-
First game
The Chicago White Stockings, under the ownership of William A. Hulbert, play their first game against Louisville. Paul Hines scored the first run, and Manager A.G. Spalding doubled as the team's pitcher. -
The Cubs become The Cubs
The nickname "Cubs" first appears in print in the Chicago Daily News. -
Cubs' most recent World Series title
The club wins the World Series against Detroit - their most recent. That's right - MOST recent. -
Charles Weeghman buys team
Charles Weeghman, an early fast-food entrepeneur, buys the Cubs and takes out a 99-year lease for property at the intersection of Clark and Addison Streets. Months later, the Cubs play their first game at what is now Wrigley Field, the groundbreaking of which is shown at left. -
Wrigley buys the Cubs
Gum Magnate William Wrigley, Jr. buys the team and renames its venue Cubs Park. -
WGN Radio broadcasts first game
WGN Radio broadcasts the first Cubs game, an 8-2 win over Pittsburgh. -
P.K. Wrigley becomes owner
Upon Wrigley's death, ownership of the North Siders passes to his son, Philip Knight Wrigley. -
Ivy in the outfield
With designs to make the "Friendly Confines" a bit friendlier, P.K. Wrigley bulids bleachers in the outfield and constructs the now-iconic scoreboard. Also, Wrigley hires Bill Veeck to plant ivy against the outfield wall. -
Lights out
Just one day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, P.K. Wrigley donates recently purchased floodlights - destined for the outfield - to the war effort. Night games seem to have become an afterthought; the Cubs wouldn't play at home after sundown for another 47 years. -
"Da Curse" begins...
William "Billy Goat" Sianis, a Greek immigrant, shows up at game 4 of the World Series against Detroit with two tickets: one for himself and one for his pet goat, Murphy. After other fans began complaining about Murphy's odor, Sianis and his goat were ousted from the stadium at the order of P.K. Wrigley - but not before Sianis reportedly cursed the team against winning a Series at home. -
WGN-TV broadcasts first game
WGN's long-time relationship with the Cubs begins, when they air the team's first televised game - a 4-1 loss to the White Sox. -
Golf ball hits scoreboard
Pro golfer Sam Snead becomes the first person to hit the Wrigley outfield scoreboard... with a golf ball. -
Caray fired from St. Louis
Harry Caray is fired from his job as the St. Louis Cardinal's broadcaster. In just two years, he'd be calling games in Chicago, on his way to becoming a staple of Cubs culture. -
Sianis lifts curse... or not.
"Billy Goat" Sianis - and his famed goat, Murphy - are invited to Wrigley in hopes of lifting the curse the pair imposed 44 years earlier. -
The "Black Cat Incident"
A black cat scurries out onto the field, stares down Ron Santo, then disappears beneath the stands; the Cubs go on to lose the division lead. -
Monday saves Old Glory
During a game at Dodger Stadium, Cubs outfielder Rick Monday rescues an American flag from two protesters who were trying to burn it. -
P.K. Wrigley dies
Following the death of his father, William Wrigley III becomes the Cubs' new owner. William's mother would die just months later, pinning him beneath a pile of estate taxes that would later lead to him selling the team. -
Tribune buys Cubs
The Tribune Company buys the club for $20.5 million. -
Hell freezeth over...
The Cubs return to the postseason for the first time since 1945. -
First night game
The Cubs play their first night game... which is rained out after just three innings. -
Grace does something
Mark Grace becomes the 14th Cub to hit a cycle during a 5-4 victory over the Padres. -
Oops! Sosa "uses wrong bat..."
Slugger Sammy Sosa is ejected from a game against the Tampa Bay Devil-Rays after he shatters a corked bat in the first inning. He would later be suspended for seven games, though testing of his other bats found no cork. -
Bartman: the New Billygoat?
Steve Bartman, a human resources consultant from Northbrook, inadvertantly blocks Moises Alou from catching a foul ball. The Cubs lost the National League Championship, didn't go to the World Series and Bartman needed a security escort to get out of Wrigley alive. -
New teeth for Ronnie "Woo Woo"
Cubs fan-atic Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers, so named for his trademark "wooing" from the outfield bleachers, gets new dentures, thanks to a much-publicized fundraiser by two Wrigleyville bars. -
Zell announces team sale
The Tribune Company announces that it's been bought by real estate king Sam Zell who, in turn, announces plans to sell the Cubs in order to resuce the floudering company. -
"Dead goat episode"
In one of the more extreme moments of Cub fandom, hooligans hang a dead goat from the Harry Caray staue outside Wrigley Field, apparently as a talisman against "Da Curse." -
A new owner?
The Tribune Company announces that billionaire investment banker Tom Ricketts is the favorite bidder for the Cubs... and with a bid of $900 million for a cursed baseball team, who can argue? -
Cubs win series... sort of.
The Chicago Cubs beat a fictional Miami team in the World Series... according to the 1989 movie "Back to the Future Part II."
