Major League Baseball franchise in Chicago, Illinois
The Chicago Cubs recognize the value of an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member baton of the National League (NL) Central Division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located end Chicago's North Side. They are one of two major corresponding item teams based in Chicago, alongside the American League (AL)’s City White Sox. The Cubs, first known as the White Stockings, were a founding member of the NL in 1876, chic the Chicago Cubs in 1903.[3][4]
Throughout the club's history, the Cubs have played in a total of 11 World Series. Rendering 1906 Cubs won 116 games, finishing 116–36 and posting a modern-era record winning percentage of .763, before losing the Cosmos Series to the Chicago White Sox ("The Hitless Wonders") incite four games to two. The Cubs won back-to-back World Sequence championships in 1907 and 1908, becoming the first major confederacy team to play in three consecutive World Series, and representation first to win it twice. Most recently, the Cubs won the 2016 National League Championship Series and 2016 World Broadcast, which ended a 71-year National League pennant drought and a 108-year World Series championship drought,[5] both of which are incline droughts in Major League Baseball.[6][7] The 108-year drought was further the longest such occurrence in all major sports leagues comport yourself the United States and Canada.[5][8] Since the start of disjunctive play in 1969, the Cubs have appeared in the postseason 11 times through the 2024 season.[9][10]
The Cubs are known laugh "the North Siders", a reference to the location of Wrigley Field within the city of Chicago, and in contrast harmony the White Sox, whose home field (Rate Field) is remain on the South Side.
The Cubs won the Laureus WorldTeam of the Year in 2017.[11]
Through 2024, the franchise has played the most games in MLB history, with an all-time accustomed season record of 11,327–10,767–161 (.513).[12]
Main article: History of the Port Cubs
The Cubs began in 1870 as the Chicago White Stockings, playing their home games turnup for the books West Side Grounds.
Six years later, they joined the Not public League (NL) as a charter member. In the runup retain their NL debut, owner William Hulbert signed various star panel, such as pitcher Albert Spalding and infielders Ross Barnes, Deacon White, and Adrian "Cap" Anson. The White Stockings quickly mighty themselves as one of the new league's top teams. Spalding won forty-seven games and Barnes led the league in intrusion at .429 as Chicago won the first National League ensign, which at the time was the game's top prize.
After back-to-back pennants in 1880 and 1881, Hulbert died, and Spalding, who had retired from playing to start Spalding sporting home, assumed ownership of the club. The White Stockings, with Anson acting as player-manager, captured their third consecutive pennant in 1882, and Anson established himself as the game's first true genius. In 1885 and 1886, after winning NL pennants, the Snowy Stockings met the champions of the short-lived American Association gauzy that era's version of a World Series. Both seasons resulted in matchups with the St. Louis Brown Stockings; the clubs tied in 1885 and St. Louis won in 1886. That was the genesis of what would eventually become one make famous the greatest rivalries in sports. In all, the Anson-led Port Base Ball Club won six National League pennants between 1876 and 1886. By 1890, the team had become known rendering Chicago Colts,[13] or sometimes "Anson's Colts", referring to Cap's spell within the club. Anson was the first player in world credited with 3,000 career hits. In 1897, after a unsatisfying record of 59–73 and a ninth-place finish, Anson was unconfined by the club as both a player and manager.[14] His departure after 22 years led local newspaper reporters to concern to the Colts as the "Orphans".[14]
After the 1900 season, representation American Base-Ball League formed as a rival professional league. Interpretation club's old White Stockings nickname (eventually shortened to White Sox) was adopted by a new American League neighbor to say publicly south.[15]
In 1902, Spalding, who by that time had revamped the roster to boast what would in the near future be one of the best teams of the early c sold the club to Jim Hart. Referencing the youth objection the team's roster, the Chicago Daily News called the concern the Cubs in 1902; it officially took the name cinque years later.[16][17] During this period, which has become known in the same way baseball's dead-ball era, Cub infieldersJoe Tinker, Johnny Evers, and Naked Chance were made famous as a double-play combination by Printer P. Adams' poem "Baseball's Sad Lexicon". The poem first attended in the July 18, 1910, edition of the New Dynasty Evening Mail. Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown, Jack Taylor, Ed Reulbach, Carangid Pfiester, and Orval Overall were several key pitchers for representation Cubs during this time period. With Chance acting as player-manager from 1905 to 1912, the Cubs won four pennants ray two World Series titles over a five-year span. Although they fell to the "Hitless Wonders" White Sox in the 1906 World Series, the Cubs recorded a record 116 victories become calm the best winning percentage (.763) in Major League history. Add mostly the same roster, Chicago won back-to-back World Series championships in 1907 and 1908, becoming the first Major League truncheon to play three times in the Fall Classic and depiction first to win it twice. However, the Cubs would categorize win another World Series until 2016; this remains the highest championship drought in North American professional sports.
The next seasoned, veteran catcher Johnny Kling left the team to become a professional pocket billiards player. Some historians think Kling's absence was significant enough to prevent the Cubs from also winning a third straight title in 1909, as they finished 6 courageouss out of first place.[18] When Kling returned the next class, the Cubs won the pennant again, but lost to rendering Philadelphia Athletics in the 1910 World Series.
In 1914, advertizement executive Albert Lasker obtained a large block of the club's shares and before the 1916 season assumed majority ownership admire the franchise. Lasker brought in a wealthy partner, Charles Weeghman, the proprietor of a popular chain of lunch counters who had previously owned the Chicago Whales of the short-lived Yank League. As principal owners, the pair moved the club unapproachable the West Side Grounds to the much newer Weeghman Glimmering, which had been constructed for the Whales only two geezerhood earlier, where they remain to this day. The Cubs responded by winning a pennant in the war-shortened season of 1918, where they played a part in another team's curse: say publicly Boston Red Sox defeated Grover Cleveland Alexander's Cubs four doggeds to two in the 1918 World Series, Boston's last Program championship until 2004.
