A golden chapter in Chicago Cubs history has just come to a close — and it ended in tears. Kyle Hendricks, the quiet hero, “The Professor” of Wrigley Field, has officially said goodbye to professional baseball. In an emotional interview today, he couldn’t hold back tears as he spoke of the team he calls his “second family.”
“It’s not easy for me to leave this place,” Hendricks said, choking up. “But there are things that have to stop… I’ve cried every night these past few days, because it’s hard to imagine life without the Cubs.”
For Hendricks, the Cubs were more than just a place to work. It was a journey that spanned nearly a decade and a half — a journey from an anonymous kid to the 2016 World Series hero who stood atop the podium as the Cubs broke a 108-year curse.
He didn’t have a 100-mph fastball, he didn’t make a scene, he didn’t show off. But every time he stepped onto the mound, everyone in Wrigley Field knew they were witnessing something special. Kyle Hendricks was the embodiment of calm, intelligence, and a heart that beat for the blue-and-white.
“I’ve never seen anybody who knows baseball like Kyle,” former teammate Anthony Rizzo once said. “He throws not just with his arm, but with his soul.”
In his farewell address, Hendricks couldn’t hide his emotion when talking about Cubs fans — the people who had been with him through every laugh, every fall.
“I can’t count how many times I’ve heard them chant my name,” he said, his voice cracking. “And now that it’s all over… I realize I’m going to miss them more than anything.”
Hendricks reportedly cried every night in the days after he decided to retire, because he “couldn’t believe I wouldn’t hear the cheers of Wrigley Field on Saturday afternoons anymore.”
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Those aren’t empty words. The Cubs are part of his soul.
Kyle Hendricks leaves behind 89 wins, a 3.48 ERA, and countless memorable moments for Cubs fans. But what he leaves behind is more than numbers — it’s a calmness in the midst of a storm, a warrior who never stopped believing in his teammates.
Fans still remember that night in October 2016, when he dominated the Dodgers in Game 6, sending the Cubs to their first World Series since 1945. No yelling, no arrogance — just a nod, a humble smile. In that moment, Hendricks became immortal in the hearts of Chicago.
Despite hanging up his gloves, Hendricks revealed he wants to continue his involvement with the Cubs in other ways — perhaps as a coach or advisor.
“I don’t know what the future holds,” he said. “But if the Cubs need me, I’ll always be here. This is still my home.”
And as the sun set behind Wrigley Field, where he played for so many years, it was clear that only the game was over — but the love never was.
Kyle Hendricks passed away quietly, but his tears today said it all:
An era has ended, but the legend of “The Professor” will live on in the hearts of Cubs Nation.
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