Ian Happ plays in 1,000th major league game — all with the Chicago Cubs

CHICAGO (AP) — Ian Happ played in his 1,000th major league game on Saturday — all with the Chicago Cubs.

It's that last part that makes it special for the outfielder.

“I think the one thing that means a lot about it is is doing it all here,” Happ said. “I think that’s the thing that means a ton.”

It's a rare accomplishment, too.

Happ became the eighth active player with 1,000 games with one team, according to the Elias Sports Bureau, joining a group that includes Aaron Judge, Mike Trout and José Ramírez. He is the 21st player to appear in at least his first 1,000 games with Chicago, according to the team.

Happ, Mark Grace and Shawon Dunston are the only players drafted by the Cubs to play in 1,000 games with the franchise.

“The big significance for me is 1,000 games with the same team,” said Cubs manager Craig Counsell, who played in 1,624 games for five teams during his 16 years in the majors. "That's, to me, what makes it rare and definitely worth talking about. That, in this era of baseball, is not happening. It's just not happening.

“That speaks a lot about kind of how Ian's gone about it, I think.”

The Cubs paid tribute to Happ as he walked to the plate in the first inning against San Diego. Happ took off his batting helmet and patted his chest to acknowledge the cheering Wrigley Field crowd of 35,391.

The 30-year-old switch hitter went 1 for 4 with a double and a walk in Chicago's 7-1 victory. He also made an outstanding diving catch for the first out of the seventh inning, robbing Gavin Sheets of extra bases.

“That's a pretty good one,” said Happ, who had a HAPP 1000 jersey autographed by the team hanging in his locker after the game. “Had to go a long way.”

Happ was selected by Chicago with the No. 9 pick in the 2015 amateur draft out of the University of Cincinnati. He made his big league debut in 2017, batting .253 with 24 homers and 68 RBIs for a Cubs team that won the NL Central and made it to the NL Championship Series.

But Happ's future was uncertain after he was optioned to Triple-A Iowa before the start of the 2019 season. The stay in the minors gave him time to work on his approach at the plate — away from the glare of the big leagues — and he returned to the Cubs that July.

Happ made the NL All-Star team and won the first of his three consecutive Gold Gloves in left field in 2022. He has appeared in 480 of Chicago's last 497 games.

“The work that it takes to be healthy and be out there and be available, you know, everything that goes into it, whether that’s pregame for a day like today or whether it’s in the offseason, there’s a lot of work that goes into being available that much,” Happ said. “That part of it is kind of what I think about.”

There also was some question about Happ's future in Chicago before he agreed to a $61 million, three-year contract in April 2023 that runs through the 2026 season and includes a full no-trade provision.

When Kyle Hendricks left and signed with the Los Angeles Angels in November, Happ became the longest tenured major leaguer with the Cubs.

“He deserves every bit of praise that he gets,” shortstop Dansby Swanson said. “It’s just been so impressive watching him go about his work on a daily basis and just what he does in order to be able to play every day. ... He’s available every day. He posts up, and that’s an impressive feat.”

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Chicago Cubs catcher Carson Kelly (15), left, and Ian Happ celebrate their team's win over the San Diego Padres in a baseball game Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ (8) signals to the dugout after hitting a double during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Playing in his 1000th game, Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ (8) acknowledges cheers from the crowd during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ (8) stands on the dugout steps during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ (8) stands in the dugout during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ (8) runs the bases on a double during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ (8) hits a double during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ (8) hits a double during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Playing in his 1000th game, Chicago Cubs' Ian Happ (8) acknowledges cheers from the crowd during the first inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres, Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

TOKYO (AP) — Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and his family waved to a crowd of flag-waving New Year’s well-wishers gathered at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo on Friday.

Standing with his wife Masako and the rest of the royal family, he wished a happy new year to people lined up below the palace balcony, some shouting, “banzai" — Japanese for "long live.”

The annual New Year’s appearance by the emperor and his family draws huge crowds to the palace’s usually cloistered grounds in central Tokyo.

People stand in long lines, weathering the cold, for each of the five appearances during the day, as the imperial family remains relatively popular.

The emperor does not have political power but holds symbolic significance for Japan. He and his family are longtime advocates for peace, although World War II was fought in the name of Naruhito’s grandfather Hirohito.

In a statement released in advance, Naruhito noted that last year marked 80 years since the end of that war. He stressed the importance of the message of peace, given that war and strife continued in parts of the world.

“I deeply feel it’s important to continue with efforts among people for dialogue, trying to deepen mutual understanding, so we can build a world of peace,” he said in the statement.

In both the statement and comments Friday, he spoke about recent natural disasters such as earthquakes, heavy rainfall and snow, and forest fires.

In 2024, the annual appearance was canceled because of a New Year’s Day quake in the Noto Peninsula, a coastal area in central Japan, which killed hundreds of people. In 2021 and 2022, it got canceled because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Princess Aiko, the imperial couple's only child, appeared with her parents at this year’s greeting, as did other relatives. She is at the center of a national debate about rules allowing only men to inherit to the Chrysanthemum Throne.

The presence of Naruhito’s nephew, Hisahito, also drew attention, as he now takes part in adult imperial events and is a possible heir to the throne. He is second in line after his father, the emperor’s brother.

Akihito, Naruhito’s father and emperor emeritus who abdicated in 2019, was also there with his wife Michiko, the emperor’s mother.

Yuri Kageyama is on Threads https://www.threads.net/@yurikageyama

Japan's Princess Kako and Prince Hisahito, daughter and son of Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko, greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan's Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kiko greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan's Emperor Emeritus Akihito and Empress Emerita Michiko greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako greet well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)

Japan's Emperor Naruhito greets well-wishers during a public appearance for New Year's celebrations at the Imperial Palace in Tokyo, Friday, Jan. 2, 2026. (AP Photo/Eugene Hoshiko)