CHICAGO — It was going to be really hard to spoil this weekend for Derrek Lee, the Cubs legend and the newest member of the organization’s hall of fame.

The festivities centered around him and Sammy Sosa – the other member of the class – and they coincided with Lee’s 50th birthday. Pretty good timing to highlight your brilliant career, eh?

Well, leave it to a former teammate to keep you humble.

Craig Counsell, who played with Lee in Florida in 1998 and 1999, actually met Lee when they were teenagers playing in the then-Hawaiian Winter League, a former developmental league played in the Aloha State. The pair went fishing on a boat – well, Counsell did, at least.

“D-Lee got seasick really badly that day, which was great,” Counsell quipped.

“I hope he left that part out,” Lee said when asked about the trip.

Nope, the Cubs manager provided a funny moment on what was a perfect weekend celebrating two Cubs legends.

“It’s been an incredible weekend to experience this with my family, former teammates here,” Lee said. “It’s just a great thing they do, honoring the players for our careers here in Chicago. So it’s been a lot of fun. My birthday weekend; can’t think of a better way to spend it.”

The pair had their plaques unveiled alongside the other members of the Cubs Hall of Fame on Sunday morning under the left field bleachers. They received their blue coats and then were honored on the field before first pitch with highlight videos before being introduced onto the field to the cheers of fans.

“It’s a treat,” Sosa said. “It’s a beautiful day today, very nice.

“I am very proud. I am very proud today. Great day.”

Sosa’s induction was a special moment for a player who has had a lasting impact on Chicago and the Cubs. Still to this day, you can walk on the concourse of Wrigley Field or through the iconic bleachers and see a “SOSA 21” jersey in the crowd.

“I think the way that I played here, I played hard every day,” Sosa said. “I came here to play hard. And the good thing is, I won the crowd. The crowd was pretty much on my side, thank God. But I made them very happy.

“The love that I gave them before, they give it back to me now, so I’m very happy for that.”

It’s what this weekend was about: the organization honoring two of its all-time greats, and those players basking in the glory of the fans who cheered and supported them throughout.

And maybe a former teammate poking fun at Lee and giving us a great story.

So, how did that fishing trip end?

“We caught some great Mahi Mahi,” Counsell said. “He recovered by the end of the day. We literally cooked the fish we caught that night on a grill outside this apartment complex in Kihei, Hawai’i that we were living in. That’s 37 years ago. That’s pretty crazy.”

That’s a long time, and a lot can change – like someone’s abilities on the water.

“I will say this, I have not been seasick since, and I’m a pretty avid fisherman,” Lee said with a smile.