The
Chicago Cubs are an
AmericanThe United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
professional
baseballBaseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The goal is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot square, or diamond...
team based in
ChicagoChicago is the largest city in the U.S. state of Illinois, and with more than 2.8 million people, the 3rd largest city in the United States...
,
IllinoisIllinois , the 21st state admitted to the United States of America, is the most populous and demographically diverse Midwestern state and the fifth most populous state in the nation...
. They are members of the
Central DivisionThe National League Central Division is one of Major League Baseball's six divisions. It was created in 1994, merging two teams from the West and three teams from the East divisions of the National League. In 1998 it became the largest division in Major League Baseball, with the addition of a...
of
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
's
National LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league...
. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago (the other being the
Chicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois. The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
), the Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National League (the other being the
Atlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field....
). The franchise hasn't won a championship in 101 years, which is longer than that of any other major North American professional sports team.
The Cubs are often referred as
"The North Siders" because
Wrigley FieldWrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
, where they have played their home games since 1916, is located in Chicago's north side
LakeviewLake View — or Lakeview, as it is increasingly spelled — is a North Side neighborhood of the City of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is designated as Community Area 6 of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas...
community. They are also often called
"The Boys in Blue" noting the team's primary uniform color, (which itself is often referred to as "Cubbie Blue") or simply as
"The Cubbies."
Chicago's manager is
Lou PiniellaLouis Victor Piniella is the current manager of the Chicago Cubs and a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...
, and their
general managerGeneral manager is a descriptive term for certain executives in a business operation. It is also a formal title held by some business executives, most commonly in the hospitality industry.-Generic usage:...
is
Jim HendryFor the British professional cyclist, see Jim Hendry Jim Hendry is the Vice President/General Manager of the Chicago Cubs. Hendry was promoted to GM on July 5, 2002 by former Cubs President/CEO Andy MacPhail. He has worked for the Cubs since 1995...
. The Cubs have rivalries with the St. Louis Cardinals, the Milwaukee Brewers, and the cross-town Chicago White Sox.
The Chicago Cubs filed for
bankruptcyBankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay its creditors. Creditors may file a bankruptcy petition against a debtor in an effort to recoup a portion of what they are owed or initiate a restructuring...
at the end of the 2009 season on October 12.
1870-1875: Chicago White Stockings
The success and fame of the
Cincinnati Red StockingsThe Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first fully professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players 1867–1870, a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati,...
(c. 1869), baseball's first openly all-
professionalThe following is a list of teams that play in one of the six major sports leagues in the United States and Canada: Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the Canadian Football League, the National Hockey League, the National Basketball Association, and Major League Soccer. All lists...
team, led to a minor explosion of other openly professional teams, each with the singular goal of defeating the Red Stockings. On April 29, 1870, the
Chicago Base Ball Club played their first game, an exhibition, against the St. Louis Unions, defeating them 47-1. The White Stockings, who played home games on Chicago's west side at the
Union Base-Ball GroundsUnion Base-Ball Grounds was a baseball park located in Chicago, Illinois. It was also called White-Stocking Park, as it was the home field of the Chicago White Stockings of the National Association in 1871, after spending the 1870 season as an independent professional club playing home games...
, joined the nation's principal amateur league
National Association of Base Ball PlayersThe National Association of Base Ball Players was the first organization governing American baseball. The first, 1857 convention of sixteen New York City clubs...
, when the league began to allow professional teams. The
NABBP was previously dominated by the
Brooklyn AtlanticsThe Atlantic Base Ball Club of Brooklyn was baseball's first champion and its first dynasty.Established in 1855, Atlantic was a founding member of the National Association of Base Ball Players in 1857. In 1859, with a record of 11 wins and 1 loss, Atlantic emerged as the recognized champions of...
, who had won three straight titles and were the sport's first "dynasty", but Chicago won the N.A. championship in the league's final year of operation.
The now all professional
Chicago White StockingsWhite Stockings or "Chicago White Stockings" was an original name of two professional baseball clubs in Chicago, Illinois, namely the two Major League Baseball clubs that operate today* Chicago Cubs...
, financed by businessman
William HulbertWilliam Ambrose Hulbert was one of the founders of the National League, recognized as baseball's first major league, and was also the president of the Chicago White Stockings franchise....
, became a charter member of the
National Association of Professional Base Ball PlayersThe National Association of Professional Base Ball Players , or simply the National Association , was founded in 1871 and continued through the 1875 season...
, the nation's first all professional league, in 1871. The White Stockings were close contenders all season, despite the fact that the
Great Chicago FireThe Great Chicago Fire was a conflagration that burned from Sunday, October 8th, to early Tuesday, October 10, 1871, killing hundreds and destroying about four square miles in Chicago, Illinois. Though the fire was one of the largest U.S...
had destroyed the team's home field and most of their equipment. The White Stockings finished the season in second place, but ultimately were forced to drop out of the league during the city's recovery period, finally returning to National Association play in 1874. Over the next couple seasons, The
Boston Red StockingsThe color red has been used in the names and commonly in the uniforms of several professional baseball teams in Boston, Massachusetts.* Boston's first professional baseball club was established 1871 by Boston businessman Ivers Whitney Adams, and was nicknamed the Boston Red Stockings....
dominated the league and hoarded many of the game's best players, even those who were under contract with other teams. After
Davy ForceDavid W. "Davy" Force was a shortstop in Major League Baseball.From 1871 through 1886, he played in the National Association with the Washington Olympics , Troy Haymakers , Baltimore Canaries , Chicago White Stockings and Philadelphia Athletics , and in the National League for the Philadelphia...
signed with Chicago, and then breached his contract to play in Boston, Hulbert became discouraged by the
"contract jumping" as well as the overall disorganization of the N.A., and thus spearheaded the movement to form a stronger organization. The end result of his efforts was the formation of a much more "ethical" league, which became known as the
National Base Ball LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league...
, and thus the
Chicago National League Ball Club was born.
1876–1902: A National League Dynasty
Hulbert, retaining his position as Chicago's club president, signed multiple star players, such as pitcher
Albert SpaldingAlbert Goodwill Spalding was a professional baseball player, manager and co-founder of A.G. Spalding sporting goods company....
, and infielders
Ross BarnesCharles Roscoe Barnes was one of the stars of baseball's National Association and the early National League , playing second base and shortstop...
,
Deacon WhiteJames Laurie "Deacon" White was an American baseball player who was one of the principal stars during the first two decades of the sport's professional era...
and
Adrian AnsonAdrian Constantine Anson , known by the nicknames "Cap" and "Pop", was a professional baseball player in the National Association and Major League Baseball...
to join the team prior to the N.L.'s inaugural season of
1876The National League of Professional Base Ball Clubs was formed in 1876 to replace the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, which folded following the 1875 season...
. The Chicago franchise, playing its home games at
West Side Grounds, quickly established themselves as one of the new league's top teams. Spalding won 47 games and Barnes led the league in hitting at .429 as Chicago won the first ever National League
pennantA pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
, which at the time was the game's top prize.
After back to back pennants in 1880 and '81, Hulbert died, and Al Spalding, who had retired to start
SpaldingSpalding is a sporting goods company founded by Albert Spalding in Chicago in 1876 and now headquartered in Springfield, Massachusetts. The company specialises in the production of balls for many sports, being perhaps most well known for its basketballs, but it also makes a range of products for...
sporting goods, assumed ownership of the club. The White Stockings, with Anson acting as player/manager, captured their third consecutive pennant in 1882, and "Cap" Anson established himself as the game's first true superstar. In 1885 and '86, after winning N.L. pennants, The White Stockings met the short-lived
American AssociationThis article refers to the former Baseball major league that existed from 1882 to 1891. For other leagues with a similar name see: American Association....
champion in that era's version of a World Series. Both seasons resulted in matchups with the
St. Louis Brown StockingsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball...
, with the clubs tying in '85 and with St. Louis winning in '86. This was the genesis of what would eventually become one of the greatest rivalries in sports. In all, the Anson-led Chicago Base Ball Club won six National League pennants between 1876 and 1886. As a result, Chicago's club nickname transitioned, and by
1890-Champions:*World Series: Brooklyn Bridegrooms 3, Louisville Colonels 3, 1 tie*National League: Brooklyn Bridegrooms*American Association: Louisville Colonels*Players' League: Boston RedsInter-league playoff: Brooklyn declined challenge by Boston...
they had become known as the
Chicago Colts, or sometimes "Anson's Colts," referring to Cap's influence within the club. Anson was the first player in history to collect 3,000 hits, and when he left the team in 1898, the loss of his leadership resulted in the team becoming known as the
Chicago Orphans (or Remnants) and a few forgettable seasons. After the
1900-Champions:*Chronicle-Telegraph Cup: Brooklyn Superbas defeated Pittsburgh Pirates, 3 games to 1*National League: Brooklyn SuperbasAmerican League : Chicago White Sox-Statistical Leaders:-National League final standings:-Events:...
season, the
American Base-Ball LeagueThe American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, that eventually aspired to major league...
formed as a rival professional league, and incidentally the club's old White Stockings nickname would be adopted by a new American League neighbor to the south.
1902–1920: A Cub dynasty
In 1902, Spalding, who by this time had revamped the roster to boast what would soon be one of the best teams of the early century, sold the club to Jim Hart, and the franchise ultimately became known as the
Chicago Cubs. During this period, which has become known as baseball's
dead-ball eraThe dead-ball era is a baseball term used to describe the period between 1900 and the emergence of Babe Ruth as a power hitter in 1919. In 1919, Ruth hit a then-league record 29 home runs, a spectacular feat at that time.The dead-ball era refers to a period in baseball characterized by low-scoring...
, three Cub
infielderBaseball teams take turns, one "out" in the field and one "in" at bat. The nine fielding positions are commonly grouped as three outfielders, four infielders, and "the battery"...
s;
Joe TinkerJoseph Bert Tinker was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He was born in Muscotah, Kansas.Tinker was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946.-Career:...
,
Johnny EversJohn Joseph Evers was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1946...
, and
Frank ChanceFrank Leroy Chance was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century. Performing the roles of first baseman and manager, Chance led the Chicago Cubs to four National League championships in the span of five years and earned the nickname "The Peerless Leader".Chance was elected to...
were made famous as a double-play combination by Franklin P. Adams' poem
Baseball's Sad Lexicon. The poem first appeared in the July 18, 1910 edition of the
New York Evening MailThe New York Evening Mail was an American daily newspaper published in New York City.The paper was made up of the New York Evening Express, which dated from 1836, and the Daily Advertiser. It was eventually merged with the Evening Telegram, which became the New York World-Telegram in 1927....
.
Mordecai "Three-Finger" BrownMordecai Peter Centennial Brown , nicknamed "Three Finger" or "Miner", was an American Major League Baseball pitcher at the turn of the 20th century. Due to a farm-machinery accident in his youth, Brown lost parts of two fingers on his right hand and eventually acquired his nickname as a result...
,
Jack TaylorJohn W. "Jack" Taylor was an award-winning right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs baseball team.He was born in New Straitsville, Ohio....
,
Ed ReulbachEdward Marvin "Big Ed" Reulbach was a major league baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs during their Glory Years of the early 1900s....
,
Jack PfiesterJohn Albert Pfiester , is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1903-1911....
and
Orval OverallOrval Overall was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball during the early 1900s.-Biography:...
were several key pitchers for the Cubs during this time period. With Chance acting as player-manager from 1903 to 1912 the Cubs won four pennants and two World Series titles over a five-year span. Although they fell to the White Sox in the
1906 World SeriesThe 1906 World Series featured a crosstown matchup between the Chicago Cubs, who had posted the highest regular-season win total and winning percentage in the major leagues since the advent of the 154-game season; and the Chicago White Sox...
, The Cubs recorded a record 116 victories and the best winning percentage (.763) of the modern era. With mostly the same roster, Chicago won back to back World Series championships in
1907The 1907 World Series featured the Chicago Cubs and the Detroit Tigers, with the Cubs winning the Series four games to none for their first championship....
and
1908The 1908 World Series matched the defending champion Chicago Cubs against the Detroit Tigers in a rematch of the 1907 Series. In this first-ever rematch of this young event, the Cubs won in five games for their second consecutive title....
. Their appearance in 3 consecutive World Series made the Cubs the first Major League Club to play 3 times in the Fall Classic. Likewise, their back-to-back World Series victories in 1907 and 1908 made them the first modern club to win 2 World Series.
The next season, veteran catcher
Johnny KlingJohn Kling was a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs , Boston Rustlers & Braves , and Cincinnati Reds .Kling was an exceptional defensive catcher and also had a decent bat...
left the team to become a professional
pocket billiardsPool, also known as pocket billiards, is the general term for a family of games played on a pool table, with 6 receptacles called pockets along the rails, in which balls are deposited as the main goal of play...
player. Some historians think Kling's absence was significant enough to prevent the Cubs from also winning a third straight title in 1909, as they finished 6 games out of first place. When Kling returned the next year, the Cubs won the
pennantA pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
again, but lost to the Philadelphia Athletics in the
1910 World SeriesThe 1910 World Series featured the Philadelphia Athletics and the Chicago Cubs, with the Athletics winning in five games to earn their first championship.Jack Coombs of Philadelphia won three games and Eddie Collins supplied timely hitting...
.
