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 final eight selections for outfielder.
Frank Schulte debuted for the Cubs in September of 1904. He was part of four pennant-winning teams, including the back-to-back championships in 1907 and 1908. He led the NL in home runs in 1910 and 1911, when he became the first player in MLB history to have 20 or more doubles, triples, home runs, and stolen bases in a single season. That feat earned him the NL MVP award, then known as the Chalmers Award. He remained with the Cubs through July of 1916.
Jimmy Sheckard spent seven seasons with the Cubs near the turn of the 20th Century, helping the team to four NL pennants and World Series Championships in 1907 and 1908. One of the most versatile outfielders of his time, Sheckard still holds the record for most double plays as a left fielder, with twelve in 1911. His best offensive season also came in 1911, leading the NL in runs and walks, and his 147 walks remains a team record.
Jimmy Slagle manned center field for seven seasons, helping the Cubs win back-to-back-to-back NL championships from 1906-1908, the latter two ending with World Series titles. He is the first player to accomplish a straight steal of home plate in a World Series in 1907. A classic leadoff man for his era, Slagle was known for his speed, contact hitting, and exceptional defense.
Alfonso Soriano signed an eight-year contract with the Cubs prior to the 2007 season and helped lead the team to back-to-back division titles in 2007 and 2008. Unfortunately, the Cubs were swept in both division series and, as the team started to unravel in the next few seasons, injuries and time started to take their toll on Soriano. As new leadership under Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer came in and the Cubs started to rebuild, Soriano and his $18 million per year deal no longer fit with the team’s needs. After some aborted attempts to move him in 2012 that were blocked by his no trade clause, Soriano finally agreed to a deal in 2013 to go back to the Yankees.
Sammy Sosa, the most prolific home run hitter in Cubs history, spent thirteen seasons with the Cubs. He, along with Mark McGwire, captivated the nation in 1998 while chasing, and eventually surpassing, Roger Maris’ record of 61 home runs. Sosa holds the major league record with three seasons of 60+ home runs and finished his career with 609, 545 of which came with the Cubs. He finished his time on the north side as a seven-time All-Star, six-time Silver Slugger winner, the 1998 NL MVP, and the 1998 Roberto Clemente Award. His Cub career came to an acrimonious end amid steroid allegations and leaving the team prior to the end of the 2004 season, a rift that did not end until 2025, when he was elected to the team’s Hall of Fame.
Riggs Stephenson was one of the most dangerous hitters of his era, spending nine seasons with the Cubs from 1926–1934. Stephenson was regularly among the National League’s top hitters, finishing in the top five in batting average three times, including a remarkable .367 in 1929. He was a key contributor to the 1929 and 1932 NL pennant‑winning teams. Stephenson is a member of the Cubs Hall of Fame.
Billy Williams spent the first 16 seasons of his career with the Cubs, winning Rookie of the Year in 1961 and the NL batting title in 1972. Williams set a National League record of 1,117 consecutive games played between 1962 and 1971. He was a six-time All-Star and, in 1987, he was elected to the Hall of Fame and saw his #26 retired by the Cubs.
Hack Wilson spent six seasons toiling for the Cubs, from 1926-1931. He led the NL in home runs four times and RBIs twice. His 191 RBI in 1931 remains the MLB record to this day. Wilson had a combative streak and was known for starting fights, both with opposing players and fans. In 1926, he was arrested following a game in a prohibition-era speakeasy. In 1928, a riot broke out in St. Louis when he jumped into the stands to attack a heckling fan. In 1979, he was elected to the Hall of Fame.
The three obvious choices here are Billy Williams, Sammy Sosa, and Hack Wilson. The next three are tough, since they would likely all come from the earliest parts of the 20th century, if not the late 19th. If we focus on the Hall of Famers, that gives us King Kelly and Andre Dawson. Riggs Stephenson might round out my selections.