he team played its first games in 1876 as a founding member of the National League (NL) eventually becoming known officially as the Chicago Cubs for the 1903 season. Officially the Cubs are tied for the distinction of being the oldest currently active U.S. professional sports club along with the Atlanta Braves which also began play in the NL in 1876 as the Boston Red Stockings (Major League Baseball does not officially recognize the National Association of Professional Base Ball Players as a major league.