In 1914, advertising executive
Albert LaskerAlbert Davis Lasker was an American businessman who is often considered to be the founder of modern advertising. He was born in Freiburg, Germany when his American parents Morris and Nettie Heidenheimer Davis Lasker were visiting their homeland; he was raised in Galveston, Texas, where Morris was...
obtained a large block of shares and before the 1916 season had assumed majority ownership of the franchise. Lasker quickly acquired the services of astute baseball man
William Veeck, Sr.William Veeck, Sr. was a sports writer and baseball executive. He was president of Chicago Cubs from 1919 to his death in October, 1933. Under Veeck's leadership, the Cubs won three pennants, in 1918, 1929, and 1932....
to run his new team, and brought in a wealthy partner,
Charles WeeghmanCharles Weeghman was one of the founders of the short-lived major league baseball organization called the Federal League...
. Weeghman was the proprietor of a popular chain of lunch counters who had previously owned the
Chicago WhalesThe Chicago Whales were a Federal League baseball club in Chicago from 1914 to 1915. The Whales won the Federal League championship in 1915....
of the short-lived
Federal LeagueThe Federal League was the last major attempt to establish an independent major professional baseball league in the United States in direct competition with the established National and American Leagues in and...
. As principal owners, the pair moved the club from the West Side Grounds to the much newer Weeghman Park, which had been constructed for the Whales two years earlier. The club responded by winning a pennant in the war-shortened season of 1918, where they played a part in another team's curse. The
Boston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a member of the Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Since , the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park. The "Red Sox" name originates from the iconic uniform feature....
defeated
Grover Cleveland AlexanderGrover Cleveland "Old Pete" Alexander was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and St. Louis Cardinals. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1938.-Career:...
's Cubs four games to two in the
1918 World SeriesThe 1918 World Series featured the Boston Red Sox, who defeated the Chicago Cubs four games to two. The Series victory for the Red Sox was their fifth in five tries, going back to 1903.The 1918 Series was played under several metaphorical dark clouds...
. Afterward, Boston sold its star pitcher,
Babe RuthGeorge Herman Ruth, Jr. , also popularly known as "Babe" Ruth, "The Bambino", and "The Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from –...
, to the
New York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the borough of the Bronx, in New York City, New York and are a member of Major League Baseball's American League East Division...
, starting a tale of futility which would last 86 years, known as
Curse of the BambinoThe Curse of the Bambino was a superstition cited as a reason for the failure of the Boston Red Sox baseball team to win the World Series in the 86-year period from 1918 until 2004. While some fans took the curse seriously, most used the expression in a tongue-in-cheek manner...
.
Double-Bills take over
During what is often called baseball's
"golden ageBaseball's Golden Age is a television program that chronicles the history of baseball focusing mainly on the 1920s through the 1960s. It is broadcast on Fox Sports Net Sunday nights at 8 p.m. and is produced by Flagstaff Films. Thirteen 30-minute episodes have been produced...
," one of Cubs's minority owners,
William Wrigley Jr.William Wrigley Jr. was a U.S. chewing gum industrialist. He was founder and eponym of the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company in 1891. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania....
, who also happened to be the owner of Wrigley Company, a Chicago-based maker of chewing gum, would begin to increase his share of ownership. In 1921 Wrigley bought Weeghman's shares and in 1925 had acquired most of Lakser's shares as well. The home park name was changed to its current name, Wrigley Field, during this time. Additionally, the area around the ballpark came to be known as "Wrigleyville." With his vast monetary resources and Veeck's front-office savvy, the "double-Bills" soon had the Cubs back in business in the National League, building a team that would put numerous future Hall of Famers in Cub uniforms. Some of the most notable of these players were
Hack WilsonLewis Robert "Hack" Wilson was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball from to . He is best known for his record-setting 191-RBI season of . He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.-Biography:...
,
Gabby HartnettCharles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett was an National Major League Baseball catcher and manager who played nearly his entire career with the Chicago Cubs...
, and
Rogers HornsbyRogers Hornsby , nicknamed "The Rajah", was a Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. Hornsby's first name, Rogers, was his mother's maiden name. He spent the majority of his playing career with the St...
. Chicago remained strong contenders for the next decade.
1929–1938: Every Three Years
During the end of the first decade of the double-Bills' guidance, the Cubs won the NL pennant in 1929 and then achieved the unusual feat of winning a pennant every three years, following up the 1929 flag with league titles in 1932, 1935, and 1938. Unfortunately, their success did not extend to the
Fall Classic, as they fell to their
ALThe American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, that eventually aspired to major league...
rivals each time. The
'32 seriesThe 1932 World Series was played between the New York Yankees and the Chicago Cubs , with the Yankees holding home field advantage. The Yankees swept the Cubs, four games to none...
against the
YankeesThe New York Yankees' 1932 season was their 30th season. The team finished with a record of 107-47, winning their seventh pennant, finishing 13 games ahead of the Philadelphia Athletics. New York was managed by future Hall of Famer Joe McCarthy...
featured Babe Ruth's "
called shotBabe Ruth's called shot was the home run hit by Babe Ruth of the New York Yankees in the fifth inning of Game 3 of the 1932 World Series, held on October 1, 1932 at Wrigley Field in Chicago. During the at-bat, Ruth made a pointing gesture, which existing film confirms, but the exact nature of his...
" at Wrigley Field. There were some historic moments for the Cubs as well; they claimed the '35 pennant in thrilling fashion, winning a record 21 games in a row in September. The
'38 club- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...
saw
Dizzy DeanJerome Hanna "Dizzy" Dean was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball, and was the last National League pitcher to win 30 games in one season. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1953....
lead the team's pitching staff and provided a historic moment when they won a crucial late-season game at Wrigley Field over the
Pittsburgh Pirates- Roster :- Starters by position :Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in- Other batters :Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg...
with a
walk-off home runIn baseball, a walk-off home run is a home run that ends the game. It must be a home run that gives the home team the lead in the bottom of the final inning of the game—either the ninth inning, or any extra inning, or any other regularly scheduled final inning...
by Gabby Hartnett, which became known in baseball
loreLore may refer to:* Lore, all the facts and traditions about a particular subject that have been accumulated over time through education or experience.** Folklore, acquired knowledge or traditional beliefs...
as "
The Homer in the Gloamin'The Homer in the Gloamin' is one of the most famous walk-off home runs in baseball lore, hit by Gabby Hartnett of the Chicago Cubs near the end of the 1938 major league baseball season...
". By 1939, the "double-Bills" (Wrigley and Veeck) had both died, and the front office, now under P.K. Wrigley, found itself unable to rekindle the kind of success that P.K.'s father had created, and so the team slipped into a few years of mediocrity.
1945: The Curse
The Cubs enjoyed one more pennant at the close of
World War IIWorld War II, or the Second World War , was a global military conflict which involved a majority of the world's nations, including all great powers, organized into two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, finishing 98–56. Due to the
wartimeThe term wartime could refer to:* War* Wartime, a science fiction film spin-off of the TV series Doctor Who.* Wartime, a 1990 side project between former Ween bassist Andrew Weiss and singer/spoken word artist Henry Rollins....
travel restrictions, the first three games of the
1945 World SeriesThe 1945 World Series matched the American League Detroit Tigers against the National League Chicago Cubs. The Tigers won the Series, four games to three, giving them their second championship and first since 1935....
were played in Detroit, where the Cubs won two games, including a one-hitter by
Claude PasseauClaude William Passeau was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. From through , Passeau played with the Pittsburgh Pirates , Philadelphia Phillies and Chicago Cubs . He batted and threw right-handed...
, and the final four were played at Wrigley. In Game 4 of the Series, the
Curse of the Billy GoatThe Curse of the Billy Goat refers to a legend commonly cited to explain why the Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball team has not been to the World Series since 1945.-The Curse:...
was allegedly laid upon the Cubs when P.K. Wrigley ejected
Billy SianisWilliam Sianis , better known as Billy Sianis , was a Chicago, Illinois tavern owner, who went on to become part of baseball lore because of the famed Curse of the Billy Goat he supposedly put on the Chicago Cubs after he and his goat were tossed out of game four of the 1945 World Series...
, who had come to Game 4 with two box seat tickets, one for him and one for his goat. They paraded around for a few innings, but Wrigley demanded the goat leave the park due to its unpleasant odor. Upon his ejection, Mr. Sianis uttered,
"The Cubs, they ain't gonna win no more." The Cubs lost Game 4, lost the Series, and have not been back since. It has also been said by many that Sianis put a "curse" on the Cubs, apparently preventing the team from playing in the World Series. After losing the 1945 World Series, the Cubs finished with winning seasons the next two years, but those teams did not enter post-season play.
In the following two decades after Sianis' ill will, the Cubs played mostly forgettable baseball, finishing among the worst teams in the National League on an almost annual basis. Longtime infielder/manager
Phil CavarrettaPhilip Joseph Cavarretta is a former first baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Chicago Cubs...
, who had been a key player during the '45 season, was fired during spring training in 1954 after admitting the team was unlikely to finish above fifth place. Although shortstop
Ernie BanksErnest "Ernie" Banks is an American former Major League baseball player who played his entire career with the Chicago Cubs . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.Bank's nickname is Mr...
would become one of the star players in the league during the next decade, finding help for him proved a difficult task, as quality players such as
Hank SauerHenry John "Hank" Sauer was a left fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1941 through 1959, Sauer played for the Cincinnati Reds , Chicago Cubs , St. Louis Cardinals , New York Giants and San Francisco Giants...
were few and far between. This, combined with poor ownership decisions (such as the
College of CoachesThe College of Coaches was an unorthodox strategy employed by the Chicago Cubs in 1961 and 1962. After the Cubs finished 60-94 in 1960, their 14th straight second-division finish, Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley announced in December 1960 that the Cubs would use eight coaches as managers, rather than the...
), hampered on-field performance.
1969: The fall of '69
The late-1960s brought hope of a renaissance, with third baseman
Ron SantoRonald Edward Santo is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1960 to 1974, all but the last year with the Chicago Cubs. A nine-time National League All-Star, he led the league in walks four times, in on base percentage twice and in triples once...
, pitcher
Ferguson JenkinsFerguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins, CM, is a former Canadian right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was a three-time All-Star, winner of the 1971 Cy Young Award, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.Jenkins spent the majority of his career playing for the Chicago Cubs...
, and outfielder
Billy WilliamsBilly Leo Williams is a former outfielder in professional baseball. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed. A highly competitive player on talented Chicago Cubs teams that never reached the post-season, he finally realized his dream of playing in the post-season late in his career with the...
joining Banks. After losing a dismal 103 games in 1966, the Cubs brought home consecutive winning records in
'67The 1967 Major League Baseball season was the 67th held between the American and National Leagues. The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Boston Red Sox four games to three in the 64th World Series, which was the first World Series appearance for the Red Sox in 21 years...
and
'68The 1968 Major League Baseball season was the 68th held between the American and National Leagues. The Athletics played their first season in Oakland this year, following the team's relocation from Kansas City...
, marking the first time a Cub team had accomplished that feat in over two decades.
In
1969The 1969 Major League Baseball season is the 69th since the initial co-existence of the American and National Leagues.It was celebrated as the 100th anniversary of professional baseball, honoring the first professional touring baseball team, the Cincinnati Red Stockings...
the Cubs, managed by
Leo DurocherLeo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
, built a substantial lead in the newly created
National League East-Current members:*Atlanta Braves - Joined in ; formerly of the NL West*Florida Marlins - Joined in as an expansion team*New York Mets - Founding member*Philadelphia Phillies - Founding member...
ern Division by mid-August.
Ken HoltzmanKenneth Dale Holtzman is a left-handed former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics....
pitched a no-hitter on August 19, and the division lead grew to 8½ games over the St. Louis Cardinals and by 9½ games over the
New York MetsThe New York Mets' 1969 season was the 8th regular season for the Mets who played their home games at Shea Stadium. Managed by Gil Hodges, the team went 100-62 and finished 1st in the new Eastern Division of the National League, becoming the first-ever divisional champions...
. Ultimately, however, the Cubs wilted under pressure. Although they had their best season in decades at 92–70, they lost key games against the Mets and finished the season a disappointing eight games out of first place while the Mets exploded past them by winning thirty-nine of their last fifty games. Many superstitious fans attribute this collapse to an incident at
Shea StadiumWilliam A. Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea , was a stadium located in the New York City borough of Queens, in Flushing Meadows–Corona Park. It was the home baseball park of Major League Baseball's New York Mets from 1964 to 2008...
when a fan released a black cat onto the field, further cursing the club, although the "
Amazin' Mets" ended the season at a torrid pace, finishing with a remarkable 100 wins.
1977–1979: The June Swoon
Following the '69 season, the club posted winning records for the next few seasons, but no playoff action. After the core players of those teams started to move on, the 70's got worse for the team, and they became known as
"The Loveable Losers." In
1977The 1977 Major League Baseball season was held between the American and National Leagues. The American League had its third expansion as the Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays began play...
, the team found some life, but ultimately experienced one of its
biggest collapses. The Cubs hit a high-water mark on June 28 at 47–22, boasting an 8 1/2 game NL East lead, as they were led by
Bobby MurcerBobby Ray Murcer was an American Major League Baseball outfielder who played for 17 seasons between 1965 and 1983, mostly with the New York Yankees, whom he later rejoined as a longtime broadcaster...
(27 Hr/89 RBI), and
Rick ReuschelRickey Eugene Reuschel is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from the early 1970s into the late 1980s. His nickname was "Big Daddy."...
