Speaking For A Change

The Chicago Cubs - 1945 - 2016
2024-03-15 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | Private Venue
THIS PROGRAM IS FREE, LIVE, AND IN-PERSON!
In the first half of the 20th century, the Cubs were one of the mightiest teams in baseball—a perennial pennant contender despite not winning the World Series since 1908.
The second half of baseball’s 20th century entrenched a memorable phrase in America’s national consciousness: The Chicago Cubs were “lovable losers.” Despite having some great players – Ernie Banks, Ron Santo, Billy Williams, Fergie Jenkins, Greg Maddux, Mark Grace, Ryne Sandberg, Kerry Wood, Carlos Zambrano, and Sammy Sosa – the Cubs rarely reached the postseason. More commonly, they mostly endured one long losing season after another long losing season. Empty bleachers, a crumbling Wrigley Field, cheap ownership, and terrible trades became the lasting hallmarks of the once mighty Chicago Cubs. Even when the Cubs occasionally field a strong, competitive team and begin to make a promising postseason run, something always seems to go wrong. The Cubs were still “lovable losers.”
In 1969, a black cat running in front of Ron Santo seemed to symbolize the utter futility of the Cubs. A customarily sure-handed first baseman let a ball go by him, and the postseason was lost. A hapless fan wearing headphones reached for a foul ball, and our World Series hopes were dashed. On and on it went. And then came 2015! The arrival of some of baseball’s most talented prospects created a fun, exciting, and competitive team. In 2016, the Cubs finally won the World Series!
The long, slow march of the Cubs – from the cheapness and racism of the Wrigley years to the boredom and inactivity of the years of ownership by the Chicago Tribune and by Sam Zell has given way to a unique feeling of hopefulness on the part of Cub fans. A robust ownership team brought in the financial resources and personnel necessary to begin turning the Cubs into a perennial contender once again. In this multimedia presentation, filled with fabulous film clips, amazing anecdotes, and nostalgic photos, we will trace the confounding Chicago Cubs from 1945 to 2016.
