The CHICAGO CUBS- a complete history

[Nick Soulis]

BASEBALL MONTHYLY

March 1901

AMERICAN LEAGUE IS BORN
Stabalizing Force For "Better baseball" promised

The National League has since 1871 been the example of the a stable baseball league. Even with this distinction however the league has been plauged by a number of insecurities that have often times alienated. Issues such as drunkeness, gambeling, and roughnecks have been a trademark of the American ballplayer.

With the popularity of the game as high as ever, there is room for another league with as much power as the National. The claims of this league however are not to be as strong as the National, but to bodly be better then the National. What the American Association, Players League, and Western League could not acomplish, the new American League is confident they can do.

One man leads this charge more then anyother, that man is Ban Johnson. Johnson who was a former sportswriter has made leaps and bounds in his influence in the game and now has unveiled an ambitous plan. Along with former ballplayers such as Charles Comiskey at his side, Johnson has influenced the Western League teams to come together and create a new better league.

The principles met at the Palmer Hotel in Chicago this winter and put together the league rules and expectations. New stadiums are going up all over the country to rival the established markets. Ticket prices will be less then the National League and alcohol and gambling are promised to be eradicated.

"The American League is a cleaner, better brand of baseball for America" said Johnson, who hasput things into motion very quicly and the American League schedule is ready to go for the new spring season.

Mind you that the National League has been quite vocal of their accusations of the new league, making claims and attacks that have no bearing. Concerns over contract jumpers and secret negotiations of National players has also been suspected.

The World Series will remain in place and should only improve as both league are now more legitimate.

Rube Waddell Feared Out For Season

One of the most popular drawing cards in the league wont be entertaining fans anytime soon. With news of the incoming American League, the National League and the Cincinnati Reds got the worse possible news as Waddell i feared to have partially torn a ligament in his shoulder and will need 8 months to heal.

Waddell Out For 1901

Rumors are plentifull as to how the charasmatic and loofy Waddell injured his shoulder in the offseason when no baseball was being played. Some insiders are claiming a particular bar fight last month may have had something to do with it. Waddell is surely one of the best pitchers in the game if not the best, his 26-9 record and 2.07 ERA speak for themselves.

Preseason Predictions: Baltimore and Chicago

The experts came forth with their preseason predictions for the 1901 season and the news is great for the Orphans. The consesus seems to be that the Orphans lead by Honus Wagner will win the National League while the Orioles of the American League lead by Christy Mathewson will take the American.

[Nick Soulis]

BASEBALL MONTHLY

April 1901

Chicago Starts With Vengence

We have seen this talk before, but in many circles around baseball the Chicago team of the National League is being admired as the best in the game. The talent assembled by the team and manager Connie Mack is proving an easy superior quality early in the 1901 season, and the Orphans have started with a bang with an 11-2 record.

In the second half last season the Orphans curtailed a slow start to have one of the best records of the second half. The early season firesale the team had last season paid off in the long run as the biggest star in the game and the reigning MVP reside in Chicago, the electric Honus Wagner.

Manager Mack and Wagner have built a very strong relationship and Wagner is the throttle that makes the team go in the middle of the Cubs lineup. Wagner is batting .453 in the first month of the season and cries all the way from New York could be heard as obviously the Giants let him go much too soon.

Pitching can not be far from the conversation as well for this team as finally Jack Chesbro is healthy and leading the rotation. Old reliable Al Orth is as strong as ever and remains the winningest pitcher in this generation. Finally Eddie Plank has already established himself as a legitimate starter in this league.

"No one is talking about it as we are taking one game at a time" said captain Fred Clarke, "but there is a feeling on this team that we are in store for a great season."

