For over a hundred years, the Chicago Cubs have been beloved by millions. Did you know that prior to their current name, the team was once called the White Stockings? They were in the head of the pack for their first six seasons and then, unfortunately, the dry spell commenced. 1902 is the first year that the Chicago Cubs name became known.- to see what we mean.
Their first decade as the Chicago Cubs was to go down in history. It was the best decade of the team’s performance thus far. In 1907, Chicago Cubs memorabilia began to emerge. The Chicago Cubs became a household name and in 1907 they also won their first world series.
This win was followed in 2018, as the Chicago Cubs won the World Championship.
They visited the World Series in 1910 and 1918. They moved to a new playing field, located on the corner of Clark and Addison, in 1914.
William Wrigley acquired the Chicago Cubs in 1920, and in 1926 the field first bore the Wrigley name. Famed Rogers (the Rajah) Hornsby dominated the playing field during this time and, in 1929, the team got to the World Series once again. Through Prohibition and the Great Depression, the Cubs made it to the playoffs three more times.
In 1932, the Cubs added letters to their jerseys, which brought on a new type of memorabilia, especially since they changed their logo 4 times between 1940 and 1979.
The team took home the National League pennant in 1945, but the team was “cursed” in 1947. The story goes that the owner of the Billy Goat Tavern brought his stinky goat to a game. The goat, named Murphy, had such a strong odor that he was asked to leave. Murphy’s owner was offended and spoke the infamous “curse” that would plague Chicago Cubs fans for years to come.
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Breaking the Curse
For the next twenty years, the Chicago Cubs were at the bottom of the league and didn’t win the World Series again until 2016. That was one angry goat!
When looking for Chicago Cubs memorabilia, you want to remember such legends Ernie Banks (1953-1972), the arrival of rookie Billy Williams (1961), third baseman Ron Santo, and power player Fergie Jenkins.
In 1967 and 1968, the team managed to get back to the postseason but failed to produce a win. Then a new curse took hold. In 1969, a black cat strolled across the field, bringing dire predictions from fans around the country. It would be 1984 before the team made it to the postseason again.
In 1998, Wrigley Field lit up for the first time, for evening games. In 1998, two gifted players made their way to memorabilia stardom. They were Kerry Word and Sammy Sosa. In 2001, the team had made six losing trips to the World Series, but 2001 was all about Sosa and his amazing skill. In 2003, the game was poised to go to the World Series but failed to make it and preprinted World Series materials were dumped in the river! In 2004, they enjoyed another winning season, the first back to back season wins since ’71-’72.
In 2007, the team went to postseason play and repeated the feat in 2008, only 104 years since they made it to the post-season two years in a row. 2008 also marked 100 years since a World Series win. Then the team headed into a downslide, annoying those in merchandising who again pre-printed winning memorabilia.
In 2015, the curse was revoked and the Chicago Cubs made it to the playoffs. In 2016, they won an impressive 103 games! This almost beat their record of 104 games set back in 1910. Look for Jake Arrieta, Kris Bryant, and Anthony Rizzo in 2016 memorabilia.
In 2016, the Cubs headed to the World Series, the first time since 1945, against the Cleveland Indians, who had last made it in 1948. The Chicago Cubs were victorious and won the 2016 World Series!
And so we are left to wait and see what the future brings for this team and the fans who adore them.-
