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The Chicago Cubs and the ‘March Madness’ bracket

By Bill Quinn |
Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
Ernie Banks, Chicago Cubs (Photo by Brad Mangin/MLB Photos via Getty Images)
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Ron Santo, Chicago Cubs (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
Ron Santo, Chicago Cubs (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

With the cancellation of two of the most significant sporting events of the year, here’s a Chicago Cubs and March Madness combo to tide you over until sports are back.

Without any semblance of sports or normality in American society currently, it’s hard to be excited about the prospects surrounding much of anything right now. That being said, we’re here to keep you entertained and add some levity to your day. What better way to do such a thing than to give you a little bit of Cubs baseball history and a tie in to the best tournament of the year- March Madness.

Regardless of your knowledge of the Chicago Cubs, this is an opportunity to get to know some of the greatest Cubs of all time, their eras, their stats, and what kind of players they were. It’s also a way to pit modern versus old school players in an attempt to settle who is the GOAT in Cubs history.

When designing the brackets, the parameters were pretty simple. Using career bWAR for all players, the bWAR is a total amount of bWAR garnered during a Chicago Cubs. Note that some of the players would be much higher if their career bWAR with different teams were used, but that may or may not come into play when we start having these players square off against each other to determine how they advance through the bracket.

For now, the object is to rank all of the players, create 1 through 16 seeds, and then set up matchups in four different regional brackets. For more significant fan input and to have your voice heard about who should win each matchup, please comment and make your picks on both the Facebook and Twitter links to this specific article. And, of course, check back as we progress through the bracket.

Harry Caray, Chicago Cubs (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images)
Harry Caray, Chicago Cubs (Photo by Stacy Revere/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Wrigley Region

The Wrigley Region is home to some of the biggest and most recognizable names in Cubs history, including its modern history as well. With the likes of Santo, Jenkins, Williams, Wood, Wilson, Rizzo, Bryant, and Sutcliffe, this region will pit some of the best Cubs of all time against one another.

While Bryant and Wood are underdogs in this bracket, there’s no telling what happens once March is upon us. It’s hard to think anyone will oust Santo or Williams before they meet in the Elite Eight, but there could be some upsets along the way. While most Cubs fans know exactly who and what Santo was, for those of you who don’t, Santo slugged 337 home runs and drove in 1290 RBI in his 15-year career (all with the Chicago team as he played his final season on the southside).

UNDATED: Vintage Baseball Schedule. 1939 Chicago Cubs schedule with home schedule on the reverse side. (Photo by John Kanuit/Sports Studio Photos/Getty Images)
UNDATED: Vintage Baseball Schedule. 1939 Chicago Cubs schedule with home schedule on the reverse side. (Photo by John Kanuit/Sports Studio Photos/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Weeghman Region

The Weeghman Region is host to the number 1 overall seed in the Cubs March Madness, Cap Anson. While Anson might not be a household name because he played in the 19th century, he is still one of the greatest offensive players in club history. His 3,012 hits and 1,880 RBI are both still tops in team history, with no real threats to either in sight.

Current Cub pitcher Hendricks is in this bracket, but as a 15 seed and a tough road out of the first round. One matchup that bears watching for sure is one of the greatest Cub pitchers of all time, but a guy who only spent half his career with the Cubs in Maddux. While he should have no problem with Gore in the first round, it’ll be an exciting matchup with top seed Anson in the round of 32.

Sloan Park, Chicago Cubs (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
Sloan Park, Chicago Cubs (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Mesa Region

In the Mesa Region, Ryno reigns over the bracket as the top seed with Slammin’ Sammy as the 2 seed in the bottom half of the bracket. Other notables include more modern Cubs Ramirez, Grace, and Zambrano.

Reuschel, one of the most underrated Cubs of all time, is the 3 seed in the region and could make some noise if Sosa can’t be forgiven. Reuschel boasts 214 career wins (135 with the Cubs) and finished third in the 1977 Cy Young race as a 20 win All-Star with the Cubs.

Chicago Cubs (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images)
Chicago Cubs (Photo by Mark Rucker/Transcendental Graphics, Getty Images) /

Chicago Cubs: Catalina Region

The Catalina region, so named for the old-time spot for Cubs “Spring Training,” boasts one of the most varied of the regions, with old school Cubs, 21st century Cubs, as well as Mr. Cub. Banks is the top seed and will square off against a name most modern fans know in Dempster for a first-round matchup.

Jake Arrieta, he of the 2015 Cy Young (and 2016 World Series hero), is a 15 seed, which goes to show you how deep the Cubs rich and storied history has been. One of the best hitters in modern times with the Cubs is also on the list, as Lee slides in as the 14 seed where he’ll square off against turn-of-the-century hurler Brown, who had a six-year run with more than 20 wins in each season.

Next. Santo took too long to appreciate. dark

Make sure you check out the bracket articles on both Cubbies Crib accounts on Twitter and Facebook to comment and vote for who you want to win each matchup. Then, check back as we go through each matchup on the road to the Final Four.

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