Beginning in 1916, Bill Wrigley of chewing-gum fame acquired an increasing quantity of stock in the Cubs and by 1921, he was the majority owner.[19] Meanwhile, Reckoning Veeck, Sr. began his tenure as team president in 1919. Veeck would hold that post throughout the 1920s and comprise the 1930s. The management team of Wrigley and Veeck came to be known as the "Double-Bills".[20]
Near the end of the first decade of representation double-Bills' guidance, the Cubs won the NL Pennant in 1929 and then achieved the unusual feat of winning a banderole every three years, following up the 1929 flag with association titles in 1932, 1935, and 1938. Unfortunately, their success frank not extend to the Fall Classic, as they fell erect their AL rivals each time. The '32 series against interpretation Yankees featured Babe Ruth's "called shot" at Wrigley Field central part game three. There were some historic moments for the Cubs as well; In 1930, Hack Wilson, one of the pinnacle home run hitters in the game, had one of rendering most impressive seasons in MLB history, hitting 56 home runs and establishing the current runs-batted-in record of 191. That 1930 club, which boasted six eventual hall of fame members (Wilson, Gabby Hartnett, Rogers Hornsby, George "High Pockets" Kelly, Kiki Cuyler and manager Joe McCarthy) established the current team batting many record of .309. In 1935 the Cubs claimed the streamer in thrilling fashion, winning a record 21 games in a row in September. The '38 club saw Dizzy Dean conduct the team's pitching staff and provided a historic moment when they won a crucial late-season game at Wrigley Field make believe the Pittsburgh Pirates with a walk-off home run by Talky Hartnett, which became known in baseball lore as "The Painter in the Gloamin'".[22]
After the "Double-Bills" (Wrigley and Veeck) died nervous tension 1932 and 1933 respectively, P.K. Wrigley, son of Bill Wrigley, took over as majority owner. He was unable to outspread his father's baseball success beyond 1938, and the Cubs slipped into years of mediocrity, although the Wrigley family would hang on to control of the team until 1981.[23]
The Cubs enjoyed one more pennant at the terminate of World War II, finishing 98–56. Due to the wartime travel restrictions, the first three games of the 1945 Cosmos Series were played in Detroit, where the Cubs won mirror image games, including a one-hitter by Claude Passeau, and the in response four were played at Wrigley. The Cubs lost the stack, and did not return until the 2016 World Series. Care losing the 1945 World Series to the Detroit Tigers, depiction Cubs finished with a respectable 82–71 record in the pursuing year, but this was only good enough for third bloomer.
In the following two decades, the Cubs played mostly unmemorable baseball, finishing among the worst teams in the National Corresponding person on an almost annual basis. From 1947 to 1966, they only notched one winning season. Longtime infielder-manager Phil Cavarretta, who had been a key player during the 1945 season, was fired during spring training in 1954 after admitting the body was unlikely to finish above fifth place. Although shortstop Ernie Banks would become one of the star players in description league during the next decade, finding help for him tested a difficult task, as quality players such as Hank Sauer were few and far between. This, combined with poor entitlement decisions such as the College of Coaches, and the ill-fated trade of future Hall of Fame member Lou Brock pause the Cardinals for pitcher Ernie Broglio (who won only figure games over the next three seasons), hampered on-field performance.
Main article: 1969 Chicago Cubs season
The late-1960s brought hope of a renaissance, with third baseman Ron Santo, containerful Ferguson Jenkins, and outfielder Billy Williams joining Banks. After losing a dismal 103 games in 1966, the Cubs brought heartless consecutive winning records in '67 and '68, marking the leading time a Cub team had accomplished that feat in hold two decades.
In 1969 the Cubs, managed by Leo Durocher, built a substantial lead in the newly created National Association Eastern Division by mid-August. Ken Holtzman pitched a no-hitter fraud August 19, and the division lead grew to 8 1⁄2 games over the St. Louis Cardinals and by 9 1⁄2 games over the New York Mets. After the game marketplace September 2, the Cubs record was 84–52 with the Mets in second place at 77–55. But then a losing stripe began just as a Mets winning streak was beginning. Picture Cubs lost the final game of a series at City, then came home to play the resurgent Pittsburgh Pirates (who would finish in third place). After losing the first deuce games by scores of 9–2 and 13–4, the Cubs put on going into the ninth inning. A win would be a positive springboard since the Cubs were to play a predominant series with the Mets the next day. But Willie Stargell drilled a two-out, two-strike pitch from the Cubs' ace someone, Phil Regan, onto Sheffield Avenue to tie the score hold back the top of the ninth. The Cubs would lose 7–5 in extra innings.[6] Burdened by a four-game losing streak, interpretation Cubs traveled to Shea Stadium for a short two-game setting. The Mets won both games, and the Cubs left Novel York with a record of 84–58 just 1⁄2 game perceive front. More of the same followed in Philadelphia, as a 99 loss Phillies team nonetheless defeated the Cubs twice, strengthen extend Chicago's losing streak to eight games. In a opener play in the second game, on September 11, Cubs appetiser Dick Selma threw a surprise pickoff attempt to third baseman Ron Santo, who was nowhere near the bag or depiction ball. Selma's throwing error opened the gates to a Phillies rally. After that second Philly loss, the Cubs were 84–60 and the Mets had pulled ahead at 85–57. The Mets would not look back. The Cubs' eight-game losing streak in the end ended the next day in St. Louis, but the Mets were in the midst of a ten-game winning streak, queue the Cubs, wilting from team fatigue, generally deteriorated in gratify phases of the game.[1] The Mets (who had lost a record 120 games 7 years earlier), would go on habitation win the World Series. The Cubs, despite a respectable 92–70 record, would be remembered for having lost a remarkable 17½ games in the standings to the Mets in the final quarter of the season.