(20–10). However, the
Philadelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies season was the 95th season in the history of the franchise. The Phillies won their second consecutive National League East division title with a record of 101-61, five games over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The Phillies lost the NLCS to the Los Angeles Dodgers, three games...
cut the lead to two by the All-star break, as the Cubs sat 19 games over .500, but they swooned late in the season, going 20–40 after July 31. The Northsiders finished in 4th place at 81–81, while Philadelphia surged, finishing with 103 wins. Ironically, the following two seasons also saw the Cubs get off to a fast start, as the team rallied to over 10 games above .500 well into both seasons, only to again wear down and play poorly later on, and ultimately settling back to mediocrity. This trait became known as the "
June Swoon." Again, the Northsiders' unusually high number of day games is often pointed to as one reason for the team's inconsistent late season play.
1984: Heartbreak
After over a dozen more subpar seasons, GM
Dallas GreenGeorge Dallas Green is a former pitcher, manager, and executive in Major League Baseball. After playing for the Phillies and three other teams, he went on to manage the Phillies, the New York Yankees, and the New York Mets, and managed the Phillies when they won their first World Series title in...
made a midseason deal to acquire ace pitcher
Rick SutcliffeRichard Lee Sutcliffe is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher and current television sportscaster, nicknamed "The Red Baron" for his red hair and beard....
from Cleveland, who joined
Scott SandersonScott Douglas Sanderson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for seven teams from 1978 to 1996.-Baseball career:...
,
Dennis EckersleyDennis Lee Eckersley , nicknamed "Eck," is a former American Major League Baseball player. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career .He...
,
Ron CeyRonald Charles Cey is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Los Angeles Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics . Cey batted and threw right-handed...
and NL MVP
Ryne SandbergRyne Dee Sandberg , nicknamed "Ryno," is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who spent nearly his entire career with the Chicago Cubs. He was named after relief pitcher Ryne Duren, and is recognized as one of the best second basemen of all time...
on a squad that ultimately tallied an NL-best 96 victories, winning the NL East. In the
NLCSThe ' National League Championship Series was played between the San Diego Padres and the Chicago Cubs from October 2 to October 7. San Diego won the series three games to two to advance to the World Series...
, skipper
Jim FreyJames Gottfried Frey is a former manager and coach in Major League Baseball. He led the Kansas City Royals to their first American League championship in 1980, in his first year with the team...
's Cubs won the first two games at Wrigley Field against the
San Diego Padres- Offseason :* October 21, 1983: Sandy Alomar, Jr. was signed by the Padres as an amateur free agent.* December 6, 1983: Joe Pittman and a player to be named later were traded by the Padres to the San Francisco Giants for Champ Summers...
. The Cubs needed to win only one game of the next three in San Diego to make it back to the World Series. After being beaten in Game 3, the Cubs lost Game 4 when dependable closer
Lee SmithLee Arthur Smith is a retired American right-handed relief pitcher who played for eight teams in Major League Baseball from 1980–1997. A native of Castor, Louisiana, Smith was scouted by Buck O'Neil and drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 1975 Major League Baseball Draft...
allowed a game-winning home run to
Steve GarveySteven Patrick Garvey is a former Major League Baseball first baseman, and current Southern California businessman. Garvey was a one time NL MVP, 10 time All Star, and holds the National League record for consecutive games played .-Playing career:Born in Tampa, FL to parents who had recently...
in the bottom of the ninth inning. In Game 5 the Cubs took a 3–0 lead to the 6th inning, and a 3–2 lead into the seventh with Sutcliffe (who won the
Cy Young AwardThe Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
that year) still on the mound. Then,
Leon DurhamLeon "Bull" Durham is a former first baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 10 seasons. Durham played with the St. Louis Cardinals , Chicago Cubs , and Cincinnati Reds...
watched a routine grounder go through his legs. This critical error helped the Padres win the game and keep Chicago out of the
1984 World SeriesThe 1984 World Series began on October 9 and ended on October 14, 1984. The American League champion Detroit Tigers played against the National League champion San Diego Padres, with the Tigers winning the series four games to one....
.
The following season hopes were high after the signing of
Dennis EckersleyDennis Lee Eckersley , nicknamed "Eck," is a former American Major League Baseball player. Eckersley had success as a starter, but gained his greatest fame as a closer, becoming the first of only two pitchers in Major League history to have both a 20-win season and a 50-save season in a career .He...
. The club started out well, going 35–19 through mid-June, but injuries to the pitching staff and a 13 game losing streak pushed the Cubs out of contention.
1989: NL East champions
In 1989, the first full season with night baseball at Wrigley Field,
Don ZimmerDonald William Zimmer is a former infielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball, currently serving as a senior advisor to the Tampa Bay Rays baseball organization...
's Cubs were led by a core group of veterans in
Ryne SandbergRyne Dee Sandberg , nicknamed "Ryno," is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who spent nearly his entire career with the Chicago Cubs. He was named after relief pitcher Ryne Duren, and is recognized as one of the best second basemen of all time...
,
Rick SutcliffeRichard Lee Sutcliffe is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher and current television sportscaster, nicknamed "The Red Baron" for his red hair and beard....
and
Andre DawsonAndre Nolan Dawson , nicknamed "The Hawk", is a former right and center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for four teams from 1976 to 1996, spending most of his career with the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs...
, who were boosted by a crop of youngsters such as
Mark GraceMark Eugene Grace is a former Major League Baseball player for 16 seasons with the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks. His defensive position was first base...
,
Shawon DunstonShawon Donnell Dunston is a former shortstop and right-handed batter in Major League Baseball. He resides in Fremont, CA. He was the first overall pick in the 1982 MLB draft by the Chicago Cubs, and played for the Cubs , San Francisco Giants , Pittsburgh Pirates , Cleveland Indians , St...
,
Greg MadduxGregory Alan "Greg" Maddux is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
, Rookie of the Year
Jerome WaltonJerome O'Terrell Walton is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs , California Angels , Cincinnati Reds , Atlanta Braves , Baltimore Orioles and Tampa Bay Devil Rays...
, and Rookie of the Year Runner-Up Dwight Smith. The Cubs won the NL East once again that season winning 93 games. This time the Northsiders met the
San Francisco GiantsThe 1989 San Francisco Giants season saw the Giants finish in first place in the National League West with a record of 92 wins and 70 losses. It was their second division title in three years. The Giants defeated the Chicago Cubs in five games in the National League Championship Series...
in the
NLCSThe National League Championship Series was played between the National League West champion San Francisco Giants and the National League East champion Chicago Cubs. The Giants won the series four games to one, en route to losing to the Oakland Athletics in four games in the 1989 World...
. After splitting the first two games at home, the Cubs headed to the Bay Area, where despite holding a lead at some point in each of the next three games, bullpen meltdowns and managerial blunders ultimately led to three straight losses. The Giants lost to "
The BashJosé Canseco Capas, Jr. is a former outfielder and designated hitter in Major League Baseball, and is the identical twin brother of former major league player Ozzie Canseco. After retiring from baseball he's boxed twice and fought mixed martial arts once.-Early years:Canseco and his family left...
BrothersMark David McGwire is a former Major League Baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals....
" and the
Oakland A'sThe Oakland Athletics season saw the A's finish in first place in the American League West division, with a record of 99 wins and 63 losses, seven games in front of the Kansas City Royals. It was their second consecutive AL West title, as well as the second straight year in which they finished...
in the famous "
Earthquake SeriesThe 1989 World Series was played between the Oakland Athletics and the San Francisco Giants. The Series ran from October 14 through October 28, with the A's sweeping the Giants in four games...
."
1998: Wild card race & home run chase
The
'98 seasonThe 1998 Major League Baseball season ended with the New York Yankees defeating the San Diego Padres in Game 4 of the World Series.The 1998 season was also marked by an expansion to 30 teams , with two new teams–the Arizona Diamondbacks in the National League, and the Tampa Bay Devil Rays in the...
would begin on a somber note with the death of broadcaster
Harry CarayHarry Caray Harry Caray Harry Caray (born Harry Christopher Carabina, (March 1, 1914 – February 18, 1998) was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
, and after the retirement of Sandberg and the trading of Dunston, the Cubs needed to look elsewhere for help, signing
Henry RodriguezHenry Anderson Rodríguez Lorenzo is a former Major League Baseball outfielder who played for the Montreal Expos, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees, and Florida Marlins from 1992 to 2002.Rodríguez was a member of the 1996 National League All-Star team as a member of the Expos,...
to bat cleanup and provide protection for
Sammy SosaSamuel Peralta Sosa is a retired Major League Baseball right fielder.Sosa's Major League career began when he broke in with the Texas Rangers in . After a stint with the Chicago White Sox, Sosa became a member of the Chicago Cubs in 1992 and subsequently became one of the league's best hitters...
in the lineup.
Mark GraceMark Eugene Grace is a former Major League Baseball player for 16 seasons with the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks. His defensive position was first base...
turned in one of his best seasons. The club got a Rookie of the Year effort from pitcher
Kerry WoodKerry Lee Wood is an American Major League Baseball closer for the Cleveland Indians. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in each of four seasons between 1998 and 2003, with a high of 266 in ....
, which included a one-hit, 20 strikeout performance versus the
Houston AstrosThe Houston Astros' 1998 season marked their second consecutive trip to the postseason. It was the only time in history that the Astros had over 100 wins in a season...
.
"H-Rod" paid immediate dividends by slugging 31 round-trippers, and Sosa earned the N.L.'s MVP award with a 66 home run season. The club won a down-to-the-wire
Wild CardThe term wild card refers broadly to a tournament or playoff berth awarded to an individual or team that has not qualified through normal play.-International sports:...
chase with the San Francisco Giants, culminating with the Cubs beating the
Giants-Offseason:* November 11, 1997: Chris Singleton and Alberto Castillo were traded by the Giants to the New York Yankees for Charlie Hayes and cash.* November 21, 1997: Brent Mayne was signed as a free agent by the Giants....
in a one game playoff at Wrigley in which
Gary GaettiGary Joseph Gaetti , nicknamed "G-Man" , is an American former third baseman in Major League Baseball for the Minnesota Twins , California Angels , Kansas City Royals , St...
hit the game winning homer and propelled the Cubs into the postseason once again, with a 90–73 tally. Unfortunately, the
bats went cold in October, as manager
Jim RigglemanJames David Riggleman is the manager of the Washington Nationals. He attended Richard Montgomery High School in Rockville, Maryland, and Frostburg State University.-Coaching and managing career:...
's club batted .183 and scored only four runs en route to being swept by
Atlanta-Offseason:*November 17, 1997: Walt Weiss was signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves.*January 30, 1998: Dennis Martinez was signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves....
. On a positive note, the home run chase between Sosa,
Mark McGwireMark David McGwire is a former Major League Baseball player who played his major league career with the Oakland Athletics and the St. Louis Cardinals....
and
Ken Griffey, Jr.George Kenneth "Ken" Griffey, Jr. is a Major League Baseball outfielder and designated hitter, for the Seattle Mariners....
generated a great deal of media coverage, and helped to bring in a new crop of fans as well as bringing back some fans who had been disillusioned by the 1994 strike. The Cubs retained many players who experienced career years in '98, and after a fast start in 1999, they collapsed again (starting with being swept at the hands of the cross-town
White SoxThe 1998 Chicago White Sox season was the White Sox's 99th season. They finished with a record 80-82, good enough for 2nd place in the American League Central, 9 games behind the 1st place Cleveland Indians.-Offseason:...
in mid-June) and finished in the bottom of the division for the next two seasons.
2001: Playoff push
Despite losing fan favorite Grace to free agency, and the lack of production from newcomer
Todd HundleyTodd Randolph Hundley is a former Major League Baseball catcher and outfielder. He is the son of former Chicago Cubs catcher Randy Hundley...
, skipper
Don BaylorDonald Edward Baylor is a Major League Baseball coach and a former player and manager. During his 19-year playing career, he was a power hitter who played as a first baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter. He played for six different American League teams, primarily the Baltimore Orioles and...
's Cubs put together good season in 2001. The
seasonThe Major League Baseball season finished with the Arizona Diamondbacks defeating the New York Yankees in a Game 7 of the 2001 World Series. The attacks of September 11 pushed the end of the regular-season from September 30 to October 7. Because of that, the World Series was not completed until...
started with Mack Newton being brought in to preach "positive thinking." One of the biggest stories of the season transpired as the club made a midseason deal for
Fred McGriffFrederick Stanley "Crime Dog" McGriff is a former left-handed Major League Baseball player who starred for several teams from the mid-1980s until the early 2000s. A power-hitting first baseman with a tall, lanky build, the five-time All-Star became, in , the first player since the dead-ball era...
, which was drawn out for nearly a month as McGriff debated waiving his
no-trade clauseA no-trade clause is an amendment to a contract, usually relevant in American professional sports, wherein a player may not be traded to another club. Sometimes this clause is implemented by the club itself, but the vast majority are requested by the athlete and his or her sports agent...
, as the Northsiders led the wild card race by 2.5 games in early September. That run died when
Preston WilsonPreston James Richard Wilson is an outfielder for a Professional league team on the Long Island Ducks. He is both the nephew and stepson of former New York Mets star Mookie Wilson...
hit a three run walk off homer off of closer
Tom "Flash" GordonThomas Gordon , nicknamed "Flash", is a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who is currently a free agent...
, which halted the team's momentum. The team was unable to make another serious charge, and finished at 88–74, only five games behind both
HoustonThe Houston Astros' 2001 season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Houston Astros attempting to win the National League Central.-Regular season:...
and
St. LouisThe St. Louis Cardinals 2001 season was the team's 120th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 110th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 93-69 during the season and finished tied for first in the National League Central division with the Houston Astros...
