Commending the Chicago Cubs baseball team as it celebrates its 150th anniversary on August 29, 2026.

Commending the Chicago Cubs baseball team as it celebrates its 150th anniversary on August 29, 2026.

Whereas the Chicago Cubs became a charter member of the National League of Professional Baseball Clubs in 1876;

Whereas, since 1876, more than 182,000,000 fans have attended Chicago Cubs games, and millions more have listened to games on the radio and watched on television across the United States and the world;

Whereas the founding team had only 11 players for the entire season, including hall of famers James “Deacon” White, Adrian “Cap” Anson and Albert G. Spalding;

Whereas Albert G. Spalding, a native of Illinois and founder of the sporting goods company which still bears his name today, served as the pitcher and manager;

Whereas the 1906 Chicago Cubs finished the season with a record of 116–36, before losing the World Series to the Chicago White Sox;

Whereas the Chicago Cubs' 116 victories in the 1906 season remain tied for the Major League Baseball single-season record;

Whereas the Chicago Cubs won both the 1907 and 1908 World Series against the Detroit Tigers while playing home games at the West Side Grounds;

Whereas the Chicago Cubs have played at Wrigley Field since 1916, which is a designated National Historic Landmark and the second oldest active ballpark in Major League Baseball;

Whereas Wrigley Field was the last baseball stadium to have lights installed in 1988, the first stadium to have an organ playing music, the first stadium to build permanent concession stands, and the first ballpark to broadcast an entire season of home games live;

Whereas “Wrigleyville” is the vibrant neighborhood that surrounds Wrigley Field, providing a location for fans to support surrounding small businesses, galvanize the city of Chicago, and come together to root the Chicago Cubs to victory;

Whereas Harry Caray, whose trademark call of “Holy Cow” became known to baseball fans around the world, broadcasted thousands of baseball games during a career spanning more than 50 years, including 16 seasons as the beloved television voice of the Chicago Cubs from 1982 through 1997, was inducted into the National Sportscasters and Sportswriters Hall of Fame and the National Association of Broadcasters Hall of Fame, and received the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award;

Whereas legendary broadcaster Jack Brickhouse, who served as the voice of the Chicago Cubs on the radio from 1940 through 1944, became the television announcer from 1947 through 1981, and was known for his “Hey-Hey!” catchphrase, was inducted into the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame and awarded the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award;

Whereas Pat Hughes, the Chicago Cubs lead play-by-play radio announcer, whose voice is woven into the fabric of sports culture in Chicago, called the 2016 World Series championship that ended the 108-year drought for the Cubs, and was inducted into the Chicago Cubs Hall of Fame and awarded the National Baseball Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award;

Whereas, between 1948 and 2019, WGN-TV revolutionized baseball broadcasting and brought Chicago Cubs baseball to the masses, airing more than 7,000 Cubs games and helping spread the thrills of Cubs baseball through its unsurpassed sports coverage and its historic partnership with the team;

Whereas the Chicago Cubs have won 8 division titles, 17 National League pennants, and 3 World Series championships, including in 2016 when the Cubs completed a historic comeback from down 3 games to 1 to defeat the Cleveland Indians in 7 games;

Whereas the parade following the 2016 World Series championship, attended by an estimated 5,000,000 people, celebrated the Cubs making the World Series for the first time since 1945 and breaking the so-called “Curse of the Billy Goat”;

Whereas the Chicago Cubs have scored more than 103,400 runs, have more than 200,000 hits, and are only the third franchise in Major League Baseball to have hit over 15,000 home runs;

Whereas more than 50 players, managers, and executives for the Chicago Cubs have been enshrined in the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, New York;

Whereas Ferguson “Fergie” Jenkins became one of the most dominant pitchers in the 1960s and 1970s, and in 1971 went 24–13, throwing complete games in 30 of his 39 starts and becoming the first pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and the first Canadian to win the Cy Young Award;

Whereas, between 1953 and 1971, Ernie Banks, who was later awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Barack Obama and inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, played as shortstop and first baseman for the Chicago Cubs and was well-known for his catchphrase, “It’s a beautiful day for a ballgame ... Let’s play two!”;

Whereas, in 1998, Sammy Sosa, 1 of 8 players in history with more than 600 home runs, famously battled with the rival Cardinals’ Mark McGwire to break Roger Maris’ single-season record of 61 home runs, earning the National League Most Valuable Player Award and leading the Cubs to the playoffs;

Whereas Ron Santo, who played third base for the Cubs for 14 seasons, was selected to 9 All-Star Games, won 5 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, and was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame;

Whereas Billy Williams, left fielder and 6-time All Star, was named 1961 National League Rookie of the Year after hitting 25 home runs with 86 runs batted in and is a member of the National Baseball Hall of Fame;

Whereas Hall of Fame second baseman Ryne “Ryno” Sandberg made 10 consecutive All-Star Game appearances, won 9 consecutive Gold Gloves from 1983 through 1991, and delivered one of the most memorable performances in Chicago Cubs history during what is known as the “Sandberg Game,” hitting game-tying home runs in the ninth and tenth innings against future Hall of Fame closer Bruce Sutter and helping the Cubs defeat the St. Louis Cardinals 12–11 in 11 innings;

Whereas famous Chicago Cubs such as Frank Chance, Johnny Evers, Joe Tinker, Mordecai Brown, Gabby Hartnett, Hack Wilson, Stan Hack, Phil Cavarretta, Andre Dawson, Lee Smith, Kerry Wood, Anthony Rizzo, and more than 2,000 others have brought joy to fans for generations; and

Whereas, since 2009, Cubs Charities has donated more than $51,000,000 to promote youth sports and improve the well-being of children and families throughout Chicago and Illinois: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate commends the Chicago Cubs on the celebration of their 150th anniversary on August 29, 2026, in light of their successes on the field, their significant contributions to the sport, and the tremendous sense of pride they have provided for all those who have played for, worked for, and enjoyed the triumphs of the Chicago Cubs.