Originally founded in 1869, the Chicago Cubs became a charter member of the National League in 1876. Over the next 150 seasons, the Cubs have played more than 22,000 games, scored over 103,000 runs and recorded more than 200,000 hits, more than any other team in baseball history. Nearly 2,300 players have worn a Cubs uniform, earning eight division titles, 17 NL pennants, and three World Series championships.
Fans have witnessed generations of unforgettable players, from historical heroes like Joe Tinker, Gabby Hartnett, Ernie Banks, and Billy Williams to more recent stars like Ryne Sandberg, Derrek Lee, Kerry Wood, and Anthony Rizzo. The team has called Wrigley Field home for 110 of those 150 seasons.
To celebrate this milestone, the Cubs are holding a fan vote to select the franchise’s anniversary team. Each week, we will go through the provided options for each position and declare who should, and, if different, who will, win the fan vote. We continue today with the second eight selections for starting pitcher.
Ken Holtzman was selected by the Cubs in the fourth round of the 1965 draft and made his major league debut that September after just twelve minor league appearances. He joined the starting rotation the following year, and, serving in the National Guard, was only available to start on weekends in 1967, going 9-0 in his twelve appearances. He threw two no-hitters, the first in 1969 against the Braves and the second in 1971 against the Reds. He asked to be traded following the 1971 season. He is a member of the team’s Hall of Fame.
Bill Hutchison spent seven seasons with the franchise now known as the Cubs, from 1889-1895. He led the National League in wins from 1890-1892 and strikeouts in 1892. He still ranks fourth all-time in franchise history in wins, second in innings pitched, sixth in strikeouts, and first in loses, complete games, walks allowed, and wild pitches.
Fergie Jenkins spent ten of his 19 years in the big leagues across two stints with the Cubs, first from 1966-1973 and again from 1982-1983. A three-time All-Star, he led the National League in victories in 1971, strikeouts in 1969, and earned the Cy Young Award in 1971. Jenkins was enshrined in the Hall of Fame in 1991 and his number 31, shared with Greg Maddux, was retired by the club in 2009.
Bill Lee spent two stints with the Cubs, from 1934-1943 and again in 1947. He earned the save in Game 5 of the 1935 World Series, temporarily keeping the team alive. A two-time All-Star, he led the National League in both wins and ERA in 1938. In 1962, he was inducted into the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame.
Jon Lester signed with the Cubs following the 2014 season. A two-time All-Star as a Cub, he helped lead the team to the post-season in five of his six seasons. In 2016, he was named, along with Javy Baez, as co-MVP of the NLCS. He then made three appearances, including a relief appearance in Game 7, as the Cubs won their first World Series in 108 years. In 2018, he led the NL in wins with 18. His final season with the Cubs was his worst, during the pandemic-shortened 2020. Later this summer, he will be inducted into the team’s Hall of Fame.
Greg Maddux got his start with the Cubs in 1986. Over the first seven years of his career, he became one of the shining stars of the National League, helping lead the team to the 1989 NL East title and winning the first of his four consecutive NL Cy Young awards in 1992. Eleven seasons after before being allowed to leave as a free agent by GM Larry Himes, Maddux returned to the Cubs in 2004. He defeated the Giants in August of that year to win his 300th game and, in July of 2005, he struck out his 3000th batter. In 2006, with the Cubs far out of contention, he was traded to the Dodgers for their stretch run. His number 31, shared with Fergie Jenkins, was retired by the club in 2009 and he was elected to the Hall of Fame in 2014, with 97.2% of the vote.
Orval Overall spent six years with the Cubs across two stints with the franchise. He was acquired during the 1906 season and helped lead the team to the NL pennant before losing to the crosstown White Sox in the World Series. He continued to dominate as the Cubs won the next two World Series in 1907 and 1908. After leading the NL in strikeouts in 1909, he retired abruptly after 1910. He returned in 1913, appearing in eleven games before retiring again for good. He is a member of the Cubs Hall of Fame.
Ed Reulbach debuted with the Cubs in 1905, remaining with the team until 1913. Reulbach won at least 17 games in every season from 1905 to 1909, helping to lead the team to three NL pennants. In Game 2 of the 1906 World Series, he threw a one-hitter, the best pitching performance until Don Larsen’s perfect game in 1956. On September 26, 1908, he threw two shutouts in a double header against Brooklyn, the one pitcher in MLB history to accomplish the feat. A member of the team Hall of Fame, he was the last surviving member of the 1907 and 1908 championship teams when he died in 1961.