, who tied for first. Sosa had perhaps his finest season and
Jon LieberJonathan Ray Lieber is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Chicago Cubs , New York Yankees , and Philadelphia Phillies . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
led the staff with a 20 win season.
2003: 5 more outs
The Cubs had high expectations in 2002, but the squad played poorly, and the club responded by hiring
Dusty BakerJohnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr. is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball and the current manager of the Cincinnati Reds...
and by making some major moves in '03. Most notably, they traded with the
Pittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions, in addition to the distinction of playing in the first modern World Series. The Pirates are also often...
for
Kenny LoftonKenneth Lofton is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He batted and threw left-handed. During his career he played for the Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves, Chicago White Sox, San Francisco Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies,...
and
Aramis RamirezAramis Nin Ramírez is an All-Star Major League Baseball third baseman for the Chicago Cubs. He started his professional career with the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1998 before being traded to the Cubs in 2003...
(with the latter finally filling a gaping hole at third base), and rode dominant pitching as the Northsiders led the division down the stretch. Chicago halted St. Louis' run by taking 4 of 5 games from the Redbirds in early September and ultimately won their first division title in 14 years. In what was a dramatic five game series, their
NLDSThe National League Division Series , the first round of the 2003 National League playoffs, began on Tuesday, September 30, and ended on Sunday, October 5, with the champions of the three NL divisions—along with a "wild card" team—participating in two best-of-five series. The teams were:* Atlanta...
victory over the
Atlanta Braves-Offseason:*November 20, 2002: Donzell McDonald was signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves. *December 18, 2002: Paul Byrd was signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves....
was the franchise's first postseason series win since they won the World Series in 1908. After dropping an extra-inning affair in Game 1, the Northsiders rallied and took a 3 games to 1 lead over the Wild Card
Florida MarlinsThe 2003 Florida Marlins were the National League Wild Card Winners, the National League Champions, and the World Series Champions.-Offseason:...
in the
NLCSThe National League Championship Series was a Major League Baseball playoff series played from October 7 to October 15 to determine the champion of the National League, between the Central Division champion Chicago Cubs and the wild-card qualifying Florida Marlins. The Cubs, by virtue of being a...
. Florida shut the Cubs out in Game 5, but young pitcher
Mark PriorMark William Prior is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher free agent. His career has been notably muddled with injuries after a promising start which had the sports media calling him a future superstar...
led the Cubs in Game 6 as they took a 3–0 lead into the 8th inning and it was at this point when a now-infamous incident took place. Several spectators attempted to catch a foul ball off the bat of Luis Castillo. One of the fans, Steve Bartman, touched the ball once it crossed into the stands, disrupting a potential catch for the second out by
Moisés AlouMoisés Rojas Alou is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball. His father Felipe, who managed Moises with the Expos from 1992 to 1996 and the Giants from 2005 to 2006, as well as uncles Matty and Jesús, and cousin Mel Rojas, all had long careers in Major League Baseball...
. Alou claimed he could have caught the ball and reacted angrily toward the stands. Alou at one point recanted, saying he would not have been able to catch the ball, but later said this was just an attempt to make Bartman feel better believing the whole incident should be forgotten. Interference was not called on the play, as the ball was ruled to be on the spectator side of the wall. Neither Alou nor Bartman were able to make the catch. Castillo was eventually walked by Prior. Two batters later, and to the horror of the packed stadium, Cubs shortstop
Alex GonzalezAlexander Scott Gonzalez is a Major League Baseball infielder, who spent the majority of his career with the Toronto Blue Jays. Gonzalez established a career-high with 20 home runs for the Chicago Cubs in and hit 20 or more doubles eight times, although his batting average and on-base percentage...
misplayed a potential inning ending double play, loading the bases and leading to eight Florida runs and a Marlin victory. Despite sending
Kerry WoodKerry Lee Wood is an American Major League Baseball closer for the Cleveland Indians. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in each of four seasons between 1998 and 2003, with a high of 266 in ....
to the mound and holding a lead twice, the Cubs ultimately dropped Game 7, and failed to reach the
World SeriesThe 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event. The Florida Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in six games, 4–2.-Background:...
.
2004-2005
In
2004The MLB season was the 100th season of Major League Baseball. The season ended when the Florida Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in a six game 2003 World Series.-Playoffs:*World Series MVP: Josh Beckett...
, despite the return of
Greg MadduxGregory Alan "Greg" Maddux is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
and a midseason deal for
Nomar GarciaparraAnthony Nomar Garciaparra is an American Major League Baseball player for the Oakland Athletics. He previously played first base and third base for the Los Angeles Dodgers, and shortstop and third base for the Chicago Cubs, after a decade as an All-Star shortstop for the Boston Red Sox...
, misfortune struck the Cubs again. They led the Wild Card by 1.5 games over
San FranciscoThe 2004 San Francisco Giants season was the 122nd in franchise history. Barry Bonds became the oldest player in the history of the National League to win the MVP Award.-Offseason:...
and
HoustonThe Houston Astros' 2004 season was a season in which the Astros endured various changes. The biggest change was at the managerial level. Despite a 44-44 record, Jimy Williams was replaced by Phil Garner. Roger Clemens would win the NL Cy Young Award and become the fourth pitcher to win the Cy...
on September 25, and both of those teams lost that day, giving the Northsiders a chance at increasing the lead to a commanding 2.5 games with only eight games remaining in the season, but reliever
LaTroy HawkinsLaTroy Hawkins is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Houston Astros.-Minnesota Twins:Hawkins was drafted straight out of high school by the Minnesota Twins in the amateur draft, and spent the next four years in the Twins' minor league system...
blew a save to the
MetsThe New York Mets' 2004 season was the 43rd regular season for the Mets. They went 71-91 and finished 4th in the NL East. They were managed by Art Howe. They played home games at Shea Stadium.-Offseason:...
, and the Cubs lost the game in extra innings, a defeat that seemingly deflated the team, as they proceeded to drop 6 of their last 8 games as the Astros won the Wild Card. Despite the fact that the Cubs had won 89 games, this fallout was decidedly unlovable, as the Cubs traded superstar
Sammy SosaSamuel Peralta Sosa is a retired Major League Baseball right fielder.Sosa's Major League career began when he broke in with the Texas Rangers in . After a stint with the Chicago White Sox, Sosa became a member of the Chicago Cubs in 1992 and subsequently became one of the league's best hitters...
after he had left the season's final game early and then lied about it publicly. Already a controversial figure in the clubhouse after his corked-bat incident, Sammy alienated much of his fan base, the few teammates still on good terms with him, and possibly tarnished his place in Cubs' lore for years to come. The disappointing season also saw fans start to become frustrated with the constant injuries to ace pitchers Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Additionally, the '04 season led to the departure of popular commentator
Steve StoneSteven Michael Stone is an American former Major League Baseball player and current sportscaster and author....
, who had become increasingly critical of management during broadcasts and was verbally attacked by reliever
Kent MerckerKent Franklin Mercker is a retired Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played for nine teams over his seventeen-year career....
. Things were no better in
2005The MLB season was the 105th season of Major League Baseball. The season was notable for the league's new steroid policy in the wake of the BALCO scandal, which enforced harsher penalties ever than before for steroid use in Major League Baseball. Several players, including veteran Rafael Palmeiro,...
, despite a career year from
Derrek LeeDerrek Leon Lee is a Major League Baseball first baseman and team captain for the Chicago Cubs. Prior to being traded to the club in 2004, Lee played with the San Diego Padres and the Florida Marlins . He bats and throws right-handed.-Early life:Lee was born on September 6, 1975...
and the emergence of closer
Ryan DempsterRyan Scott Dempster is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.Dempster bats and throws right-handed...
. The club struggled and suffered more key injuries, only managing to win 79 games after being picked by many to be a serious contender for the N.L. pennant.
2007-2008: Back to Back
After finishing last in the N.L. Central with 66 wins in 2006, the Northsiders re-tooled and went from "worst to first" in 2007. In the offseason they inked
Alfonso SorianoAlfonso Soriano is a professional Major League Baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs....
to the richest contract in Cubs history, and replaced unpopular skipper
Dusty BakerJohnnie B. "Dusty" Baker, Jr. is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball and the current manager of the Cincinnati Reds...
with fiery veteran manager
Lou PiniellaLouis Victor Piniella is the current manager of the Chicago Cubs and a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He has been nicknamed "Sweet Lou," both for his swing as a major league hitter and, facetiously, to describe his demeanor as a player and manager...
. After a rough start, which included a brawl between Michael Barrett and
Carlos ZambranoCarlos Alberto Zambrano , popularly known as "Big Z" or "El Toro", is a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who has played for the Chicago Cubs since 2001...
, the Cubs overcame the
Milwaukee BrewersThe 2007 Milwaukee Brewers season marked the 25th anniversary of the Milwaukee Brewers winning the American League Championship and the 50th anniversary of the Milwaukee Braves winning the World Series. During the offseason, the Brewers re-signed free agents Bill Hall and Chris Capuano...
, who had led the division for most of the season, with winning streaks in June and July, coupled with a pair of dramatic, late-inning wins against the
RedsThe Cincinnati Reds' 2007 season has been completed, and the Cincinnati Reds finished out of playoff contention.Following an 11-7 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals on July 1, general manager Wayne Krivsky fired manager Jerry Narron and named advance scout Pete Mackanin interim manager...
, and ultimately clinched the NL Central with a record of 85–77. They met
ArizonaThe Arizona Diamondbacks' 2007 season started with the Diamondbacks attempting to win the NL West Division. The Arizona Diamondbacks' biggest move in the offseason was when, on January 9, 2007, they got their 2001 World Series co-MVP back, pitcher Randy Johnson after making a blockbuster deal with...
in the
NLDSThe 2007 National League Division Series , the opening round of the 2007 National League playoffs, began on Wednesday, October 3 and ended on Saturday, October 6, with the champions of the three NL divisions and one wild card team participating in two best-of-five series. They were:* Arizona...
, but controversy followed as Piniella, in a move that has since come under scrutiny, pulled Carlos Zambrano after the sixth inning of a pitchers duel with
D-BacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
aceThe word "ace" comes from the Old French word 'as' meaning 'a unit', from the name of a small Roman coin. It originally meant the side of a die with only one mark, before it was a term for a playing card...
Brandon WebbBrandon Tyler Webb , is a National Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Arizona Diamondbacks and was the 2006 National League Cy Young Award winner....
, to "....save Zambrano for (a potential) Game 4." The Cubs, however, were unable to come through, losing the first game and eventually stranding over 30 baserunners in a 3-game Arizona sweep.
The Cubs successfully defended their National League Central title in
2008The 2008 Major League Baseball season began on March 25, 2008 in Tokyo, Japan with the 2007 World Series champion Boston Red Sox defeating the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome 6-5 in the first game of a two-game series, and ended on September 30 with the host Chicago White Sox defeating the...
, going to the postseason in consecutive years for the first time since 1906–08. The offseason was dominated by three months of unsuccessful trade talks with the
OriolesThe Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , the Orioles have played their home games at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. The "Orioles" name refers to the official state...
involving 2B
Brian RobertsBrian Michael Roberts is a Major League Baseball All Star second baseman, nicknamed B-Rob. He has spent his entire professional career with the Orioles organization and made his Major League debut in ....
, as well as the signing of
Chunichi DragonsThe are a professional baseball team based in Nagoya, the chief city in the Chubu region of Japan. The team is in the Central League. They won the 2007 Japan Series and Konami Cup Asia Series 2007.- History :...
star
Kosuke Fukudome"Fukudome" redirects here. For information on the WWII admiral, see Shigeru Fukudome. is a center fielder for the Chicago Cubs.Prior to arriving in the United States, Fukudome played nine seasons for the Chunichi Dragons of the Japanese Central League...
. The team recorded their 10,000th win in April, while establishing an early division lead.
Reed JohnsonReed Cameron Johnson is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Chicago Cubs.-College career:...
and
Jim EdmondsJames Patrick "Jim" Edmonds is a former left-handed Major League Baseball center fielder. He played for the California/Anaheim Angels, the St. Louis Cardinals, the San Diego Padres, and the Chicago Cubs...
were added early on and
Rich HardenJames Richard Harden is a Canadian Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.-Early years:...
was acquired from the
Oakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the Oakland Coliseum....
in early July. The Cubs headed into the All-Star break with the N.L.'s best record, and tied the league record with eight representatives to the
All-Star gameThe 2008 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 79th midseason exhibition between the all-stars of the American League and the National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was played at Yankee Stadium in The Bronx, New York, home of the New York Yankees, on...
, including catcher
Geovany SotoGeovany Soto is a Major League Baseball catcher for the Chicago Cubs.-Professional career:Selected by the Chicago Cubs 318th overall in the 11th round of the 2001 Major League Baseball Draft, he made his major league debut on September 23, 2005, against the Houston Astros...
, who was named Rookie of the Year."The Boys in Blue" took control of the division by sweeping a four game series in Milwaukee. On September 14, in a game moved to Miller Park due to
Hurricane IkeHurricane Ike was the third most destructive hurricane to ever make landfall in the United States. It was the ninth named storm, fifth hurricane and third major hurricane of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season....
, Zambrano pitched a no-hitter against the
AstrosThe Houston Astros' 2008 season is the 47th season for the Houston Astros. The Astros are attempting to return to the postseason, after missing the past two postseasons. They must do it without second baseman Craig Biggio, who became a member of the coveted 3,000 hit club last year.-Off Season:On...
