The Chicago Cubs are one of the most storied franchises in Major League Baseball, but the question of when did the Cubs become a team requires looking back to the chaotic and formative years of professional baseball in the late 19th century. While the franchise traces its lineage to the Chicago White Stockings of the National Association, the modern identity of the Cubs truly began to solidify during a period of significant upheaval and transition in the sport.
The Origins in the National Association
To understand when the Cubs became a team, one must first look to the National Association of Base Ball Players, which was the first professional league, operating from 1871 to 1875. The Chicago White Stockings were a founding member of this league, representing the city with a competitive squad that played a primitive version of the game. However, the association was plagued by gambling scandals and a lack of centralized authority, which ultimately led to its downfall and the creation of a more structured league.
The Birth of the National League
William Hulbert, a Chicago businessman, was instrumental in forming the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs in 1876, aiming to clean up the sport and establish a more stable environment. The Chicago White Stockings were a cornerstone of this new league, which is why the franchise often cites its founding as 1876. This move provided the stability and structure that allowed the team to survive and grow, distinguishing it from the short-lived teams that preceded it in less organized leagues.
Early Name Changes and Relocations
The franchise did not immediately settle on the Cubs name. Following the Great Chicago Fire of 1871, the team was temporarily without a home and regrouped under various identities, including the White Stockings. Upon joining the National League in 1876, they competed as the White Stockings for several years. The transition to the Colts occurred in the 1890s, and subsequently, the team became known as the Orphans before finally adopting the Cubs moniker in the early 1900s, a name that reflected the youthful talent on the roster at the time.
The Move to Wrigley Field
Another critical element in the team's history is the establishment of a permanent home, which is vital when asking when the Cubs became a team in the truest sense of a stable organization. The club played at several locations, including the West Side Grounds, before moving to Weeghman Park in 1916. This park, built in 1914 for the Federal League's Chicago Whales, was quickly adopted by the Cubs and renamed Cubs Park. It was later renamed Wrigley Field in 1927, providing the franchise with a consistent and iconic venue that solidified its place in the city's culture.
The Long Road to a Championship
While the question of when the Cubs became a team can be answered with dates in the 1870s, their legacy is often defined by the drought that followed. The franchise won back-to-back World Series titles in 1907 and 1908, along with another in 1910. However, the most significant period came in the modern era, where they became known for their resilience rather than their success. This era of futility ended dramatically in 2016 when they broke a 108-year championship drought by defeating the Cleveland Indians, finally silencing the ghosts of 1945 and validating the long history of the organization.
