Much has been said and written about the 1969 Cubs. They may have been the most popular Cubs team of the last half century.

The most popular Cubs team of the first half century was another team that didn't win it all--the 1930 Cubs.

They featured one of the most powerful lineups of all-time. Centerfielder Hack Wilson was on his way to setting a National League record for home runs in a season (56) and a Major League record for RBI in a season that still stands today (191). He was joined in the lineup by fellow future Hall of Famers Gabby Hartnet, Kiki Cuyler, Rogers Hornsby, and George Kelly, not to mention the Cub with the best lifetime average of all-time, Riggs Stephenson, and crowd favorites like Charlie Grimm and Woody English.

The pitching staff featured 20-game winner Pat Malone, 15-game winner Guy Bush, and the winningest Cubs pitcher of all-time, Charlie Root.

To top this off, they were managed by one of the greatest managers in baseball history--Joe McCarthy.

The team's personality also seemed to fit the mood of wide-open Chicago during Prohibition. At a time when alcohol was illegal, Hack Wilson and Pat Malone were legendary carousers and drunks. Hornsby was a notorious gambler who borrowed thousands of dollars from his teammates. As for the fans, among the attendees that season were Al Capone (who was photographed with Cubs catcher Gabby Hartnett--a photo that appeared in the Chicago Tribune), and John Dillinger (Public Enemy #1, who attended the games disguised as a mailman.) In fact, the Cubs led the National League in attendance, drawing a then unheard of 1,463,624 fans. And this was during the Depression!

Even after Hornsby suffered a broken leg on May 30th, the Cubs marched on. By September 1st they had a five game lead. On September 6th, with 19 games left to play, the Cubs led by four games.

Then they fell apart. Third baseman Les Bell hurt his arm. The Cubs went to Brooklyn and were swept by the Dodgers. On September 12th, they dropped out of first, and never returned.

On September 25th, manager Joe McCarthy resigned after owner William Wrigley announced he didn't want him back in 1931. The Cubs ended the season in second place, two games out of first.

Even though the Cubs made the World Series three times in the 30s (1932, 1935, and 1938), no Cubs team captured Chicago's imagination like the 1930 Cubs.

Unfortunately, in true Cubs fashion, they got rid of the one man who might have put them over the edge during their most successful decade. Joe McCarthy was named the manager of the New York Yankees the following year and led them to nine pennants and eight championships, including two World Series victories over the Cubs (1932 & 1938).