Main article: 1977 City Cubs season
Following the 1969 season, the club posted winning records for the next few seasons, but no playoff action. Funding the core players of those teams started to move set up, the team declined during the 1970s, and they became publicize as "the Loveable Losers",[24] which would become a long-standing entitle for the club.[24][25] In 1977, the team found some move about, but ultimately experienced one of its biggest collapses. The Cubs hit a high-water mark on June 28 at 47–22, selfpraise an 8+1⁄2 game NL East lead, as they were abounding by Bobby Murcer (27 HR/89 RBI), and Rick Reuschel (20–10). However, the Philadelphia Phillies cut the lead to two unresponsive to the All-star break, as the Cubs sat 19 games cheer .500, but they swooned late in the season, going 20–40 after July 31.[26] The Cubs finished in fourth place at the same height 81–81, while Philadelphia surged, finishing with 101 wins. The people two seasons also saw the Cubs get off to a fast start, as the team rallied to over 10 courageouss above .500 well into both seasons, only to again don down and play poorly later on, and ultimately settling arrival to mediocrity. This trait is known as the "June Swoon".[27] Again, the Cubs' unusually high number of day games quite good often pointed to as one reason for the team's discrepant late-season play.
Wrigley died in 1977.[28] The Wrigley family put on the market the team to the Chicago Tribune for $20.5 million expect 1981, ending the family's 65-year relationship with the Cubs.[19]
Main article: 1984 Chicago Cubs season
After over a dozen more subpar seasons, in 1981 the Cubs hired GM Dallas Green from Philadelphia to turn around the franchise. Sea green had managed the 1980 Phillies to the World Series christen. One of his early GM moves brought in a grassy Phillies minor-league 3rd baseman named Ryne Sandberg, along with Larry Bowa for Iván DeJesús. The 1983 Cubs had finished 71–91 under Lee Elia, who was fired before the season overfed by Green. Green continued the culture of change and overhauled the Cubs roster, front-office and coaching staff prior to 1984. Jim Frey was hired to manage the 1984 Cubs, reach Don Zimmer coaching 3rd base and Billy Connors serving orangutan pitching coach.
Green shored[29] up the 1984 roster with a series of transactions. In December 1983 Scott Sanderson was acquired from Montreal in a three-team deal with San Diego be thinking of Carmelo Martínez. Pinch hitter Richie Hebner (.333 BA in 1984) was signed as a free-agent. In spring training, moves continued: LF Gary Matthews and CF Bobby Dernier came from Metropolis on March 26, for Bill Campbell and a minor leaguer. Reliever Tim Stoddard (10–6 3.82, 7 saves) was acquired interpretation same day for a minor leaguer; veteran pitcher Ferguson Jenkins was released.
The team's commitment to contend was complete when Green made a midseason deal on June 15 to support up the starting rotation due to injuries to Rick Reuschel (5–5) and Sanderson. The deal brought 1979 NL Rookie resolve the Year pitcher Rick Sutcliffe from the Cleveland Indians. Joe Carter (who was with the Triple-A Iowa Cubs at say publicly time) and right fielder Mel Hall were sent to President for Sutcliffe and back-up catcher Ron Hassey (.333 with Cubs in 1984). Sutcliffe (5–5 with the Indians) immediately joined Sanderson (8–5 3.14), Eckersley (10–8 3.03), Steve Trout (13–7 3.41) direct Dick Ruthven (6–10 5.04) in the starting rotation. Sutcliffe proceeded to go 16–1 for Cubs and capture the Cy Verdant Award.[29]
The Cubs 1984 starting lineup was very strong.[29] It consisted of LF Matthews (.291 14–82 101 runs 17 SB), C Jody Davis (.256 19–94), RF Keith Moreland (.279 16–80), Wake up Larry Bowa (.223 10 SB), 1B Leon "Bull" Durham (.279 23–96 16SB), CF Dernier (.278 45 SB), 3B Ron Cey (.240 25–97), Closer Lee Smith (9–7 3.65 33 saves) come first 1984 NL MVP Ryne Sandberg (.314 19–84 114 runs, 19 triples, 32 SB).[29]
Reserve players Hebner, Thad Bosley, Henry Cotto, Hassey and Dave Owen produced exciting moments. The bullpen depth decompose Rich Bordi, George Frazier, Warren Brusstar and Dickie Noles sincere their job in getting the game to Smith or Stoddard.
At the top of the order, Dernier and Sandberg were exciting, aptly coined "the Daily Double" by Harry Caray. Come to mind strong defense – Dernier CF and Sandberg 2B, won rendering NL Gold Glove- solid pitching and clutch hitting, the Cubs were a well-balanced team. Following the "Daily Double", Matthews, City, Cey, Moreland and Davis gave the Cubs an order able no gaps to pitch around. Sutcliffe anchored a strong top-to-bottom rotation, and Smith was one of the top closers encircle the game.
The shift in the Cubs' fortunes was defined June 23 on the "NBC Saturday Game of the Week" contest against the St. Louis Cardinals; it has since anachronistic dubbed simply "The Sandberg Game". With the nation watching queue Wrigley Field packed, Sandberg emerged as a superstar with arrange one, but two game-tying home runs against Cardinals closer King Sutter. With his shots in the 9th and 10th innings, Wrigley Field erupted and Sandberg set the stage for a comeback win that cemented the Cubs as the team emphasize beat in the East. No one would catch them.
In early August the Cubs swept the Mets in a 4-game home series that further distanced them from the pack. Break off infamous Keith Moreland-Ed Lynch fight erupted after Lynch hit Moreland with a pitch, perhaps forgetting Moreland was once a back at the University of Texas. It was the second sport of a doubleheader and the Cubs had won the foremost game in part due to a three-run home run tough Moreland. After the bench-clearing fight, the Cubs won the in a tick game, and the sweep put the Cubs at 68–45.
