1908 Cubs-What a Year!

As we poor Cub fans struggle through yet another year of futility, it might be nice to return to the last year they won the World Series (1908).

There they are. The 1908 World Champion Cubs. No that isn't Wrigley Field. It wasn't opened until 6 years later and didn't become home to the Cubs until 1916. In 1908 the Cubs were playing at the West Side Grounds.



1908 World Series-Cubs vs Tigers. Batter is Ty Cobb



Chicago 1908


1908 was the year my dear old Dad, (God rest his soul) was born.

Mohatmas Gandhi was a young lawyer and civil rights activist in South Africa.




Adolf Hitler was a 19-year-old down and outer living in Vienna and trying to make a living drawing post cards.

World War I was still 6 years away.


Robert Peary sailed for the North Pole.

A star was added to the US flag to represent Oklahoma (admitted to the union in 1907).

Henry Ford introduced the Model T-price $825.



Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid were killed by Bolivian soldiers in a shootout.

Cy Young threw a no-hitter for Boston against the New York Highlanders, a team that played at Hilltop park and would become the Yankees in 1913.

Hilltop Park-Home of the New York Highlanders

Tim Jordan of the Brooklyn Superbas led the major leagues in home runs with 12.

Teddy Roosevelt was president, but William Howard Taft won the 1908 election.

Workers broke ground on the future Shibe Park (later Connie Mack Stadium), which would serve as home field for the Phillies and Athletics.

Shibe Park, Philadelphia 1929



Connie Mack Stadium being torn down ca. 1966

The University of Pittsburgh football team was the first to put numbers on their uniforms. In fact, at that time, Pittsburgh's name was officially spelled "Pittsburg" (1890-1911).

Milton Berle, Betty Davis, Rex Harrison, and Michael Redgrave were born.

Ex-President Grover Cleveland died.


Jack Johnson defeated Tommy Burns and becamse the first black Heavyweight boxing champion.

The first documented person was killed in a plane crash. In the same crash, Orville Wright was injured.

There was no TV. Hell, even radio was a new thing.

I know. You think I'm making this all up, but it's true. Ahh...it seems like only yesterday.



"Ain't my f------' fault! Hendry's the f------' guy!"