got cheap.
H/T Big League Stew
