No. 30 has long been Craig Counsell’s jersey number, dating to his 16-year playing career in which he wore it with three teams.

But when Jed Hoyer and Co. struck a blockbuster trade with the Astros last month, it was an easy decision for the Cubs manager to switch his digits.

“Kyle Tucker was No. 30,” Counsell said of the outfielder whom the Cubs acquired from Houston on Dec. 13. “I thought that was a smart move to give the guy 30.”

Tucker, a three-time All-Star with the Astros, has worn No. 30 since 2020, while Counsell wore it with the Marlins (1997–99), Dodgers (‘99) and Brewers (2004, 2007-11) as a player, and from 2015-23 as Milwaukee’s manager.

Counsell also wore Nos. 4 and 7 during his playing career. But when Danny Mueller, the Cubs’ home clubhouse and equipment manager, sent him a list of available jersey numbers after he gave up No. 30, one caught his eye: 11.

“Eleven was Jim Leyland,” Counsell said. “That kind of popped out to me, so I chose 11.”

[WATCH: Exclusive interview with Counsell from 2025 Cubs Convention]

Counsell debuted with the Rockies in 1995, but he played just four games in the majors with Colorado before he was traded to the Marlins in ‘97. Leyland was Counsell’s big league manager through the ‘98 season.

Along with the two winning the World Series in their first season together in 1997, Leyland had a profound impact on Counsell.

“He taught me so much about the game, really,” Counsell said. “You can’t even count the lessons that he taught you. They’re just part of you. It’s a big part of you. I love the way he went about it. It felt like a gruff exterior, but it was kind of a teddy bear on the inside. He taught us all a lot.

“Ryan [Dempster] and I talked about it a little bit last night; he managed Ryan as well [in 1998]. He taught us a lot about growing up and about the game and about how to be professional that you really appreciate.”

[MORE: Counsell, Cubs have resolved the Seiya Suzuki DH conflict]

Drew Smyly (2022-24) was the most recent Cub to wear No. 11, and Yu Darvish also wore it for three seasons recently (2018-20). Don Kessinger – a six-time All-Star and two-time Gold Glove Award winner – wore it from 1964-75.

Check out the entire coaches panel with Craig Counsell at the 2025 Cubs Convention.