RIP former Cub Geremi Gonzalez

[Schwarber Fan]

http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/05/26/sports/LA-SPT-BBL-Obit-Gonzalez.php

 

That's a terrible way to go

 

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/pics/jeremi_gonzalez_autograph.jpg

 

R.I.P.

 

:(

[OleMissCub]

Holy Frick.

[BigbadB]

Wow. How sad. I was really cheering for him on his comeback attempt.

[Jon]

How terrible.

 

What's with the differing accounts?

[rawaction]

I thought his name was spelled Jeremi? Actually it is on that card.

 

What a sad story. He was one of the guys I always rooted for, even after his years as a Cub. Kid had a good arm, just could not stay healthy. Feel bad for him and his family.

[NCCubFan]

Definitely a tragedy. Reminds me of around 15 years ago or so when a former classmate of mine from graduate school was killed when a tree snapped in an ice storm and crushed the roof of his car into his skull.

 

I too thought it was spelled Jeremi, but it's shown as Geremi in the article on cubs.com as well as Baseball Reference.

[Tyrant]

Wow. That's a shock.

[weatherdood]

Very sad story. Condolences to his family and friends.

 

Wasn't Gonzalez the pitcher for Tampa Bay in the infamous Sammy Sosa corked bat game?

[Little Slide Rooter]

I remember a game few years back when Len and Bob wouldnt shut up about the spelling of his name.

[Guest]

Wow, I saw that on MiLB.com and they didn't have the first name and I just knew it was Geremi. RIP. :(

[OleMissCub]

 

Wasn't Gonzalez the pitcher for Tampa Bay in the infamous Sammy Sosa corked bat game?

 

Correctamundo.

[Post Count Padder]

Wow, jsut saw this. Sad, sad stuff. He was awesome when he first came up with the Cubs. RIP.

[GoCubsGo1679625768]

He was awesome when he first came up with the Cubs. RIP.

Yeah, they definetly caught "lightning in a bottle" with him for a while there.

[BCVM22]

Yeah, they definetly caught "lightning in a bottle" with him for a while there.

 

Too soon.

 

I laughed.

[NCCubFan]

With regard to the spelling issue, this is from an article on cubs.com:

He was known as Jeremi Gonzalez until joining the Brewers in 2006 and informing the team of the proper spelling of his first name.

[erik316wttn]

I remember hearing about his comback with Tampa. After he had left the Cubs I had forgotten about him. When he resurfaced with Tampa Bay, I remember thinking "He's still around?" But then I remembered his arm injuries, and how he battled back, and I was rooting for him. To see someone go through what he did just to play this game when you see other guys who look like they really don't care as long as they get a paycheck was truly inspiring.

 

Didn't he almost make it back after a year or so, and then re-injure his arm and was out for another year or so? Or am I thinking of someone else?

[hardcorecubfan]

That is terrible, I taught him when he was in the 4th grade in Maraciabo. You knew what he was going to do with his life with all his uncles playing for some state/country's baseball team.

[Coach C]

With regard to the spelling issue, this is from an article on cubs.com:

He was known as Jeremi Gonzalez until joining the Brewers in 2006 and informing the team of the proper spelling of his first name.

 

I remembered that it started off with the J. Was scratching why it was G instead of the J, but this pretty much answers my question.

 

RIP, Gonzo.

[Tyrant]

That is terrible, I taught him when he was in the 4th grade in Maraciabo. You knew what he was going to do with his life with all his uncles playing for some state/country's baseball team.

 

Watt kind of student was he?

[OleMissCub]

Schilling remembers Gonzalez in his blog....

 

http://38pitches.com/

 

 

"MY FRIEND"

 

Heard the news this afternoon about the tragic death of a former teammate and friend Geremi Gonzalez.

 

The quote to head this piece is one that anybody that knew him will smile about. Gonzo could not, under any circumstance, remember ANYONE’S name. It didn’t matter who you were, to him you were “My friend”. It’s how he started every conversation. It didn’t matter if you said your name in the previous sentence, his opening words in any conversation were “My friend”. It got to the point where he’d make you laugh at every turn. We tried as hard as we could to stifle him, trying to figure out if he was kidding or if he really did not know. In the end it didn’t matter, he was a big teddy bear and a great great friend and teammate to anyone he played with.

 

He was a fantastic guy with a huge heart who absolutely loved the game of baseball. He’d take the ball any day, everyday. I can remember a few times during the season when he spot started or relieved after throwing a ton of pitches the day before. He was a gamer, who wanted to pitch. I remember when he first came up with the Cubs as a big prospect. He had the tools for sure.

 

He was always, and I mean always smiling. Never had a bad day, even when it seemed he did. I always pegged him as someone who loved life and got the most out of it each and every day.

 

I know the guys on the team all send our thoughts and prayers to his family and friends on such a tragic occasion.

 

Geremi rest in peace and know you will be missed My Friend.