The rest of the National League appears to have fallen off a bit and the Orphans already have a four game lead on the rest of the pack.
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American League Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Milwaukee Brewers	4	2	.667	-
Boston Americans	4	2	.667	-
Baltimore Orioles	4	2	.667	-
Philadelphia Athletics	3	3	.500	1.0
Cleveland Blues	3	3	.500	1.0
Chicago White Sox	3	3	.500	1.0
Detroit Tigers	2	4	.333	2.0
Washington Senators	1	5	.167	3.0

National League Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Chicago Orphans	11	2	.846	-
Philadelphia Phillies	6	5	.545	4.0
Boston Beaneaters	6	5	.545	4.0
Cincinnati Reds	6	7	.462	5.0
Pittsburgh Pirates	5	6	.455	5.0
New York Giants	5	6	.455	5.0
Brooklyn Superbas	5	6	.455	5.0
St. Louis Cardinals	2	9	.182	8.0

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GREAT BROUTHERS REACHES MILESTONE



Dan Brouthers had to wait all winter long and wonder if he would have the chance to become only the second man to reach 3000 hits in the major leagues. Brouthers ended last season with 2999 hits and was down on himself a bit for not closing out the task before the end of the season.

Some thought that the 42 year old legend would call it a career coming into this year as his talents and injuries have all become factors. One thing however that Big Dan hasnt lost is his batting eye, and through much contiplation he did come back for the new season.

On opening day in Philadelphia, Brouthers had the same look in his eye that he had when he was a 23 year old rookie. Brouthers slammed a double into the gap in his second at bat and the milestone was his. The Philly fans gave him a nice ovation and the pressure turned into relief.

Brouthers now has his site on Cap Anson and the alltime hits record. If he can stay healthy, surely Brouthers will surpass Anson who is on top of the list with 3088 career hits. As May begins Brouthers is only 80 hits away and already is the alltime leader in games, runs, doubles, triples, and stolen bases.
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League Notes

• Cy Young won his 200th game and has a career 3.07 ERA. Young is said to be throwing harder then ever at 34 years and is among the leagues best.
• Honus Wagner set franchise record with a 33 game hitting streak that was snapped earlier this month. Wagner is one of the few players that has a legitimate shot at reaching Willie Keeler and his record from 1898 of 43 games.

[Nick Soulis]

BASEBALL MONTHLY

May 1901

No Room For Kind Words

Hate is a word in the game of baseball that many say has no place as after all it is only a game. But if anyone gets close to the National League and its race for the oennant this season, hate may be to nice of a word.

The New York Giants and the Chicago Orphans traded super star franchise players last season and since then the anomosity bewteen the two sides and cities has only grown in the press and through the fans. Wagner has gone on to become the biggest star of the game, while John McGraw has spent more time on the sideline with injury then being prodictuive on the field. No doubt much of the bad blood comes from the New Yorkers feeling like the Orphans stole their star and that they got a raw deal.

Neither team took the pennant last season but both were in the race late and it was the Giants who lead for most of the first half only to see Brooklyn overtake them. Now after two months gone both teams sit eye to eye at the top of the standings, tied for first place.

The Giants and their manager Jacob Johnson have assused their rivals of being a team with no heart. The Orphans for their part see the Giants as a group of roughnecks who dont carry themselves well and dont play by the rules. Manager Connie Mack has even gone as far as saying that the Giants are the type of club that make the game of baseball look bad.

The teams split their four games at the Polo Grouds this month and have four more coming in Chicago. Lave Cross and Kip Selbach lead a strong offense while the Oprhans along with Wagner who is batting .396, have the stronger pitching and rotation.

