Team: Chicago Cubs
Sport: Baseball
Background: The Chicago Cubs are a
Major League Baseball team based in Chicago, Illinois.
They are in the Central Division of the National League.
Founded: 1870, as an independent professional
club. Joined the National Association in 1871. Became
a charter National League member in 1876.
Formerly known as: White Stockings,
in the 1870s. Colts, in the late 1890s. Orphans, 1898,
after the firing of longtime manager Cap Anson. Remnants,
in 1901, after a number of players deserted the team
for the American League. The nickname Cubs was coined
in 1902 when manager Frank Selee arrived and rebuilt
the club with young, inexperienced players. The Chicago
Tribune tried to call the team the Spuds around this
time, but that name didn't stick.
Home ballpark: Wrigley Field, 1060 W. Addison
Street, Chicago, IL 60613-4397.
Uniform colors: Blue and red
Logo design: A red "C" on
a blue field. Sometimes, the team will make use of a
cartoon bear cub.
Wild Card titles won (1): 1998
Division titles won (3): 1984, 1989,
2003
League pennants won (16): 1876, 1880,
1881, 1882, 1885, 1886, 1906, 1907, 1908, 1910, 1918,
1929, 1932, 1935, 1938, 1945
World Series championships won (2):
1907, 1908
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White Stockings
The Great Chicago Fire destroyed the club's
ballpark, uniforms and records toward the end of the
1871 season. The club completed its schedule, finishing
second in the National Association that year, but was
forced to drop out of the league for the next two seasons
as a result.
In 1875, Chicago acquired several key players from the
Boston Red Stockings, including pitcher Al Spalding
and first baseman Cap Anson, who would later become
the team leader and manager for almost twenty seasons.
Anson was arguably the best player in baseball in his
day, though he is chiefly remembered today for his role
in establishing baseball's color line than for his playing
and managerial skill.
"Tinker to Evers to Chance"
Joe Tinker (SS), Johnny Evers (2B) and Frank
Chance (1B) were three legendary Cubs infielders, who
played together from 1903-1910, and sporadically over
the following two years. They, along with third baseman
Harry Steinfeldt, formed the nucleus of one of the most
dominant baseball teams of all time. After Chance took
over as manager for the ailing Frank Selee in 1905,
the Cubs won four pennants and two World Series titles
over a five-year span. Their record of 116 victories
in 1906 (in a 154-game season) has not been broken,
though it was tied by the Seattle Mariners in 2001,
in a 162-game season.
