{"version":1,"type":"rich","provider_name":"Libsyn","provider_url":"https:\/\/www.libsyn.com","height":90,"width":600,"title":"117: The Chicago Cubs Origin Story \u2013 With Jack Bales","description":"University of Mary Washington research librarian and baseball historian Jack Bales (Before They Were the Cubs: The Early Years of Chicago's First Professional Baseball Team) joins the podcast to help us dig into the surprisingly rich history of Major League Baseball\u2019s long-time North Side Chicago franchise well prior to 1903, when they formally adopted their now-signature nickname.  While even some of the most ardent of Chicago Cubs fans unwittingly believe that year to be the team\u2019s first season (it was actually their 28th in the National League, as well as 34th as a professional baseball club); and the \u201cfriendly confines\u201d of Wrigley Field to be their original and only home (in fact, not until 1916 when they adopted the former Federal League Chicago Whales\u2019 Weeghman Park, their sixth place of residence dating back to 1870) \u2013 the history of the \u201cCubs\u201d long predates their apocryphal launch. Bales touches on some of the cornerstones of primordial Cubs history including: Their actual start in 1870 as the Chicago White Stockings \u2013 one of the nation\u2019s first professional baseball clubs \u2013 playing in the largely amateur National Association of Base Ball Players (and winning the championship); Segueing into a new, first-ever all-pro National Association (of Professional Base Ball Players) as a charter member the following year; Launching as a charter member of the 1876 National League \u2013 winning its first title behind ace pitcher (and future sporting goods baron) Albert Spalding, and capturing six of the league\u2019s first ten pennants behind baseball\u2019s first superstar Adrian \u201cCap\u201d Anson; Becoming colloquially known as \u201cAnson\u2019s Colts\u201d \u2013 until fully adopting the new nickname circa 1890; Anson\u2019s abrupt firing in 1897, leaving sportswriters to rebrand the suddenly star-less Colts as the \u201cOrphans\u201d; AND The informal early 1900s origins of the now-iconic \u201cCubs\u201d moniker, and how it officially stuck by the 1903 season. Please support the show by visiting and making a purchase from one (or more!) of our great sponsors: SportsHistoryCollectibles.com (code: GOODSEATS); Streaker Sports (code: GOODSEATS); 503 Sports (code: SEATS); and OldSchoolShirts.com (code: GOODSEATS)! ","author_name":"Good Seats Still Available","author_url":"https:\/\/goodseatsstillavailable.com","html":"