Chicago Cubs are one of the oldest and most iconic franchises in Major League Baseball, with a history dating back to 1876. Based on the North Side of Chicago, the Cubs are best known for playing their home games at Wrigley Field, one of the most historic ballparks in the world and a symbol of baseball tradition. Originally known as the Chicago White Stockings, the team became known as the Cubs in the early 1900s and built a passionate fan base known as the “Cubs faithful.”
The Cubs experienced great success in the early years of baseball, winning multiple National League pennants and World Series championships in the first half of the 20th century. However, the team became famously associated with a long championship drought, lasting 108 years after their 1908 World Series victory. During that period, the Cubs endured many heartbreaking seasons and became known for the “Curse of the Billy Goat,” a legendary superstition blamed by fans for the team’s struggles.
The curse was finally broken in 2016 when the Cubs, led by manager Joe Maddon and stars such as Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and Javier Báez, defeated the Cleveland Guardians in a dramatic seven-game World Series, bringing Chicago its first championship in over a century. The victory remains one of the most celebrated moments in modern sports history.
Beyond their championships, the Cubs have produced many legendary players, including Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Ryne Sandberg, and Greg Maddux. With their historic ballpark, loyal fan base, and enduring place in baseball culture, the Chicago Cubs remain one of the most recognizable and beloved teams in American sports.
Chicago Cubs Tour Information -> PDF files
Chicago Cubs -> Chicago Cubs @ MLB.com
Chicago Cubs -> Wikipedia
Wrigley Field (1916-present) -> @ MLB.com
Wrigley Field (1916-present) -> Wikipedia
2nd West Side Park (1893-1915) -> Wikipedia
2nd South Side Park (1891-1893) -> Wikipedia
West Side Park (1885-1891) -> Wikipedia
2nd Lakefront Park (1883-1884) -> Wikipedia
1st Lakefront Park (1878-1882) -> Wikipedia
WRIGLEY FIELD (1916-present) – STADIUM
1060 W. Addison Street, Chicago
Wrigley Field is one of the most historic and beloved ballparks in Major League Baseball and has been the home of the Chicago Cubs since 1916. Originally opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park for the Chicago Whales of the Federal League, the stadium was renamed Wrigley Field in 1927 after chewing gum magnate William Wrigley Jr., whose company owned the Cubs. Known as the “Friendly Confines,” the ballpark is famous for its ivy-covered brick outfield walls, hand-operated scoreboard, classic red marquee at the main entrance, and its intimate neighborhood setting in Chicago’s Wrigleyville district.
Wrigley Field has witnessed some of baseball’s most memorable moments, including legendary performances by Cubs greats such as Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, and Ryne Sandberg. The stadium was also the site of the Cubs’ long-awaited 2016 World Series championship celebration, ending a 108-year title drought. Beyond baseball, Wrigley Field has hosted concerts, sporting events, and cultural gatherings, becoming a symbol of Chicago’s sports heritage. With its old-fashioned charm, rich history, and enduring connection to generations of fans, Wrigley Field remains one of the most iconic landmarks in American sports.
(2nd) WEST SIDE PARK (1893-1915) – SITE
Taylor Street and Wood Street, Chicago
Chicago Cubs’ second West Side Park was the home of the franchise from 1893 through 1915 and played a major role in the early history of professional baseball in Chicago. Located on the city’s West Side near the intersection of Congress Street and Loomis Street, the ballpark replaced the team’s original West Side Park and became the stage for some of the most successful seasons in Cubs history. During its 22-year existence, the park hosted the club during the transition from the old National League era into the modern baseball age.
The second West Side Park was known for its intimate atmosphere and was the site of several championship seasons, including the Cubs’ National League pennants in 1906, 1907, 1908, 1910, and 1918 (the final pennant came after the team had moved). The ballpark witnessed the rise of legendary players such as Frank Chance, Johnny Evers, and Joe Tinker, whose famous double-play combination became one of baseball’s most celebrated infield units. The park also hosted the Cubs’ first two World Series championships in 1907 and 1908.
By the early 1910s, the aging wooden ballpark was becoming outdated, and the Cubs’ ownership sought a larger, more modern facility. After the 1915 season, the team moved to Weeghman Park, which eventually became one of the most iconic stadiums in sports history. The second West Side Park was demolished soon afterward, but its legacy remains as the place where the Cubs established themselves as one of baseball’s early dynasties and built the foundation of their historic identity.
SOUTH SIDE PARK (1891-1893) – SITE
35th Street and Wentworth Avenue, Chicago
Chicago Cubs South Side Park was one of the early home ballparks of the franchise during a transitional period in the team’s history. Located near 35th Street and Wentworth Avenue on Chicago’s South Side, the park served as a secondary home field for the club then known as the Chicago Colts/Chicago White Stockings from 1891 through 1893. During the 1891 season, the Cubs split home games between South Side Park and West Side Park, using South Side Park primarily for Tuesday, Thursday, and Saturday games.
The ballpark was part of Chicago’s rapidly expanding baseball scene in the late 19th century and was also associated with the earlier Players’ League team known as the Chicago Pirates in 1890. For the Cubs, South Side Park hosted several seasons during the leadership era of player-manager Cap Anson, one of the most influential figures in early professional baseball. The team recorded a 61–49–1 record at the park during its use from 1891 to 1893.