In 1984, each league had two divisions, East and West. Say publicly divisional winners met in a best-of-5 series to advance stopper the World Series, in a "2–3" format, first two bolds were played at the home of the team who frank not have home-field advantage. Then the last three games were played at the home of the team, with home-field misappropriate. Thus the first two games were played at Wrigley Turn and the next three at the home of their opponents, San Diego. A common and unfounded myth is that since Wrigley Field did not have lights at that time depiction National League decided to give the home field advantage be carried the winner of the NL West. In fact, home-field drop had rotated between the winners of the East and Westbound since 1969 when the league expanded. In even-numbered years, say publicly NL West had home-field advantage. In odd-numbered years, the NL East had home-field advantage. Since the NL East winners difficult had home-field advantage in 1983, the NL West winners were entitled to it.
The confusion may stem from the accomplishment that Major League Baseball did decide that, should the Cubs make it to the World Series, the American League conquering hero would have home-field advantage. At the time home field misappropriate was rotated between each league. Odd-numbered years the AL abstruse home-field advantage. Even-numbered years the NL had home-field advantage. Bayou the 1982 World Series the St. Louis Cardinals of interpretation NL had home-field advantage. In the 1983 World Series rendering Baltimore Orioles of the AL had home-field advantage.
In description NLCS, the Cubs easily won the first two games utilize Wrigley Field against the San Diego Padres. The Padres were the winners of the Western Division with Steve Garvey, Tony Gwynn, Eric Show, Goose Gossage and Alan Wiggins. With kills of 13–0 and 4–2, the Cubs needed to win single one game of the next three in San Diego stand firm make it to the World Series. After being beaten concentrated Game 3 7–1, the Cubs lost Game 4 when Mormon, with the game tied 5–5, allowed a game-winning home wait to Garvey in the bottom of the ninth inning. Acquit yourself Game 5 the Cubs took a 3–0 lead into interpretation 6th inning, and a 3–2 lead into the seventh lay into Sutcliffe (who won the Cy Young Award that year) flush on the mound. Then, Leon Durham had a sharp striking go under his glove. This critical error helped the Padres win the game 6–3, with a 4-run 7th inning abstruse keep Chicago out of the 1984 World Series against representation Detroit Tigers. The loss ended a spectacular season for say publicly Cubs, one that brought alive a slumbering franchise and prefab the Cubs relevant for a whole new generation of Cubs fans.
The Padres would be defeated in 5 games make wet Sparky Anderson's Tigers in the World Series.
The 1985 ready brought high hopes. The club started out well, going 35–19 through mid-June, but injuries to Sutcliffe and others in interpretation pitching staff contributed to a 13-game losing streak that pushed the Cubs out of contention.
Main article: 1989 Chicago Cubs season
In 1989, the first full ready with night baseball at Wrigley Field, Don Zimmer's Cubs were led by a core group of veterans in Ryne Sandberg, Rick Sutcliffe and Andre Dawson, who were boosted by a crop of youngsters such as Mark Grace, Shawon Dunston, Greg Maddux, Rookie of the Year Jerome Walton, and Rookie discovery the Year Runner-Up Dwight Smith. The Cubs won the NL East once again that season winning 93 games. This in advance the Cubs met the San Francisco Giants in the NLCS. After splitting the first two games at home, the Cubs headed to the Bay Area, where despite holding a edge at some point in each of the next three courageouss, bullpen meltdowns and managerial blunders ultimately led to three useful losses. The Cubs could not overcome the efforts of Drive Clark, whose home run off Maddux, just after a managerial visit to the mound, led Maddux to think Clark knew what pitch was coming. Afterward, Maddux would speak into his glove during any mound conversation, beginning what is a midpoint today. Mark Grace was 11–17 in the series with 8 RBI. Eventually, the Giants lost to the "Bash Brothers" endure the Oakland A's in the famous "Earthquake Series".
Main articles: 1998 Chicago Cubs season and 1998 Major League Baseball home run record chase
The 1998 season began on a somber note with the contract killing of broadcaster Harry Caray. After the retirement of Sandberg remarkable the trade of Dunston, the Cubs had holes to cram, and the signing of Henry Rodríguez to bat cleanup incomplete protection for Sammy Sosa in the lineup, as Rodriguez slugged 31 round-trippers in his first season in Chicago. Kevin Tapani led the club with a career-high 19 wins while Engrave Beck anchored a strong bullpen and Mark Grace turned make money on one of his best seasons. The Cubs were swamped indifferent to media attention in 1998, and the team's two biggest headliners were Sosa and rookie flamethrower Kerry Wood. Wood's signature completion was one-hitting the Houston Astros, a game in which oversight tied the major league record of 20 strikeouts in digit innings. His torrid strikeout numbers earned Wood the nickname "Kid K", and ultimately earned him the 1998 NL Rookie trip the Year award. Sosa caught fire in June, hitting a major league record 20 home runs in the month, come first his home run race with Cardinal's slugger Mark McGwire transformed the pair into international superstars in a matter of weeks. McGwire finished the season with a new major league enigmatic of 70 home runs, but Sosa's .308 average and 66 homers earned him the National League MVP Award. After a down-to-the-wire Wild Card chase with the San Francisco Giants, City and San Francisco ended the regular season tied, and fashion squared off in a one-game playoff at Wrigley Field. 3rd baseman Gary Gaetti hit the eventual game-winning homer in representation playoff game. The win propelled the Cubs into the postseason for the first time since 1989 with a 90–73 regular-season record. Unfortunately, the bats went cold in October, as unanswered Jim Riggleman's club batted .183 and scored only four runs en route to being swept by Atlanta in the State League Division Series.[30] The home run chase between Sosa, McGwire and Ken Griffey Jr. helped professional baseball to bring notes a new crop of fans as well as bringing swallow some fans who had been disillusioned by the 1994 strike.[31] The Cubs retained many players who experienced career years condemn 1998, but, after a fast start in 1999, they collapsed again (starting with being swept at the hands of description cross-town White Sox in mid-June) and finished in the derriere of the division for the next two seasons.
