Into the Cubs Archives

Into the Cubs Archives. . , 1869 , The Chicago Base Ball Association, today's Chicago Cubs, is formed in October as the city's first fully professional team. The club plays an independent schedule against professional and amateur opponents in 1870. , , 1871 , The Cubs, then known as the White Stockings, join the National Association (NA), baseball's first professional league. In October, the Great Chicago Fire destroys the team's ballpark and equipment, forcing the club to sit out the next two seasons. Chicago returns to NA play in 1874-75. , , 1876 , The National League is established under a constitution written by Chicago's William Hulbert and Albert Spalding. Spalding, serving as manager and pitcher, leads the club to the inaugural N.L. pennant. , , 1886 , Led by future Hall of Famers King Kelly and John Clarkson, Chicago captures its second straight N.L. pennant and fifth in seven years. , , 1902 , The nickname "Cubs" is used for the first time, reflecting the club's youthful roster. It is officially adopted in 1907., 1916 , The Cubs move from the West Side Grounds into Weeghman Park, former home of the Chicago Federals. The park is renamed Cubs Park in 1919 and Wrigley Field in December 1926. , , 1908 , The Tinker-Evers-Chance Cubs become the first team to win back-to-back World Series titles, defeating Detroit in five games. From 1906-10, Chicago wins a major league-record 530 games, along with two World Series titles and four N.L pennants. , , 1930 , Hack Wilson hits 56 home runs and drives in a major league record 191 RBI in a single season. , , 1945 , Behind N.L. MVP and Chicago native Phil Cavarretta, the Cubs go 98-56 to win the N.L. pennant but fall to Detroit in seven games in the World Series. , , 1953 , Ernie Banks makes his debut, becoming the first African American to play for the Cubs. "Mr. Cub" wins N.L. MVP honors in 1958 and 1959 and spends his entire 19-year MLB career with the team, setting numerous club records. , , 1969 , Billy Williams breaks Stan Musial's N.L. record playing in his 896th consecutive game. Billy's streak ultimately reaches 1,117 games. , , 1971 , Fergie Jenkins, who would win 20 games for six consecutive seasons, becomes the first Cubs pitcher to win the Cy Young Award. In 1982, he became only the seventh pitcher in MLB history with 3000 strikeouts. , , 1984 , The Cubs win the N.L. Eastern Division title with a 96-65 record, reaching the postseason for the first time since 1945. , , 1990 , Ryne Sandberg hits an N.L. leading 40 home runs third-highest total ever by a second baseman at the time and sets an MLB record with 123 consecutive errorless games. , , 1998 , Kerry Wood ties an MLB record with 20 strikeouts in a game and Sammy Sosa hits a club record 66 home runs, the first of an MLB best three seasons with at least 60 home runs. , , 2009 , The Ricketts family purchases the franchise and Wrigley Field from Tribune Company, returning the team to family ownership for the first time since 1981. , , 2016 , The Cubs defeat Cleveland, 8-7 in 10 innings in Game 7, to win the World Series and end a 108 year championship drought. The club wins 103 regular-season games, its highest total since 1910. , , 2026 , The Cubs celebrate their 150th season as a National League franchise, the only charter franchise to play continuously in their original city. Entering the season, 2,277 players have appeared in at least one of the club's 22,417 regular-season games.