The White Stockings go on to win the first National League championship. Known as the "White Stockings," "Colts," and Orphans," the team plays in five different parks during the 1800s. The new league thrived, as did the Chicago club, becoming one of baseball's first dynasties by winning six of the first 11 championships.

The most notable player from this era is Adrian "Cap" Anson. Anson set a frachise record with 2,995 career hits while managing the team for 19 seasons. He earned the nickname "Cap" during his early years with the team. Cap was short for Captain.

1900s
What a decade for Cubs baseball, which is exactly what it was. In 1902, noting the youth movement lead by new manager Frank Selee, a local newspaper penned the nickname Cubs for the first time. The moniker prevailed over time and was officially adopted by the club in 1907. It is currently one of the longest running-and most beloved-alias' in all of sports. The team, after moving around to different parks during the previous century, found a home at the West Side Grounds, their home from 1893-1915.

The organization enjoyed the most successful decade in its history, posting in 1906 all-time major league records for wins in a season (116) and winning percentage (.763) en route to their first pennant of the 20th century. The only all-Chicago World Series was played; the White Sox winning four games to two. Spurned on by this loss, the team, in 1907, wins its second consecutive National League pennant -- by 17 games -- under player-manager Frank Chance.

The Cubs won their first World Series, defeating the Detroit Tigers and Ty Cobb, four games to two. They followed this up the next year by winning their second consecutive World Championship, repeating their World Series victory over Detroit, this time four games to one. In 1908 pitcher Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown wins 29 games, setting a team record (since 1900) that stands today. He finished the decade with 135 victories, 716 strikeouts and a 1.51 ERA. The double-play combination of Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers and Frank Chance is on its way to baseball immortality, inspiring a "sad lexicon" written by Franklin Pierce, a writer with the New York Times:

"These are the saddest of possible words ... Tinker to Evers to Chance ... A trio of bear Cubs and fleeter than birds ... Tinker to Evers to Chance ... Ruthlessly pricking our gonfalon bubble ... Making a Giant hit into a double ... Words that are weighty with nothing but trouble ... Tinker to Evers to Chance."

1910s
The Cubs started out this decade the same way the ended the previous one by winning. The Cubs won their fourth National League pennnant but failed to win the World Series, loosing to the Philadelphia A's 4 games to 1. During this decade, the Cubs won 2 more National League Pennants but lost both trips to the World Series. The Cubs last trip to a World Series during this decade occcured in 1918 when they lost 4 games to 2 to the Boston Red Sox and Babe Ruth. Ruth won 2 of the 4 games as a starting pitcher for the Red Sox. The Cubs did find a new home during this decade. The team was purchased by Charles Weeghman and he immediately moved the team into a park he had built in 1914. The park was then known as Weeghman Park and is now known as Wrigley Field. Wrigley field is the second oldest ballpark in the major leagues behind Boston's Fenway Park.

1920s
In 1920, Weeghman sold his share of the team to chewing gum magnet William Wrigley. Wrigley immediately renamed the clubs park to Cubs Park. It wasnt until 1926 that the park became known as Wrigley field. An upperdeck was added to the park in 1926 increasing capacity to over 40,000 fans. On the field the Cubs struggled through most of the decade never finishing higher than 3rd until 1929 when the won the pennant by 10.5 games. The 1929 Cubs were led by NL MVP Rogers Hornsby, Hack Wilson Gabby Hartnett and Kiki Cuyler but failed to win the World Series. They lost the 1929 World Series 4 games to 1 to the Philadelphia A's.

1930s
Hack Wison started the decade off by putting together one of the finest hitting seasons in baseball history. Hack hit 56 home runs and drove in 191 runs, a record that still stands today. The Cubs won the National League pennant in 1932 and faced the vaunted New York Yankees in the World Series. The Yankees would sweep the Cubs in 4 games which was highlighted by Babe Ruth's mythical "called shot" during the 5th inning of game 3 at Wrigley Field.  Owner William Wrigley passed away in 1932 leaving the team to his son Philip Knight. Knight began renovating Wrigley Field and in 1937 he hired Bill Veck who planted the Ivy that now covers the outfield wall.  The bleachers and a new scoreboard were also installed and remain today virtually untouched since they were put in place.  The Cubs won the National League pennant again in 1938 when Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett hit a legendary homer, "Homer in the Gloamin", at Wrigley Field off of Pittsburgh's Mace Brown to win the Pennant. The Cubs would fall once again to the New York Yankees in 4 games.

1940s
The 1940s were lean times for the Cubs and America. With the country gripped in a World War, many of baseball's greatest players were serving their country in Europe or the Pacific. The Cubs were set to become one of the first Major League baseball teams to install lights early in the decade but instead ended up donating the lighting equipment they had purchased to the War department, which was then shipped to Pearl Harbor to help with cleanup in 1941. It would be another 40 plus years before the Cubs would install lights at Wrigley field. The Cubs final World Series appearance during the 20th century occured in 1945 when they lost to the Detroit Tigers in a tough 7 games series. When Jackie Robison made his debut at Wrigley field in 1947, the stands were packed with the single largest game attendance ever at Wrigley field; 46,572.

1950s
The Cubs finished the decade of the 1950s without a post season appearance, the first decade in their existence for this feat and a drought that would last until 1984. Although team was struggling to win games, individual team members were finding success. In 1952, outfielder Hank Sauer won the NL Most Valuable Player award with 27 HRs and 121 RBIs. In 1955, Sam Jones became the first Cubs pitcher to throw a no-hitter in close to 40 years, beating the Pirates 4-0 at Wrigley Field. At the end of the decade, Ernie Banks became the first National League player to win back to back MVP awards with a .313 batting average, 47 HRs and 129 RBIs in 1958 followed by .304, 45 HRs and 143 RBIs in 1959.