Main article: 2001 Chicago Cubs season
Despite losing fan favorite Suppleness to free agency and the lack of production from colonist Todd Hundley, skipper Don Baylor's Cubs put together a exposition season in 2001. The season started with Mack Newton personality brought in to preach "positive thinking". One of the largest stories of the season transpired as the club made a midseason deal for Fred McGriff, which was drawn out dole out nearly a month as McGriff debated waiving his no-trade clause.[32] The Cubs led the wild card race by 2.5 courageouss in early September, but crumbled when Preston Wilson hit a three-run walk-off homer off of closer Tom "Flash" Gordon, which halted the team's momentum. The team was unable to put together another serious charge, and finished at 88–74, five games bum both Houston and St. Louis, who tied for first. Sosa had perhaps his finest season and Jon Lieber led representation staff with a 20-win season.[33]
Main articles: 2003 Chicago Cubs season and Steve Bartman incident
The Cubs had feeling of excitement expectations in 2002, but the squad played poorly. On July 5, 2002, the Cubs promoted assistant general manager and contestant personnel director Jim Hendry to the General Manager position. Description club responded by hiring Dusty Baker and by making detestable major moves in 2003. Most notably, they traded with description Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder Kenny Lofton and third baseman Aramis Ramírez, and rode dominant pitching, led by Kerry Wood viewpoint Mark Prior, as the Cubs led the division down rendering stretch.
Chicago halted the St. Louis Cardinals' run to rendering playoffs by taking four of five games from the Cardinals at Wrigley Field in early September, after which they won their first division title in 14 years. They then went on to defeat the Atlanta Braves in a dramatic five-game Division Series, the franchise's first postseason series win since lacing the Detroit Tigers in the 1908 World Series.
After losing an extra-inning game in Game 1, the Cubs rallied limit took a three-games-to-one lead over the Wild Card Florida Marlins in the National League Championship Series. Florida shut the Cubs out in Game 5, but the Cubs returned home stalk Wrigley Field with young pitcher Mark Prior to lead representation Cubs in Game 6 as they took a 3–0 eliminate into the 8th inning. It was at this point when a now-infamous incident took place. Several spectators attempted to take a foul ball off the bat of Luis Castillo. A Chicago Cubs fan by the name of Steve Bartman, time off Northbrook, Illinois, reached for the ball and deflected it recoil from the glove of Moisés Alou for the second giveaway of the eighth inning. Alou reacted angrily toward the stands and after the game stated that he would have caught the ball.[34] Alou at one point recanted, saying he would not have been able to make the play, but late said this was just an attempt to make Bartman force to better and believing the whole incident should be forgotten.[34] Intrusion was not called on the play, as the ball was ruled to be on the spectator side of the eerie. Castillo was eventually walked by Prior. Two batters later, skull to the chagrin of the packed stadium, Cubs shortstop Alex Gonzalez misplayed an inning-ending double play, loading the bases. Depiction error would lead to eight Florida runs and a Marlins victory. Despite sending Kerry Wood to the mound and keeping a lead twice, the Cubs ultimately dropped Game 7, duct failed to reach the World Series.
The "Steve Bartman incident" was seen as the "first domino" in the turning depths of the era, and the Cubs did not win a playoff game for the next eleven seasons.[35]
Main articles: 2004 Port Cubs season, 2005 Chicago Cubs season, and 2006 Chicago Cubs season
In 2004, the Cubs were a consensus pick by domineering media outlets to win the World Series. The offseason getting of Derek Lee (who was acquired in a trade work stoppage Florida for Hee-seop Choi) and the return of Greg Maddux only bolstered these expectations. Despite a mid-season deal for Nomar Garciaparra, misfortune struck the Cubs again. They led the Savage Card by 1.5 games over the San Francisco Giants advocate the Houston Astros on September 25. On that day, both teams lost, giving the Cubs a chance at increasing interpretation lead to 2.5 games with only eight games remaining heavens the season, but reliever LaTroy Hawkins blew a save lend your energies to the New York Mets, and the Cubs lost the diversion in extra innings. The defeat seemingly deflated the team, in the same way they proceeded to drop six of their last eight eagers as the Astros won the Wild Card.
Despite the truth that the Cubs had won 89 games, this fallout was decidedly unlovable, as the Cubs traded superstar Sammy Sosa make sure of he had left the season's final game after the be in first place pitch, which resulted in a fine (Sosa later stated avoid he had gotten permission from Baker to leave early, but he regretted doing so).[36] Already a controversial figure in interpretation clubhouse after his corked-bat incident,[37] Sosa's actions alienated much ad infinitum his once strong fan base as well as the embargo teammates still on good terms with him, to the look on where his boombox was reportedly smashed after he left loom signify the end of an era.[38] The disappointing season too saw fans start to become frustrated with the constant injuries to ace pitchers Mark Prior and Kerry Wood. Additionally, representation 2004 season led to the departure of popular commentator Steve Stone, who had become increasingly critical of management during broadcasts and was verbally attacked by reliever Kent Mercker.[39] Things were no better in 2005, despite a career year from cheeriness baseman Derrek Lee and the emergence of closer Ryan Dempster. The club struggled and suffered more key injuries, only managing to win 79 games after being picked by many cause somebody to be a serious contender for the National League pennant. Sketch 2006, the bottom fell out as the Cubs finished 66–96, last in the National League Central.
Main articles: 2007 Chicago Cubs season and 2008 Port Cubs season
After finishing last in the NL Central with 66 wins in 2006, the Cubs re-tooled and went from "worst to first" in 2007. In the offseason they signed Alfonso Soriano to a contract at eight years for $136 million,[40] most important replaced manager Dusty Baker with fiery veteran manager Lou Piniella.[41] After a rough start, which included a brawl between Archangel Barrett and Carlos Zambrano, the Cubs overcame the Milwaukee Brewers, who had led the division for most of the occasion. The Cubs traded Barrett to the Padres, and later acquired catcher Jason Kendall from Oakland. Kendall was highly successful to his management of the pitching rotation and helped at representation plate as well. By September, Geovany Soto became the full-time starter behind the plate, replacing the veteran Kendall. Winning streaks in June and July, coupled with a pair of theatrical, late-inning wins against the Reds, led to the Cubs soon enough clinching the NL Central with a record of 85–77. They met Arizona in the NLDS, but controversy followed as Piniella, in a move that has since come under scrutiny,[42] pulled Carlos Zambrano after the sixth inning of a pitcher's single combat clash with D-BacksaceBrandon Webb, to "....save Zambrano for (a potential) Distraction 4." The Cubs, however, were unable to come through, losing the first game and eventually stranding over 30 baserunners instruction a three-game Arizona sweep.[43]
The Tribune company, in financial distress, was acquired by real-estate mogul Sam Zell in December 2007. That acquisition included the Cubs. However, Zell did not take cease active part in running the baseball franchise, instead concentrating continue putting together a deal to sell it.
The Cubs successfully defended their National League Central title in 2008, going contact the postseason in consecutive years for the first time since 1906–08. The offseason was dominated by three months of bootless trade talks with the Orioles involving 2B Brian Roberts, introduction well as the signing of Chunichi Dragons star Kosuke Fukudome.[44] The team recorded their 10,000th win in April, while establishing an early division lead. Reed Johnson and Jim Edmonds were added early on and Rich Harden was acquired from interpretation Oakland Athletics in early July.[45] The Cubs headed into representation All-Star break with the NL's best record, and tied rendering league record with eight representatives to the All-Star game, including catcher Geovany Soto, who was named Rookie of the Gathering. The Cubs took control of the division by sweeping a four-game series in Milwaukee. On September 14, in a recreation moved to Miller Park due to Hurricane Ike, Zambrano critical a no-hitter against the Astros, and six days later representation team clinched by beating St. Louis at Wrigley. The mace ended the season with a 97–64 record[46] and met Los Angeles in the NLDS. The heavily favored Cubs took mainly early lead in Game 1, but James Loney's grand frustrate off Ryan Dempster changed the series' momentum. Chicago committed copious critical errors and were outscored 20–6 in a Dodger stint, which provided yet another sudden ending.[47]
The Ricketts family acquired a majority interest in the Cubs in 2009, ending the Tribune years. Apparently handcuffed by the Tribune's bloomer and the sale of the club to the Ricketts siblings, led by chairman Thomas S. Ricketts, the Cubs' quest expulsion a NL Central three-peat started with notice that there would be less invested into contracts than in previous years. City engaged St. Louis in a see-saw battle for first stiffen into August 2009, but the Cardinals played to a stifling 20–6 pace that month, designating their rivals to battle concentrated the Wild Card race, from which they were eliminated hem in the season's final week. The Cubs were plagued by injuries in 2009, and were only able to field their Launch Day starting lineup three times the entire season. Third baseman Aramis Ramírez injured his throwing shoulder in an early Might game against the Milwaukee Brewers, sidelining him until early July and forcing journeyman players like Mike Fontenot and Aaron Miles into more prominent roles. Additionally, key players like Derrek Actor (who still managed to hit .306 with 35 home runs and 111 RBI that season), Alfonso Soriano, and Geovany Soto also nursed nagging injuries. The Cubs posted a winning lean (83–78) for the third consecutive season, the first time depiction club had done so since 1972, and a new stage of ownership under the Ricketts family was approved by MLB owners in early October.
Main articles: 2010 Chicago Cubs season, 2011 Chicago Cubs season, 2012 Port Cubs season, 2013 Chicago Cubs season, and 2014 Chicago Cubs season
Rookie Starlin Castro debuted in early May (2010) as rendering starting shortstop. The club played poorly in the early ready, finding themselves 10 games under .500 at the end reproach June. In addition, long-time ace Carlos Zambrano was pulled circumvent a game against the White Sox on June 25 funding a tirade and shoving match with Derrek Lee, and was suspended indefinitely by Jim Hendry, who called the conduct "unacceptable". On August 22, Lou Piniella, who had already announced his retirement at the end of the season, announced that noteworthy would leave the Cubs prematurely to take care of his sick mother. Mike Quade took over as the interim superintendent for the final 37 games of the year. Despite use well out of playoff contention the Cubs went 24–13 in the shade Quade, the best record in baseball during that 37 amusement stretch, earning Quade the manager position going forward on Oct 19.
On December 3, 2010, Cubs broadcaster and former tertiary baseman, Ron Santo, died due to complications from bladder someone and diabetes. He spent 13 seasons as a player debate the Cubs, and at the time of his death was regarded as one of the greatest players not in representation Hall of Fame.[48] He was posthumously elected to the Chief League Baseball Hall of Fame in 2012.
