WATCH: Ian Happ's journey to his 1000th career game |
Tony Crumpton
-
- Saturday, April 05 2025
Take a retrospective look at Ian Happ's career as a Cub before he takes the field for his 1,000th career game.
“I was trying not to get emotional out there,” Happ said after the game. “Being able to tip the helmet to the fans and teammates, Jason being in the other dugout, all of those things were really special. It was just a really cool moment.” Happ knows it's just not about him. “For me to do it here, have 1,000 games in this uniform,” Happ said, “in this city, all the great guys that have come through -- coaches, people, support staff, everybody that’s helped make it happen -- it means a lot. “Going out there with the fans, being able to do that, I’m so proud to be a Cub.” Watch the video below:
Video summary/cliff-notes:
(00:05) Ian Happ’s career began with high expectations as a top-10 MLB draft pick, following in the footsteps of Cubs stars like Chris Bryant and Javier Báez.
(00:41) Made his MLB debut in 2017 and quickly became a versatile player, learning to play nearly every position on the field.
(00:55) Despite a strong start in 2018 (including a home run on the first pitch of the season), he struggled and was demoted to the minors in 2019.
(01:06) Returned later in 2019 and has remained in the majors ever since, becoming the starting center fielder in 2020 and helping lead the team to an NL Central title.
(01:17) In 2021, amid a team rebuild that saw core players traded, Happ stayed and transitioned to left field.
(01:30) 2022 marked a breakout year: Happ became an All-Star, won a Gold Glove, and stayed with the Cubs despite trade rumors.
(01:45) In 2023, he secured a contract extension and won a second Gold Glove.
(01:52) By 2024, he had earned a third consecutive Gold Glove and hit his 150th career home run — a record for Cubs switch hitters.
(01:56) In 2025, now the Cubs' longest-tenured player, Happ is a leader, fan favorite, and ambassador — celebrating his 1,000th career game.
(02:10) His journey reflects resilience, growth, and a deep bond with the Cubs and their fans, with more still to come.