, and six days later the team clinched by beating St. Louis at Wrigley. The club ended the season with a 97-64 record and met
Los AngelesThe 2008 Los Angeles Dodgers season features the Dodgers celebrating their Golden Anniversary in Southern California under new manager Joe Torre as they won the National League West for the first time since 2004, and returned to the postseason after missing the playoffs in 2007. They swept the...
in the
NLDSThe 2008 National League Division Series , the opening round of the 2008 National League playoffs, began on Wednesday, October 1 and ended on Sunday, October 5, with the champions of the three NL divisions and one wild card team participating in two best-of-five series. They were:* Chicago Cubs vs...
. The heavily favored Cubs took an early lead in Game 1, but
James LoneyJames Loney is a Canadian peace activist who has worked for several years with Christian Peacemaker Teams in Iraq and Palestine. On November 26 2005, he was kidnapped in Iraq with three CPT members, leading to a widely publicized hostage crisis....
's grand slam off
Ryan DempsterRyan Scott Dempster is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.Dempster bats and throws right-handed...
changed the series' momentum. Chicago committed numerous critical errors and were outscored 20–6 in a Dodger sweep, which provided yet another sudden and stunning ending to what had once been looked at as a season of destiny.
2009: A step back and a look forward
Apparently handcuffed by Tribune's bankruptcy and the sale of the club to the Ricketts' family, the Cubs' quest for a NL Central 3-peat started with notice that there would be less invested into contracts than in previous years. Once again, however, trade speculation dominated the headlines at the winter meetings, this time surrounding Padres' ace
Jake PeavyJacob Edward Peavy is a Cy Young Award-winning starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who plays for the Chicago White Sox. He bats and throws right-handed...
, which, much like the Brian Roberts talks a year earlier, resulted in nothing. Piniella blamed the '08 post season failure on the lack of left handed hitters, and a bevy of high caliber outfielders fit the bill. Ultimately, the club settled on inking oft-troubled switch hitter Milton Bradley over
Adam DunnAdam Troy Dunn is a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder for the Washington Nationals. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed....
,
Raúl IbáñezRaúl Javier Ibáñez is a Cuban-American Major League Baseball outfielder for the Philadelphia Phillies.-High school and college:Ibáñez played baseball for Miami Sunset Senior High School...
, and
Bobby AbreuBob Kelly "Bobby" Abreu , nicknamed "El Comedulce" and also "La Luche", is a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim....
. The bench and bullpen were also overhauled in a bevy of money saving moves, and fan favorites Kerry Wood and Mark DeRosa both left for the
Cleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field . The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
.
Kevin GreggKevin Marschall Gregg is a Major League Baseball relief pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.-High school career:Gregg attended Corvallis High School in Corvallis, Oregon, and starred in football, basketball, and baseball....
was acquired from the Marlins to replace Wood, and
Aaron MilesAaron Wade Miles is a Major League Baseball infielder for the Chicago Cubs.-Pro career:Miles was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the 19th round of the 1995 amateur draft. As a member of the Colorado Rockies, he finished fourth in the voting for the 2004 MLB Rookie of the Year Award in...
was signed to replace DeRosa.
Led by the strong play of
Derrek LeeDerrek Leon Lee is a Major League Baseball first baseman and team captain for the Chicago Cubs. Prior to being traded to the club in 2004, Lee played with the San Diego Padres and the Florida Marlins . He bats and throws right-handed.-Early life:Lee was born on September 6, 1975...
,
Ted LillyTheodore "Ted" Roosevelt Lilly III , is a Major League Baseball starting pitcher for the Chicago Cubs. He bats and throws left-handed...
and rookie pitcher
Randy WellsRandy David Wells is a Major League Baseball pitcher for the Chicago Cubs.Wells was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 38th Round of the 2002 amateur entry draft as a catcher. He spent his career in the Chicago Cubs farm system from to before being claimed in the Rule 5 Draft by the Toronto...
, the club started well, but fell on hard times as injuries took their toll. Nearly every key player suffered injury and the Northsiders struggled into the All Star break with a disappointing .500 record.
Carlos MármolCarlos Agustín Mármol is a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago Cubs. As of August 24, Mármol is the Cubs closer.-Minor league career:...
eventually replaced Gregg as closer and the team stayed in the race, but they were distracted by Bradley, whose poor hitting and even poorer attitude became a major issue as the season progressed. Bradley complained about being heckled, booed and "hated" by bleacher fans and expressed his overall unhappiness in Chicago, eventually leading to a season ending suspension. Despite this, Chicago engaged St. Louis in a see-saw battle for first place into August, but the Cardinals played to a torrid 20-6 pace that month, designating their rivals to battle in the Wild Card race, from which they were eliminated in the season's final week. On the bright side, the Boys in Blue posted a winning record (83-78) for the third consecutive season, the first time the club had done so since 1972, and a new era of ownership under the Ricketts' family was approved by MLB owners in early October.
The club filed for
bankruptcyBankruptcy is a legally declared inability or impairment of ability of an individual or organization to pay its creditors. Creditors may file a bankruptcy petition against a debtor in an effort to recoup a portion of what they are owed or initiate a restructuring...
on October 12 in an effort to ensure that the team couldn’t be hit with claims by Tribune creditors.
Retired numbers
The Chicago Cubs retired numbers are commemorated on pinstriped flags flying from the foul poles at Wrigley Field, with the exception of
Jackie RobinsonJack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first African-American Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
, the Brooklyn Dodgers player whose number was retired for all clubs. The first retired number flag, Ernie Banks' number 14, was raised on the left field pole, and they have alternated since then. 14, 10 and 31 (Jenkins) fly on the left field pole; and 26, 23 and 31 (Maddux) fly on the right field pole.
Ron
SantoRonald Edward Santo is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1960 to 1974, all but the last year with the Chicago Cubs. A nine-time National League All-Star, he led the league in walks four times, in on base percentage twice and in triples once...
3B: 1960-1973
Retired September 28, 2003 |
Ernie
BanksErnest "Ernie" Banks is an American former Major League baseball player who played his entire career with the Chicago Cubs . He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.Bank's nickname is Mr...
SS: 1953-1971
Retired August 22, 1982 |
Ryne
SandbergRyne Dee Sandberg , nicknamed "Ryno," is a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who spent nearly his entire career with the Chicago Cubs. He was named after relief pitcher Ryne Duren, and is recognized as one of the best second basemen of all time...
2B: 1982-1994,1996-1997
Retired August 28, 2005 |
Billy
Williams
OF: 1959-1974
Retired August 13, 1987 |
Ferguson
JenkinsFerguson Arthur "Fergie" Jenkins, CM, is a former Canadian right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. He was a three-time All-Star, winner of the 1971 Cy Young Award, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1991.Jenkins spent the majority of his career playing for the Chicago Cubs...
P: 1966-1973,1982-1983
Retired May 3, 2009 |
Greg
MadduxGregory Alan "Greg" Maddux is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He was the first pitcher in major league history to win the Cy Young Award for four consecutive years , a feat matched only by Randy Johnson...
P: 1986-1992,2004-2006
Retired May 3, 2009 |
Jackie
RobinsonJack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first African-American Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
Retired by MLB
Retired April 15,1997 |
- There is also a movement to retire numbers for other players, most notably the uniform shirt of Gabby Hartnett
Charles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett was an National Major League Baseball catcher and manager who played nearly his entire career with the Chicago Cubs...
. The Cubs first wore numbers on their shirts in 1932, and Hartnett wore three different numbers. Number 7 was initially assigned to Hartnett, but he was switched to number 9 the next year. In 1937 he was switched to number 2, which he retained through his last season with the Cubs, 1940. Petitions have been sent in to the team for Cap AnsonAdrian Constantine Anson , known by the nicknames "Cap" and "Pop", was a professional baseball player in the National Association and Major League Baseball...
(shirt), Hack WilsonLewis Robert "Hack" Wilson was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball from to . He is best known for his record-setting 191-RBI season of . He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979.-Biography:...
(shirt), Phil CavarrettaPhilip Joseph Cavarretta is a former first baseman and outfielder in Major League Baseball who spent almost his entire career with the Chicago Cubs...
(3), Andre DawsonAndre Nolan Dawson , nicknamed "The Hawk", is a former right and center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for four teams from 1976 to 1996, spending most of his career with the Montreal Expos and Chicago Cubs...
(8), and Mark GraceMark Eugene Grace is a former Major League Baseball player for 16 seasons with the Chicago Cubs and Arizona Diamondbacks. His defensive position was first base...
(17), while movements are expected for more recent departures Sammy SosaSamuel Peralta Sosa is a retired Major League Baseball right fielder.Sosa's Major League career began when he broke in with the Texas Rangers in . After a stint with the Chicago White Sox, Sosa became a member of the Chicago Cubs in 1992 and subsequently became one of the league's best hitters...
(21) and Kerry WoodKerry Lee Wood is an American Major League Baseball closer for the Cleveland Indians. Wood recorded over 200 strikeouts in each of four seasons between 1998 and 2003, with a high of 266 in ....
(34).
Ownership
In December 2007, Sam Zell completed his purchase of the club's parent organization,
Tribune CompanyThe Tribune Company is a large, employee-owned, American multimedia corporation based in Chicago, Illinois. It is the nation's second-largest newspaper publisher, responsible for the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Hartford Courant, Orlando Sentinel, South Florida Sun-Sentinel, Baltimore Sun...
, and announced his intention to sell the team. Tribune, which owns the
Chicago Tribune,
Los Angeles Times,
WGN Television,
WGN Radio and many other media outlets, had owned the club since 1981, when they purchased it from the Wrigley Family for $20,500,000. The Wrigley family, who also owns
Wrigley's Chewing GumThe William Wrigley Jr. Company was founded on April 1, 1891 originally selling products such as soap and baking powder. In 1892, William Wrigley, Jr., the company's founder, began offering chewing gum with each can of baking powder...
had owned the team and the ballpark since buying it from
Albert LaskerAlbert Davis Lasker was an American businessman who is often considered to be the founder of modern advertising. He was born in Freiburg, Germany when his American parents Morris and Nettie Heidenheimer Davis Lasker were visiting their homeland; he was raised in Galveston, Texas, where Morris was...
and
Charles WeeghmanCharles Weeghman was one of the founders of the short-lived major league baseball organization called the Federal League...
almost 6 decades earlier. Al Spalding, who also owned Spalding sporting goods, played for the team for two seasons under club founder William Hulbert, and then owned the club for twenty one years.
In 2008, while the team excelled on the field, Sam Zell searched for buyer. In late July, they narrowed down their original list of ten prospective investors to three, all of whom offered over $1 billion for both the Cubs and Wrigley Field. The presumptive fan favorite of the three was outspoken
Dallas MavericksThe Dallas Mavericks are a professional basketball team based in Dallas, Texas, USA. They are members of the Southwest Division of the Western Conference of the National Basketball Association ....
owner
Mark CubanMark Cuban is an American billionaire entrepreneur. He is the owner of the Dallas Mavericks, an NBA basketball team, and Chairman of HDNet, an HDTV cable network.-Biography:...
. That list grew to five by August as other leading bidders, including private equity investor and Brewers minority owner
John Canning, Jr.John A. Canning, Jr. is a private equity investor and sports executive. He is the founder and chairman of Madison Dearborn Partners, the large Chicago-based private equity firm. He has recently been linked to discussions around the potential sale of the Chicago Cubs.-Career:Canning was an early...
. When owner Sam Zell originally trimmed the candidates down, Canning Jr. was eliminated from consideration because his bid was too low, but commissioner
Bud SeligAllan Huber "Bud" Selig is the Commissioner of Major League Baseball, having served in that capacity since 1992 as the acting commissioner, and as the official commissioner since 1998...
had apparently picked Canning Jr. as a favorite of the fraternity of MLB owners. Others among the five remaining bidders for the Cubs included the son of Ameritrade founder Joe Ricketts. During a
Chicago BullsThe Chicago Bulls are an American professional basketball team based in Chicago, Illinois, playing in the Central Division of the Eastern Conference in the National Basketball Association . The team was founded in 1966. They play their home games at the United Center...
-Dallas Mavericks telecast on October 9, 2008, Cuban, in a courtside interview with Comcast Sports Net, claimed he had made the highest bid and although he did not know where he stood, noted that the state of the economy as well as the poor playoff performance by the team would likely affect the time frame of the eventual sale. On January 8, 2009, the Chicago Tribune reported that three finalist groups,
Tom RickettsThomas S. "Tom" Ricketts is the chief executive officer of Incapital LLC, a Chicago investment bank that packages corporate bonds for retail investors. He is also a director of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation as well as the son of Ameritrade founder J. Joseph Ricketts. Forbes estimate of the...
, Hersch Klaff, and a partnership of
private equityIn finance, private equity is an asset class consisting of equity securities in operating companies that are not publicly traded on a stock exchange. Investments in private equity most often involve either an investment of capital into an operating company or the acquisition of an operating company...
investors Marc Utay and Leo Hindery Jr., were expected to submit finalized, polished offers "within days" after which the winning bid would be accepted, and pending the winning bidders approval by 2/3 of the current MLB owners, would be final, with Zell holding on to a minor share of the team. The Ricketts family won that bidding process, and although there were numerous potential pitfalls, the sale entered its final stages as the 2009 season came to a close. The sale was unanimously approved by the other MLB owners on October 6.
