Chicago Cubs Baseball

A lot has happened with Chicago Cubs baseball while attending to a higher calling - out of town business. During my brief hiatus the Cubs put together a six-game winning streak, held on to first place in the NL Central and most importantly of all, collected their 10,000th franchise victory.

While cliche in its usage of describing any period of time, there’s perhaps no more apropos phrase to summarize Chicago Cubs history than simply to say, “What a long strange trip it’s been.”

Only the New York/San Francisco Giants have won more games than the Cubs and without any research attached to this next statement, I believe it’s safe to say no major league team has lost more either.

I believe it’s also within reason to say there is no more loyal fan base in any professional sport than those that make up Cubdom. Despite what Cincinnati Reds broadcaster Marty Brennaman might say or think.

For the better part of its 100-plus years history, Chicago Cub baseball has endured more futility than fruitfulness, more tribulations than triumphs. And so has Cubdom in its loyalty to a city and a baseball team, who’s most noteworthy claim is being known as “lovable losers.”

I’ve been fortunate enough to have followed the Cubs through 2,001 of its 10,000 victories. In that same time I’ve seen 2,162 defeats.

The Cubs have won a National League Division title three times in that period and have finished last on seven occasions. Thirty-eight different men have managed the Chicago Cubs in that time - even if for one game.

Yes, a long, strange trip indeed.

Maybe the nickname that has been attached to the Cubs can be applied to us, their fans, as well. Like our favorite team, we win some, and we lose some. If we look hard enough I’m sure somewhere on the roadmap of our lives it’s dotted with our glories as well as those speckles we’d just as soon forget.

Like the Chicago Cubs, we endure. And we hope for a good day and dream of a better tomorrow.

Happy 10,000 victory, Chicago Cubs. You’ve earned every one of them.