ROCKFORD (WREX) — It's a moment Chicago Cubs fans of a certain age remember well. Young pitcher Kerry Wood struck out 20 Houston Astros hitters on May 6, 1998. The hard-throwing right-hander was making just his fifth career start, and he had the magic working that day 26 years ago.
Before Wood, only Roger Clemens had struck out 20 batters in a game before. Clemens, like Wood a hard-throwing righty from Texas, did it twice. Wood dealt with those comparisons but never got to live up to them, due in part to injuries taking a toll on his body. But that day in early May of 1998 cemented his status as a Cubs legend, putting on a performance for the ages that people still talk about more than a quarter century later.
