Chicago Cubs: 3 Myths About the Cubs and Their Fans

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With the Cubs attempting to make their way back into contention, many are calling for a culture change in Chicago. But what is Chicago Cubs culture, precisely?

The Cubs are an old team, old enough to have its own legends and mystique. But it is time to separate fact from fiction. Here are three pervasive myths about the Chicago Cubs and their fans.

The Cubs Are a Losing Franchise

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More than anything else, the Cubs are associated with losing. But is this accurate? The answer: yes and no.

The Cubs are in the midst of a well-documented championship drought. Cubs fans have been hoping for a championship for over a century—and have always been disappointed. The sheer length of the drought lends it a nearly surreal quality; it is such an astonishing fact that it has become part of the Cubs identity.

That said, the Cubs actually have a winning record throughout their history, at 10,311 wins to 9,779 losses. Not only is it a winning record, but the Cubs have the sixth best all-time record among active teams.

Further, their winning record is not only dependent upon the Cubs' early 20th century glory years. In the last decade, the Cubs have taken three division titles and once had the best record in the National League—a fairly productive stretch.

Wrigley Field Is Responsible for the Cubs' Attendance

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Wrigley Field is iconic, beautiful and a tourist attraction, but it is not responsible for the Cubs' high attendance numbers. According to ESPN, the Cubs' road attendance is consistently one of baseball's best. Since 2001, the Cubs have always been in the top five in road attendance, and are often first or second.

 

We can conclude then, that Wrigley Field is not responsible for the Cubs' consistently strong attendance.

Cubs Fans Are Optimistic

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Cubs fans are not optimistic. A fan base that considers itself cursed cannot simultaneously expect victory.

Even during the Cubs' best seasons in recent memory (2008, 2003), there was a palpable sense of tension going into the playoffs. Fans expected something to go wrong—they were just waiting for disaster to strike. It always did.

Yes, there is always a hope that the Cubs can overcome their drought, but if they ever do, it will come as a surprise, even to the Cubs faithful. It is an odd dynamic—there is hope, but it is only a tattered shred.

But it is amazing what a single championship can do for a long-suffering city, as Boston and Philadelphia have discovered. Until that point, if it ever comes, expect Cubs fans to be a gloomy bunch.