The Plan

Overview

A behind-the-scenes look at the Chicago Cubs' journey from lovable losers to World Series champions.

In 2011, Theo Epstein took on the challenge of rebuilding the Chicago Cubs, initiating a plan to end their century-long World Series drought. This is the story of how Epstein, GM Jed Hoyer, and manager Joe Maddon transformed the team through strategic player acquisitions, a focus on player development, and a commitment to building a winning culture.

The Plan reveals the inner workings of the Cubs' organization, featuring exclusive interviews with key figures like Epstein and owner Tom Ricketts. Discover how the Cubs overcame adversity, fostered fan loyalty, and ultimately achieved their long-awaited triumph. This is the definitive account for baseball fans eager to relive the Cubs' historic rise.

Author Biography

See Author

Media

The Chicago Tribune: These books fly the W

The New York Times: Now Batting: 14 New Baseball Books

Book Signings

Past Events

Press Releases

The Plan:

Epstein, Maddon, and the Audacious Blueprint for a Cubs Dynasty

By David Kaplan / Foreword by Anthony Rizzo

Contact: Bill Ames, Triumph Books, 312.676.4256, b.ames@triumphbooks.com

The Chicago Cubs are World Series champions. Breaking the Cubs’ World Series drought was a moment 108 years in the making, but it took more than just (extraordinary) patience and good luck to get there.  It took years of rebuild and overhaul and getting the right people in place, like curse-breaker Theo Epstein.  

In The Plan: Epstein, Maddon, and the Audacious Blueprint for a Cubs Dynasty (Triumph Books, May 2017), David Kaplan of Comcast SportsNet Chicago and ESPN 1000 goes behind the scenes to find it what it took for the Cubs to ditch the Lovable Losers moniker and become champions. From the vision and determination in the front office to the all-star talent taking the field, Kaplan details every step of the process to completely transform the Chicago Cubs into a championship-caliber franchise. Highlights include:

• A determined foreword by Anthony Rizzo and a heartfelt introduction by Commissioner Bud Selig
• Exclusive interviews with Theo Epstein, Tom Ricketts and other team insiders
• How the Ricketts family came to own the Cubs and transformed the organization
• An inside look at Theo Epstein’s management philosophy and what makes him the best in the business
• Insight into Joe Maddon and players like Bryant, Rizzo, Schwarber and Arrieta and the key trades that built the team

The Plan is all about the transformation of one of the most iconic franchises in sports’ history.

After years of rebuilding, Epstein's crystalline vision has been unquestionably realized in the form of one of the most exciting and talented teams in baseball, led by heavyweight players and visionaries like manager Joe Maddon as well as a front office and owners that were willing to do everything that needed to be done to create a new era on the North Side.

About the Author:

David Kaplan is a three-time Emmy Award winner. He currently hosts “Kap and Co.” on ESPN Radio 1000, and hosts “Sports Talk Live” and the Chicago Cubs pre- and post-game shows on Comcast SportsNet Chicago. You can follow him on Twitter at @thekapman.

###