Cubs: Team names before they were called the “Cubs”

Chicago Cubs: A younger roster got a new nickname in 1890

The team was going through what some could call an old fashion “rebuild” in the late 1880s when older players left and young ones came in. Cap Anson was still around, becoming player/manager of the squad and a stockholder of the team. As a veteran player and manager with a bunch of young players, the team became known as “Anson’s Colts” or Chicago Colts.

The Chicago Colts in 1890 were still playing home games at the first West Side Park, which was located on W. Congress and S. Loomis Street. In 1892 they were playing games at South Side Park before moving to the West Side Grounds on Lincoln and Polk Street in 1893. The Colts wore laced up collard shirts with the name “Chicago” over the breast area with high socks and dark shoes.

Over 1890-1897 the Colts did not see much success, only finishing as high as second place twice and middle of the pack or towards the bottom through most of that span. Other notable names on the team during this era included future Hall of Famer Clark Griffith, who would win the ERA title in 1898.