Farewell, Kyle Hendricks: A Cubs Fan's Tribute to the Professor

As Kyle Hendricks embarks on a new chapter with the Los Angeles Angels, I reflect on what he meant to Chicago baseball. From his quiet brilliance on the mound to his pivotal role in the 2016 World Series, Hendricks was more than just a pitcher; he was a symbol of consistency and class. Here’s a heartfelt tribute to the man who taught Cubs fans the art of calm, one pitch at a time.

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This one is tough. If you have read my writing on this site, or listened/watched my content on Bricks Behind the Ivy, you may be aware that I have a soft spot for Kyle Hendricks. Baseball analysts would even call it a blind spot. I would agree.

Per Jon Heyman, Hendricks has agreed to a one-year deal for about $2.5 million with the Angels, officially ending his tenure as a Chicago Cub and making him the last of the 2016 team to move on. (Yes, I am aware that Rob Zastryzny is back on the roster, but you get my point.)

In 2012, the Cubs used the deadline to move a veteran Ryan Dempster for Christian Villanueva and Hendricks. I recall reading coverage on Hendricks at the time, citing an interesting changeup and the dying art of pitchability. By late 2014, he was in the rotation and was almost immediately better than advertised. Hendricks's Ivy League mind stymied hitters with tunneling, sequencing, and multiple changeup grips to keep them off-balance.

His reputation as a “Steady Eddy” in a game with significant uncertainty was not lost by this Cub fan. Even after a poor, tumultuous 2024, Hendricks produced 21.5 WAR with a 97-81 record and a 3.68 ERA. Not to mention, his name will be etched in Cub history forever, as his 7 1/3-inning gem in Game 6 of the 2016 NLCS helped capture the Cubs' first NL pennant on our lifetimes.

His demeanor on and off the field only augmented my admiration, as he never seemed rattled or unprepared. His starts were appointment television for me, with his craftsmanlike approach to pitching providing a stark juxtaposition to what we more often consume in the modern version of the game.

I knew, given the Cubs' need in the rotation, that this was over. I still don’t want it to be true, regardless of how necessary I know it to be for the Cubs to move forward and for Hendricks to serve his own best interests. However, he will not only be a hero to many (and the namesake of my son), but a legend at the federal landmark at 1060 W Addison, and legends never die.