The Chicago Cubs are one of the 2 remaining charter members of the National League, the other being the Braves. Founded in 1871, the Cubs hold the record for the oldest team still in their original city. The Chicago Cubs were originally owned by William Hubert and were known as the White Stockings. They played their home games at West Side Grounds. The Cubs or White Stockings as they were known then won back to back pennants in 1880 and 1881 but shortly after their owner died. Al Spalding, a former pitcher for the White Stockings assumed ownership and he named Cap Anson as the manager. Anson was a player and manager and the leagues first true superstar. Anson led the White Stockings to 6 National League pennants over the next decade. Anson left the team in 1898 which resulted in the team being referred to as the Chicago Orphans.

In 1990, the American Base Ball League was formed and another Chicago Club took on the name White Stockings. In 1902, Spalding sold the club to Jim Hart and they soon become known as the Chicago Cubs. Over the next decade the Cubs became one of the greatest teams in baseball history. Led by Player/Manager Frank Chance the Cubs won a record 116 games in 1906 before loosing to the White Sox in the World Series. They then won the next two World Series in 1907 and again in 1908. The Cubs were in the World Series again in 1910 but lost to the Philadelphia As. The 1908 World Series title would be the Cubs last Championship making the 100 plus year span the longest Championship draught in North American professional sports.

By 1916, the Cubs were sold again and then moved their home games to the North Side and Weegham field; later to be renamed Wrigley field. They won the National League pennant in 1918 but lost the World Series to the Boston Red Sox and star pitcher Babe Ruth. The Red Sox sold Ruth to the Yankees after the 1918 World Series an began their own legacy of loosing by failing to win a World Series for the next 86 seasons.

By 1925, William Wrigley had bought out most of the Cubs other owners and renamed Weegham field to Wrigley field. The Cubs had lots of success over the next decade and won 4 NL pennants from 1929 until 1938. Unfortunateley for the Cubs, they lost each of those World Series. The Cubs once again won the NL pennant in 1945 but lost the World Series to the Detroit Tigers. It was at game 4 of this Series that the legendary ‘Curse of the Billy Goat’ was placed on the Cubs when owner P.K. Wrigley ejected Billy Sianis, who was at the game, in box seats, with his Billy Goat. Upon his ejection, Mr Sianis uttered, “The Cubs, they aint gonna win no more.” The Cubs lost that game and Series and have not been back to the World Series since.

Over the next 2 decades the Cubs played mostly forgetable baseball. That is until 1969 with manager Leo Durocher and star players like Ernie Banks, Billy Williams, Ron Santo and Ferguson Jenkins, the Cubs had a 8 game lead by mid August. The Mets would evetually explode past the Cubs and win the Pennant by 8 games. In 1977, the Cubs got out the gate hot and were 47-22 by late June. But they finishd 20-40 after July 31st and ended up 4th in the division with a 81-81 record. The Cubs had similar seasons in 1978 and again in 1979.

The Cubs won their division in 1984 and were in the NL Playoffs for the first time in almost 50 years. The Cubs won the first 2 games of the series and needed only 1 more win to advance to the World Series. The Cubs lost the final 3 games to the San Diego Padres and were once again denied their Championship. The Cubs won their division again in 1989 only to loose to the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS 4 games to 1.

The Cubs found a little magic in 1998. They ended the season tied with the San Francisco Giants for the Wild Card entry into the NL Playoffs. They would play a 1 game series to decide the NL Wild Card team. The Cubs broke with tradition and won this one game and entered the NL Playoffs for the first time in a decade. Unfortunately for the Cubs the magic didn’t last long as they were swept by the Atlanta Braves in the first round of the NL Playoffs.

In 2003, the Cubs had once again won their division and faced the Atlanta Braves in the NL Division Series. The Cubs won the series in 5 games for their first post season series win since the 1908 World Series. The Cubs then faced the Florida Marlins in the NL Championship Series with the winner going to the World Series. The Cubs took a commanding 3 games to 1 lead after 4 games. The Cubs lost game 5 in Florida and returned home needing only 1 game in the next 2 to advance to the World Series. The Cubs had 3-0 lead after 7 innings in game 6. They were only 5 outs away from a World Series trip when the damn broke. A fan, Steve Bartman, appeared to interfere with a foul ball that kept outfielder Moises Alou from catching the 2nd out in the 8th innings and the Cubs seemed to unraval. Soon after that an error by Shortstop Alex Gonzalez opened the gates an the Marlins scored 8 runs in the inning to win the game and of course the Marlins won the next game and the Series. Bartman was made the scapegoat of this game and had death threats made against him over the next few months but in reality it was SS Alex Gonzalez error that cost the Cubs the game and series.

The Cubs won their division in 2007 and again in 2008 only to be swept in 3 games in the Division Series each time. The Cubs finished 2nd in the Division in 2009 but were 5th in 2010 and again in 2011. The Cubs are still searching for that elusive World Series title but despite the futility, the Cubs have become one of the most beloved franchises in baseball and American Sports for that matter.