The Chicago Cubs are one of Major League Baseball’s oldest franchises, founded in 1876 as the Chicago White Stockings and a charter member of the National League. The team adopted the Cubs name in 1903, and since 1916 has played at Wrigley Field, the second-oldest ballpark in the major leagues and the oldest standing National League ballpark [1]. The franchise ended a 108-year World Series drought with a dramatic Game 7 victory over the Cleveland Indians in 2016 [2].
Design and History
The franchise began as the Chicago White Stockings in 1876, one of eight charter members of the National League. The team was known by several names, including the Colts and the Orphans, before adopting the Cubs name in 1903 [3]. The Cubs are the only charter National League team still playing in its original city [1].
Wrigley Field opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park, built for Charles Weeghman and his Chicago Whales of the Federal League. The Cubs played their first National League game there on April 20, 1916, defeating the Cincinnati Reds. The ballpark was renamed Cubs Park in 1920 and officially became Wrigley Field in 1926, after William Wrigley Jr. [1].
The team’s signature blue has been part of its uniforms since 1901, and the large “C” with “ubs” inside has appeared in the logo design off and on since 1918 [4]. The red “C” was introduced in 1919, and a blue outline was added around the entire logo in 1941 [5].
The current primary logo is a large red “C” with the letters “UBS” inside, all placed within a royal blue circle. This design has been in use since 1979, when the blue circle was made thicker than in earlier versions [6]. The red “C” and blue circle arrangement traces its lineage to a 1957 design, when the outline around the lettering was first swapped for a circle [7]. In 1957, the outline was replaced with a thin blue circle, which was made thicker in 1970 and again in 1979, producing the current primary logo [8].
In 2016, the Cubs released a commemorative logo for the team’s 100 years at Wrigley Field, featuring a version of the team’s 1916 logo in modern colors [9]. For the 2025 season, the team unveiled a powder blue uniform with a newly designed logo: a stylized red “C” with a star at its midpoint, plus blue lettering to complete the team name, a nod to the franchise’s logos from the early-to-mid 1900s [10].
Frequently Asked Questions
When were the Cubs founded? The franchise was established in 1876 as the Chicago White Stockings, one of eight charter members of the National League. The team adopted the Cubs name in 1903 [3].
How long was the Cubs’ championship drought? The Cubs endured a 108-year championship drought from 1908 to 2016, the longest in North American professional sports history, before winning the 2016 World Series in a dramatic Game 7 against the Cleveland Indians [2].
What makes Wrigley Field significant? Opened in 1914 as Weeghman Park and the Cubs’ home since 1916, Wrigley Field is the second-oldest ballpark in the major leagues and the oldest standing National League ballpark. It features ivy-covered brick outfield walls, a manually-operated scoreboard, and a flag bearing a “W” or “L” atop the scoreboard after each game [1].
What does the current Cubs logo look like? The current primary logo, in use since 1979, features a large red “C” with “UBS” inside, all placed within a thick royal blue circle [6].
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