List of Chicago Cubs seasons

The following lists the results of every season of the Chicago Cubs baseball club of Major League Baseball beginning in 1870 and continuing to 1876 as a charter member of the National League (NL). The White Stockings changed their name in 1890 to the Chicago Colts and again in 1898 to the Chicago Orphans until finally settling in 1903 with the name of the Chicago Cubs.

While the organization Major League Baseball recognizes only seasons in select leagues from 1876 to the present as major league, many baseball historians consider major league baseball to have started earlier. Some include seasons from the National Association, and others include its predecessor organization, the National Association of Base Ball Players.

The Chicago Cubs have completed 150 seasons of baseball, second only to the Atlanta Braves at 151. Within this time, the Cubs have won 17 National League pennants, 3 World Series championships, 3 pre-World Series Championships, and tied for 2 pre-World Series Championships. By virtue of their pennants and playoff championships, the Cubs can claim to be the best team in baseball in eight different seasons. However, they also lay claim to the longest championship drought in North American sports history: 108 seasons from their second World Series title in 1908 to their third in 2016.

The Cubs have been members of three organized leagues, beginning with the amateur National Association of Base Ball Players in 1870, followed by three seasons in the professional National Association of Professional Base Ball Players, and the National League since 1876.

Year by year

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Chicago Cubs regular season record by season
MLB
season
Team
season
League Division Regular season Postseason results Awards
Finish W L Pct GB
Chicago White Stockings
1870 1870 NABBP * 1st 22 7 .759
1871 1871 NA 3rd 19 9 .679 2
1874 1874 NA 5th 28 31 .475 18.5
1875 1875 NA 6th 30 37 .448 35
1876 1876 NL * 1st 52 14 .788
1877 1877 NL 5th 26 33 .441 15½
1878 1878 NL 4th 30 30 .500 11
1879 1879 NL 4th 46 33 .582 10½
1880 1880 NL * 1st 67 17 .798
1881 1881 NL * 1st 56 28 .667
1882 1882 NL * 1st 55 29 .655
1883 1883 NL 2nd 59 39 .602 4
1884 1884 NL 5th 62 50 .554 22
1885 1885 NL * 1st 87 25 .777 Tied World Series (Browns) 3–3–1[a] *
1886 1886 NL * 1st 90 34 .726 Lost World Series (Browns) 4–2 *
1887 1887 NL 3rd 71 50 .587
1888 1888 NL 2nd 77 58 .570 9
1889 1889 NL 3rd 67 65 .508 19
Chicago Colts
1890 1890 NL 2nd 84[b] 53 .613 6
1891 1891 NL 2nd 82 53 .607
1892 1892 NL 7th 70 76 .479 30
1893 1893 NL 9th 56 71 .441 29
1894 1894 NL 8th 57 75 .432 34
1895 1895 NL 4th 72 58 .554 15
1896 1896 NL 5th 71 57 .555 18½
1897 1897 NL 9th 59 73 .447 34
Chicago Orphans
1898 1898 NL 4th 85 65 .567 17½
1899 1899 NL 8th 75 73 .507 26
