The Chicago Cubs are one of the most iconic teams in MLB (Major League Baseball). From having fans who stuck by them through thick and thin to overcoming multiple curses, the team has prevailed through the years to remain Chicago’s favorite.
The Cubs have an estimated 9.9 million fans and a strong foundation in the sport—going as far as being a charter member of the NL (National League) central division since 1876.
With a history spanning over 150 years, there is plenty that the team has become famous for. Please keep reading for the most notable of these and learn how the team returned from the abyss to cement its title as a fan favorite.
Chicago White Stockings
Although the Chicago Cubs first formed in 1870, they initially didn’t go by the name that is so recognizable today. Instead, they were founded under the name Chicago White Stockings and played their home games at the West Side Grounds.
Six years after the team’s formation, it joined the national league boasting star players like Adrian Anson and Albert Spalding, who formed Spalding sporting goods. The team made news shortly after joining the NL due to its knack for winning games.
During its first year in the NL, the team won the National League pennant—which, at the time, was the highest accolade available in the league. It went on to win additional pennants in 1880, 1881, and 1882.
1890 the team underwent a name change and became known as the Chicago Colts. While this was its official name, the group was also commonly called Anson’s Colts of Adrian Anson’s strong influence in the club’s management.
Years later, in 1902, during a period when the team didn’t have any spectacular wins, Anson was released by the club. His absence led media outlets to refer to the team as orphans—which stuck and became the team’s new name.
Chicago Cubs
After Anson exited the club, many new players were signed on, including Joe Tinker, Frank Chance, Jack Taylor, and “Big Ed” (Ed Reulbach). Due to the players’ young age, the media ditched the nickname orphans and began referring to the team as the group of cubs.
By 1905, the simple nickname given to the team had become so ingrained that the club officially changed its name to the Chicago Cubs. However, the name change was insignificant news compared to what occurred a few years later.
Under the new name, the Cubs secured the victory of two World Series titles consecutively in 1907 and 1908. At the time, they were the first Major League club to win the World Series twice.
After this monumental success, the Cubs had few highlights but played well enough to keep their fan base growing. In 1916, they relocated to Wrigley Field—which they have called home ever since.
The Curses of the Cubs
Between 1921 and 1945, the Cubs played well enough to win a pennant at least once every three years. During this period, there were moments when the team’s brilliance shone through. Amongst these was when they won 21 games in a single month (September 1935).
Sports Team History However, the team was unsuccessful in claiming another World Series title, and many doubted if they would achieve such a feat again. But in 1945, the Cubs competed again in game four of the World Series.
One of the team’s biggest fans, William Sianis, attended the game. As the Billy Goat Tavern owner, William brought his pet goat to the game to help cheer on his favorite team.
However, after being asked to take his goat and leave due to it disturbing other fans, Sianis reportedly cursed the Cubs and said they would not win another World Series. Many believe his words—“the Cubs ain’t gonna win no more”—also extended to pennants.
Whether the curse was real or just a placebo that caused the team to lose focus, Sianis’s prediction came true. Losing the 1945 series to the Detroit Tigers, the team suffered continuous losses where they didn’t receive a pennant or title.
In 1969, fans were beside themselves when they thought the now-infamous Billy Goat curse would be broken. During a game against the New York Mets, the Cubs seemed to have an advantage. However, when a black cat strolled across the field, the Cubs lost focus and ultimately lost the match to the Mets.
This incident, named the Black Cat Curse, spurred the next round of losses for the embattled team. While the losses continued coming, many attempts were made by fans to break the curse. However, all these failed, resulting in many fans seeking excitement elsewhere.
Over the next several decades, things got so bad that very few bookmakers accepted wagers on Cubs games because everyone knew the outcome well before the first pitch. As a result, gamblers instead frequented establishments that offered other sports betting and slot games all in one place.
The Cubs Back on Top
By 2016, all hope of the curse breaking was starting to diminish. The year marked the 46th anniversary of William Sianis’s death, and many thought that if the curse had not yet broken, it would likely haunt the team forever.
However, the year marked a historic change for the team. After facing the Los Angeles Dodgers on October 22, the Cubs won their first pennant in 71 years since the initial curse was placed on them.
Riding the high of their win and the assumed breaking of all curses placed on the team, the Cubs went into the 2016 World Series final to face the Cleveland Indians—and finally won the title that had eluded them for so long. No curse could have contained the resulting explosion from fans following the victory.
The winning of the World Series marked the first title held by the team in 108 years—the longest drought for any team in American sporting history. Since the historic win, the Cubs have yet to win a World Series again. However, considering they finished the 2022 season third in the division, their performance has undoubtedly been respectable.
That said, fans are reluctant to forget the horrid “curse years” and hope the Cubs will one day return to their former glory and secure multiple World Series titles again.
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