Cubs Through History

The three major contenders for the presidential nomination at the Democratic National Convention 1932 (held at the Chicago Stadium from June 27 – July 2, 1932) were Franklin Roosevelt (Gov of NY), Speaker of the House John Nance Garner and former governor of New York and 1928 presidential candidate, Al Smith. Smith was the machine candidate. The NY Democratic machine (Tammany Hall) and the Chicago Democratic machine (run by Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak) were firmly behind the man who lost to Herbert Hoover in 1928. Cermak made sure the Stadium was packed with Al Smith supporters. Roosevelt had the support of influential Senators like Burton Wheeler, Cordell Hull, Alben Barkley, and Huey Long, who held the Deep South for Roosevelt. Roosevelt also had the western progressives, ethnic minorities, rural farmers, and intellectuals; none of which had previously been Democratic voters. Garner had newspaper magnate William Randolph Hearst behind him. Roosevelt didn’t win the 2/3 majority until Joseph P. Kennedy (father of John) convinced Hearst to get Garner to drop out and urge his supporters to go with Roosevelt. When that happened, Roosevelt won the nomination handily.

A significant decision was made by the National League while the nation’s Democrats were slugging it out at the Chicago Stadium. The league passed a rule requiring all teams to wear uniforms with numbers.

During the convention, these new Cubs uniforms (left) made their debut.

The 1932 Cubs were a powerhouse on their way to the pennant, and now they could be identified more easily by the fans.

These are the original numbers passed out that day…



1–Woody English (3B)
2–Billy Herman (2B)
3–Kiki Cuyler (OF)
4–Riggs Stephenson (OF)
5–Johnny Moore (OF)
6–Charlie Grimm (1B/manager)
7–Gabby Hartnett (C)
8–Rollie Hemsley (C)
9–Mark Koenig (SS)
11–Billy Jurges (SS)
12–Charlie Root (SP)
14–Guy Bush (SP)
15–Pat Malone (SP)
16–Burleigh Grimes (SP)
17–Lon Warneke (SP)
18–Bob Smith (RP)
19–Harry Taylor (1B)
21–Bud Tinning (RP)
22–Marv Gudat (RP)
23–Leroy Herman (RP)
27–Bobo Newsom (RP)
31–Stan Hack (3B)
34–Zach Taylor (C)
41–Red Corriden (coach)
42–Charley O’Leary (coach)
49–Vince Barton (OF)
51–Frank Demaree (OF)
56–Lance Richbourg (OF)

The numbers on the backs of uniforms remain to this day, although it should be noted that many of the players on this list eventually took different numbers in later seasons. With their new uniforms, the Cubs played a three game series against the Reds at Wrigley Field, winning the first two and losing the third. Guy Bush (#14) and Lon Warneke (#17) won, and Charlie Root (#12) took the loss. They were in first place as the Democrats left town, and they would go on to win the National League pennant, before losing to Babe Ruth’s Yankees in four straight.