1900 1900 NL 6th 65 75 .464 19
1901 1901 NL 6th 53 86 .381 37
1902 1902 NL 5th 68 69 .496 34
Chicago Cubs
1903 1903 NL 3rd 82 56 .863 8
1904 1904 NL 2nd 93 60 .608 13
1905 1905 NL 3rd 92 61 .601 13
1906 1906 NL * 1st 116 36 .763 Lost World Series (White Sox) 4–2 *
1907 1907 NL * 1st 107 45 .704 Won World Series (Tigers) 4–0 †
1908 1908 NL * 1st 99 55 .643 Won World Series (Tigers) 4–1 †
1909 1909 NL 2nd 104 49 .680
1910 1910 NL * 1st 104 50 .675 Lost World Series (Athletics) 4–1 *
1911 1911 NL 2nd 92 62 .597 Frank Schulte (MVP)[4]
1912 1912 NL 3rd 91 59 .607 11½
1913 1913 NL 3rd 88 65 .575 13½
1914 1914 NL 4th 78 76 .506 16½
1915 1915 NL 4th 73 80 .477 17½
1916 1916 NL 5th 67 86 .438 26½
1917 1917 NL 5th 74 80 .481 24
1918 1918 NL * 1st 84 45 .651 Lost World Series (Red Sox) 4–2 *
1919 1919 NL 3rd 75 65 .536 21
1920 1920 NL 5th 75 79 .487 18
1921 1921 NL 7th 64 89 .418 30
1922 1922 NL 5th 80 74 .519 13
1923 1923 NL 4th 83 71 .539 12½
1924 1924 NL 5th 81 72 .529 12
1925 1925 NL 8th 68 86 .442 27½
1926 1926 NL 4th 82 72 .532 7
1927 1927 NL 4th 85 68 .556
1928 1928 NL 3rd 91 63 .591 4
1929 1929 NL * 1st 98 54 .645 Lost World Series (Athletics) 4–1 * Rogers Hornsby (MVP)[5]
1930 1930 NL 2nd 90 64 .584 2
1931 1931 NL 3rd 84 70 .545 17
1932 1932 NL * 1st 90 64 .584 Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–0 *
1933 1933 NL 3rd 86 68 .558 6
1934 1934 NL 3rd 86 65 .570 8
1935 1935 NL * 1st 100 54 .649 Lost World Series (Tigers) 4–2 * Gabby Hartnett (MVP)[6]
1936 1936 NL 2nd 87 67 .565 5
1937 1937 NL 2nd 93 61 .604 3
1938 1938 NL * 1st 89 63 .586 Lost World Series (Yankees) 4–0 *
1939 1939 NL 4th 84 70 .545 13
1940 1940 NL 5th 75 79 .487 25
1941 1941 NL 6th 70 84 .455 30
1942 1942 NL 6th 68 86 .442 38
1943 1943 NL 5th 74 79 .484 30½
1944 1944 NL 4th 75 79 .487 30
1945 1945 NL * 1st 98 56 .636 Lost World Series (Tigers) 4–3 * Phil Cavarretta (MVP)[6]
1946 1946 NL 3rd 82 71 .536 14½
1947 1947 NL 6th 69 85 .448 25
1948 1948 NL 8th 64 90 .416 27½
1949 1949 NL 8th 61 93 .396 36
1950 1950 NL 7th 64 89 .418 26½
1951 1951 NL 8th 62 92 .403 34½
1952 1952 NL 5th 77 77 .500 19½ Hank Sauer (MVP)[6]
1953 1953 NL 7th 65 89 .422 40
1954 1954 NL 7th 64 90 .416 33
1955 1955 NL 6th 72 81 .471 26
1956 1956 NL 8th 60 94 .390 33
1957 1957 NL 7th 62 92 .403 33
1958 1958 NL 5th 72 82 .468 20 Ernie Banks (MVP)[6]
1959 1959 NL 5th 74 80 .481 13 Ernie Banks (MVP)[6]
1960 1960 NL 7th 60 94 .390 35
1961 1961 NL 7th 64 90 .416 29 Billy Williams (ROY)[7]
1962 1962 MLB 9th 59 103 .364 42½ Ken Hubbs (ROY)[7]
1963 1963 NL 7th 82 80 .506 17
1964 1964 NL 8th 76 86 .469 17
1965 1965 NL 8th 72 90 .444 25
1966 1966 NL 10th 59 103 .364 36
1967 1967 NL 3rd 87 74 .540 14
1968 1968 NL 3rd 84 78 .519 13
1969 1969 NL East[c] 2nd 92 70 .568 8
1970 1970 NL East 2nd 84 78 .519 5
1971 1971 NL East 3rd 83 79 .512 14 Fergie Jenkins (CYA)[8]
