A Glance At Greatness: The Chicago Cubs All-Time Team

This is the fifth article in a series dedicated to selecting all-time teams for all 30 current MLB franchises. To view the others, click http://bleacherreport.com/users/67791-Schmitters

Team Name: Chicago Cubs

Year Established: 1870

City: Chicago

Ballpark: Wrigley Field

Previous Nicknames: White Stockings (1870-1889), Colts (1890-1987), Orphans (1898-1901)

League: National League

Division: NL Central

Other Leagues: National Association (1870-1875)

Number of Playoff Appearances: 18

Number of Pennants: 16

World Series Titles: 1907, 1908

All-Time Team

Catcher: Gabby Hartnett

First Base: Cap Anson

Second Base: Ryne Sandberg

Third Base: Ron Santo

Shortstop: Ernie Banks

Outfield: Kiki Cuyler, Billy Williams, Sammy Sosa

Pitchers: Mordecai Brown, Bruce Sutter, Charley Root, Fergie Jenkins, Lee Smith

Bench: Hack Wilson, Jimmy Ryan, Bill Nicholson

Manager: Cap Anson

Recap:

The easiest players to pick were Sandberg, Anson, Santo, Banks, and the pitching staff.

Anson was the first great baseball player and was also a great manager. He is the player/manager of this team.

Banks was arguably the greatest shortstop of all-time. He is the leader of this team.

The Cubs have a good pitching staff and surely rank in the top 10 (maybe five) in that category.

They have one of the best double-play combinations in Banks, Sandberg, and Anson.

If they had this team in real life, they wouldn't have to wait 100 years for a World Series.

(But I guess I don't have much room to talk, it took the Phillies 97 years.)

Next: Chicago White Sox