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The Chicago Cubs is a Major League Baseball team that is based in Chicago, Illinois. They are owned by the Tribune Company and managed by Lou Piniella, whereas John McDonough and Jim Hendry serve as its president and General Manager respectively. The Cubs and the Chicago White Sox are the two major league teams that are based in Chicago. Both of these clubs are the chartered members of their respective leagues.

After the success of the Cincinnati Red Stockings, the first professional team ever in 1869 several openly professional teams appeared on the scene around 1870. Each team aimed at scoring a victory against the Red Stockings. Several teams adopted different colors and strategies. White was chosen by the Chicago Cubs. A professional league named as the National Association was formed around 1871. it was a first of its kind.

Although the Cubs have seen some overall good seasons, they have failed to achieve the World Series championship title since 1908.

In the 1984 NLCS, the Baseball Cubs (http://www.sportsticketsguide.com/MLB.php) played against the San Diego Padres and managed two comfortable victories on their home ground. However the next three games were to be held in San Diego. Of these the Cubs only required one win to make it to the final. They lost the first of these games by a considerable margin. The fourth game was also lost after Steve Garey hit a winning home run. The fifth game was not any different. But they managed to take a led in the sixth game. But a little error led to the victory of the San Diego Padres that took them into the World Series.

Four years later their opponents were the San Francisco Giants in 1989 NLCS. History repeated itself. They won the first two games and despite having a lead lost three straight games owing to small blunders on the management’s behalf and the players, resulting to their exit from the NLCS.

However they managed to emerge victorious against the Atlanta Braves in the NLDS after 14 years. This win made history as it was their first postseason series win since 1908. After this they managed to win against Florida Marlins at a score of 3-1. it was being assumed that they will reach the World Series after 58 seasons.

A wild card entry entered them into the 1998 playoffs. Two young players, Sammy Sosa and Kerry Wood were main contributors to the teams overall success. Their opponents were once again the Atlanta Braves but they failed to repeat their earlier magic and lost out to the Atlanta Braves in three consecutive games.

Later in the 2006 season the Cubs were once again in a very good form. But unfortunately tan injury to their star player Derek Lee who was their baseman, sent the team into frenzy. They performed poorly and also set a record of scoring just 13 runs in 11 games.

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The Chicago Cubs are a Major League Baseball team in Chicago, Illinois. The Tribune Company is the owner of the team while the team is managed by Lou Piniella. John McDonough is team\’s President and Jim Hendry is the General Manager. The Cubs has the honor of being one of two major league teams based in Chicago. Chicago White Sox of the American League is the other team. Both clubs have attained the status of charter members of their respective leagues.

Cincinnati Red Stockings of 1869 is baseball\’s first openly all-professional team. The success and fame of this team led to a minor explosion of openly professional teams in 1870. Each team had a singular goal of defeating the Red Stockings. A number of them adopted variants on that name and color. Chicago adopted white as their primary color. After a summer of individually arranged contests among the various teams, the National Association was formed in 1871. It was the first professional league.

Chicago acquired several key players after the 1875 season. These included pitcher Albert Spalding of the Boston Red Stockings, and first baseman Adrian \”Cap\” Anson of the Philadelphia Athletics. At the same time, the club President, William Hulbert, was secretly busy in leading the formation of a new and stronger organization, the National League.

The White Stockings cruised through the National League\’s inaugural season of 1876 with its beefed-up squad. In the 1880s, The Chicagoans enjoyed some great seasons. They won 67 and lost 17, for an all-time record .798 winning percentage in 1880. Extrapolating an 84-game season onto a 162-game season is a dubious proposition, but it does provide some perspective to note that a similar winning percentage nowadays would yield 129 wins. Chicago won the pennant in 1885 and Clarkson had a fair year.

Since 1908, the Cubs have been failed to win a World Series championship. However, the team has been able to see good seasons in the past 40 years. The final results of some games were even agonizing.

Led by Hall Of Famers Ernie Banks, Ferguson Jenkins and Billy Williams, the Cubs had a substantial lead in August,1969. Soon the team faced collapse. At mid-month they led by 8 games over the Cardinals and 9 games over the Mets, but they wilted under pressure, lost key games against those surprising New York Mets. They staggered a shot at the postseason by 8 games (92-70).

In the 1984 NLCS, the Cubs won the first two games at Wrigley Field against the San Diego Padres. The Western Division champion held home field advantage in 1984, however. Games 3, 4, and 5 would be played in San Diego. To make it into the World Series, the Cubs needed to win only one game of the next three in San Diego. They were soundly beaten in game 3. When closer Lee Smith allowed a game-winning home run to Steve Garvey in the bottom of the 9th inning of Game 4, the Cubs lost a heartbreaker. Game 5 was just as bad – the Cubs took a 3-0 lead to the 6th inning, and a 3-2 lead into the 7th with 1984 Cy Young Award winner Rick Sutcliffe on the mound. But Sutcliffe tired, and a critical error by Leon Durham helped the San Diego Padres win the game and head to the World Series.

The Cubs were in the NLCS with the San Francisco Giants in 1989.They headed to the Bay Area after splitting the first two games at Wrigley Field. Despite holding the lead at some point in each of the next three games, bullpen and managerial blunders ultimately led to three straight losses and the team\’s exit from the postseason.