Radio
The Cubs'
flagshipA flagship is the lead ship in a fleet of vessels, a designation given on account of being either the largest, fastest, newest, most heavily armed or, for publicity purposes, the best known. In military terms, it is a ship used by the commanding officer of a group of naval ships...
radio stationRadio broadcasting is an audio broadcasting service, broadcast through the air as radio waves from a transmitter to an antenna and a thus to a receiving device. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast common programming, either in syndication or simulcast or both...
is
WGN-AMWGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
, 720 AM. With the recent end of the
Pittsburgh PiratesThe Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions, in addition to the distinction of playing in the first modern World Series. The Pirates are also often...
' run on
KDKAKDKA is a radio station in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, that was the first commercially licensed radio station in the United States, a distinction that has also been challenged by other stations....
, this may now be the longest team-to-station relationship in MLB.
Pat HughesVirgil Patrick "Pat" Hughes has been the play-by-play voice of the Chicago Cubs, working for WGN radio, since 1996. In all of Hughes' time as a Cubs broadcaster, he has partnered with color commentator Ron Santo, former All-Star third baseman for the Cubs. Together, their broadcasts are known as...
does the
play-by-playSports commentary, in broadcasting, is a term that means the reporting of a sporting event with a voiceover describing the details of the game in progress. In North America, in a lot of sports, the sports commentator is assisted by a color commentator, and sometimes a sideline reporter...
along with
color commentatorA color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The term is of North American origin. The color commentator provides expert analysis and background information, such as statistics, strategy and injury reports...
Ron SantoRonald Edward Santo is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played from 1960 to 1974, all but the last year with the Chicago Cubs. A nine-time National League All-Star, he led the league in walks four times, in on base percentage twice and in triples once...
and pre- and post-game host Judd Sirott. Hughes did play by play for the
Milwaukee BrewersThe Milwaukee Brewers are a professional baseball team based in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, currently playing in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
prior to coming to Chicago, and Santo, a former Cubs star and a devout fan of the team (Hughes introduces Santo as "Cub legend Ron Santo" on a daily basis), is known for his emotional highs and lows during games. One example of a "low" was his "Noooo! Noooo!" when
Brant BrownBrant Michael Brown is a former professional baseball player. He was 6'3" and 205 pounds, and threw and batted left-handed. He is currently the hitting coach for the Frisco RoughRiders....
dropped a fly ball in a key game in 1998. A "high" for Santo was upon the retirement of his number on the last day of the 2003 season, in which he declared his #10 flag to be "my Hall of Fame." Santo is a
type 1 diabeticDiabetes mellitus type 1 is a form of diabetes mellitus. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that results in destruction of insulin-producing beta cells of the pancreas...
and has lost both his legs to the disease. Most sponsors of the radio program center their promotions around the
Juvenile Diabetes Research FoundationThe Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation International is the leading charitable funder and advocate of type 1 diabetes research worldwide. The mission of JDRF is to find a cure for diabetes and its complications through the support of research. Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune disease that...
and other diabetes-based charities. The
Chicago Cubs Radio NetworkThe Chicago Cubs Radio Network comprises 45 stations in eleven states. It is a division of Tribune Broadcasting's Tribune Radio Network.The Cubs' flagship station is WGN, 720 AM. Pat Hughes is the play-by-play announcer, along with color commentator Ron Santo. Judd Sirott fills in for Hughes...
consists of 45 stations and covers at least
eleven states. WGN Radio is owned and operated by Tribune Company.
Television
Cubs telecasts are split three ways: WGN (both the
local stationWGN-TV, , is a television station in Chicago, Illinois. It has been owned by the Tribune Company since its inception , and is an affiliate of the CW Television Network...
and the superstation), WCIU (a local
independent stationAn independent station is television terminology used to describe a television station broadcasting in the United States or Canada that is not affiliated with any network...
), and CSN Chicago (with some games, often Wednesday night contests, aired on the supplemental channel CSN+).
Len KasperLen Kasper is a play-by-play announcer for the Chicago Cubs , teaming with Bob Brenly on WGN-TV, WCIU-TV, and Comcast SportsNet.- Personal life :Kasper grew up in Michigan...
is the play-by-play announcer, and
Bob BrenlyRobert Earl Brenly is a former catcher and manager in Major League Baseball and a current broadcaster for the Chicago Cubs alongside Len Kasper. Brenly is the color commentator for Cubs baseball on WGN and Comcast SportsNet.-Early life:Bob Brenly attended Ohio University in Athens, Ohio and was a...
, a former major league catcher and
Arizona DiamondbacksThe Arizona Diamondbacks are a professional baseball team based in Phoenix, Arizona. They play in the West Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From 1998 to the present, they have played in Chase Field...
manager, is the
color commentatorA color commentator is a sports commentator who assists the play-by-play announcer by filling in any time when play is not in progress. The term is of North American origin. The color commentator provides expert analysis and background information, such as statistics, strategy and injury reports...
for the games. WGN also produces the games shown on WCIU; for those games, the score bug changes the "WGN" logo to "CubsNet." WCIU games additionally air over
MyNetworkTVMyNetworkTV is a television broadcast syndication service in the United States, owned by the Fox Entertainment Group, a division of News Corporation...
affiliate
WMYS-LPWMYS redirects here. For the Indianapolis radio station formerly known as WMYS, see WXNT.WMYS-LP is a low power TV station on channel 69 in South Bend. Previously, channel 69 was South Bend's WB affliliate, which then moved to sister station WMWB-LP channel 25 . Before that, WMYS was a translator...
(Channel 69) in the
South Bend, IndianaSouth Bend is a city in and the county seat of St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States, on the St. Joseph River. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total of 107,789 residents; its Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 316,663...
market. WGN and CSN Chicago generally show an even number of Cubs games, while WCIU averages about 8 games per season.
Print
In addition to
The Chicago Tribune itself, the club also produces its own print media; the Cubs' official magazine
Vineline, which has twelve annual issues, is in its third decade, and spotlights players and events involving the club.
Jack Brickhouse and Harry Caray
Two broadcasters in particular have made their mark on the team.
Jack BrickhouseJohn Beasley "Jack" Brickhouse was an American sportscaster. Known primarily for his play-by-play coverage of Chicago Cubs games on WGN-TV from 1948 to 1981, he received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983.Brickhouse also called Chicago White Sox games prior to that team...
manned the Cubs radio and especially the TV booth for parts of five decades, the 34-season span from 1948 to 1981. He covered the games with a level of enthusiasm that often seemed unjustified by the team's poor performance on the field for many of those years. His trademark call
"Hey Hey!" always followed a home run. That expression is spelled out in large letters vertically on both foul pole screens at Wrigley Field. "Whoo-boy!" and "Wheeee!" and "Oh, brother!" were among his other pet expressions. When he approached retirement age, he personally recommended his successor.
Harry CarayHarry Caray Harry Caray Harry Caray (born Harry Christopher Carabina, (March 1, 1914 – February 18, 1998) was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
's stamp on the team is perhaps even deeper than that of Brickhouse, although his 17-year tenure, from 1982 to 1997, was half as long. First, Caray had already become a well-known Chicago figure by broadcasting White Sox games for a decade, after having been a Cardinals icon for 25 years. Caray also had the benefit of being in the booth during the NL East title run in 1984, which was widely seen due to WGN's status as a cable-TV superstation. His trademark call of
"Holy Cow!" and his enthusiastic singing of "
Take me out to the ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch (as he had done with the White Sox) made Caray a fan favorite both locally and nationally. Harry occasionally had problems pronouncing names, to comic effect, such as his attempt at saying "
Hector VillanuevaHéctor Villanueva Balasquide , is a former professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues from 1990-1993....
" which was captured on WGN's memorial CD to Harry. He also continued his long-standing bit (dating back to the Cardinals years) of pronouncing names backwards. Caray had lively discussions with commentator
Steve StoneSteven Michael Stone is an American former Major League Baseball player and current sportscaster and author....
, who was hand-picked by Harry himself, and producer
Arne HarrisArnold H. Harris was the producer/director of WGN-TV's Chicago Cubs television broadcasts from 1964 until his death....
. Caray often playfully quarreled with Stone over Stone's cigar and why Stone was single, while Stone would counter with poking fun at Harry being "under the influence." Stone disclosed in his book "
Where's Harry" that most of this "arguing" was staged, and usually a ploy developed by Harry himself to add flavor to the broadcast. Additionally, Harry once did a commercial for
BudweiserBudweiser is an American-style lager and is one of the most popular beers in the United States. Budweiser is made with a large proportion of rice in addition to hops and barley malt. Budweiser is produced in various breweries located around the United States and the rest of the world. It is a...
, dressed as a "Blues Brother" and parodying "Soul Man", singing "I'm a Cub fan, I'm a Bud man," while dancing with models dressed as Cubs
ball girlsBall Boy is a comic strip in the UK comic The Beano and also the name of the main character. It first appeared in issue 1735, dated 18 October 1975. It features a five-a-side football team that includes:* Ball Boy - the captain of the team, Ball Boy bears resemblances to The Dandy's Owen Goal...
.
The Cubs still have a "guest conductor," usually a celebrity, lead the crowd in singing "Take me out to the ballgame" during the 7th inning stretch to honor Caray's memory. The quality of their renditions and ability to sing in tune vary widely. Chicago icons often return annually, such as former
Chicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the NFC North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
coach
Mike DitkaMichael Keller Ditka, Jr. , also known as "Iron Mike", is a former American football NFL player, television commentator, and coach. Ditka coached the Chicago Bears for 11 years and New Orleans Saints for 3 years. Ditka and Tom Flores are the only two people to win Super Bowls as a player, an...
, who tends to sing the song very fast and worse than awful. Caray is also honored with a statue located at the corner of Sheffield and Addison streets, and during the 1998 season, a patch with Caray's caricature and Brickhouse's trademark
"Hey Hey" were worn on the players sleeves to honor the passing of both commentators within a span of a few months. Harry's popularity also led to his grandson
Chip CarayHarry Christopher "Chip" Caray III is a television broadcaster for Turner Broadcasting Station and is also an occasional radio broadcaster and co-host of the pre-game and post-game shows on the Atlanta Braves Radio Network...
joining the broadcast team in winter of 1997, shortly before Harry's death. Chip Caray worked the Cubs games alongside Stone until events that unfolded in 2004, when Stone became increasingly critical of management and players toward season's end. At one point, reliever
Kent MerckerKent Franklin Mercker is a retired Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher. He played for nine teams over his seventeen-year career....
phoned the booth during a game and told Stone to "keep out of team business." Stone left the team, taking a position with Chicago-based
WSCRWSCR is a sports radio station in the Chicago, Illinois radio market. The station is owned by CBS Radio and transmits on 670 kHz on the AM dial. Its transmitter is located just off Army Trail Road in Bloomingdale, which is a western suburb of Chicago. It is known as "The Score," and has been on...
, and is now an announcer for the south side team, the Chicago White Sox. Chip Caray also left, joining his father
Skip CarayHarry Christopher "Skip" Caray, Jr. was an American sportscaster, best known for his long career as a radio and television play-by-play announcer for the Atlanta Braves of Major League Baseball...
(who would die in 2008) on TBS, providing play-by-play for the
Atlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball team based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. From to the present, the Braves have played in Turner Field....
.
Merkle's "Boner"
On September 23, 1908, the Cubs and
New York GiantsThe New York Giants season was a season in Major League Baseball. The Giants finished second in the National League.Paced by Turkey Mike Donlin, the offense scored the most runs in the league...
were involved in a tight pennant race. The two clubs were tied in the bottom of the ninth inning at the
Polo GroundsThe Polo Grounds was the name given to four different stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City used by baseball's New York Metropolitans from 1880 until 1885, New York Giants from 1883 until 1957, the New York Yankees from 1912 until 1922, and by the New York Mets in their first two seasons of...
, and N.Y. had runners on first and third and two outs when
Al BridwellAlbert Henry Bridwell was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the a number of teams in the early 20th century, most notably the New York Giants, when the team was managed by John McGraw...
singled, scoring
Moose McCormickHarry Elwood "Moose" McCormick , was a professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from 1904-1913. He would play for the New York Giants, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Philadelphia Phillies...
from third with the Giants' apparent winning run, but the runner on first base, rookie
Fred MerkleFrederick Charles Merkle , also known as "Bonehead" Merkle, was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball.-Career:...
, went half way to second and then sprinted to the clubhouse after McCormick touched home plate. As fans swarmed the field, Cub infielder
Johnny EversJohn Joseph Evers was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame by the Veterans Committee in 1946...
retrieved the ball and touched second. Since there were 2 outs, a forceout was called at second base, ending the inning and the game. Because of the tie the Giants and Cubs ended up tied for first place. The Giants lost the ensuing one-game playoff and the Cubs went on to the
World SeriesThe 1908 World Series matched the defending champion Chicago Cubs against the Detroit Tigers in a rematch of the 1907 Series. In this first-ever rematch of this young event, the Cubs won in five games for their second consecutive title....
.
The Homer in the Gloamin'
On September 28, 1938, with the Cubs and Pirates tied at 5,
Gabby HartnettCharles Leo "Gabby" Hartnett was an National Major League Baseball catcher and manager who played nearly his entire career with the Chicago Cubs...
stepped to the plate in a lightless Wrigley Field that was gradually being overcome by darkness and visibility was becoming difficult. With two outs in the bottom of the ninth and the umpires ready to end the game, Hartnett launched Pirate hurler
Mace BrownMace Stanley Brown was a middle relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. From 1935 through 1946, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates , Brooklyn Dodgers and Boston Red Sox ....
