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 nickname given by the Chicago Tribune that did not appeal to the fans.

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 the 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 sticking with the 'Cubs' moniker.

White Stockings - 1876-1889
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.

Image via Wikipedia

Image via Wikipedia

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

paulcatanese

Neil,thanks for the history background. One more thing about Thompson and "the shot heard around the world".As that was a precursor to the series itself,it was kind of lost in my mind that this was Dimaggios last. appearence in the majors,and Mantle and Robinsons first plus Mantles injury. I was lucky enough to see all of them play. One home run in particular that I saw in person at Comiskey park by Dimaggio was a line drive into the left field stands which were empty at the time actually broke the back of one of the seats,you could hear it all over the park.

Grant

cool piece of history!

Neil

Thanks guys, I'm glad you enjoyed.

agustin rexach

very nice Neil!

Aaron

Neil,

thought you might be interested in this tidbit from TCR:

So you believe Tracy has already made the team?

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JOHN B: Yes. Tracy was told a week ago to to find a place to live in Chicago, which doesn't positively guarantee anything, but it almost does.

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According to AZ Phil, Tracy has most likely made the team (which is a relief for me, as you know)

Patrick S.

Sounds good it took me a minute to find it on TCR, since it was in the comments section.

agustin rexach

Me too Aaron, hope this is true.

Neil

Aaron, I am with you on this. I would prefer Tracy over Millar.

cc002600

I'm not sure if anyone else caught this, but WGN is cancelling Kaplan's sports central show and replacing him with some turd who was recently in jail. I really liked Kaplan's show, it was a must for cubs fans.

WGN is really going down the tubes more and more each day.

Larry

Neil, I really enjoyed the history lesson. I knew that Cubs wasn't the original nickname of the team, but had no idea where it came from of how many other nicknames the team had gone through before settling on Cubs.

Duas

Thanks for the history lesson Neil! Every Cubs fan should know this, but I'm embarrassed to say that I didn't know about it until now.

Just imagine if "microbes" had caught on...haha

Thanks for the great work once again Neil!