The Early Years of the Chicago Cubs

The Chicago White Stockings were established as a professional baseball team in 1871. Their main purpose early on was to beat the very first all professional baseball team which was the Cincinnati Red Stockings. 1871 was going well enough until the Great Chicago Fire of 1871 that destroyed their ballpark, uniforms, and other equipment.

Revived in 1874, the team soon acquired many of its key players, like Albert Spalding and Adrian "Cap" Anson. While this was happening, William Hulbert, the club's president, led the formation of a stronger baseball organization called the National League which had it's inaugural season in 1876. The White Stockings won that very first NL season. Chicago had some excellent seasons throughout the early years of the NL.

A second major league was started in 1882, it was called the American Association. The Chicago White Stockings faced the American Association's champions, the St. Louis Browns, multiple times in the championship series. After the American Association folded in 1892, the Browns joined the NL as well and would later become the Cardinals; to this day the Cardinals remain the number one rivals of the Cubs.

On March 27th of 1902 the Chicago Daily News became the first to use the term "Cubs" as a nickname for the Chicago team. This nickname of course stuck and became the teams new name. The first decade of the new century is the most successful decade in Cubs history to date. They won the World Series in both 1907 and 1908.

In 1916 the Cubs played at Weeghman Park for the first time. Weeghman Park was later renamed to the much more familiar Wrigley Park. In 1918 the Cubs were back in the World Series but they were defeated by the Boston Red Sox and their pitching sensation Babe Ruth who they would famously trade to the New York Yankees prior to the 1920 season. This was of course the last Red Sox World Series victory until 2004.

In 1920 gum tycoon William Wrigley obtained majority ownership of the Chicago Cubs. Over the next decade, the team won a pennant every three years. Each time though, their success was short lived and never lasted to the post season as they fell to their American League rivals every single time. The Cubs have appeared in seven World Series since their last win in 1908, and have lost every one of them. This year will most likely be their 100th consecutive season without a World Series win.

The 1930 season was an historical one for Cubs star outfielder Hack Wilson. He set a major league record for RBI which still stands to this day when he batted in 191 runners that year. He also hit 56 home runs. 1932 the Cubs are back in the World Series but again they are defeated by the exploits of Babe Ruth. This time it's with the New York Yankees and it's as a hitter that he does his damage.

In 1945, the "Curse of the Billy Goat" was laid upon the Cubs. A Mr. Sianis had come to watch the Cubs in game four of the 1945 World Series. He had brought with him his goat, which he'd actually purchased a ticket for. He was ejected from the game for bringing his goat with him. On his way out, Mr. Sianis whispered, "The Cubs, they ain't gonna win no more." The Cubs lost that game, lost the '45 World Series, and have not been back since.