Cubs vets carry on tradition, help youngsters

CHICAGO — When Dave Martinez was called up to the Cubs in 1986 at the age of 21, he bought a suit. It was the first one he’d ever owned.

“One day, I put my hand in the sleeves, and the sleeves ripped out,” Martinez said. “[The other Cubs] were like, ‘Oh, man, you bought a cheap suit.’ Then they started laughing, and I realized what they did. The next trip, I had two brand new suits in my locker.”

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To this day, Martinez, 52, does not know who pranked him and cut the sleeves or who bought his new clothes. He assumes it was one of the Cubs veterans, either Rick Sutcliffe, Jody Davis or Keith Moreland. The veterans on the current Cubs team have adhered to the old-school tradition of taking care of the younger players, and that is one of the reasons this year’s team is so close.

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Albert Almora Jr. remembers being at a high-end clothing store at the same time veteran Dexter Fowler was, and the rookie picked out a wallet. Fowler surprised Almora by paying for it.

“He took it from me and said, ‘I got you. Welcome to the big leagues,'” Almora said. “It was really cool.”

Jake Arrieta, Miguel Montero and Jason Heyward each took Almora to dinner to get to know him.

“It started with Heyward in Spring Training, when he took me out to eat with some of the Miami boys,” Almora said. “It was a great experience. This team has been phenomenal.”

Veteran John Lackey gave Matt Szczur a watch for giving up No. 41 to the right-hander after the pitcher signed with the Cubs. Every time Szczur has gone to eat with one of the older players, they pick up the tab. Fowler helped update Szczur’s wardrobe, too.

“Last year, [Fowler] told me he was going to take me shopping,” Szczur said. “This year, he said, ‘I’m going to take you shopping in …

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