Here we have three easily recognizable Cubs: Derrek Lee, Aramis Ramirez and Jacque Jones.
It appears to be (and I found that it was) after the fourth player, the only one whose face we can see, has hit
a grand slam at Wrigley Field.
Here’s the full photo, another one sent to me by BCB reader Clark Addison.
Jacque Jones is the best clue here, because he was a Cub for just two years, 2006 and 2007. But in 2006, the Cubs were in their second season of wearing no names on the backs — a choice made by the front office at the time to look “traditional.” When they discovered that cut into jersey sales they restored the NOB for 2007.
So this is a 2007 game. It didn’t take too long to find that player, because the Cubs didn’t have many other Black players in 2007 besides D-Lee and Jones.
This is a grand slam hit by Daryle Ward in the bottom of the third inning against the Cardinals Saturday, Aug. 18, 2007. It was the biggest blow in a five-run inning that held up for a 5-3 win over St. Louis.
The win gave the Cubs a 63-59 record, at the time good enough for first place in the NL Central by half a game over the Brewers. They would hold first place the rest of the year (except for two days one game out) and won the division title. (The postseason that year, as you know, was a different story.)
Ward had a really good year in 2007 as a part-time outfielder and pinch-hitter, batting .327/.436/.527 in 93 games. This grand slam was one of only three home runs he hit that year. Here’s video of the slam.
