Catcher Al Lopez of the Brooklyn Dodgers holds up the ball to the umpire as proof that he had it when he tagged Chicago Cubs outfielder Kiki Cuyler as he reached home plate at Wrigley Field in May of 1935. [Photos Flickr Creative Commons]
CHICAGO — The Cubs are nearing the century win mark for the first time in more than 80 years.
Only five times have the North Siders reached 100 wins, and this year's team — which has 99 victories with seven games to play — almost certainly will reach the three-figure total.
It would be the first time the Cubs have done that since 1935, when they finished 100-54 and lost in six games to the Detroit Tigers in the World Series.
The Cubs also won at least 100 games in 1910, 1909, 1907 and 1906 — when they won a major league-record 116 games. The 1908 club — the Cubs' last to claim a World Series title — won 99 games.
The 1935 team was led offensively by first baseman and Lane Tech graduate Phil Cavarretta, who had 162 hits and 82 RBIs; catcher Gabby Hartnett, who had 13 home runs and 91 RBIs; outfielder Chuck Klein, who belted a team-high 21 home runs; and second baseman Billy Herman, who had 227 hits, 113 runs scored and 83 RBIs.
Pitchers Lou Warneke and Bill Lee each won 20 games, while Larry French had 17 victories.
This year's team's 99 victories are the most the Cubs have won since 1945, when they won 98 times — and also advanced to their last World Series.
Wrigley Field during the 1935 World Series, which the Cubs lost in six games to the Detroit Tigers.
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