Top 50 Chicago Cubs
When it comes to iconic sports teams in North America, few can come close to the Chicago Cubs.
The Cubs first came into existence in 1870 as the Chicago White Stockings would join the National League in 1876. Before 1900, Chicago was one of the most successful teams. Led by Cap Anson, Chicago would win the National League Pennant in 1876, 1880, 1881, 1882, 1885 & 1886. They would go through a couple of name changes to the Colts, Orphans and would officially adopt the name of the Cubs in 1903.
The Cubs did well in the first decade of the 1900s where with stars like Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, Frank Chance, and Three Finger Brown and would win the World Series in 1907 and 1908. That would begin the longest championship drought in sports.
You know the story. The alleged curse of the goat. Steve Bartman.
It would take until 2016 when they would win the World Series again, although they did win the National League Pennant multiple times between them (1910, 1918, 1929, 1932, 1935, 1938 & 1945). They also had Hall of Famers at that time, like Ernie Banks and Ryne Sandberg.
As of this writing, three World Series Championships is not very many for a team that has been around since the beginning, but again, how many organizations are as well known as the Cubbies!
Not too many!
This list is up to the end of the 2025 season.
Note: Baseball lists are based on an amalgamation of tenure, traditional statistics, advanced statistics, playoff statistics, and post-season accolades.
When Joe Tinker arrived in Chicago in 1902, the Cubs were a franchise on the verge of a golden era. He immediately stepped into the starting shortstop role, a position he would hold with an iron grip for the next eleven seasons. While history remembers him as the first link in the "Tinker to Evers to Chance" double-play combination, the reality on the dirt was far more complicated. Tinker and second baseman Johnny Evers famously despised each other, reportedly going years without speaking a word off the field. Yet, when the umpire cried, "Play Ball," Tinker’s professionalism took over. He…
When Clark Griffith arrived in Chicago in 1893, he joined a franchise transitioning from the legendary Cap Anson era to a new identity. Standing just 5'6", Griffith lacked the imposing physical presence of his peers, but he possessed a shrewd intellect and a diverse arsenal that more than made up for it. He was an innovator of deception, utilizing a quick pitch and a variety of deliveries that kept hitters in a state of permanent frustration. He arrived as a young hurler with an immense workload ahead of him and quickly established himself as the most reliable arm in the…
When Jimmy Ryan arrived in Chicago in 1885, he joined a White Stockings squad that was the class of the National League. He didn't take long to find his footing, quickly establishing himself as a refined hitter who could do more than just slap the ball. In an era where home run power was a rare commodity, Ryan possessed a surprising sting in his bat. His residency in Chicago was defined by an ability to adapt as the game’s rules and distances evolved, serving as the steady link between the legendary era of Cap Anson and the burgeoning talent of…
When Carlos Zambrano arrived in Chicago as an 18-year-old signee from Venezuela, he brought a physical presence and a raw intensity that the franchise hadn't seen in years. By 2003, he had locked down a spot in the rotation, helping lead the Cubs to within one win of the World Series. He emerged as a high-velocity prospect and quickly matured into the most durable starter of his era on the North Side. From 2003 to 2008, Zambrano was a model of productivity, standing as the only National League pitcher to record at least 13 wins in six consecutive seasons. He…
When Johnny Evers arrived in Chicago in 1902, he was a rail-thin teenager who reportedly weighed less than 100 pounds. Opposing fans initially thought he was a comedy act, but they quickly realized the "Trojan" was a fierce, surly competitor who treated every inch of the diamond like a battlefield. He locked down the starting second base job by 1903, forming a legendary, if personally frosty, partnership with Joe Tinker. While the two famously went years without speaking off the field, their synergy on the dirt anchored an infield that allowed the fewest runs in the league, proving that professional…
When Hack Wilson arrived in Chicago late in 1925, he was essentially a gift from the heavens, or more accurately, a gift from a New York Giants front-office oversight. Left unprotected in the minor league draft, the Cubs swooped in to claim him, and the move immediately altered the trajectory of the franchise. Wilson arrived as a player looking to reclaim his reputation and left his debut season as the National League Home Run king. From 1926 to 1928, he rattled off three consecutive home run titles, proving that his compact, powerful frame was perfectly engineered for the dimensions of…
When Anthony Rizzo arrived in Chicago via a low-profile trade in 2012, he was a prospect with high potential but limited major-league experience. He spent a brief period in Triple-A before being called up, and he immediately signaled that the renovation of Wrigley Field had found its cornerstone. He arrived as a young hitter searching for a foothold and quickly matured into an upper-echelon producer, launching 15 home runs in his partial debut season. By 2013, he had locked down first base for the long haul, proving that his left-handed power and high-character leadership were exactly what a rebuilding franchise…
When Bill Hutchinson arrived in Chicago in 1889, the franchise, then known as the White Stockings, was transitioning into the "Colts" era. A Yale graduate with a cerebral approach to a rough-and-tumble game, his true calling card was a rubber arm that seemed immune to fatigue. His residency on the West Side began with a steady introduction, but by 1890, he shifted into a gear that few hurlers in history have ever reached. He arrived as a promising young arm and quickly matured into the most durable pitcher in the sport, leading the National League in innings pitched for three…