Orphans stats:

Pitching Staff Role T Pitcher G GS W L SV ERA WHIP Status Starter R Al Orth 11 11 6 5 0 2.61 1.22 Rested Starter R Jack Chesbro 10 10 8 2 0 1.74 1.13 Rested Starter L Eddie Plank 10 10 5 4 0 2.40 1.40 Rested Starter R Charlie Geggus 9 9 2 5 0 3.25 1.60 Rested Spot Starter R Lee Viau 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 Rested Mopup R Kid Carsey 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 Rested Middle Reliever R John Ewing 7 0 1 0 0 1.42 1.74 Rested Setup Reliever R Lee Viau 0 0 0 0 0 0.00 0.00 Rested Setup Reliever R Tony Madigan 1 0 0 0 1 0.00 1.00 Rested Closer R Amos Rusie 4 0 1 1 2 2.08 0.69 Rested

Catchers # B Player Pos G AB H HR RBI R BB K .AVG OBP SLG 90 R Roger Bresnahan C 34 110 25 1 19 14 10 11 .227 .295 .336

Infielders # B Player Pos G AB H HR RBI R BB K .AVG OBP SLG 54 R Fred Hartman 3B 22 68 12 1 8 5 4 6 .176 .219 .250 27 R Hughie Jennings 1B 15 47 11 0 4 6 0 4 .234 .250 .255 21 S Reddy Mack 2B 28 74 14 0 6 11 28 9 .189 .417 .243 57 L Herman Long SS 33 80 20 0 8 2 2 6 .250 .262 .300 50 R Skyrocket Smith 1B 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000 .000 .000 55 S Suter Sullivan 3B 16 23 3 0 0 2 3 1 .130 .259 .130 45 L Frank Isbell 1B 30 118 32 2 15 19 0 12 .271 .275 .356

Outfielders # B Player Pos G AB H HR RBI R BB K .AVG OBP SLG 4 L Jesse Burkett LF 39 158 53 1 30 26 13 16 .335 .391 .456 49 L Ollie Pickering CF 38 149 39 0 15 27 16 12 .262 .343 .315 89 R Jimmy McAleer CF 6 9 3 0 0 2 0 1 .333 .333 .333 28 R Honus Wagner RF 39 169 67 3 30 31 10 12 .396 .431 .574 35 L Fred Clarke LF 39 146 48 1 25 20 18 11 .329 .406 .452 13 L Ollie Smith RF 17 16 3 0 6 2 0 2 .188 .176 .250 75 S Paul Russell CF 6 6 0 0 1 0 2 0 .000 .250 .000

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American League Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Milwaukee Brewers	23	12	.657	-
Baltimore Orioles	22	12	.647	.5
Detroit Tigers	18	18	.500	5.5
Boston Americans	17	17	.500	5.5
Chicago White Sox	17	18	.486	6.0
Washington Senators	15	19	.441	7.5
Cleveland Blues	15	21	.417	8.5
Philadelphia Athletics	12	22	.353	10.5

National League Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
New York Giants	22	16	.579	-
Chicago Orphans	23	17	.575	-
Boston Beaneaters	20	18	.526	2.0
Cincinnati Reds	21	20	.512	2.5
Philadelphia Phillies	18	20	.474	4.0
St. Louis Cardinals	17	21	.447	5.0
Brooklyn Superbas	17	21	.447	5.0
Pittsburgh Pirates	17	22	.436	5.5

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League Notes

• Sir Hugh Duffy of the Boston Beaneaters cracked his 2000th hit this month at the age of 34 years old. Duffy is off to maybe his best season so far batting .358.
• The Baltimore Orioles have turned things around in their baseball starved city. Two young stars in Christy Mathewson and Sam Mertes have the Orioles at ot near the top of the American League. Mertes however was handed a four game suspension this month after having a run in with an umpire, the two were said to have settled things after the game in a private local.
• The popular Nap Lajoie missed the entire month of May with a fractured wrist. Nap is said to be due back in a couple of more weeks but in the meantime the Cardinals currently 17-21 may be too far out of the race.

[Nick Soulis]

BASEBALL MONTHLY

June 1901

Mr. Jennings Leaves Town

With eyes squarely on a pennant this season, the Chicago Orphans are learnign that they have to do whatever it takes to win. In the past the team has been accused of holding on to players well past their prime in order to be loyal to their own. Manager Connie Mack however is not one to sit on his hands and not evolve his team and earlier this month the Orphans let go one of their most popular players, the charasmatic Hughie Jennings. Jennings was traded to the Baltimore Orioles for scrappy first baseman Bill Joyce.

