National League Pennant (1932)
The Cubs' final National League crown before an eighty-four-year drought.
The 1932 National League Pennant stands as a singular beacon of triumph in the Chicago Cubs' storied history, marking their last championship title until the historic 2016 World Series run. This achievement represents the culmination of a dominant regular season led by legendary figures like Charlie Grimm and Gabby Hartnett, securing the franchise's spot in the Fall Classic against the mighty New York Yankees.
- League
- National League
- Season
- 1932
- Manager
- Charlie Grimm
- Key Players
- Gabby Hartnett, Charlie Grimm, Kiki Cuyler
- Postseason Result
- Lost World Series to New York Yankees (4-0)
- Regular Season Record
- 90-65
Lore & Background
Securing the pennant with a gritty 90-65 record, the Cubs marched into the World Series only to collide with the most lethal lineup in baseball history: the 'Murderers' Row' Yankees of Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. While the series is forever defined by the mythos surrounding Ruth's alleged 'called shot' at Wrigley Field, the reality was a brutal showcase of offensive disparity. The Cubs fought valiantly but were ultimately pulverized by New York's power hitting, succumbing to a decisive four-game sweep that left Chicago in stunned silence.
In Their Own Story
The wind howled off Lake Michigan, whipping through the bleachers of Wrigley Field as the final out was recorded. Charlie Grimm wiped sweat from his brow, looking up at the scoreboard one last time before the season turned to autumn. The crowd roared, a mix of jubilation and nervous anticipation; they had conquered the National League, but the true test awaited in New York. Gabby Hartnett adjusted his mitt, the leather creaking softly, knowing that while they held the pennant, the ghosts of the Yankees were already waiting to haunt them.
Reader's Guide
On September 27, 1932, the Chicago Cubs clinched their fifth National League Pennant, edging out a fierce St. Louis Cardinals squad in a tense race that stretched into late September. Under the leadership of Charlie Grimm—who had recently transitioned from the team's beloved catcher to the dugout skipper—the squad posted a 90-65 record. Their success was built on Kiki Cuyler's relentless batting and a pitching rotation that held off challengers throughout the sweltering summer.
This victory holds a unique, bittersweet place in franchise history: it marked the Cubs' final pennant for an agonizing eighty-four years, creating a stark dividing line between an era of contention and the long drought that followed. The triumph propelled them into the World Series against the juggernaut New York Yankees, a team featuring icons like Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig. Though the Cubs were swept 4-0 in a series overshadowed by the 'called shot' controversy, the 1932 Pennant remains a testament to resilience during the Great Depression.
For historians and fans, this moment captures the peak of the Grimm-Hartnett era—a fleeting glimpse of championship potential that would not be realized again until 2016. It stands as a poignant reminder of how close the franchise came to breaking their curse decades early, representing both the height of early-20th-century success and the beginning of a long, arduous wait.
Did You Know?
- This was the last National League Pennant won by the Cubs until they finally broke the drought in 1945.
- Manager Charlie Grimm, who took the helm mid-season in 1932, had previously been a star catcher for the team before hanging up his gear to lead from the dugout.
- The 1932 World Series is immortalized by Babe Ruth's alleged 'called shot' at Wrigley Field, though historical debate continues over whether he truly pointed to center field before crushing the pitch.
- Despite their National League triumph, the Cubs were completely outmatched in the Fall Classic, getting swept 4-0 by a Yankees lineup that scored 37 runs across the series.