Chicago Cubs Baseball Club, commonly referred to as Chicago Cubs or simply Cubs, is one of the most iconic and successful baseball clubs in the world. Founded in 1876 as Chicago White Stockings, it changed its name to Chicago Cubs in 1903. The club is based in Chicago, Illinois, United States, and plays its home matches at the famous Wrigley Field, which has a seating capacity of over 41,000.
Chicago Cubs has a rich history, boasting 3 World Series titles, 17 National League Pennants, and numerous other domestic trophies. The club enjoyed its most successful era under legendary manager Frank Chance, who led Cubs to two World Series victories between 1905 and 1912.
Known for its strong defensive style of play, the club has nurtured some of baseball’s greatest talents, including Ernie Banks, Ryne Sandberg, Sammy Sosa, and Kris Bryant. Despite recent challenges and inconsistent performances, Chicago Cubs remains one of the world’s most valuable baseball clubs, with a global fan base and a rich tradition that continues to influence American and world baseball.
Chicago Cubs is one of the most popular baseball teams in the world, with one of the highest average home attendances in the National League. The club states that its worldwide fan base includes more than 200 officially recognised branches of the Chicago Cubs Fan Club (CCFC), in at least 24 countries. The club takes advantage of this support through its worldwide summer tours. Accountancy firm and sports industry consultants Deloitte estimate that Chicago Cubs has 75 million fans worldwide. The club has the third highest social media following in the world among sports teams (after the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox), with over 82 million Facebook followers as of July 2023. A 2014 study showed that Chicago Cubs had the loudest fans in the Major League Baseball.
Chicago Cubs was formed in 1870 as the Chicago White Stockings by the owner William Hulbert. The team initially played games against other local clubs, but on 25 July 1870, they competed in their first recorded match; wearing the colours of the city—blue and red—they were defeated 6–0 by Cleveland Forest Citys.
In December 1925, the impending resumption of baseball after the war led to the managerial appointment of Joe McCarthy, who demanded an unprecedented level of control over team selection, player trades, and training sessions. McCarthy led the team to first-place league finishes in 1929, 1932, 1935, and 1938. In 1945, the club won the National League Pennant, its first league title for 21 years.
On 15 May 1981, Wrigley announced that he was to retire as owner at the end of the baseball season, but would remain at the club as a director and club ambassador. He retired as the most decorated owner in baseball history. The club announced the next day that Dallas Green from the Philadelphia Phillies would replace him from 1 July, having signed a five-year contract. Ryne Sandberg took over as interim player-manager 10 months later, on 22 April 1982, when Green was moved to the front office after a poor season in which the club failed to defend their National League title and failed to qualify for the World Series for the first time since 1945.
Originally funded by the Chicago Daily News, the club became an incorporated company in 1890 and sold shares to local supporters. In 1916, majority ownership passed to Charles Weeghman who invested significantly to save the club from potential financial failure. After his tenure, in 1925, the club was bought by William Wrigley Jr., the chewing gum magnate, who assumed control of the club after a substantial investment. Wrigley's son, Philip K. Wrigley, took over the club after his father's death in 1932; the Wrigley family retained ownership of the club until 1981, but the position of chairman passed to various individuals over the years.
In 1981, the club was bought by the Tribune Company, a giant in the American media industry, for an estimated $20.5 million. The Tribune Company managed the club for almost three decades, during which time the Cubs had varied success. In 2009, the club was bought by the Ricketts family, led by Tom Ricketts, a lifelong Cubs fan. The Ricketts paid $845 million for the team and related assets. Since then, the Ricketts family has remained the majority owners of the Chicago Cubs.
In their tenure, the Ricketts family has invested heavily in the team, notably financing the $550 million renovation of Wrigley Field, the home of the Chicago Cubs. Despite occasional controversy, the Ricketts' ownership has been marked by significant success, including the Cubs' long-awaited World Series win in 2016, their first in over a century.
The Chicago Cubs are one of the most successful clubs in Major League Baseball in terms of trophies won. The club's first trophy was the National League Pennant, which they won in 1876. In 1907, the club won their first World Series and won it again the following year. Since then, they have gone on to win a total of 3 World Series titles and 17 National League pennants. Those titles have meant the club has appeared a numerous times in the postseason; of those appearances, Chicago Cubs have won several times.
Domestic
Postseason Appearances
Individual Awards
Chicago Cubs - Wikipedia: Detailed information about the history, achievements, and notable players of the Chicago Cubs. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chicago_Cubs
Chicago Cubs Official Website: The official website of the Chicago Cubs, providing news, roster, schedule, stats, tickets, and team information. https://www.mlb.com/cubs
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