Hughie could be heard in the dugout at all Orphan games yelling and ribbing his teamates but his play of late and amount of chances on the field were slipping away. Jennings was batting only .237 when he was let go and this was in partnership with a weaker season last year when he ended his efforts with a career low .275 average. At 32 years old the former star should have some seasons left to play well, but injuries and a win now mentality had his days in Chicago soon over.

In his prime Jennings was a huge part of the club and a piece of the three time pennent winners in the 90's. He joined Chicago in 1894 and that season posted a .431 average, the highest in the history of the game. Jennings had over 200 hits twice and was a dependable glove man all over the infield, primarily at first and third base.

Chicago like Bill Joyce who will likely bat at the top of the order with a .452 career on base percentage. Joyce is a great base runner and always seems to get the extra base when needed.

The Orphans had a 16-10 month to pull a bit away from the Beaneaters by 2.5 games. Four other teams are well within five games of the lead in what is truning out to be the most competitive pennant races in years.
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American League Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Baltimore Orioles	40	19	.678	-
Milwaukee Brewers	35	26	.574	6.0
Boston Americans	33	26	.559	7.0
Chicago White Sox	29	31	.483	11.5
Detroit Tigers	28	33	.459	13.0
Washington Senators	26	33	.441	14.0
Philadelphia Athletics	24	35	.407	16.0
Cleveland Blues	25	37	.403	16.5

National League Standings
	W	L	PCT	GB
Chicago Orphans	39	27	.591	-
Boston Beaneaters	35	28	.556	2.5
Brooklyn Superbas	34	30	.531	4.0
New York Giants	33	31	.516	5.0
Cincinnati Reds	35	33	.515	5.0
St. Louis Cardinals	28	36	.438	10.0
Pittsburgh Pirates	28	36	.438	10.0
Philadelphia Phillies	26	37	.413	11.5

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League Notes

• Nap Lajoie of the Cardinals is under some heat in St. Louis. The star second baseman is only batting .301 for year, well below his expected output. Some are saying that Lajoie is unhappy in St. Louis while others say he is not disclosing a back injury.
• The Philadelphia A's are still looking to get things right and this month terminated their manager. Harry Deane was let go effective immediatelly and was close to 40 games under .500 in his four seasons in charge.
• The great Bob Black reached a milestone no one has ever seen before. Black won his 400th game this month and now has cemented himself as the winningest pitcher in the games history. Black at 38 years old has started in 670 games in his career.

[Nick Soulis]

BASEBALL MONTHLY

July 1901

Still Dont Want Your Kid To Be A Ballplayer?

Most adults, especially of the female variety, tend to turn away when one of these ball players come into a residence or passes them on the street. These ball players are often looked at as dirty or of another class, even hotels are said to not want their kind.

When one however takes a closer look at the financial state of things, the reality of being a ballplayer in this day and age isnt all a poor thing. Parents that are begging their sons to give up the glove and the bat are now thinking twice if a bit of social critisism is worth the extra income and fame.

Looking at the financial state of the game it is a well known fact the the major leagues are now booming with business at the gate and in sponsers. The most profitable teams in the league after some investigation are said to be the following:

1. Boston Americans - $126,529
2. New York Giants - $120, 139
3. Boston Beaneaters - $116,832
4. Chicago White Sox - $102,458
5. Detroit Tigees - $102,097

The extra revenue has not only made the owners of the team very wealthy but the salary of the leagues best players have also gone up. Here is a list of the top paid ballplayers this season and the numbers may shock a number of politicians, physcians, and lawyers:

1. George Van Haltren CLE - $2467 anually
2. Elmer Flick CIN - $2332
3. Buck Freeman BOS - $2332
4. John McGraw NYG - $2332
5. Honus Wagner CHI - $2332

The highest paid player

Keep in mind that the average salary for a working male anually is at $449. The league minumum in contrast is at about $600 anually and those are the players that dont see much action. The days where ballplayers were expected to play ball and then work another job are over. And the future arrow appears to be headed in one direction and that is up, as the game grows and more young adults and kids continue to talk and flock to the game, the demand for the best will only go up. Stars like Nap Lajoie, Christy Mathewson, and Sam Crawford are only expected to ip their demands in the upcoming seasons.

