Pitcher Jon Lester's farewell gift to Chicago Cubs fans: $43,000 in beer

Bill Shaikin
·2 min read
FILE - In this Sept. 25, 2016, file photo, Chicago Cubs starter Jon Lester throws against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game in Chicago. Kris Bryant is back. Same for Anthony Rizzo and Jon Lester, too. Even 1908 is back in the picture. That was the last time the Chicago Cubs won the World Series before Bryant and company ended the drought last November. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh, File)
  • Oops!
    Something went wrong.
    Please try again later.

The modern athlete bids farewell on social media, with a few kind thoughts on Twitter or Instagram. That wouldn't quite do for pitcher Jon Lester.

The Chicago Cubs signed Lester as one of the final pieces to a championship puzzle. In 2016, the second year of his $155-million contract, Lester helped lead the Cubs to their first World Series championship in 108 years.

That contract now has expired. On Friday, Lester toasted the Cubs fans: Enjoy a beer on me.

Lester listed four Chicago bars and said the first Miller Lite over the weekend would be on him. Each morning, he posted the previous night's receipts.

He picked up the tab for 4,838 beers — and, in a nod to his uniform number, he tipped 34%.

The grand total was more than $43,000.

A Chicago bar Lester did not include in his offer got in on the celebration anyway, selling Miller Lite to raise funds for Lester's favorite charity.

On Halloween weekend, Lester put Chicago in a good holiday mood.

This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.