1972 1972 NL East 2nd 85 70 .548 11
1973 1973 NL East 5th 77 84 .478 5
1974 1974 NL East 6th 66 96 .407 22
1975 1975 NL East 5th 75 87 .463 17½
1976 1976 NL East 4th 75 87 .463 26
1977 1977 NL East 4th 81 81 .500 20
1978 1978 NL East 3rd 79 83 .488 11
1979 1979 NL East 5th 80 82 .494 18 Bruce Sutter (CYA)[8]
1980 1980 NL East 6th 64 98 .395 27
1981 1981[d] NL East 6th 15 37 .288 17½
5th 23 28 .451 6
1982 1982 NL East 5th 73 89 .451 19
1983 1983 NL East 5th 71 91 .438 19
1984 1984 NL East ^ 1st 96 65 .596 Lost NLCS (Padres) 3–2 Ryne Sandberg (MVP)[6]
Rick Sutcliffe (CYA)[8]
Jim Frey (MOY)[9]
1985 1985 NL East 4th 77 84 .478 23½
1986 1986 NL East 5th 70 90 .438 37
1987 1987 NL East 6th 76 85 .472 18½ Andre Dawson (MVP)[6]
1988 1988 NL East 4th 77 85 .475 24
1989 1989 NL East ^ 1st 93 69 .574 Lost NLCS (Giants) 4–1 Jerome Walton (ROY)[7]
Don Zimmer (MOY)[9]
1990 1990 NL East 4th 77 85 .475 18
1991 1991 NL East 4th 77 83 .481 20
1992 1992 NL East 4th 78 84 .481 18 Greg Maddux (CYA)[8]
1993 1993 NL East 4th 84 78 .519 13
1994 1994 NL Central[e] 5th 49 64 .434 16½ Playoffs cancelled[f]
1995 1995 NL Central 3rd 73 71 .507 12
1996 1996 NL Central 4th 76 86 .469 12
1997 1997 NL Central 5th 68 94 .420 16
1998 1998 NL Central 2nd ¤ 90[g] 73 .552 12½ Lost NLDS (Braves) 3–0 Sammy Sosa (MVP)[6]
Kerry Wood (ROY)[7]
1999 1999 NL Central 6th 67 95 .414 30
2000 2000 NL Central 6th 65 97 .401 30
2001 2001 NL Central 3rd 88 74 .543 5
2002 2002 NL Central 5th 67 95 .414 30
2003 2003 NL Central ^ 1st 88 74 .543 Won NLDS (Braves) 3–2
Lost NLCS (Marlins) 4–3
2004 2004 NL Central 3rd 89 73 .549 16
2005 2005 NL Central 4th 79 83 .488 21
2006 2006 NL Central 6th 66 96 .407 17½
2007 2007 NL Central ^ 1st 85 77 .525 Lost NLDS (Diamondbacks) 3–0
2008 2008 NL Central ^ 1st 97 64 .602 Lost NLDS (Dodgers) 3–0 Geovany Soto (ROY)[7]
Lou Piniella (MOY)[9]
2009 2009 NL Central 2nd 83 78 .516
2010 2010 NL Central 5th 75 87 .463 16
2011 2011 NL Central 5th 71 91 .438 25
2012 2012 NL Central 5th 61 101 .377 36
2013 2013 NL Central 5th 66 96 .407 31
2014 2014 NL Central 5th 73 89 .451 17
2015 2015 NL Central 3rd ¤ 97 65 .599 3 Won NLWC (Pirates)
Won NLDS (Cardinals) 3–1
Lost NLCS (Mets) 4–0
Jake Arrieta (CYA)[8]
Kris Bryant (ROY)[7]
Joe Maddon (MOY)[9]
2016 2016 NL * Central ^ 1st 103 58 .640 Won NLDS (Giants) 3–1
Won NLCS (Dodgers) 4–2
Won World Series (Indians) 4–3 †
Kris Bryant (MVP)[6]
Ben Zobrist (WS MVP)
2017 2017 NL Central ^ 1st 92 70 .568 Won NLDS (Nationals) 3–2
Lost NLCS (Dodgers) 4–1
2018 2018 NL Central 2nd ¤ 95 68 .583 1 Lost NLWC (Rockies)
2019 2019 NL Central 3rd 84 78 .519 7
2020 2020 NL Central ^ 1st 34 26 .567 Lost NLWC (Marlins) 2–0
2021 2021 NL Central 4th 71 91 .438 24
2022 2022 NL Central 3rd 74 88 .457 19
2023 2023 NL Central 2nd 83 79 .512 9
2024 2024 NL Central 3rd 83 79 .512 10