South Side Park’s brief role ended in 1893 when the Cubs moved into the newly constructed West Side Park, which became the club’s primary home for the next two decades. Although it existed for only a few seasons, South Side Park represents an important chapter in Cubs history, connecting the franchise’s early National League years with its eventual development into one of baseball’s most recognizable organizations.
(1st) WEST SIDE PARK (1885-1891) – SITE
Harrison Street and Loomis Street, Chicago
Chicago Cubs first West Side Park, which served as the club’s home from 1885 through 1891, was an important early chapter in the franchise’s history. Located on the Near West Side of Chicago near Congress and Throop Streets, the ballpark replaced Lakefront Park and became the home field of the team then known as the Chicago White Stockings. The park officially opened on June 6, 1885, with Chicago defeating the St. Louis Maroons, and it quickly became the setting for one of the most dominant periods in early professional baseball.
Under the leadership of player-manager Cap Anson, the White Stockings won back-to-back National League pennants in 1885 and 1886 while playing at West Side Park. The team’s success made the ballpark one of the most prominent baseball venues of its era, and it hosted early championship contests against the St. Louis Browns of the American Association, helping establish the beginnings of what would become a historic Cubs–Cardinals rivalry.
The park was a modest facility by modern standards, holding several thousand spectators, with a unique layout shaped by the surrounding city streets. It even featured a bicycle track around the playing field, reflecting the popularity of cycling during the late 19th century. The field was known for unusual dimensions, including a very short right-field foul line and a deep center field, creating a distinctive home-field advantage for the White Stockings.
By 1891, the team began splitting home games between West Side Park and South Side Park before eventually leaving the original West Side location. The ballpark was replaced by a second West Side Park in 1893, which later became the club’s home before the move to Wrigley Field in 1916. Although it existed for only seven seasons, the first West Side Park remains a historically significant landmark as the site where the Cubs’ early identity and championship tradition were formed.
UNION BASE BALL GROUNDS (1871-1884) – SITE
Part of Millennial Park, Chicago
Union Base-Ball Grounds was one of the earliest home fields of the franchise that became the Chicago Cubs. Built in 1871, the ballpark was located near the northeast corner of what is now Grant Park, in the area around Michigan Avenue and Randolph Street. At the time, the team was known as the Chicago White Stockings and was one of the leading professional baseball clubs in the country.
The Union Base-Ball Grounds represented an important step in the development of organized baseball in Chicago, providing the White Stockings with their first major downtown home. The team played there during the inaugural season of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players in 1871 and was competing for the championship when tragedy struck. On October 8, 1871, the Great Chicago Fire swept through the city and destroyed the wooden ballpark, along with the team’s equipment, uniforms, and records.
After the fire, the White Stockings finished the 1871 season by playing their remaining games on the road, but the devastation forced the club to suspend operations for several years while Chicago rebuilt. The team eventually returned in 1874 and later became a founding member of the National League in 1876, continuing the long history that eventually led to the modern Chicago Cubs.
Although the Union Base-Ball Grounds existed for only a short time, it remains one of the most historically significant sites in Chicago baseball history. It was a symbol of the city’s early passion for professional baseball and a reminder of how the sport grew alongside Chicago itself during the years following the Civil War. Today, the location is part of the downtown lakefront area near Millennium Park, preserving the memory of one of the earliest homes of the Cubs franchise.
TWENTY-THIRD STREET GROUNDS (1876-1877) – SITE
Approximately State Street and Cermak Avenue, Chicago
The Chicago Cubs’ 23rd Street Grounds was one of the earliest home fields of the franchise that would eventually become the Chicago Cubs. Located near 23rd Street and State Street on Chicago’s South Side, the ballpark was also known as the State Street Grounds or 23rd Street Park and served as the home of the Chicago White Stockings from 1874 through 1877.
The grounds were established after the original Chicago baseball club was disrupted by the Great Chicago Fire. A new organization rebuilt professional baseball in the city, and the White Stockings began playing at the 23rd Street Grounds as the team entered the early years of organized professional baseball. The park hosted games during the final seasons of the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players and the first seasons of the National League, which began in 1876.
The ballpark was a simple 19th-century baseball facility, featuring a grass playing field, open seating areas, and a small covered grandstand. Contemporary descriptions placed the grounds on land between 23rd and 24th Streets, near State Street, with railroad tracks nearby that allowed some spectators to watch games from trains. The field became an important gathering place for Chicago baseball fans during a period when the sport was rapidly becoming popular nationwide.
During its time at 23rd Street Grounds, the White Stockings established themselves as one of the strongest teams in early professional baseball. The club later moved to other Chicago ballparks, including Lakefront Park, West Side Park, and eventually the iconic Wrigley Field, but the 23rd Street Grounds remains significant as one of the first homes of the franchise. The Cubs recognize it as the starting point in their long history of ballparks, with the team recording a 42–18 home record there from 1876–1877.
Today, the exact appearance of the 23rd Street Grounds is largely lost to history, with no known surviving photographs of the original park. However, its role in establishing professional baseball in Chicago makes it an important landmark in the early story of the Cubs and the development of America’s national pastime.