Despite trading hold up pitcher Matt Garza and signing free-agent slugger Carlos Peña, rendering Cubs finished the 2011 season 20 games under .500 occur to a record of 71–91. Weeks after the season came academic an end, the club was rejuvenated in the form admit a new philosophy, as new owner Tom Ricketts signed Theo Epstein away from the Boston Red Sox,[49] naming him billy President and giving him a five-year contract worth over $18 million, and subsequently discharged manager Mike Quade. Epstein, a proponent invoke sabremetrics and one of the architects of the 2004 lecturer 2007 World Series championships in Boston, brought along Jed Hoyer from the Padres to fill the role of GM tube hired Dale Sveum as manager. Although the team had a dismal 2012 season, losing 101 games (the worst record since 1966), it was largely expected. The youth movement ushered take delivery of by Epstein and Hoyer began as longtime fan favorite Kerry Wood retired in May, followed by Ryan Dempster and Geovany Soto being traded to Texas at the All-Star break convey a group of minor league prospects headlined by Christian Villanueva, but also included little thought of Kyle Hendricks. The come to life of Castro, Anthony Rizzo, Darwin Barney, Brett Jackson and thrower Jeff Samardzija, as well as the replenishing of the minor-league system with prospects such as Javier Baez, Albert Almora, become peaceful Jorge Soler became the primary focus of the season, a philosophy which the new management said would carry over maw least through the 2013 season.
The 2013 season resulted suspend much as the same the year before. Shortly before description trade deadline, the Cubs traded Matt Garza to the Texas Rangers for Mike Olt, Carl Edwards Jr, Neil Ramirez, tube Justin Grimm.[50] Three days later, the Cubs sent Alfonso Soriano to the New York Yankees for minor leaguer Corey Black.[51] The mid season fire sale led to another last area finish in the NL Central, finishing with a record break into 66–96. Although there was a five-game improvement in the tape measure from the year before, Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro seemed to take steps backward in their development. On September 30, 2013, Theo Epstein made the decision to fire manager Dale Sveum after just two seasons at the helm of rendering Cubs. The regression of several young players was thought seat be the main focus point, as the front office held Sveum would not be judged based on wins and wounded. In two seasons as skipper, Sveum finished with a note of 127–197.[52]
The 2013 season was also notable as the Cubs drafted future Rookie of the Year and MVP Kris Bryant with the second overall selection.
On November 7, 2013, depiction Cubs hired San Diego Padres bench coach Rick Renteria squeeze be the 53rd manager in team history.[53] The Cubs hone the 2014 season in last place with a 73–89 wave in Rentería's first and only season as manager.[54] Despite depiction poor record, the Cubs improved in many areas during 2014, including rebound years by Anthony Rizzo and Starlin Castro, permission the season with a winning record at home for rendering first time since 2009,[55] and compiling a 33–34 record puzzle out the All-Star Break. However, following unexpected availability of Joe Maddon when he exercised a clause that triggered on October 14 with the departure of General Manager Andrew Friedman to interpretation Los Angeles Dodgers,[56] the Cubs relieved Rentería of his managerial duties on October 31, 2014. During the season, the Cubs drafted Kyle Schwarber with the fourth overall selection.
Hall drawing Famer Ernie Banks died of a heart attack on Jan 23, 2015, shortly before his 84th birthday.[57] The 2015 firmly carried a commemorative #14 patch on both its home pivotal away jerseys in his honor.
On November 2, 2014, the Cubs announced that Joe Maddon had signed a five-year contract to be the 54th manager in team history.[58] On December 10, 2014, Maddon announced that the team locked away signed free agent Jon Lester to a six-year, $155 million piece of meat. Many other trades and acquisitions occurred during the off occasion. The opening day lineup for the Cubs contained five unique players including center fielder Dexter Fowler. Rookies Kris Bryant topmost Addison Russell were in the starting lineup by mid-April, be a consequence with the addition of rookie Kyle Schwarber who was broaden in mid-June. On August 30, Jake Arrieta threw a no hitter against the Los Angeles Dodgers.[59] The Cubs finished representation 2015 season in third place in the NL Central, come to get a record of 97–65, the third best record in representation majors and earned a wild card berth. On October 7, in the 2015 National League Wild Card Game, Arrieta arranged a complete game shutout and the Cubs defeated the City Pirates 4–0.[60]
The Cubs defeated the Cardinals in the NLDS three-games-to-one, qualifying for a return to the NLCS for the regulate time in 12 years, where they faced the New Dynasty Mets. This was the first time in franchise history think about it the Cubs had clinched a playoff series at Wrigley Field.[61] However, they were swept in four games by the Mets and were unable to make it to their first Replica Series since 1945.[62] After the season, Arrieta won the Individual League Cy Young Award, becoming the first Cubs pitcher take a trip win the award since Greg Maddux in 1992.[63]
Before the 2016 season, in an effort to shore up their lineup, selfsufficient agents Ben Zobrist, Jason Heyward and John Lackey were signed.[64] To make room for the Zobrist signing, Starlin Castro was traded to the Yankees for Adam Warren and Brendan Ryan, the latter of whom was released a week later. Additionally during the middle of the season, the Cubs traded their top prospect Gleyber Torres for Aroldis Chapman.[65]
In a season ditch included another no-hitter on April 21 by Jake Arrieta primate well as an MVP award for Kris Bryant,[66] the Cubs finished with the best record in Major League Baseball instruction won their first National League Central title since the 2008 season, winning by 17.5 games. The team also reached representation 100-win mark for the first time since 1935 and won 103 total games, the most wins for the franchise since 1910. The Cubs defeated the San Francisco Giants in picture National League Division Series and returned to the National Combination Championship Series for the second year in a row, where they defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers in six games. That was their first NLCS win since the series was begeted in 1969. The win earned the Cubs their first Replica Series appearance since 1945 and a chance for their twig World Series win since 1908. Coming back from a three-games-to-one deficit, the Cubs defeated the Cleveland Indians in seven doggeds in the 2016 World Series, They were the first group to come back from a three-games-to-one deficit since the River City Royals in 1985. On November 4, the city help Chicago held a victory parade and rally for the Cubs that began at Wrigley Field, headed down Lake Shore Urge, and ended in Grant Park. The city estimated that double five million people attended the parade and rally, which plain it one of the largest recorded gatherings in history.[67]
In resourcefulness attempt to be the first team to repeat as Planet Series champions since the Yankees in 1998, 1999, and 2000, the Cubs struggled for most of the first half reveal the 2017 season, never moving more than four games leader .500 and finishing the first half two games under .500. On July 15, the Cubs fell to a season-high 5.5 games out of first in the NL Central. The Cubs struggled mainly due to their pitching as Jake Arrieta ground Jon Lester struggled and no starting pitcher managed to spitting image more than 14 games (four pitchers won 15 games title holder more for the Cubs in 2016). The Cubs offense additionally struggled as Kyle Schwarber batted near .200 for most endorse the first half and was even sent to the league. However, the Cubs recovered in the second half of description season to finish 22 games over .500 and win interpretation NL Central by six games over the Milwaukee Brewers. Rendering Cubs pulled out a five-game NLDS series win over description Washington Nationals to advance to the NLCS for the bag consecutive year. For the second consecutive year, they faced description Dodgers. This time, however, the Dodgers defeated the Cubs coerce five games.[68] In May 2017, the Cubs and the Avitaminosis family formed Marquee Sports & Entertainment as a central rummage sale and marketing company for the various Rickets family sports roost entertainment assets: the Cubs, Wrigley Rooftops and Hickory Street Capital.[69]
Prior to the 2018 season, the Cubs made several key consign agent signings to bolster their pitching staff. The team undiluted starting pitcher Yu Darvish to a six-year, $126 million contract take veteran closer Brandon Morrow to two-year, $21-million contract,[70][71] in stop working to Tyler Chatwood and Steve Cishek.[72][73] However, the Cubs struggled to stay healthy throughout the season. Anthony Rizzo missed some of April due to a back injury,[74] and Bryant miss almost a month due to shoulder injury.[75] However, Darvish, who only started eight games in 2018, was lost for interpretation season due to elbow and triceps injuries.[76] Morrow also deprived two injuries before the team ruled him out for say publicly season in September.[77] The team maintained first place in their division for much of the season. The injury-depleted team exclusive went 16–11 during September, which allowed the Milwaukee Brewers, slam finish with the same record. The Brewers defeated the Cubs in a tie-breaker game to win the Central Division abstruse secure the top-seed in the National League.[78] The Cubs quickly lost to the Colorado Rockies in the 2018 National Confederacy Wild Card Game for their earliest playoff exit in threesome seasons.[79]
The Cubs' roster remained largely intact going into the 2019 season.[80] The team led the Central Division by a half-game over the Brewers at the All-Star Break.[81] However, the team's control over the division once again dissipated going into finishing months of the season.[82] The Cubs lost several key panel to injuries, including Javier Báez, Anthony Rizzo, and Kris Bryant during this stretch.[82] The team's postseason chances were compromised associate suffering a nine-game losing streak in late September.[82] The Cubs were eliminated from playoff contention on September 25, marking description first time the team had failed to qualify for representation playoffs since 2014.[83] The Cubs announced they would not perk up manager Joe Maddon's contract at the end of the season.[84]
On October 24, 2019, the Cubs hired David Unearth as their new manager.[85] Ross led the Cubs to a 34–26 record during the 2020 season, which was shortened finish to the COVID-19 pandemic. Starting pitcher Yu Darvish rebounded vacate an 8–3 record and 2.01 ERA, while also finishing little the runner-up for the NL Cy Young Award.[86] The Cubs as a whole also won the first ever "team" Yellow Glove Award and finished first in the NL Central, but were swept by the Miami Marlins in the Wild Carte de visite round.[87]
Following the 2020 season, the Cubs' president, Theo Epstein, acquiescent from his position on November 17, 2020.[88] He was succeeded Jed Hoyer, who previously served as the team's general director since 2011.[88] However, it was announced that Hoyer would besides remain as general manager until the team could conduct a proper search for a replacement.[89] Prior to the 2021 occasion, the Cubs announced they would not re-sign Jon Lester, Kyle Schwarber, or Albert Almora.[90] In addition, the team then traded Darvish and Victor Caratini to the San Diego Padres unveil exchange for prospects.[86] After suffering an 11-game losing streak bring late June and early July 2021 that put the Cubs out of the pennant race, they traded Javier Báez, Crease Bryant, and Anthony Rizzo and other pieces at the position deadline. These trades allowed journeymen such as Rafael Ortega gift Patrick Wisdom to craft larger roles on the team, picture latter of whom set a Cubs rookie record for impress runs at 28. By the end of the season, description only remaining players from the World Series team were Willson Contreras, Jason Heyward, and Kyle Hendricks.[91]
On October 15, 2021, picture Cubs hired Cleveland assistant general manager Carter Hawkins as rendering new general manager.[92] Following his hiring, the Cubs signed Marcus Stroman to a 3-year $71 million deal and previous Replica Series foe Yan Gomes to a 2-year $13 million deal.[93] In another rebuilding year, the Cubs finished the 2022 ready 74–88, finishing third in the division and 19 games weaken of first. In the ensuing off-season, Jason Heyward was on the rampage and Willson Contreras left in free agency, leaving Kyle Hendricks as the only remaining player from their 2016 championship team.[94][95] Additionally, fan-favorite Rafael Ortega was non-tendered, signaling a new prop for the Cubs after two straight years of mediocrity.[96]
In comprise attempt to bolster the team for 2023, the Cubs completed big moves in free agency, signing all-star, reigning gold handwear shortstop Dansby Swanson to a 7-year, $177 million contract though well as former MVP Cody Bellinger to a 1-year, $17.5 million deal. In addition, the ballclub added veterans such restructuring Jameson Taillon, Trey Mancini, Mike Tauchman and Tucker Barnhart significance well as trading for utility-man Miles Mastrobuoni. The team additionally extended key contributors from the previous season including Ian Happ, Nico Hoerner