Record by decade

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The following table describes the Cubs' MLB win–loss record by decade.

Decade Wins Losses Pct
1870s 253 194 .566
1880s 691 395 .636
1890s 711 654 .521
1900s 879 592 .598
1910s 826 668 .553
1920s 807 728 .526
1930s 889 646 .579
1940s 736 802 .479
1950s 672 866 .437
1960s 735 868 .459
1970s 785 827 .487
1980s 735 821 .472
1990s 739 813 .476
2000s 807 811 .499
2010s 817 803 .504
2020s 345 363 .487
All-time 11327 10767 .513

All-time records

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As of September 30, 2019

Totals Wins Losses Ties Per.
All-time regular season record 11,082 10,488 157 .514
  Opening Day 69 62 2 .559
All-time postseason record[h] 47 73 .392
  Wild Card Game 1 1 .500
  National League Division Series 12 15 .444
  National League Championship Series 11 21 .344
  World Series 23 36 .390
All-time regular and postseason record 11,129 10,561 157 .513

Footnotes

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  1. ^ The dispute in 1885 concerned Game 2, which was forfeited by St. Louis when they pulled their team off the field protesting an umpiring decision. The managers, Cap Anson and Charles Comiskey, initially agreed to disregard the game. When St. Louis won the final game and an apparent 3–2 Series championship, Chicago White Stockings owner Albert Spalding overruled his manager and declared that he wanted the forfeit counted. The result of a tied Series was that neither team got the prize money that had been posted by the owners before the Series (and was returned to them after they both agreed it was a tie).[1]
  2. ^ The official Chicago Cubs website reports 84 wins for 1890;[2] however, Baseball-Reference.com reports 83 wins because the game on May 23 was ruled a no-decision even though the score was 10–8 in the Cubs' favor[3]
  3. ^ In 1969 MLB expanded by 4 teams to 12 in each league and split each league into an East and West division, the Cubs were placed in the National League East.
  4. ^ The 1981 season was shortened by a player's strike. MLB decided to split the season into two halves with the division winner of each half playing in a Divisional Round of the playoffs.
  5. ^ In 1994 MLB split each league into 3 divisions. The Cubs were placed in the newly created National League Central.
  6. ^ There was no postseason in 1994 due to the 1994–95 Major League Baseball strike.
  7. ^ The Cubs played 163 games to resolve a regular season record tie with the San Francisco Giants for the wild card playoff spot and forced a one-game playoff tiebreaker, which the Cubs won 5-3.
  8. ^ This does not include pre-modern World Series games (Champions from 1876 to 1904).

References

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General

  • "Chicago Cubs 1871 Season". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  • "Chicago Cubs History". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  • "Wrigley Field History". Chicago Cubs Official website. Archived from the original on February 9, 2007. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
  • "Chicago Cubs Franchise History". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 27, 2007.
  • "Chicago Cubs Year-by-year results". Chicago Cubs Official website. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  • "Chicago Cubs Awards". Chicago Cubs Official website. Retrieved July 25, 2007.
  • "Chicago Cubs Post-season results". Chicago Cubs Official website. Retrieved July 26, 2007.

Specific

  1. ^ Jon David Cash, Before They Were Cardinals: Major League Baseball in Nineteenth-Century St. Louis. University of Missouri Press 2002
  2. ^ "Year-by-Year Results". Cubs.com. MLB Advanced Media, LP. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  3. ^ "1890 Chicago Colts". Baseball-Reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved 14 April 2016.
  4. ^ "Baseball Awards Voting for 1911". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  5. ^ "Baseball Awards Voting for 1929". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h i "All-time winners Most Valuable Player". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  7. ^ a b c d e f "All-time winners Rookie of the Year". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  8. ^ a b c d e "All-time winners Cy Young Award". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 19 November 2015.
  9. ^ a b c d "All-time winners Manager of the Year winners". Major League Baseball. Retrieved 19 November 2015.