Kerry Wood, the former Cubs star pitcher, showcased a unique skill on the mound Saturday at Wrigley Field, participating in a Savannah Bananas game. Wood, 49, surprised the crowd with an unconventional behind-the-back trick pitch in the sixth inning with the bases loaded and two outs.
As Wood set to pitch, he appeared to go through a normal windup. However, he subtly flipped the ball behind his back towards home plate. The pitch, executed with apparent sleight of hand, sailed over the plate for a strike, leaving the batter frozen.
Wood, who first gained prominence with the Cubs as a rookie on May 6, 1998, by striking out 20 batters in a game against the Astros, had a 14-year MLB career from 1998 to 2012, primarily with the Cubs. He finished his career with an 86-75 record, a 3.67 ERA, and 1,582 strikeouts. He also had brief stints with the Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees.
Also playing for the Savannah Bananas in the game was former Cubs World Series winner David Ross. Ross, a catcher, played 15 MLB seasons, including two with the Cubs, and won two World Series rings. His championships include one with the Boston Red Sox in 2013 and the Cubs' historic 2016 title, which ended a 108-year championship drought for the franchise.