Chicago Cubs: The Legacy and Career of David Ross
By Keaton Moore
The salt and pepper in the beard of David Ross does not reflect the youthfulness of his enthusiasm and passion for baseball. After an emotional roller coaster season, Ross’ career came to a satisfying end with a Chicago Cubs World Series championship.
By winning the 2016 World Series, not only did the Chicago Cubs snap baseball’s longest championship drought, but also sent beloved catcher David Ross into retirement with a fitting farewell. At the end of an honorable 15-year career, the veteran soaked in every minute of his final season.
Early years
The beginning of Ross’ major league career dates back to 1998 when he was drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers. Four years later, he debuted with the Dodgers against the Anaheim Angels on June 29, 2002. His career featured stints with the Dodgers, San Diego Padres, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Atlanta Braves and Boston Red Sox before wrapping up his last two seasons as a Cub.
It was during a return to the Red Sox in 2013 when he first caught for future battery-mate Jon Lester. Although they appeared on the same roster in 2008 during Ross’ first season with the Red Sox, the pair did not work together until 2013. Thanks to two seasons in Boston and a World Series championship, their pitcher-catcher bond cemented and followed them to Chicago.
Once Lester became a part of the Cubs’ starting rotation prior to 2015, he realized Theo Epstein shared his desired to bring Ross to the Cubs. With a World Series title in his sights, Epstein saw the value of Ross’ experience and leadership in the clubhouse.
Two seasons later, he turned out to be right.
Curse broken
Battling their way through the San Francisco Giants and the Dodgers earned the Cubs their first World Series appearance since 1945. Once they reached the World Series, the Cleveland Indians handed the Cubs a 3-1 deficit after a 7-2 defeat in Game 4. As a result, Ross faced three elimination games that could have each been the final game of his career.
Lester’s dominant start in Game 5 and a strong offensive showcase in Game 6 forced a Game 7 and shifted the momentum to Chicago. Ross replaced Willson Contreras in the lineup and caught Lester’s three-inning relief appearance, which started in the fifth inning.
Ross erased a shaky first inning and homered off of Andrew Miller in the top of the sixth. By doing so, the 39-year-old became the oldest player in baseball history to homer in a World Series game.
As the Indians tied the game with a two-run homer in the bottom of the eighth, Ross’ home run proved to be the factor that kept the Cubs in the game. After a brief rain delay, Ben Zobrist and Miguel Montero secured the Cubs’ championship with RBI knocks in the top of the tenth.
“I’ve had a storybook year, honestly,” Ross said. “There are so many things I can talk about that have happened to me over this year. That’s just another cool one to get the sac fly that puts us ahead and we hold on.”
Father first, ballplayer second
As implied by his Spring Training nickname, “Grandpa Rossy”, Ross is both experienced and a true family man. While he considers his Cubs teammates to be his brothers, nothing is a higher priority for Ross than his real family.
Meeting nearly 20 years ago, Ross celebrated 11 years of marriage with his wife, Hyla, in 2016. She is a pediatric ICU nurse and the mother of three children. Ross’ son, Cole, aspires to be a catcher just like his old man. The Ross family also has two daughters, 7-year-old Landri and Harper, who was born in 2015.
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Deciding to retire early on in Spring Training gave Ross a chance to take advantage of his farewell tour to reflect on his modest career. Although his value was not recognized with any MVP honors, his worth was evident in his contagious clubhouse presence. Before Ross is a new stage of retirement with his family. A World Series championship was the fairytale ending his career deserved.