In October of this year, the Chicago Cubs will reach an unflattering and unwanted milestone: it will have been exactly 100 years since they last won a World Series. Interestingly, there is a significant Detroit connection to the tale.
In 1907 and 1908, the Cubs won back-to-back World Series championships against the Detroit Tigers — the only two titles in the team’s long and storied history. What is never mentioned is that both Series’ clinchers were won at the corner of Michigan & Trumbull in Detroit.
Bennett Park, the original wooden ballpark built in 1896 at The Corner, played host to the World Series in 1907, 1908 and 1909 as Ty Cobb and his Tigers won 3 consecutive American League pennants. (Unfortunately, they were unable to win a World Series at that time, losing to the Cubs in ’07 and ’08, and to Honus Wagner’s Pittsburgh Pirates in ’09).
In the 1907 World Series, Game 1 ended as a 3-3 tie at Chicago’s West Side Grounds. Then the Cubs swept past the Tigers, beating them in four straight games. Games 4 and 5 were played at Bennett Park and were the first World Series games ever played in Detroit. Game 5 saw the Cubs beat the Tigers in front of 7,370 fans and a post-game Cubbies’ victory celebration on the field.
1908’s Fall Classic wasn’t much better for the Tigers, but they were able to win their first World Series game that year. After losing Games 1 and 2, the Tigers were able to win Game 3 in Chicago by a score of 8-3. Games 4 and 5 were, again, played in Detroit at Bennett Park and the Cubs won them both.
I wonder if Cubs fans realize that 100% of their team’s championships were won at the corner of Michigan & Trumbull. Perhaps a candlelight vigil this October at The Corner would be a fitting tribute for Cubs fans all across the country.
Panoramic Photo of the 1907 World Series at Detroit’s Bennett Park.