Jon Lester becomes the first member of the 2016 World Series team formally inducted into the Cubs Hall of Fame, alongside catcher Jody Davis.
The Chicago Cubs are set to add two more franchise icons to their Hall of Fame, with left-handed pitcher Jon Lester and catcher Jody Davis headlining the 2026 induction class.
The news was first reported by MLB insider Bob Nightingale, as the Cubs continue a tradition of honoring club legends on an annual basis. Last year’s Hall of Fame class featured Derrek Lee and Sammy Sosa, while Kerry Wood and Aramis Ramírez were inducted in 2024.
Lester’s inclusion is particularly significant. He becomes the first member of the Cubs’ 2016 World Series championship team to be formally inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame — a milestone moment for the most important era in franchise history.
While Lester spent a significant portion of his career with the Boston Red Sox, some of his best seasons came on the North Side of Chicago. Most notably, during the Cubs’ historic 2016 campaign, Lester won 19 games, finished second in National League Cy Young Award voting, and earned an All-Star selection.
He was also named an All-Star in 2018, a season in which he led the National League in wins.
Beyond the numbers, Lester holds a special place in Cubs history for what he symbolized. When he signed with Chicago in December 2014, he became the first true, top-of-the-market free agent to commit to the Cubs in years. More than that, he was the first veteran star to fully buy into the organization’s rebuilding vision — a signal to the rest of the league that the Cubs were serious about contending.
Lester more than lived up to the contract. He built a reputation as one of baseball’s premier big-game pitchers. Over 154 career postseason innings, he posted a 2.51 ERA. During the Cubs’ 2016 playoff run alone, Lester recorded a 2.02 ERA, including two World Series starts and three critical innings of relief in Game 7 in Cleveland.
He is, by every measure, a Cubs legend.
Joining Lester in the 2026 class is Jody Davis, a two-time All-Star with the Cubs in 1984 and 1986. Davis was also a Gold Glove winner behind the plate and appeared in 990 games for Chicago across eight seasons.
That said, Davis’ induction is a bit more surprising. While he was a very good player and an important part of Cubs history, he does not immediately stand out as a no-doubt franchise Hall of Famer.
The selection may be more about timing than résumé. Many key members of the 2016 World Series team are either still active or have not yet been retired long enough to be eligible. Nightingale noted that Anthony Rizzo was not included on this year’s ballot, but he is widely expected to be inducted at his first opportunity — likely as soon as next year.
For now, the Cubs will celebrate a cornerstone of their championship core in Jon Lester, officially cementing his place in franchise immortality.