Panoramic Photo Above:
Redland Field, Cincinnati, during 1919 World Series
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1935 Cubs Photo Gallery
Cubs’ Winning Streaks Recall the Great 1935 Cub Team!
Reading the Chicago Sun-Times yesterday, I learned that the Cubs’ recent consecutive game winning streak (which, sadly, ended last night at ten with a 6-0 loss to the Rangers), combined with an earlier 10-game winning streak, had placed the team in truly historic territory – at least for the Cub franchise. When I read this, my baseball history alarm bells went off, and I’d be remiss in my duties as your friendly baseball historian if I didn’t call it to my readers’ attention.
(In the featured photo above, we see Wrigley Field at the start of the 1935 World Series)
Already in this young season, the Cubs have had two winning streaks of at least nine games. Since the Cubs moved into Wrigley Field in 1916, two nine-game winning streaks had only happened three times previously: the pennant-winning season of 1935, in which the Cubs had streaks of 21 and 11 games; the 1927 Cubs with streaks of 12, nine, and nine; and the 1918 pennant-winning Cubs, which won nine in a row twice. Despite their three streaks, the 1927 team somehow managed to finish in fourth place, eight games behind the pennant-winning Pirates!
Digging a little deeper, I also learned that with their win on Friday night – extending the current streak to 10 games – this Cub team is only the second in franchise history to have two double-digit winning streaks in the same season, the aforementioned 1935 team being the other.
Other streaks of note in Cub history include 12 in a row by Don Baylor’s 2001 Cubs; and Leo Durocher’s 1970 Cubs, which won 11 in a row. Altogether, the Cubs have had 26 winning streaks of nine or more since 1916.
The 1935 Cubs
All this gives me a chance to take a look back at that 1935 Cub team – one loaded with talent, including no less than five future Hall of Famers: Gabby Hartnett, Billy Herman, Kiki Cuyler, Chuck Klein, and Freddie Lindstrom. Other stars included Woody English, Billy Jurges, Augie Galan, Phil Cavarretta, and a stand-out pitching staff led by Larry French, Big Bill Lee, Charlie Root, and Lon Warneke.
Managed by “Jolly Cholly” Grimm, the team finished at 100-54 (.649), four games ahead of the 1934 defending National League and World Series champions, St. Louis Cardinals, better known as the Gashouse Gang. Grimm had taken over for Rogers Hornsby in August of 1932 and led the Cubs to the 1932 World Series. He would add a third flag for the Cubs by winning the 1945 pennant. The Cubs would not win one hundred games again until 2016.
The North Siders lost the 1935 World Series in six games to the equally talented Detroit Tigers, managed by Hall of Famer Mickey Cochrane. Other than winning the pennant, the highlight of the year was the 21-game winning streak, which began on September 4. The Cubs wouldn’t lose again until September 28, tying the franchise and major league record set in 1880 when they were known as the Chicago White Stockings. Another highlight was Gabby Hartnett winning the 1935 National League MVP award, the first catcher to do so.
So popular were the Cubs and baseball in the 1930s that their games were carried by no less than three Chicago stations: Hall of Fame broadcaster Bob Elson on WGN, Pat Flanagan on WBBM, and Russ Hodges (who would go on to fame as the Giants’ announcer with his legendary, “The Giants win the pennant!…The Giants win the pennant!” call in the 1951 playoff series), on WIND.
The hope for Cub fans like me is that the 2026 Cubs will follow in the same path as the 1935 team with a National League pennant…and then alter the script by winning the 2026 World Series!
Gary Livacari
Photo Credits: All found on Google search
Information: Chicago Sun-Times, “Taking a streak peek at Cubs history,” by Gordon Edes, May 9, 2026; Stats from Baseball Reference.com
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Good luck to your Cubs this season. Hopefully they’ll keep their momentum going all the way to the Series.
Thanks Ron!
Cubs are good. If the pitching holds up they could have a special season!
Thanks for the info Paul…I had no idea.
Lets hope Mark…thanks!
Gary,
Gordon Edes is a great writer and historian. He wrote for the Boston Globe for many years. He then became the official historian for the Boston Red Sox.
Once the pandemic hit, his position was cut as club income was practically non-existent.
Lost track of him for awhile, but it appeared he hooked on with the Cubs and even gave tours at Wrigley Field. Found out recently he hooked on with the Sun Times. Interesting guy.