History of the Orphans

Cap Anson’s departure led to the team’s nickname transitioning through the next few seasons. With the loss of their “Pop” as Anson had become known, at times the media referred to the club as the Remnants of the Orphans. The “Colts” name remained in circulation through the 1905 season, along with Orphans and Remnants, depending on which newspaper or fan one spoke to.

The franchise was nicknamed the Cubs by the Chicago Daily News in 1902, although not officially become the Chicago Cubs until the 1907 season.

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 – 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.”

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

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