105 Years and Counting....

Happy Birthday "Cubs"

On March 27, 1902, the Chicago Daily News used the name "Cubs" for the first time in print. The nickname was coined when Frank Selee (1902-1905) became the new manager of the Chicago National League Ball Club, Inc. The nickname "Cubs" was derived from the new manager rebuilding the team with young, unproven players to replace the veterans that had jumped leagues to play in the American League for higher pay.

Due to new owner Jim Hart signing so many young players the club had taken on the name "Chicago Spuds", a name given by the Chicago Tribune that did not appeal to the fans and when Frank Selee started to build what would be the nucleus of a championship team, many felt a more appropriate nickname was needed. The team at the time included such names as Frank Chance, Joe Tinker, Jimmy Slagle and Johnny Kling. Some had thought of returning to the "White Stockings" nickname, but the other team in Chicago took that name, while the future Cubs used the nickname the "Orphans." Some felt "the team should have a name indicative of bear-like strength and a playful disposition."

The name may have come from Charles Sensabaugh, editor of the sports department of the Chicago Daily News.

"During the 1900 season Sensabaugh was writing a headline and neither Orphans nor Spuds would fit. He substituted Cubs."

The nickname "Cubs" came from an unbylined column that noted:

"Frank Selee will devote his strongest efforts on the teamwork of the new Cubs this year."

After March 27, 1902 the name started to be used on a regular basis but the club did not officially adopt the nickname until 1907. The Chicago National League Ball Club, Inc. had many nicknames before settling on 'Cubs'.

White Stockings - 1870-1889
Colts - 1890-1897
Orphans - 1898-1901
Remnants - 1898-1901

Other nicknames used includes:

Black Stockings
Ex-Colts
Rainmakers
Cowboys
Rough Riders
Recruits
Panamas
Zephyrs
Nationals
Trojans

And for a brief time they even tried calling the team the "Microbes".

The Chicago National League Ball Club, Inc. enjoyed much success in the early years of the sport. They won six pennants between 1876 and 1897 and appeared in 10 World Series between 1906-1945, winning back-to-back world championships in 1907 and 1908.

National League Pennants:

1906
1907
1908
1910
1918
1929
1932
1935
1938
1945

World Series Championships

1907
1908

While this season is the 100th anniversary of the first World Series Championship, like Jack Brickhouse once said, "Anyone can have a bad century."

Sources: Day by Day in Chicago Cubs History, Wrigleyville: A Magical History Tour of the Chicago Cubs and Cubs Essential

Ryan R

I'm not sure I would do that deal. You give up an ace that seems to want to be here while trading Arod who if I remember right can opt out of his contract after this year? If JH pulled something like that off it would definitelly turn some heads though.

Aaron

I would jump at that deal for AROD and Hughes in a heartbeat. I bet the Cubs would have to include Marshall or someone like a Scott Moore to get it done, but that would be a tremendous...tremendous deal, and I would love it to get someone like Hughes AND AROD...now, that's what you call selling high----something the Cubs should've done with Prior for Tejada, but oh well.

I highly doubt the Yankees would do that anyway, and it's highly unlikely the Cubs would trade their ace, when we don't have anyone else to step in his shoes. Sure, you have a host of 5 spot guys in: Miller, Prior, Marshall, Marmol, Mateo, Veal, Gallagher, etc....but neither Lilly, Marquis, or Hill are aces at all. So that wouldn't make much sense for us, especially since Z keeps getting better every year, and appears to be really taking off now. He's had several close no-hitters, and he has tremendous movement on his pitches.

I did research into this Hughes rumor, and it was all started on the MLB trade rumor site, and it was just people throwing it out of their ass...including one ridiculous one that had the Angels sending Ervin Santana, Brandon Wood, and Jeff Mathis. Wood would be a huge score for us, but I'm not sold on Santana, and Mathis is like a Blanco---Wood is even unproven anyway, so...others included ridiculous rumors for people like AROD, etc. I believe the only way a trade for AROD makes sense is if Hughes is included, and we'd probably have to include someone else. But you can see that in many cases, pitchers the caliber of Zambrano, command top flight talent, and I believe we could get it. After all, look what Jennings brought the Rockies, with Hirsh, Buckholz, and Tavares packaged, and he isn't near the talent Zambrano is, so he's at least worth AROD and a prospect IMO.

Chad

It would have to include Philip Hughes along with A-Rod.

jerljr

If its true, there's only one person that I can think that they would possibly trade for, A-ROD.

jerljr

Hey, I heard a rumor this morning that the Cubs might be trading Zambrano to the Yankees. It was on teh Jim Rome show. Zambrano wants to still have a contract before the season starts.