Cubs dynasty underway with second consecutive World Series title

October 15, 1908, from Chicago Sporting Fanatic

With yesterday’s 2-0 victory over the Detroit Tigers, our beloved Chicago Cubs did more than just win their second consecutive World Series – they started a dynasty.

“The thing this team has excelled at is building for the present as well as the future,” player/manager Frank Chance said after the victory. “If you think things are good now, think what they’ll be like in 100 years. We’ve won two of the five World Series titles, that’s 40 percent of them. Do the math; by 2008 we should have 42 championships. 42!”

Indeed, the city of Chicago shares Chance’s optimism, as well they should. The Cubs franchise is proving to be synonymous with winning, but they’re not resting on their laurels. Rumor has it they are already working on bringing a championship to Chicago next year.

While starting pitchers Orval Overall (15 wins) and Jack Pfiester (12 wins) both enjoyed quite a bit of success this season, neither held a candle to the team’s star – Mordecai “Three-Finger” Brown. Brown finished the season with a 29-9 record and a miniscule 1.47 ERA, prompting some level of jealousy from other’s on the Cubs pitching staff.

“I jokingly said, ‘I’d give my right index finger to pitch like that guy,’” Overall said. “Turns out the team owner was behind me and took what I said to heart. He’s already scheduled finger removal surgery for next Friday. I’m a little scared – I don’t think anesthesia has been invented yet.”

Despite the urging of teammates and the front office, Pfiester has been less willing to go forth with the surgery. Chance would not comment at length on the situation, only saying, “If there’s one thing this organization knows, it’s how to handle young pitchers.”

The team has also discussed building a new ballpark to replace the 16,000-seat West Side Park. During Game 2 of the series the Cubs sold standing room only tickets, bringing the attendance of that game to 17,760 and prompting owners to contemplate a larger, more modern ballpark.

Of course, fans of the team have had mostly negative things to say about a new ballpark. Many believe that West Side Park is a large part of the Cubs history and tradition, and that getting rid of it would only alienate the fan base.

Others, including local activist Chesterfield Dailey, aren’t necessarily against a new ballpark – they are just against the one being proposed.

“The ballpark that has been proposed on the North Side of the city will never work,” said Dailey. “First, I have heard from very good sources they are considering selling the naming rights to a chewing gum company, which is absurd and ludicrous.

“Also, the team is talking about growing ivy on the outfield walls. Are these guys on opium, or what? I know for a fact that at least two of the Cubs outfielders are allergic to ivy. I just hope these fat cats are willing to have that blood on their hands.”

In the end, though, this surely won’t be a big issue for a winning team like the Cubs. After all, how much does a stadium even matter when you’re in the World Series every year?

It should also be noted the amount of class and dignity shown by the Tigers, who suffered their second consecutive World Series defeat. Chance was very impressed by the professionalism that Detroit showed.

“They’re a great organization,” he said. “Especially Ty Cobb – it’s amazing how nice he is. When he’s retired people are going to look back on his career and say, ‘He was a great hitter, but he was a greater person.’”

The Tigers are a likely foe for the Cubs next season, when Chicago inevitably returns to the World Series. Of course, not everyone is talking about next season.

“I’m just so happy right now, I wouldn’t care if we didn’t win another championship for a century,” said shortstop Joe Tinker. “Of course, I’m not speaking literally. I’d fucking kill myself if we went that long without a title, seriously.”

It’s going to be tough for this sport to sweep any nations, but it’s still pretty frickin’ cool!