You know that guy – that guy who will out of the blue buy his table a round of beers for the heck of it. Whatever the occasion, he’s in a celebratory mood and he’s spreading his wealth with adult libations. It’s free agency time in Major League Baseball, which is the most stressful time of year for baseball players. Will they stay where they are or will they be seeking new addresses? Jon Lester, who helped the Chicago Cubs win their first World Series in 108 years back in 2016, is one such free agent. This past weekend, Jon Lester became the latest pro athlete to enter Chicago sports folklore. So, what did he do?
Lester Buys the Town a Round
On Friday morning, Lester sent out a tweet announcing he would be buying a beer for every Cubs fan who went to certain pubs in Chicago. He would continually do so for the entire weekend. Granted, they were either Miller Lite, but hey: a beer is a beer, amirite?
Regardless of what’s next I want to thank the fans for the past 6 years. So this weekend (10.30-11.1) Im buying y’all my favorite beer. Make a res at @Hopsmithchicago @LodgeTavern @ButchMcGuires @ShenannigansHOB & your 1st @MillerLite is on me. Just tell em to put it on #JonsTab
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) October 30, 2020
By Saturday, 695 beers had been purchased. And it just… kept… going. And because it’s Chicago – a blue collar town that loves its sports and its beer – you know they’re gonna drink.
Nice work Chicago! 2,771 @MillerLites & a fraud alert yesterday. So far y’all have put a total of 3,466 beers on my tab. Let’s finish strong today, and mask up damn it! #JonsTab @Hopsmithchicago @LodgeTavern @ShenannigansHOB @ButchMcGuires pic.twitter.com/adZgB2Jhcf
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) November 1, 2020
By Sunday, 2,771 beers had been purchased. This activity was so worrisome for Lester that his credit card company PUT A FRAUD ALERT ON HIS CARD. Would the brisk weather keep the fans away from Lester’s streak?
Thanks for coming out this weekend y’all! Yesterday we added 1,372 @MillerLites to my tab, bringing our grand total to 4,838. Shout out to all the bars, their staff, and those cheers-ing from afar! Whether this is goodbye or see you next year, I love you Chicago! #JonsTab pic.twitter.com/OTEIO2gOjc
— Jon Lester (@JLester34) November 2, 2020
The answer would be: not really. At day’s end yesterday, Lester had purchased 4,838 beers. According to ESPN, Lester spent $31,082.63 with a gratuity of 34%, which turned out to be $16,012.27. Grand total: $47,094.90.
Boundless Generosity
While I may not be a Cubs fan, I know generosity when I see it and this was above and beyond a fun way to say, “Thank You.” This generous deed by Jon Lester has catapulted him into Chicago Sports Folklore. After the Cubs declined an option that would have paid him $25 million next season, Lester has mentioned that he wants to stay in Chicago. And who could blame him? Lester is embraced already as a stand-up guy as he is heavily involved in the community and is a big advocate for childhood cancer charities.
Regardless of what happens next, Lester is a Chicago sports hero. Tales of his generosity will hopefully be told for generations. Hopefully, we can all take a cue from him next time we’re at the bar with our friends.
Be sure to check out our other baseball columns on Belly Up Sports, including this one by Kev on one of Lester’s former teammates, Dustin Pedroia. Leave a comment below or hit me up on Twitter: @WhoIsRyanMcC. And don’t forget to check out my podcast No Credentials Required (new episodes every Wednesday) and my live stream show A-Round for the Weekend (most Fridays at 6:30pm).
