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Chicago Orphans Team Formation
Cap Anson was the first player in history credited with collecting 3,000 career hits. After a disappointing record of 59-73 and a 9th-place finish in 1897, Anson was released by the Cubs as both a player and manager. Due to Anson’s absence from the club after 22 years, local newspaper reporters started to refer to the Cubs as the “Orphans.”
History of the Orphans
The Chicago Orphans, also known as the Colts and later the Cubs was a professional baseball team that played in the National League from 1876 to 1897. The team was founded by William Hulbert and is considered one of Major League Baseball’s most storied franchises.
The Orphans began their history with an impressive start, winning three consecutive pennants between 1880 and 1882. This success was mainly due to star players like Cap Anson, who led them to victories over teams like Boston Red Stockings (now known as Atlanta Braves). They continued their success throughout much of the 19th century but struggled during its last decade before disbanding after the 1897 season.
In 1902, Charles Murphy purchased what remained of Chicago's former franchise—the name "Orphans"—and rebranded it into "Cubs." Under his leadership, they went on win two World Series titles in the 1907-1908 seasons while also making several playoff appearances until 1945, when they won another championship title against Detroit Tigers, marking the end of the famous dynasty era for this club.
The Cubs have become one of MLB's most successful teams and have won eight more World Series titles since then, including 2016, where they defeated the Cleveland Indians, ending a 108-year drought without any championships! Despite all these successes, the original name, “Orphans,” will always remain part of history's beloved city -Chicago!
Established
1889
City
Chicago
League History
2000 – Present / Major League Baseball
1889 – 1999 / National League
Team History
1903 – Present / Chicago Cubs
1889 – 1902 / Chicago Orphans
Nickname
Orphans – The Chicago Orphans, now known as the Cubs, have a long and storied history in Major League Baseball. The team was initially founded in 1876 and played its first game on April 25th of that year. As one of the original eight charter franchises to form MLB, the team has been around for over 140 years!
While most teams go through changes to their name or mascot during their existence, it’s interesting to note that the Chicago Orphans were never officially renamed by any official governing body within MLB; rather they adopted an unofficial nickname due to some unique circumstances surrounding them at one point in time.
During the 1898 season, when Frank Selee took over as manager of what was then called “Chicago Colts,” he found himself with a roster full of players who had recently lost their former teammates due either retirement or injury; thus leaving him with a depleted line-up which gave rise to his new moniker: “Orphans” – referencing these few remaining players being left without anyone else on the field. This soon became popular amongst fans and media alike, so much so that even after Selee departed from managing duties following the 1901 season (which saw them win the NL pennant), the name stuck around all way until 1907 when William Hulbert changed it back into its current title: The Cubs.
Today we can still see remnants from this era throughout Wrigley Field, like the scoreboard clock reading 3:00 PM marking the start time for games during those days & also how the home run balls hit onto Waveland Avenue are sometimes referred to as "orphan homers" - both paying homage towards club's origins & acknowledging the fact that many teams come/go but only true ones stay forever! So next time you're watching your favorite baseball team take the field, remember why they got named and what they did - because even though things may change a little bit here and there, the heart remains the same!
Championship
World Series 0
2016, 1908, 1907
Stadium
1927 – Present / Wrigley Field
1920 – 1926 / Cubs Park
1916 – 1920 / Weeghman Park
1893 – 1915 / West Side Park II
1885 – 1891 / West Side Park I
Owner
2009 – Present / Joe Ricketts Family Trust
1981 – 2009 / Tribune Company
1977 – 1981 / William Wrigley III
1932 – 1977 / Philip K. Wrigley
1921 – 1932 / William Wrigley, Jr.
1921 – 1981 / The Wrigley Family
1916 – 1921 / Charles Weeghman
1914 – 1916 / Charles Phelps Taft
1905 – 1914 / Charles W. Murphy
1902 – 1905 / James Hart
1882 – 1902 / Albert G. Spalding
1870 – 1882 / William A. Hulbert
To qualify as the greatest player for this team, the player must have played one season for this team. If not, we will remove the player.
* verifies that player has played for this team as an added player by a fan.
Retired Number
10 / Ron Santo
14 / Ernie Banks
23 / Ryne Sandberg
26 / Billy Williams
31 / Ferguson Jenkins
31 / Greg Maddux
42 / Jackie Robinson
*Blue is this team’s history