To be a fan of the Cubs is to walk a fine line between optimism and masochism. Every year, North Siders flock to Wrigley Field to support their beloved Cubs, as they think "this is the year," only to be routinely disappointed.
Still, the Cubs are lovable losers, who finally have a chance this season to win a championship for the first time since 1908.
The World Series was first played in 1903, and won by the Boston Americans. Four years later, the Cubs became the first team to ever win back-to-back World Series titles. The Cubs' 1908 title is also the last championship the franchise has won.
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Charles LeClaire, Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
The Curse of the Billy Goat
During Game 4 of the 1945 World Series, the Cubs refused entry to William Sianis's lucky billy goat. In a fit of rage, Sianis asserted that the Cubs would never win a World Series again. The Cubs ultimately lost the World Series, and have yet to return.
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports, USA TODAY Sports
Root, root, root for the CUBBIES
In another Wrigley Field tradition, celebrities sing "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" during the seventh inning stretch. If you're singing along, make sure to say Cubbies, not Cubs!
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Matt Marton, Matt Marton-USA TODAY Sports
Throw it back!
To uphold tradition, Cubs fans who catch an opposing team's home run must immediately toss it back onto the field of play. Or risk finding a new seat.
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
W is for win
After every win, the Cubs' "W" flag is raised above the center-field scoreboard to commemorate the victory.
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Jeff Curry, Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
He's Mr. Cub for a reason
Ernie Banks, affectionately called Mr. Cub, is the only Cubbie to win back-to-back MVP awards in the franchise's history. Banks earned the honor in 1958 and 1959.
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki, Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
The Ivy has been in Wrigley since 1937
One of the unique features of Wrigley Field is the ivy that covers the brick outfield walls. Former general manager Bill Veeck decided to install the ivy in 1937 to upgrade the aesthetic of the ballpark. Veeck was reportedly inspired by the ivy walls at Perry Stadium.
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Jon Durr, Jon Durr-USA TODAY Sports
Where's the ball?
If a ball happens to get lost in the vines of the ivy, it is ruled a ground-rule double.
Wrigley Field, which opened in 1914, became the last baseball park to install lights for night games. But only because of one reason ...
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Mark J. Rebilas, Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Curse of the Black Cat
The Curse of the Billy Goat isn't the only hex put on the Cubs. With a nine-game lead deep into the summer of '69, the Cubs epically collapsed. The curse came to a head on Sept. 9, 1969, when a black cat ran circles around Ron Santo in the on-deck circle.
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Matt Kartozian, Matt Kartozian-USA TODAY Sports
The lights were donated after Pearl Harbor
Former Cubs owner P.K. Wrigley planned on installing lights prior to the 1942 regular season, but instead he donated the fixtures to a shipyard the day after the Pearl Harbor attack.
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki, Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
The first night game in Cubs history
Nearly five decades after foregoing the installation of the fixtures, Wrigley Field finally got its lights in 1988. The Cubs ballpark was set to have its first night game on Aug. 8, 1988, but it was rained out. That made the first official night game at Wrigley Field, Aug 9, 1988.
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: David Banks, David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
The Cubs' original name
The Cubs originally played under the moniker the Chicago White Stockings in 1871 before settling on the Cubs name in 1903. The team also went by the Orphans and Colts prior to 1903.
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Jerry Lai, Jerry Lai-USA TODAY Sports
There's always next year
Don't worry, Cubs fans. If this isn't the year, there's always next year!
(Photo: USATSI)
Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki, Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