In 2003, the Cubs were successful in winning their first division title in 14 years. Their NLDS victory over the Atlanta Braves made a history. It was the team\’s first postseason series win since 1908. The Cubs then took a 3 games to 1 lead over the Florida Marlins. Keeping in view of their wonderful performance, it seemed they would reach the World Series for the first time in 58 seasons.

In 1998, the Cubs made it into the playoffs as a wild card team. The team was able to achieve this strength of a 60 HR season from Sammy Sosa and Kerry Wood\’s Rookie of the Year pitching performance. The Atlanta Braves was their playoff opponent. But the performance of the Cubs was poor against the Braves. They scored only four runs as they were swept in 3 straight games.

In 2006, the Cubs came out of the gate hot. But the team was sent into a tailspin of historic proportions with an injury to All-Star first baseman Derrek Lee. The team also set a franchise record for offensive futility by scoring only 13 runs in 11 games.
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The top MLB Baseball teams, Chicago White Sox, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees, Colorado Rockies, Florida Marlins and Boston Red Sox. The Boston Red Sox team has gained worldwide popularity for their brilliant performances over the past 10 years. Millions of loyal fans watch the Boston Red Sox on a day in and day out basis. The team features talented players who can drive the audiences crazy with their famous comebacks in the 9th innings.

Baseball in itself is an exciting game and when it is played by the Boston Red Sox, excitement increases by several folds. The spring training games of Boston Red Sox are quite popular among the youngsters. They love to wear jerseys and sweat shirts that look like the team jerseys. They keep an eye on the latest news related to Boston Red Sox players, their latest injuries and achievements. However, often it comes a tough task to obtain good Boston Red Sox seats.

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2005 Overview:

After finally breaking the 86-year curse of Babe Ruth not to mention performing one of the most miraculous comebacks in baseball history vs. the Yankees, the Boston Red Sox entered the 2005 season hopeful their good fortune would continue. Even though Curt Schilling’s ankle wasn’t 100% – the blueprint for 2005 began by adding newly acquired pitchers David Wells and Matt Clement to the starting rotation. But from the beginning of the season it was evident that Schilling’s ankle wouldn’t cooperate as he started only 3 games prior to the All Star break. Thankfully for Red Sox fans no one was running away with the AL East just yet.

It wasn’t hard for Boston to remain in the hunt for another AL East title especially with the lethal 1-2 offensive punch of Manny Ramieriz (.292 45 144) and David Ortiz (.300 47148) providing the bulk of the scoring. Outfielder Johnny Damon (.316 10 75) continued his impressive output as the Red Sox leadoff hitter while Trott Nixon (.275 13 67) and catcher Jason Varitek (.281 22 70) returned another season of impressive offensive numbers.

The starting pitching learned to live without Schilling with David Wells (15 7 4.45) assembling a decent season. Pitchers Matt Clement (13 6 4.57) and Tim Wakefield (16 7 4.15) also stepped up their game in order to keep the Red Sox and Yankees neck and neck until the last weekend series at Fenway. The Yankees won the season finale two games to one, leaving the Red Sox to face the Chicago White Sox in the Division Series. Unfortunately for the Red Sox, 2005 ended with a quick postseason departure as they were swept three games to none, losing game 3 in Fenway 5-3 to the White Sox.

Off Season Moves:

The chaos created by the initial departure of GM Theo Epstein proved beneficial for the Yankees who were able to snag free agent All Star Centerfielder Johnny Damon from under the Red Sox noses. Boston struck back days later completing a seven player deal with the Marlins netting 3rd baseman Mike Lowell (.236 8 58) starting pitcher Josh Beckett (15-8 3.37) and pitcher Guillermo Mota (2-2 4.70). Mota was later used to acquire outfielder Coco Crisp (.300 16 69 16 SB) who will be used to replace Damon in centerfield. Also picked up in the Crisp trade was reliever David Riske (3-4 3.10).

Other notable off season moves included trading Doug Mirabelli to the Padres for 2nd baseman Mark Loretta (.280 3 38) as well as sending infielder Edgar Renteria to the Braves for cash along with 3B Andy Marte. Additional moves included the Red Sox avoiding arbitration with infielder Tony Graffanino (.309 7 38) as well as adding pitcher Julian Tavarez (2-3 3.43) and outfielder J.T. Snow (.275 4 40).

2006 Analysis:

Expect the starting pitching for Boston to be stronger then last year with the addition of Josh Beckett and the anticipated rebound of Schilling. The Red Sox are also hoping that Wells will be more comfortable as the 3rd vs. number 1 starter – a role he was forced to assume when Schilling was unable to rebound from his 2004 ankle injury. The bullpen is upgraded with the addition of Tavarez and Riske. Expect Mike Timlin (7-3 2.24) Keith Foulke (5-5 5.91 15 saves) Jonathan Papelbon (3-1 2.65) and Bronson Arroyo (14-10 4.51) to pick up right where they left off last year.

Boston took it hard on the chin by losing Johnny Damon as his production and leadership will be missed but Crisp is a young player with a good deal of speed. Crisp posted career highs last year in runs (86), hits (178) and homers and the Red Sox are counting on him doing even more to fill the void left by Damon. Also expect Manny Ramieriz to be on the opening day roster as whispers of him leaving to the Orioles or Mets in some multi-team mega deal appear to be nothing more then fodder to sell newspapers. Few teams can manage Manny’s contract and the Red Sox seem to unwilling to offer and financial relief to any teams who have shown interest in acquiring him.