Chicago Cubs: What would a 100+ win season mean?

It’s almost a given that the Chicago Cubs will win at least 100 games this season. They sit on the precipice, ready to claim that 100th win. Is it really just a number?

I’m a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan. I’ve been on this earth for 37 years, and I’ve never cheered for another team. But that 37 years is but a fraction of the time since the Cubs last won a World Series. There are fewer and fewer people on this earth that have seen the Cubs win one. A few more have seen them in a World Series. My father being one of them, but he was very young and doesn’t recall many details.

With the Cubs nearing 100 wins, it relates eerily to the century-long gap between titles. I’ve heard my share of it. “What do you call a Chicago Cubs player with a World Series ring? A thief.” Ha. Funny stuff. This is just one of the many I’ve heard and older fans have heard even more. I almost feel that winning that 100th game will help release…something. Pain. Frustration. Bitterness. The current team of Cubs don’t seem to be bearing the weight of past team, but often times the fans do.

Winning 100 games–or more—assures the Cubs of nothing in October. Only 98 teams in history have won 100 games in a season. The Cubs would be No. 99. If they somehow won out, they would finish 106-56. The irony of the Cubs long drought is that they still own the highest win total in a season. The 1906 Cubs went 116-36 but lost to the White Sox in the World Series. It’s quite a mix with teams that won 100+ games and if they won the World Series.

Next: Cubs using day-to-day focus

Maybe cracking the century mark in wins will help to alleviate the stigma of a century of futility. Maybe it will help separate fans from the years of “wait til’ next year”. It might not do any of that. But winning the NL Central with 100+ victories would have to feel good, even if it has no relevance on the postseason chances of the Cubs.

It’s a number that has been a part of Cubs’ fans for a while. And as I write this, Kris Bryant has collected RBI number 100 and 101, so clearly it’s a good thing. Let’s get all the wins we can this season, then reset for October and go get 11 more.