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The Cubs: The Complete Story of Chicago Cubs Baseball
The definitive narrative history of the Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs have won the hearts of generations of fans, even if they haven’t always won those pivotal games. They were America’s most successful baseball club at the turn of the twentieth century, but by the turn of the twenty-first, things had changed. The Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908, and the last time they clinched the National League Pennant was in 1945. Yet the Cubs have some of the most devoted fans in all of sport. As Glenn Stout writes in the introduction, “They are the game’s last unsolved mystery, the final conundrum, a historical enigma, baseball’s oldest story, with an ending that has yet to be written.” The Cubs chronicles the long, rich, counterintuitive history of this team in all its depth, nuance, and color. We catch a rare glimpse of the early days of Chicago baseball in the 1860s and 1870s and witness the magical 1906 season, with its 116 wins, still the most in major league history. Ernie Banks’s legendary career is covered in detail, as are decisive seasons, such as 1969’s heartbreaking loss to the Amazin’ Mets. Sammy Sosa’s sixty-plus home runs are here too — together with later allegations regarding corked bats and steroids. The authors cast an analytical eye on the tumultuous reign of chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley and his son Philip, as well as the Tribune Company's planned sale of the Cubs. And we hear the true story behind the “Curse of the Billy Goat” — what has really “cursed” the Cubs all these years.
A must-have for Cubs fans past and present, The Cubs tells the complete story in a single narrative for the first time since 1945.
The Chicago Cubs have won the hearts of generations of fans, even if they haven’t always won those pivotal games. They were America’s most successful baseball club at the turn of the twentieth century, but by the turn of the twenty-first, things had changed. The Cubs have not won a World Series since 1908, and the last time they clinched the National League Pennant was in 1945. Yet the Cubs have some of the most devoted fans in all of sport. As Glenn Stout writes in the introduction, “They are the game’s last unsolved mystery, the final conundrum, a historical enigma, baseball’s oldest story, with an ending that has yet to be written.” The Cubs chronicles the long, rich, counterintuitive history of this team in all its depth, nuance, and color. We catch a rare glimpse of the early days of Chicago baseball in the 1860s and 1870s and witness the magical 1906 season, with its 116 wins, still the most in major league history. Ernie Banks’s legendary career is covered in detail, as are decisive seasons, such as 1969’s heartbreaking loss to the Amazin’ Mets. Sammy Sosa’s sixty-plus home runs are here too — together with later allegations regarding corked bats and steroids. The authors cast an analytical eye on the tumultuous reign of chewing-gum magnate William Wrigley and his son Philip, as well as the Tribune Company's planned sale of the Cubs. And we hear the true story behind the “Curse of the Billy Goat” — what has really “cursed” the Cubs all these years.
A must-have for Cubs fans past and present, The Cubs tells the complete story in a single narrative for the first time since 1945.
480 pages, Hardcover
First published October 1, 2007
4 people are currently reading
83 people want to read
About the author
Glenn Stout
106 books66 followersAuthor of the Jazz Age true crime yarn Tiger Girl and the Candy Kid: America's Original Gangster Couple (2021), NY Times bestseller The Pats: An Illustrated History of the New England Patriots (2018) The Selling of the Babe (2016), Fenway 1912 (2012) and Young Woman the Sea: How Trudy Ederle Conquered the English Channel and Inspired the World (2009) currently set up and in development as a major motion picture for Disney +. (ETA 2021). Since becoming a full-time writer in 1993, Glenn Stout has written, ghostwritten or edited 100 books representing sales in excess of two million copies. Stout is also author of The Cubs, The Dodgers, Nine Months at Ground Zero, Yankees Century, Red Sox Century, and has served as Series Editor of The Best American Sports Writing since its inception. Glenn also consults on a variety of writing projects (books, proposals, Longform narratives). He has won both the Seymour Medal and Ritter Award (twice) by the Society for American Baseball Research, and Yes Se Can! made the 2012 Amelia Bloom list for feminist content. He lives in Vermont.
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
October 24, 2015
The single star is for the photos. From the perspective of a Cubs fan who has read nearly a dozen books about the team, this is probably my least favorite. This book seems geared toward Cubs haters, as the writer seems to despise the team. I get that the Cubs haven't won the World Series since dinosaurs roamed the earth, and obviously that is a large part of the team's history and deserves ridicule, but there's much more to the franchise. The writer seems to think not. Every accomplishment, even the team's early successes, when they were arguably the best in the league, is treated with negativity. The writer would rather focus on how a player or owner was racist or cheap or whatever instead of their accomplishments. Never mind the fact that most players or owners were racist way back when. Ernie Banks is portrayed as some dumbass who stayed with the organization out of some sort of stupid loyalty. I could go on and on but I won't. The writer seems incredulous that Cubs fans would continue to support the team, when in essence the fans are just like any other team's fans. We grew up watching the team with our father or grandfather or older brother or sister. We've cheered the small successes and been heartbroken by the many failures, but we always hope that the Cubs will win in the end. The team is not just about losing. I've never heard a true Cubs fan use the term "lovable losers," and I'm pretty sure that phrase came from a fan of another team. I'll conclude this rambling review by saying if you truly want to know the history of the team and why anyone would root for them, seek out one of the other books. If you hate the team, perhaps this is for you.
April 20, 2010
A coffe table history of one of the oldest clubs in Major League baseball, stretching from its beginnings shortly after the Civil War to the mid-2000s and the beginning of Lou Pinella's managership.
It's a must-read for those of us trying to figure out the reasons for the 102-year drought. After reading this book, one might conclude that it has less to do with goats or black cats or the "Fact" that Wrigley Field is built on a Potawatomie burial ground and more to do with decisions made by owners and general managers. (The Cubs passed on Joe DiMaggio for cripe's sake!)
Full of great anecdotes and pictures, so that's good.
As Ernie Banks might say, "Let's read two!"
It's a must-read for those of us trying to figure out the reasons for the 102-year drought. After reading this book, one might conclude that it has less to do with goats or black cats or the "Fact" that Wrigley Field is built on a Potawatomie burial ground and more to do with decisions made by owners and general managers. (The Cubs passed on Joe DiMaggio for cripe's sake!)
Full of great anecdotes and pictures, so that's good.
As Ernie Banks might say, "Let's read two!"
August 8, 2011
Even if you don't know Stan Hack from Adolfo Phillips (remember him? I didn't) or Frank Chance from Gabby Hartnett, this is a tremendous review of the team's history from 1867 under Cap Anson to the arrival of Lou Pinella in "only" 428 oversize pages. Sidebars by Scott Turow, Mike Royko, Penny Marshall and others really add to the detailed accounts taken from press descriptions of some of the key seasons, games and plays in the life of the Cubbies. Only 10 players ever won the NL batting title as Cubs -- how many can you name?
December 5, 2016
Finally! It took me almost 2 months to get through this beast but I stuck with it. Very interesting history on the Cubs which showed that poor administrative management contributed greatly to the club never being what it could be. Learned a ton of fun facts and enjoyed it reading about the good old days of baseball up til 2006.
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March 7, 2014It was really interesting. Learning about how baseball has changed over the years and learning about the greats that played the game.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews