Fans will be able to put a nickname with a face Friday-Sunday in Philadelphia as the Cubs will wear special edition jerseys as part of the inaugural Players Weekend. The non-traditional uniforms feature alternate designs, and players will have their nicknames on the back. Here are the Chicago Cubs Players Weekend Jerseys names. Which Cubs nickname do you like best?
Cubs outfielder Jon Jay will wear a jersey with “305J” as his nickname, the area code for Miami, Jay’s hometown. He attended George Washington Carver Middle School, Christopher Columbus High School (which won the state baseball championship during Jay’s senior year) and spent three years at the University of Miami.
“Miami is the city that raised me,” Jay said. “I have a lot of pride in that city. I learned a lot of life lessons there that made me who I am today.”
PLAYER JERSEY
Albert Almora Jr. Tico
Jake Arrieta Snake
Alex Avila Parkman
Javier Baez El Mago
Kris Bryant KB
Eddie Butler Red Beard
Victor Caratini Vic
Willson Contreras Willy
Wade Davis Wader
Brian Duensing Deuce
Carl Edwards Jr. Carl’s Jr.
Justin Grimm Reaper
Ian Happ Happer
Kyle Hendricks Hendo
Jason Heyward J-Hey
Jon Jay 305 J
Tommy La Stella La Stella
John Lackey Lack
Jon Lester Lester
Mike Montgomery Monty
Felix Pena Ricardon
Jose Quintana Q
Anthony Rizzo Tony
Hector Rondon Rondi
Addison Russell Addy
Kyle Schwarber Schwarbs
Pedro Strop Stropy
Koji Uehara Koji
Justin Wilson Brennan
Ben Zobrist Zorilla
CHICAGO CUBS
Albert Almora Jr.: “Tico”
His father is Alberto, and Albert is known by family as “Albertico,” hence “Tico.”
Tribute patch: Mom & Dad
Jake Arrieta: “Snake”
“Snake” rhymes with “Jake,” and is also a natural tie to WWE legend Jake “The Snake” Roberts, who filmed an enouraging message for Arrieta and the Cubs prior to Game 6 of last year’s World Series.
Tribute patch: Lynda Arrieta (mom)
Alex Avila: “Parkman”
“It’s from Jack Parkman, the character in [the movie] Major League II,” Avila said. “I guess there’s a [physical] resemblance.”
Tribute patch: Mom & Dad
Javier Baez: “El Mago”
Spanish for “The Magician,” Baez was given the nickname by fans in Puerto Rico after some impressive, almost magical, fielding during the 2016 postseason.
Tribute patch: God & Family
Willson Contreras: “Willy”
Tribute patch: Abuelo Ernesto Mom & Dad
Wade Davis: “Wader”
Tribute patch: Dad, LW Little League (Lake Wales, Fla.)
Brian Duensing: “Deuce”
Tribute patch: Mom & Dad
Carl Edwards Jr.: “Carl’s Jr.”
The nickname is a natural play on the fast-food burger chain. An endorsement seems like a perfect match, and although Edwards said he likes the product, he was not ready to commit to just one hamburger.
Tribute patch: Carl and Faith Edwards (parents)
Justin Grimm: “Reaper”
Tribute patch: Mom & Dad
Ian Happ: “Happer”
Tribute patch: Keith & Chris Happ (dad and brother)
Jason Heyward: “J-Hey”
Tribute patch: Eugene & Laura (parents)
Kyle Hendricks “Hendo”
Tribute patch: Mom & Dad
Jon Jay: “305J”
The area code for Miami, Jay’s hometown.
Tribute patch: Mom
John Lackey: “Lack”
Tribute patch: Mom & Dad
Tommy La Stella: Using last name
Mike Montgomery: “Monty”
Tribute patch: Mom & Dad
Felix Pena: “Ricardon”
“Ricardo” is Pena’s middle name.
Jose Quintana: “Q”
Tribute patch: Ariadna and Abel (parents)
Anthony Rizzo: “Tony”
Tribute patch: Mom & Dad
Hector Rondon: “Rondi”
Tribute patch: Ian Jose (son), Dafnee (daughter), Sophia (daughter), Benito (dad), Lissy (mom)
Addison Russell: “Addy”
Tribute patch: Wayne & Milany Russell
Kyle Schwarber: “Schwarbs”
Tribute patch: Mom & Dad
Pedro Strop: “Stropy”
Tribute patch: Manuel (dad)
Koji Uehara: “Koji”
Tribute patch: Ryuji & Tomoko (parents)
Justin Wilson: “J-Willy”
Tribute patch: Family
Ben Zobrist: “Zorilla”
“I started calling him that in 2008 when we were both with Tampa Bay and he really came on strong,” Cubs manager Joe Maddon said. “It’s sort of the antithesis of the man, but, as a player, it fits him perfectly.”
Tribute patch: Mom & Dad
Game-worn Players Weekend jerseys will be auctioned at MLB.com/auctions with 100 percent of the net proceeds donated to the MLB-MLBPA Youth Development Foundation. That foundation is a joint effort established in July 2015 by MLB and the MLBPA with an initial commitment of $30 million focused on improving the caliber, effectiveness and availability of amateur baseball and softball programs across the U.S. and Canada.
