Team Spotlight: Chicago Cubs

The American professional baseball team called the Chicago Cubs have one of the most loyal fan bases around, despite limited success. In all of baseball, they are one of the most popular franchises. As recently as 2016, and also in 1908 and 1907, they won World Series Titles – though they’ve participated in 11 World Series altogether.

Currently, the Cubs are based in (not surprisingly) Chicago, Illinois. They compete in the NL (National League) Central Division in the MLB (Major-League Baseball). Currently, in Chicago, there are two major league teams, the other being an AL (American League) Central division team known as the Chicago White Sox. Coincidentally, the White Stockings is how today's Cubs were first referred to back in 1876. In 1903 they became known as the Chicago Cubs.

Front Office Members and Team Colors

Members of the front office include the following:

• Theo Epstein – president of baseball operations
• Jed Hoyer – general manager
• David Ross – manager
• Joe Ricketts, Todd Ricketts, Pete Ricketts, Laura Ricketts, and Thomas S. Ricketts are all principal owners.

Official team colors consist of white, red, and blue – totally American!

Home Is Where You Hang Your Baseball Cap

The Cubs have had many homes including the following:

• 1876 to 1877 – 23rd Street Grounds
• 1878 to 1882 – Lakefront Park (l)
• 1883 to 1884 – Lakefront Park (ll)
• 1885 to 1891 – Westside Park (l)
• 1891 to 1893 – Southside Park
• 1893 to 1915 – Westside Park (lll)
• From 1916 until present day, the Cubs played (and play) at Wrigley Field. However, from 1914 until 1920, it was known as Weeghman Home Park; and from 1920 until 1926, it was referred to as Cubs Park.

Titles and Accomplishments

The following titles have been accomplished by the Cubs:

• Wildcard births: 2018, 2015, and 1998
• East Division Titles: 1989 and 1984
• Central Division titles: 2020, 2017, 2016, 2008, 2007, and 2003
• NL Pennants: 2016, 1945, 1938, 1935, 1932, 1929, 1918, 1910, 1908, 1907, 1906, 1886, 1885, 1882, 1881, 1880, and 1876
• World Series titles: 2016, 1908, and 1907 (as mentioned earlier)

A Team by Another Name

Though nicknames for the Chicago Cubs consist of "Lovable Losers", "Boys in Blue", "Northside Nine", "North Siders", and "The Cubbies", the Cubs have gone by several official names:

• 1876 to 1889 – (NL team) Chicago White Stockings
• 1890 to 1897 – Chicago Colts
• 1898 to 1902 – Chicago Orphans
• 1903 until present day – Chicago Cubs

Retired Numbers of Incredible Players

The following numbers have been retired by the Cubs in honor of some of the most amazing players in history:

• Jackie Robinson – number 42 – in 1997
• Greg Maddux and Ferguson Jenkins – both number 31 – in 2009
• Billy Williams – number 26 – in 1987
• Ryne Sandberg – number 23 – in 2005
• Ernie Banks – number 14 – in 1982
• Ron Santos – number 10 – in 2003

Hall of Famers

If you combine the Chicago Cubs, White Stockings, Colts, and Orphans all together (in pursuit of Hall of Famers), you come up with a huge number of players. To simplify matters, the following belonged to the White Stockings/Chicago Cubs:

• Hack Wilson
• Billy Williams
• Joe Tinker
• Albert Spalding
• Lee Smith
• Ron Sancho
• Ryne Sandberg
• King Kelly
• Ferguson Jenkins
• Billy Herman
• Gabby Hartnett
• Johnny Evers
• Kiki Cuyler
• Frank Chance
• Mordecai Brown
• Ernie Banks
• Cap Anson

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