Jerry Hairston Jr.

Jerry Hairston Jr. played in parts of 16 MLB seasons, including two with the Chicago Cubs. However, he's most known for being the return in a trade involving a franchise legend.

Hairston was a dynamic college player at Southern Illinois University, eventually getting named to their Hall of Fame in 2009. Two years after they selected the infielder in the 42nd round, the Baltimore Orioles took Hairston in the 11th round of the 1997 MLB Draft. He made his MLB debut the following year in 1998, and would go on to play parts of seven seasons in Baltimore, though he only got two chances at full-time work in 2001 and 2002. He totaled 7.1 bWAR and a .705 OPS in his time with the Orioles, though his tenure was defined by injuries and flash rather than availability and substance.

Prior to the 2005 MLB season, Hairston was traded to the Cubs (along with Orioles prospects Mike Fontenot and David Crouthers) in exchange for 36-year-old Sammy Sosa. The legendary outfielder was already on the decline at that point, fresh off his infamous back injury that was caused by violent sneezes. Hairston, on the other hand, was in the midst of his prime, though he posted mediocre numbers in his 152 games of action with the Cubs. He slashed .251/.322/.346 (72 OPS+), hitting just four home runs and stealing 11 bases in 20 attempts.

In truth, that's about all that Hairston accomplished in his time with the team. He didn't have many memorable hits, nor did he receive much fanfare in his ~15 months with the team. My memory of him with the Cubs was purely that original report that he was the centerpiece in the deal for Sosa (along with Fontenot, who spent five middling seasons in Chicago). Notably, his brother, Scott Hairston, played for the Cubs in 2013 and their father, Jerry Hairston Sr., played 14 seasons in Chicago for the White Sox. Likewise, his grandfather Sam Hairston played one season for the White Sox in 1951 after starring in the Negro Leagues, and his uncle John Hairston received four at-bats for the Cubs in 1969. Talk about a baseball family.

On May 31, 2006, Hairston was traded to the Texas Rangers for first baseman and outfielder Phil Nevin. Neither player contributed much to their new teams, with Nevin giving the Cubs 0.1 WAR in 197 at-bats. Hairston would go on to become a journeyman after that season, playing for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees, San Diego Padres, Washington Nationals, Milwaukee Brewers, and Los Angeles Dodgers between 2008-13. He retired after the 2013 season to join the Dodgers' broadcasting crew, a role he still serves in today. Notably, he was cited in multiple PED reports, though he voraciously denied those claims and never received punishment or suspension from the league for his supposed involvement in the steroid scandals.