's offering into the gloom and haze. This would be remembered as his "
Homer in the Gloamin."
Rick Monday and the U.S. Flag
On April 25, 1976, at Dodger Stadium, two protestors ran into the outfield and tried to set fire to a U.S. Flag. When Cubs outfielder
Rick MondayRobert James "Rick" Monday, Jr. is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball and is currently a broadcast announcer. From 1966 through 1984, Monday, a center fielder for most of his career, played for the Kansas City/Oakland Athletics , Chicago Cubs and Los Angeles Dodgers...
noticed the flag on the ground and the men fumbling with matches and lighter fluid, he dashed over and snatched the flag to thunderous applause. When he came up to bat in the next half-inning, he got a standing ovation from the crowd and the stadium titantron flashed the message, "RICK MONDAY... YOU MADE A GREAT PLAY..." Monday later said, "If you're going to burn the flag, don't do it around me. I've been to too many veterans' hospitals and seen too many broken bodies of guys who tried to protect it."
The Sandberg game
On June 23, 1984,
ChicagoThe Chicago Cubs' 1984 season was the 109th season for the Cubs. The team finished with a record of 96-65 in first place of the National League Eastern Division. Chicago was managed by Jim Frey and the general manager was Dallas Green...
trailed
St. LouisThe St. Louis Cardinals 1984 season was the team's 103rd season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 93rd season in the National League. The Cardinals went 84-78 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League East, 12½ games behind their arch-rivals, the Chicago Cubs...
9–8 in the bottom of the ninth on
NBCNBC Sports is the sports division of NBC. Formerly "a service of NBC News," it broadcasts a diverse array of programs, including the Olympic Games , the NFL, the NHL, Notre Dame football, the PGA Tour, the Kentucky Derby, the Preakness, the USGA Championships, Wimbledon, and the French Open, among...
's Game of the Week when Ryne Sandberg, known mostly for his glove, slugged a game-tying home run off ace closer
Bruce SutterHoward Bruce Sutter is a former right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who was arguably the first pitcher to make effective use of the split-finger fastball, which he called "The Jewel"....
. Despite this, the Cardinals scored two runs in the top of the tenth. Sandberg came up again facing Sutter with one man on base, and hit yet another game tying home run, and
Ryno became a household name. The Cubs won what has become known as "
The Sandberg Game" in the 11th inning.
10,000th win
On April 23, 2008, against the
Colorado RockiesThe Colorado Rockies are a Major League Baseball team based in Denver, Colorado. Established in 1991, they started play in 1993, the Rockies play in the West Division of the National League. The team is named after the Rocky Mountains, which pass through Colorado, just west of Denver...
, the Cubs recorded the 10,000th regular-season win in their franchise's history dating back to the beginning of the National League in 1876. The Cubs reached the milestone with an overall National League record of 10,000 wins and 9,465 losses. Chicago is only the second club in Major League Baseball history to attain this milestone, the first having been the
San Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California who currently play in the National League West Division. One of the oldest baseball teams, the Giants hold the honor of having won the most games of any team in the history of baseball...
in mid-season 2005. The Cubs, however, hold the mark for victories for a team in a single city. The Chicago club's 77–77 record in the National Association (1871, 1874–1875) is not included in MLB record keeping. Post-season series are also not included in the totals. To honor the milestone, the Cubs flew an extra white flag displaying "10,000" in blue, along with the customary "W" flag.
Tape-measure home runs
On May 11, 2000,
Glenallen HillGlenallen Hill is a former outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for 13 seasons. Hill played with the Toronto Blue Jays , Cleveland Indians , Chicago Cubs San Francisco Giants , Seattle Mariners , New York Yankees , and Anaheim Angels . Hill batted and threw right-handed...
, facing Brewers starter
Steve WoodardSteve Larry Woodard is a pitcher in Major League Baseball who is currently a free agent. He bats left-handed and throws right-handed....
, became the first, and thus far only player, to hit a pitched ball onto the roof of a five-story residential building across Waveland Ave, beyond Wrigley Field's left field wall. The shot was estimated at well over , but the Cubs fell to Milwaukee 12–8.
No batted ball has ever hit the center field scoreboard in Wrigley Field, although the original "Slammin' Sammy", golfer
Sam SneadSamuel Jackson Snead was an American professional golfer who was one of the top players in the world for most of four decades. He and two of the other greatest golfers of all time, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson, were born within six months of each other in 1912...
, hit it with a golf ball in an exhibition in the 1950s. In 1948,
Bill NicholsonWilliam Beck "Bill" Nicholson was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies...
barely missed the scoreboard when he launched a home run ball onto Sheffield Avenue and in 1959,
Roberto ClementeRoberto Clemente Walker was a professional baseball player and a Major League Baseball right fielder. He was born in Carolina, Puerto Rico, the youngest of seven children. On November 14, 1964, he married Vera Zabala at San Fernando Church in Carolina. The couple had three children: Roberto Jr.,...
came even closer with a home run ball hit onto Waveland Avenue. In 2001, a Sammy Sosa homer landed across Waveland and bounced a block down Kenmore Avenue.
Dave KingmanDavid Arthur Kingman , nicknamed "Kong" and "Sky King," is a former Major League Baseball slugger for the San Francisco Giants , New York Mets , San Diego Padres , California Angels , New York Yankees , Chicago Cubs and Oakland Athletics .-USC Trojans:Kingman was drafted by the California Angels...
hit a shot in 1978 that hit the third porch roof on the east side of Kenmore, which was estimated at , and is regarded as the longest home run in Wrigley Field history.
Mascots
The official Cub mascot is a young bear cub, which has gone through various transformations through the years. The Cubs have no official physical mascot, though a man in a 'polar bear' looking outfit, called "The Beeman" (or Bearman, B-man), which was not very popular with the fans, was employed by the club briefly in the early 1990s.
"White flag time at Wrigley!"
The term
"White flagThe Cubs Win Flag is a victory flag that is flown at Wrigley Field after every Chicago Cubs home win. The flag is variously referred to by a approximately a dozen names, combining; either Cubs or Chicago Cubs; Win, W, White, White W, or W Win; and flag, banner or banner flag. Other common names for...
time at Wrigley!", coined by former play-by-play broadcaster Chip Caray, means the Cubs have won.
Beginning in the days of P.K. Wrigley and the 1937 bleacher/scoreboard reconstruction, and prior to modern media saturation, a flag with either a "W" or an "L" has flown from atop the scoreboard masthead, indicating the day's result(s) when baseball was played at Wrigley. In case of a doubleheader that results in a split, both the "win" and "loss" flags are flown.
Past Cubs media guides show that originally the flags were blue with a white "W" and white with a blue "L". In 1978, consistent with the dominant colors of the flags, blue and white lights were mounted atop the scoreboard, denoting "win" and "loss" respectively for the benefit of nighttime passers-by.
The flags were replaced by 1990, the first year in which the Cubs media guide reports the switch to the now familiar colors of the flags: White with blue "W" and blue with white "L". In addition to needing to replace the worn-out flags, by then the retired numbers of Banks and Williams were flying on the foul poles, as white with blue numbers; so the "good" flag was switched to match that scheme.
This long-established tradition has evolved to fans carrying the white-with-blue-W flags to both home and away games, and displaying them after a Cub win. The flags have become more and more popular each season since 1998, and are now even sold as T-shirts with the same layout. In 2009, the tradition spilled over to the NHL as
Chicago BlackhawksThe Chicago Blackhawks are a professional ice hockey team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of the Western Conference of the National Hockey League . They have won three Stanley Cup Championships and thirteen division titles since their founding in 1926...
fans adopted a red and black "W" flag of their own.
Wrigley Field and Wrigleyville
The Cubs have played their home games at Wrigley Field, also known as
"The Friendly Confines" since 1916. It was built in 1914 as
Weeghman Park for the
Chicago WhalesThe Chicago Whales were a Federal League baseball club in Chicago from 1914 to 1915. The Whales won the Federal League championship in 1915....
, a
Federal LeagueThe Federal League was the last major attempt to establish an independent major professional baseball league in the United States in direct competition with the established National and American Leagues in and...
baseball team. The Cubs also shared the park with the
Chicago BearsThe Chicago Bears are a professional American football team based in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the NFC North Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
of the NFL for 50 years. The ballpark includes a manual scoreboard, ivy-covered brick walls, and relatively small dimensions.
Located in Chicago's
LakeviewLake View — or Lakeview, as it is increasingly spelled — is a North Side neighborhood of the City of Chicago, Illinois, in the United States. It is designated as Community Area 6 of 77 well-defined Chicago community areas...
neighborhood, Wrigley Field sits on an irregular block bounded by Clark and Addison Streets and Waveland and Sheffield Avenues. The area surrounding the ballpark is typically referred to as Wrigleyville. There is a dense collection of sportsbars and restaurants in the area, most with baseball inspired themes, including Harry Caray's, Murphy's Bleachers, and Sluggers. On game days, many residents rent out their yards and driveways during games to people looking for a parking spot. Though many Wrigleyville homeowners have seen their property values skyrocket, most, along with Mayor
Richard M. DaleyRichard Michael Daley is a United States politician, member of the national and local Democratic Party and current Mayor of Chicago, Illinois. He was elected mayor in 1989 and reelected in 1991, 1995, 1999, 2003, and 2007...
, still oppose the team's quest to play more night games and stadium expansion. Average attendance at games has also skyrocketed, as annual ticket sales have more than
doubled, with attendance rising from 1.4 million in 1983 to nearly 3.2 million in 2004.
Bleacher Bums
The "
Bleacher BumsBleacher Bums is a 1977 play written collaboratively by members of Chicago's Organic Theater Company, from an idea by actor Joe Mantegna. Its original Chicago production was directed by Stuart Gordon...
" is a name given to fans, many of whom spend much of the day heckling, who sit in the bleacher section at Wrigley Field. Initially, the group was called "bums" because it referred to a group of fans who were at most games, and since those games were all day games, it was assumed they did not work. Many of those fans were, and are still, students at Chicago colleges, such as
DePaul UniversityDePaul University is a private institution of higher education and research in Chicago, Illinois. Founded by the Vincentians in 1898, the university takes its name from the 17th century French priest who valued philanthropy, Saint Vincent de Paul...
,
LoyolaLoyola University Chicago is a Jesuit private university located in Chicago, Illinois. The university was founded in 1870 as St. Ignatius College, and is the largest Jesuit, Catholic University in the United States....
, and
Illinois-ChicagoThe University of Illinois at Chicago, or UIC, is a state-funded public research university located in Chicago. It is the second member of the University of Illinois system and is the largest university in the Chicago area, serving approximately 25,000 students within 15 colleges, including the...
. A
Broadway play, starring
Joe MantegnaJoseph Anthony “Joe” Mantegna, Jr. is an American Tony Award-winning actor, producer, writer and director. He is best known for his roles in box-office hits such as Three Amigos , The Godfather Part III , Forget Paris , Up Close & Personal , and The Simpsons Movie .Mantegna has gained Emmy Award...
,
Dennis FarinaDennis Farina is an American film and television actor. He is a character actor, often typecast as a mobster or police officer, the latter due to his pre-acting career as a police officer.-Early life:...
,
Dennis FranzDennis Franz is an American actor best known for his role as Andy Sipowicz, a gritty police detective in the television series NYPD Blue .-Early life:...
, and Jim Belushi ran for years and was based on a group of Cub fans who frequented the club's games. The group was started in 1967 by dedicated fan Ron Grousl and "mad bugler"
Mike MurphyMike Murphy is an American sports radio personality, who hosted The Mike Murphy Show on Chicago's Sports Radio 670 The Score...
, who is currently a sports radio host mid days on Chicago-based
WSCRWSCR is a sports radio station in the Chicago, Illinois radio market. The station is owned by CBS Radio and transmits on 670 kHz on the AM dial. Its transmitter is located just off Army Trail Road in Bloomingdale, which is a western suburb of Chicago. It is known as "The Score," and has been on...
AM 670 "The Score". Murphy alleges that Grousl started the Wrigley tradition of throwing back opposing teams' home run balls. The current group is headed by Derek Schaul. More recently, the bleachers have had the stereotype of being populated by attractive and lightly dressed women. Prior to the 2006 season, they were updated, with new shops and private bar (The Batter's Eye) being added, and Bud Light bought naming rights to the bleacher section, dubbing them the
Bud Light Bleachers. Bleachers at Wrigley are general admission.
Music
During the summer of 1969, a Chicago studio group produced a single record called "Hey Hey! Holy Mackerel! (The Cubs Song)" whose title and lyrics incorporated the catch-phrases of the respective TV and radio announcers for the Cubs,
Jack BrickhouseJohn Beasley "Jack" Brickhouse was an American sportscaster. Known primarily for his play-by-play coverage of Chicago Cubs games on WGN-TV from 1948 to 1981, he received the Ford C. Frick Award from the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1983.Brickhouse also called Chicago White Sox games prior to that team...
and
Vince LloydVince Lloyd Skaff, who worked under the name Vince Lloyd, was a radio announcer for Major League Baseball's Chicago Cubs for over 30 years....
. Several members of the Cubs recorded an album called
Cub Power which contained a cover of the song. The song received a good deal of local airplay that summer, associating it very strongly with that bittersweet season. It was played much less frequently thereafter, although it remained an unofficial Cubs theme song for some years after.
For many years, Cubs radio broadcasts started with "It's a Beautiful Day for a Ball Game" by the Harry Simeone Chorale. In 1979, Roger Bain released a 45 rpm record of his song "Thanks Mr. Banks," to honor “Mr. Cub” Ernie Banks.