1960s
In 1960 owner P.K. Wrigley experimented with the manager position, implementing a "College of Coaches" sytem. The system was meant to be a blending of ideas from several individuals instead of the traditional one leader. The new system ended without success five years later when Leo "The Lip" Durocher took the manager position. Billy Williams, future Hall of Famer, was voted Rookie of the Year in 1961. In 1962, Cubs rookie second baseman, Ken Hubbs earned Rookie of the Year honors. The promising young second baseman played a record 78 games without an error during his rookie season and was the first rookie to win a Gold Glove Award. Ken Hubbs life was cut short two years later when the plane that he was piloting crashed into an icy Utah lake. In 1969, Cubs fans shatter Wrigley Confines attendance records, as Ron Santo, Billy Williams and Fergie Jenkins lead the Cubs to one of their most memorable seasons. A tremendous late-season pennant drive by the Mets left the Cubs in second place, despite a 92-win season. For the decade, future Hall of Famer, Fergie Jenkins lead the team on the mound with 917 Ks and a 2.95 ERA while Ron Santo drove in 937 runs and Ernie Banks hit 269 homers.

1970s
The 1970s were a decade of change for the Cubs. The Cubs saw many of their great players ride off into the sunset. Mr. Cub, Ernie Banks retired from the game in 1971 having belted 512 home runs over his career. Ernie Banks was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame three years later. Billy Williams, who in 1971 becomes the first player in NL history to play in 1,000 consecutive games, was traded to Oakland A's in October of 1974. Ron Santo, who helped solidify the hot corner for the Cubs during the 1960's was traded across town to the Chicago White Sox in 1973. Ace Pitcher Fergie Jenkins was traded to the Texas Rangers. In return the Cubs received two infielders, one of which was Bill Madlock. Many of the Cubs all time greatest players passed away during the 1970's including Charlie Root, Gabby Hartnett, Stan Hack and owner Philip Knight Wrigley. With the passing of Philip Knight Wrigley, the reins of the team are passed on to Wrigley's only son, William. The Cubs failed to make a post season appearance during the 1970's. The Cubs finished 2nd in their division two times during the first half of the decade but slipped over the 2nd half finishing no better than third.

1980s
In 1981 the Chicago Cubs were sold to the Tribune company for $20.5 million ending the Wrigley family's 65 year ownership. In 1982 Ernie Banks becomes the first Cub to have his jersey number retired. His number 14 now flies from the left field foul pole at Wrigley Field. Billy Williams receives the same honor in 1987 and his jersey number 26 now flies from the right field foul pole.

The Cubs won their first NL Eastern Division Championship in 1984 and return to the post season for the first time since 1945. Ryan Sandberg wins the NL MVP award and pitcher Rick Sutcliffe wins the NL Cy Young award. The Cubs finish the season with a 96 - 65 record under manager Jim Frye. The Cubs won the first two NL Championship games at home but loose the series to the Padres 3 games to 2.

Outfielder Andre Dawson wins the NL MVP Award in 1987 with 49 homers and 143 RBIs. The Cubs play their very first Night Game at home in August of 1988. The first night game was rained out after 3 innings and the first official night game was played a day later as the Cubs defeated the Mets 6-4.

The Cubs won their second NL Eastern Division title in 1989 led by manager Don Zimmer and all stars Ryan Sandberg, Rick Sutcliffe, Andre Dawson, Mitch Williams and rookie Jerome Walton. The Cubs lost again in the NL Championship series. This time to the the San Francisco Giants 4 games to 1.

1990s
Ryne Sandberg led the NL in 1990 wit 40 Home runs, the third highest total ever for a 2nd baseman. Sandberg also set a Major league recored by not committing an error in 123 straight games. Pitcher Greg Maddux won the Cy Young award in 1992 after winning 20 games and losing 11. In 1993, Rany Myers set a NL record with 53 saves. In 1993 Same Sosa became the first player in Cubs history to post 30 plus homeruns as well as 30 plus stolen bases. The 1994 season was cut short by a mlb player stike. Sosa repeats the 30/30 feat again in 1995. By recording their 9,000 career franchise win, Chicago beomes the winningest city in professional sports history.

Ryne Sandberg retires in 1997, his 277 homeruns are a record for 2nd basemen. The Cubs returned to the post season in 1998. The Cubs won a wild card tie breaker by beating the San Francisco Giants 5-3. Sammy Sosa hit a Cub record 66 home runs as he captured the NL MVP. Sammy Sosa and St. Louis Cardinal slugger, Mark McGwire, captivate Americans with a home run race for the ages. McGwires eventually won the home run crown 70 - 66. Kerry Wood wins rookie of the year honors posting a 13-6 record with 233 strikeouts and a 3.40 ERA. In 1999, Sammy Sosa becomes the first player to reach 60 home Runs in two different seasons. Mark Grace led the major leagues in hits for the 1990s decade. Sadly, the Cubs also lost 2 Hall of Fame broadcasters with the passing of both Harry Caray and Jack Brickhouse in 1998.

2000s
The Cubs began the decade with few wins and losses of key players like Mark Grace. Injuries to top pitchers Kerry Wood and Mark Pryor, keep the Cubs from reaching the pinnacle of baseball but during the early part of the decade the Cubs rode this tandem of pitchers to the post season twice. In 2003 and again in 2004 the Cubs reached the post seasons only to be let down each time. The Cubs faltered in 2005 and finsihed in last place in 2006. The Cubs brought in new Manager Lou Pinella in 2007 and he led the Cubs to a division title. Once again, the Cubs faltered in the Playoffs.

Also see Wikipedia for Chicago Cubs History.