Chicago's North Side witnessed the slow, methodical rise of a pitcher who would eventually be defined by his surgical control. After a traditional developmental curve during his first two seasons, Maddux caught the league’s attention in 1988. At just 22 years old, he secured 18 wins and earned his first All-Star selection, signaling that the Cubs had found a rare anchor for their rotation. He matured into a model of consistency over the next several years, rattling off three consecutive seasons of at least 15 wins and establishing himself as a perennial threat to any lineup in the National League.…
Cap Anson’s insistence that Chicago purchase Clarkson’s contract from Saginaw in 1884 proved to be one of the most astute front-office moves of the decade. After a brief 10-win introduction, Clarkson transitioned into a gear rarely seen in the history of the sport. The 1885 campaign remains a statistical outlier of the highest order, as he led the National League with a mind-boggling 53 wins and 623 innings pitched. That year was best illustrated by a league-leading 12.9 bWAR and a microscopic 1.85 ERA, a combination of volume and efficiency that cemented his status as the premier arm in the…
Chicago's rotation found its unlikely anchor in 1932 thanks to a keen observation from manager Rogers Hornsby. Noticing that Lon Warneke was staring at his own feet during his delivery rather than the hitter, Hornsby demanded a correction that transformed an ineffective "also-ran" into a league-wide phenomenon. The results were instantaneous and historic; in that breakout 1932 campaign, Warneke led the National League with 22 wins, a 2.37 ERA, and a 6.9 bWAR. He arrived as a struggling prospect and finished the season as the MVP runner-up, serving as the primary engine for a Cubs team that captured the National…
A trade with the Phillies early in the 1939 season brought Passeau to Wrigley Field, where he immediately found the footing that had eluded him in Philadelphia. He shed the "journeyman" label almost instantly, maturing into a frontline starter who commanded the strike zone with an aggressive, veteran poise. His first full year in Chicago was a revelation; in 1940, he joined the elite 20-win club, helping define the first half of the decade for the franchise. Consistent excellence became his trademark as the residency progressed, earning him five All-Star selections during a six-year window. Passeau was the rare arm…
Chicago’s lineup in the 1880s derived its high-voltage energy from the man they called "Piano Legs." Gore brought a rare combination of lower-body strength and track-star speed to the top of the order, maturing instantly into the most disciplined hitter of the era. His breakout 19th-century residency reached an early crescendo in 1880, a season in which he captured a unique triple crown of efficiency, leading the National League in batting average (.341), on-base percentage (.399), and slugging percentage (.463). He arrived as a young outfielder and immediately became the engine of a dynasty. Traditional production remained his calling card…
Chicago’s 1880s dynasty derived its defensive spine from a man whose reflexes were considered supernatural by his peers. Williamson established himself as a tactical anchor almost immediately, shifting between third base and shortstop without losing a step of his elite efficiency. His impact in the field was statistically staggering; he twice led the National League in defensive bWAR and consistently ranked among the top five throughout his decade-long stay. Had the Gold Glove existed in the age of the horse and buggy, his trophy case would have been overflowing, as he led the league in assists six times and double…
Wrigley Field in the early 1950s was often a place of individual brilliance set against a backdrop of collective struggle, and no player embodied that reality more than Rush. He surfaced as the undisputed ace of a staff that desperately needed a stabilizing force, maturing into a threat despite a lack of run support. His career record of 110-140 is a classic example of how a box score can mask true value; a deeper look at his advanced stats reveals a pitcher who finished in the top ten in bWAR for pitchers four different times during his Chicago residency. The…
Chicago’s offense in the 1880s operated with a swagger that began and ended with the man they called "The King." Kelly brought a cerebral, almost mischievous quality to the plate, maturing into a hitter who understood how to manipulate the rules and the opposition to his advantage. His tenure reached a historic peak in 1884 and again in 1886, seasons of undeniable dominance where he captured the National League batting title and led the circuit in on-base percentage. He wasn't just a contact hitter; he was a run-scoring machine who led the league in that category three times, finishing his…
Expectations reached a fever pitch in 2015 when the former Golden Spikes winner made his highly anticipated debut. Bryant bypassed the traditional learning curve, maturing instantly into the National League Rookie of the Year by batting .279 with 26 home runs. He secured an All-Star nod in his very first summer, embodying the figure of a poised, elite talent built for the brightest lights. He wasn't just a prospect; he was the tactical engine that signaled the "Cubs Way" had finally arrived. The pinnacle of his residency, and arguably the most significant individual season in modern Chicago history, arrived in…
Chicago’s early 20th-century dominance relied on a core of legendary infielders, but it was Schulte who provided the stability from the grass of the West Side Grounds. He settled into the Cubs' starting lineup during the historic 1906 campaign and quickly matured into a vital postseason performer. During the franchise's run of four pennants in five years, Schulte was a model under pressure, batting a collective .321 across four World Series appearances. He arrived as a young outfielder and immediately became a championship-caliber contributor to the 1907 and 1908 world titles. The absolute pinnacle of his career, and a milestone…
A trade with the Cardinals in 1933 brought the Louisiana right-hander to Chicago, and he wasted no time maturing into a cornerstone of the staff. Lee quickly shed any "prospect" labels by establishing a baseline that the North Side hadn't seen in years. From 1935 to 1939, he was a metronome of productivity, rattling off four separate seasons with at least 18 wins. He arrived as a young arm with a "jug-handle" curve and immediately became the stabilizing force for a roster that captured the 1935 pennant behind a historic 21-game winning streak. The absolute pinnacle of his residency arrived…