The song "Go, Cubs, Go!" by
Steve GoodmanSteve Goodman was an American folk music singer-songwriter from Chicago, Illinois. The writer of "City of New Orleans", made popular by Arlo Guthrie, Goodman won two Grammy Awards.-Personal life:...
was recorded early in the 1984 season, and was heard frequently during that season. Goodman died in September of that year, four days before the Cubs clinched the National League Eastern Division title, their first title in 39 years. Since 1984, the song started being played from time to time at
Wrigley FieldWrigley Field is a baseball stadium in Chicago, Illinois, United States that has served as the home ballpark of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. It was built in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Federal League baseball team, the Chicago Whales...
; since 2007, the song has been played over the loudspeakers following each Cubs home victory.
In 2007,
Pearl JamPearl Jam is an American rock band that formed in Seattle, Washington in 1990. Since its inception, the band's line-up has included Eddie Vedder , Jeff Ament , Stone Gossard , and Mike McCready...
frontman
Eddie VedderEddie Vedder is an American musician who serves as the lead singer and one of three guitarists for the American rock band Pearl Jam. Vedder left the Southern California music scene and moved to Seattle, Washington in 1990 to join Pearl Jam where he rose to fame amid the grunge movement of the...
composed a song dedicated to the team called "
All the Way"All the Way" is a song written and performed by native and Pearl Jam vocalist Eddie Vedder about the Chicago Cubs...
". Vedder, a Chicago native, and lifelong Cubs fan, composed the song at the request of Ernie Banks.
Pearl Jam has only played this song live one time, on August 2, 2007 at the Vic Theater in Chicago, IL.
Eddie Vedder has played this song live twice, at his solo shows at the Chicago Auditorium on August 21 and 22, 2008.
An album entitled
Take Me Out to a Cubs Game was released in 2008. It is a collection of 17 songs and other recordings related to the team, including
Harry CarayHarry Caray Harry Caray Harry Caray (born Harry Christopher Carabina, (March 1, 1914 – February 18, 1998) was an American baseball broadcaster on radio and television. He covered four Major League Baseball teams, beginning with a long tenure calling the games of the St...
's final performance of "
Take Me Out to the Ball Game"Take Me Out to the Ball Game" is an early-20th century Tin Pan Alley song which became the unofficial anthem of baseball although neither of its authors had attended a game prior to writing the song. The song is traditionally sung during the seventh-inning stretch of a baseball game...
" on September 21, 1997, the Steve Goodman song mentioned above, and a newly-recorded rendition of "
Talkin' BaseballTalkin' Baseball is a 1981 song written and performed by Terry Cashman. The song describes the history of American major league baseball from the 1950s to the beginning of the 1980s...
" (subtitled "Baseball and the Cubs") by
Terry CashmanTerry Cashman is a record producer and singer-songwriter, best known for his 1981 hit, "Talkin' Baseball." While the song is well recognized today, it was all but ignored by typical Top 40 radio during its chart life, making only the Billboard Adult Contemporary chart.Cashman was the lead singer...
. The album was produced in celebration of the 100th anniversary of the Cubs'
1908 World SeriesThe 1908 World Series matched the defending champion Chicago Cubs against the Detroit Tigers in a rematch of the 1907 Series. In this first-ever rematch of this young event, the Cubs won in five games for their second consecutive title....
victory and contains sounds and songs of the Cubs and Wrigley Field.
Championship drought
The Chicago Cubs have not won a World Series championship since 1908 and have not appeared in the Fall Classic since 1945, although between their postseason appearance in 1984 and their most recent in 2008, they have made the postseason a respectable six times. It is the longest title drought in all four of the major
American professional sports leaguesMajor professional sports league, or simply major league, is a term used in Canada and the United States for the highest professional competitions in team sports...
, which includes the NFL, the NBA, and the NHL, as well as, of course,
Major League BaseballMajor League Baseball is the highest level of play in North American professional baseball. Specifically, Major League Baseball refers to the organization that operates the National League and the American League, by means of a joint organizational structure that has developed gradually between...
. In fact, the Cubs' last World Series title occurred before those other three leagues even existed, and even the Cubs' last World Series appearance predates the founding of the NBA. The Cubs' 3–2 series victory over the
Atlanta Braves-Offseason:*November 20, 2002: Donzell McDonald was signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves. *December 18, 2002: Paul Byrd was signed as a Free Agent with the Atlanta Braves....
in the 2003 NLDS was the franchise's first postseason series win since the 1908 championship.
Minor league affiliations
- AAA: Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
, Pacific Coast LeagueThe Pacific Coast League is a minor league baseball league operating in the West, Midwest, and Southeast of the United States. Along with the International League and the Mexican League, it is one of three leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one step below Major League...
- AA: Tennessee Smokies
The Tennessee Smokies are a Minor League Baseball team based in the Knoxville, Tennessee metropolitan area. The team, which plays in the Southern League, is the Double-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball as of the 2009 season...
, Southern LeagueThe Southern League is a minor league baseball league which operates in the Southern United States. It is classified a Double-A league. The original league was formed in , but it had to shut down in . A new league, the Southern Association, was formed in , consisting of twelve teams...
- Advanced A: Daytona Cubs
The Daytona Cubs are a minor league baseball team based in Daytona Beach, Florida. The team plays in the Florida State League, and is the High-A affiliate of the Chicago Cubs major league club. The team plays at Jackie Robinson Ballpark; opened in , the park seats 5,100 fans.The team is currently...
, Florida State LeagueThe Florida State League is a Class A-Advanced Minor League Baseball league operating in the state of Florida. Class A is the middle of five classifications of minor leagues that are affiliated with Major League Baseball teams...
- A: Peoria Chiefs
The Peoria Chiefs are a Class A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, from Peoria, Illinois. They play in the Midwest League....
, Midwest LeagueThe Midwest League is a Class A minor league baseball league which operates in the Midwestern United States.-History:Six teams – the Belleville Stags, the Centralia Cubs, the Marion Indians, the Mattoon Indians, the Mount Vernon Braves, and the West Frankfort Cardinals – began operating...
- Short A: Boise Hawks
The Boise Hawks are a Short-Season A classification minor league baseball team, located in Boise, Idaho. The team is currently a farm team for the Chicago Cubs....
, Northwest LeagueThe Northwest League of Professional Baseball is a Short-Season A classification minor league. The league is the descendant of the Western International League which ran as a class B league from 1937-1951 and class A from 1952-1954...
- Rookie: AZL Cubs
The Arizona League Cubs are a minor league baseball team in Mesa, Arizona, USA. They are a Class R team in the Arizona League, and have been a farm team of the Chicago Cubs since 2005. The Cubs play home games at Fitch Park.- Year-by-Year Record :...
, Arizona LeagueThe Arizona League is a minor league baseball league that operates in and around Phoenix, Arizona. It is a rookie-level professional baseball league run by Major League Baseball since 1989. Games are played at the spring training complexes of the team's parent organizations from mid-June until the...
Spring training history
The Cubs spring training facility is located in
Mesa, ArizonaMesa is a city in Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona and is a suburb of Phoenix, within the Phoenix Metropolitan Statistical Area. It is the third-largest city in Arizona, after Phoenix and Tucson....
, where they play in the Cactus League. The club plays its games at
HoHoKam ParkHoHoKam Park also known as Dwight W. Patterson Field, is a park with a baseball stadium located at 1235 N Center St in Mesa, Arizona . The stadium was built in January 1997 and holds 12,632 people. It is the home of the Mesa Solar Sox of the Arizona Fall League. The Mesa Cubs play just down the...
, Dwight Patterson Field. "HoHoKam" is literally translated from Native American as "those who vanished." The park seats just under 13,567, and the Cubs annually sell out most of their games both at home and on the road. The Northsiders have called Mesa their spring home for most seasons since 1952. In addition to Mesa, the club has held spring training in
Champaign, IllinoisChampaign is a city in Champaign County, Illinois, in the United States. The city is located south of Chicago, west of Indianapolis, Indiana, and 178 miles northeast of St. Louis, Missouri. Though surrounded by farm communities, Champaign is notable for sharing the campus of the University of...
(1901–02, 1906); Los Angeles (1903–04, 1948–1949),
Santa Monica, CaliforniaSanta Monica is a city in western Los Angeles County, California, USA. Situated on Santa Monica Bay, it is surrounded on three sides by the city of Los Angeles — Pacific Palisades on the northwest, Brentwood on the north, West Los Angeles on the northeast, Mar Vista on the east, and Venice on the...
(1905); New Orleans (1907, 1911–1912); Vicksburg, Miss. (1908);
Hot Springs, ArkansasHot Springs is the 10th most populous city in the U.S. state of Arkansas, the county seat of Garland County, and the principal city of the Hot Springs Metropolitan Statistical Area encompassing all of Garland County...
(1909–1910); Tampa (1913–1916); Pasadena, Cal. (1917–1921);
Santa Catalina Island, CaliforniaSanta Catalina Island, often called Catalina Island, or just Catalina, is a rocky island off the coast of the U.S. state of California. The island is 22 miles long and eight miles across at its greatest width. The island is located about 22 miles south-southwest of Los Angeles, California...
(1922–1942, 1946–1947, 1950–1951);
French Lick, IndianaFrench Lick is a town in French Lick Township, Orange County, Indiana, United States. The population was 1,941 at the 2000 census. In early 2007 the French Lick Resort Casino, the state's tenth casino in the modern legalized era, opened drawing national attention to the small town.- History :French...
(1943–1945); Mesa (1952–1965, 1979–present);
Long Beach, CaliforniaLong Beach is a large city located in southern California, USA, on the Pacific coast. It is situated in Los Angeles County, about south of downtown Los Angeles. Long Beach borders Orange County on its southeast edge....
(1966); and
Scottsdale, ArizonaScottsdale is a city in the eastern part of Maricopa County, Arizona, United States, adjacent to Phoenix. As of 2007 the population of the city was 240,410. Scottsdale is regarded as an upscale tourist and shopping destination and as a representation of western American style...
(1967–1978).
The curious location on Catalina Island stemmed from Cubs owner William Wrigley Jr.'s then-majority interest in the island in 1919. Wrigley constructed a ballpark on the island to house the Cubs in spring training: it was built to the same dimensions as Wrigley Field. (The ballpark is long gone, but a clubhouse built by Wrigley to house the Cubs exists as the Catalina County Club.) However by 1951 the team chose to leave Catalina Island and spring training was shifted to Mesa, Arizona.
The current location in Mesa is actually the second HoHoKam Park; the first was built in 1976 as the spring-training home of the Oakland Athletics who left the park in 1979. Apart from HoHoKam Park the Cubs also have another Mesa training facility called Fitch Park, this complex provides of team facilities, including major league clubhouse, four practice fields, one practice infield, enclosed batting tunnels, batting cages, a maintenance facility, and administrative offices for the Cubs.
The practice of teams traveling for organized spring training practice games and drills is almost as old as baseball itself. One of the earliest recorded spring training camps took place in 1870, when the
Cincinnati Red StockingsThe Cincinnati Red Stockings of were baseball's first fully professional team, with ten salaried players. The Cincinnati Base Ball Club formed in 1866 and fielded competitive teams in the National Association of Base Ball Players 1867–1870, a time of a transition that ambitious Cincinnati,...
and the Chicago White Stockings (now the Cubs) held organized baseball camps in New Orleans.
See also
- Major professional sports teams of the United States and Canada
- Major League Baseball franchise post-season droughts
- Chicago Cubs team records
The following lists statistical records and all-time leaders as well as awards and major accomplishments for the Chicago Cubs professional baseball club of Major League Baseball...
- History of the Chicago Cubs
The following is a franchise history of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball, a charter member of the National League who started play in the National Association in 1870 as the Chicago White Stockings...
- Iowa Cubs
The Iowa Cubs are a Triple-A minor league baseball team, affiliated with the Chicago Cubs, that plays in the Pacific Coast League. Their home games are played in Des Moines, Iowa, at Principal Park.-Franchise history:...
- Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company...
- Curse of the Billy Goat
The Curse of the Billy Goat refers to a legend commonly cited to explain why the Chicago Cubs Major League Baseball team has not been to the World Series since 1945.-The Curse:...
- Sam Zell
- Thomas S. Ricketts
Thomas S. "Tom" Ricketts is the chief executive officer of Incapital LLC, a Chicago investment bank that packages corporate bonds for retail investors. He is also a director of TD Ameritrade Holding Corporation as well as the son of Ameritrade founder J. Joseph Ricketts. Forbes estimate of the...
- Grant DePorter
Grant M. DePorter is a restaurateur from Chicago, U.S., who came to prominence in after he paid US$113,824.16 for a baseball which had played a role in the Chicago Cubs defeat in the 2003 National League Championship Series, and had the ball destroyed in a nationally televised event...
- Lee Elia
- WGN TV Channel 9
WGN-TV, , is a television station in Chicago, Illinois. It has been owned by the Tribune Company since its inception , and is an affiliate of the CW Television Network...
/ WGN America
- WGN Radio 720 AM
WGN is a radio station in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It is owned by the Tribune Company, which also owns the flagship television station WGN-TV, the Chicago Tribune newspaper and Chicago magazine locally. WGN's transmitter is located in Elk Grove Village, Illinois...
- West Side Park
West Side Park was the name used for two different baseball parks that formerly stood in Chicago, Illinois. They were both home fields of the team now known as the Chicago Cubs of the National League. Both parks witnessed championship baseball...
- Old Style Beer
External links