On May 12, 1970, Ernie Banks stepped up at Wrigley Field in the second inning against Atlanta Braves left-hander Pat Jarvis. He was sitting on 499. He hit the next pitch into the left-field bleachers. Career home run #500. Mr. Cub became just the 9th player in MLB history to reach the milestone, joining a club that to that point included Babe Ruth, Mel Ott, Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Willie Mays, Mickey Mantle, Eddie Mathews, and Hank Aaron — every name a Hall of Famer, every name an icon. Banks circled the bases under heavy May rain that delayed the game shortly after. The Cubs eventually won 4-3 in 11 innings. The 39-year-old Banks would play one more season after this one, retiring with 512 career home runs — every single one in a Cubs uniform. Banks never played a postseason game. His Cubs never won a pennant in his 19 seasons. But he was the most beloved player in Chicago history and "Let's play two!" lived on long after he hung up the glove.
Since 1898, there have been 283 no-hitters in Major League Baseball. In all but four of them, the pitcher responsible threw at least one strikeout. Two of these no-hitters came in the dead ball era, with Pete Dowling completing the feat in 1901 and Earl Hamilton doing the same in 1912. The live ball era saw Sad Sam Jones accomplish the oddity in 1923. However, the final strikeout-less no-hitter happened on August 19th, 1969, with Chicago Cubs pitcher Ken Holtzman going the distance with three walks allowed. Holtzman gave up 12 ground balls and 15 fly balls to the visiting Atlanta Braves, with his closest call coming in the seventh inning. Hank Aaron hit a deep fly ball to left field that had no business staying in the yard, but the Friendly Confines must have felt generous that day, with the ball landing in Billy Williams’ glove right in front of the ivy. Personally, I don’t think we will ever see another no-hitter without even a single strikeout. It’s beyond impressive that there’s been one in an era that even vaguely resembles modern baseball today.
The Chicago Cubs represent the North Side of Chicago from the Friendly Confines of Wrigley Field, the second-oldest ballpark in Major League Baseball and one of the sport's most cherished landmarks. The ivy-covered outfield walls, manual scoreboard, and iconic red marquee have made Wrigley a pilgrimage site for baseball fans from around the world, with day baseball and the neighborhood's vibrant atmosphere creating an unmatched game-day experience. The Cubs' passionate, long-suffering fanbase finally celebrated in 2016 when the curse was broken, and that championship has only deepened the devotion of one of sports' most loyal followings. The franchise's classic blue pinstripes and 'C' logo evoke over a century of baseball tradition on Chicago's North Side. The Cubs remain one of baseball's most valuable and popular franchises, with Wrigleyville's bars and rooftops creating a communal celebration of the national pastime.
Founded in 1876 as the Chicago White Stockings, the Cubs are one of baseball's two remaining charter National League franchises, with a history that includes multiple championships in the dead-ball era. The 1908 championship was the franchise's last for 108 years, creating the 'Curse of the Billy Goat' and the 'Lovable Losers' identity that defined generations of Cubs fandom. Ernie Banks's eternal optimism—'Let's play two!'—and Ron Santo's passion made them beloved figures during decades of futility, while the 1969 collapse and 1984 and 2003 heartbreaks only deepened the mythology. The 2016 championship, featuring Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo, and the rain-delayed Game 7 victory in Cleveland, triggered one of the largest championship celebrations in sports history. The Cubs-Giants and Cubs-Cardinals rivalries rank among baseball's fiercest, with Wrigley Field serving as the constant backdrop to over a century of baseball drama.
Source: Claude