Watch: Lester, Schwarber celebrated by Cubs in return to Wrigley
Warm memories swept through the North Side of Chicago on Monday.
Cubs fans celebrated left-hander Jon Lester and outfielder Kyle Schwarber as the pair returned to Wrigley Field for the first time as members of the Washington Nationals. Both played important roles in the Cubs' curse-breaking World Series championship win in 2016.
Kyle Schwarber and Jon Lester are back at Wrigley. 🙌 pic.twitter.com/RQCw5lgLu6
— MLB (@MLB) May 17, 2021
Their former teammates got the party started before taking the field. Cubs first baseman Anthony Rizzo was spotted entering Wrigley in a Lester jersey hours before facing his former teammate:
Here's a pic I took of @ARizzo44 arriving at Wrigley Field today wearing a @JLester34 jersey.
— Sam Bernero (@sambernero) May 17, 2021
And pic of Jon Lester arriving. Like old times he parked in the @cubs player parking lot.#cubs #jonlester @BleacherNation @crawlyscubs @CubsZone @NBCSCubs pic.twitter.com/HTpvwa6Wfs
After a video tribute aired on the scoreboards, Cubs manager David Ross - a teammate of both players in 2016 and Lester's onetime personal catcher - presented Schwarber with a No. 12 placard from Wrigley's iconic scoreboard:
After a pregame video tribute, Kyle Schwarber is presented with a “12” panel. pic.twitter.com/KxkxiQCOHo
— Jordan Bastian (@MLBastian) May 17, 2021
Schwarber tipped his cap to another ovation before his first plate appearance and embraced Chicago catcher Willson Contreras. Lester received a loud ovation of his own while warming up before the bottom of the first:
.@kschwarb12 received a standing ovation in his first game back at Wrigley. ❤️💙 pic.twitter.com/gpUtdrBpEC
— MLB (@MLB) May 18, 2021
Jon Lester makes his return to Wrigley Field. #CubTogether pic.twitter.com/4T949lf5zf
— Justin Groc (@jgroc) May 17, 2021
Unfortunately for the Nationals, the celebration ended there, as Jason Heyward took his former teammate deep in the second to give the Cubs a 2-0 lead.
Lester, 37, and Schwarber, 28, each spent six seasons with the Cubs, helping them earn five playoff berths. Both players joined Washington as free agents this past winter.