So the next time you see a ballplayer walk by you in his dirty cleats and torn trousers, dont scoff and turn the others way, actually ask him and see if he can help you with a loan.

Standings

League News

• The pennant races remain controlled by the Baltimore Orioles and the Chicago Orphans. Both teams have over a five game lead with two months to play and would not mind renewing their matchup of the 1883 and 1884 World Series'.
• Socks Seybold put on a show in Philadelphia this month in a game against the Baltimore Orioles. The outfielder hammered three home runs in one game and on consecutuve atbats. The feat has been done four other times in the past with the last time being done Chief Roseman in 1889.
• The Phillies made a big move sending Jack Beckley to the Boston Beaneaters for a handfull of players. Beckely is a .328 career hitter and has over 2200 hits. Beckley started his career in Boston but left the team before their run of championships.

[Nick Soulis]

BASEBALL MONTHLY

August 1901

Brouthers Baseball Hit King!
Passes Great Anson Throough Longevity

When many think of the best players to ever play this game few people can think beyond the legend and acomplishments of Cap Anson through the first generations of the game. Anso left the game a few years ago with almost all the baseball records a batter could have tallied. Still in the few years he has been gone his records almost as quickly have begun to become extint mainly through the efforts of another legend, the burly one they know as Dan Brouthers.

Brouthers and Anson went at it many times on the field but this time they battled it out in a competition of longevity anb records. No record would seem to be more admired then that of the all time hits king, and this very month Dan Brouthers bacame the new royaly.

Brouthers faced off against St. Louis at Exposition park tied with Anson at 3088 hits and in his very first atbat in front of the home fans singled to left to get the record. Brouthers had timed it perfectly as the Pirates had come home from a long road trip and the record was there for the taking in his first game back at home. The fans gave him a standing ovation and the 43 year old ate up every minute.

Many said Brouthers had proloiunged his career to play on a losing team only to make sure this record was his, regardless the slugger now has this and most other batting records.

"Anson was great" said teamate Cooney Snyder, "but the best hitter of all time is Dan Brouthers."

Anson is said to have telegraphed his congratulations to Brouthers upon the news and said he had much more important things to worry about, like watching his Chicago club win the current pennant.

All time hits leaders:

1	Dan Brouthers#	3095	1878-1901
2	Cap Anson	3088	1871-1897
3	Sam Thompson	2334	1884-1900
4	Ed Delahanty#	2296	1887-1901
5	Jake Beckley#	2259	1887-1901
6	Ross Barnes*	2234	1871-1892
7	Roger Connor	2220	1879-1899
8	Ed McKean#	2170	1886-1901
9	Hugh Duffy#	2108	1888-1901
10	George Van Haltren#	2087	1887-1901

Standings

League News

• Ginger Beaumont of the Senators will miss the remainder of the season with a torn miniscus in his knee. With the Senators out of the pennant race the 25 year old star can recover.
• Amoss Rusie won his 200th game from the Orphans this month.
• Bill Bradley of Brooklyn hit in 30 straight games but had his streak stopped against the Giants. Bradley is hitting .312 this season.

[Nick Soulis]

BASEBALL MONTHLY

September 1901

A Pennant Of Tension And Determination

Everyone knows the history and the disapointment but the chance is before Chicago once again and its loyal fans. The attendance of the Chicago National League team has never been higher with close to 400,000 people coming out the see the team play and win. For Chicago fans however, anything short of the title will be an extreme leftdown.

The Orphans have lost their last four World Series appearances including three in a row from 1896-99. The team failed to close things out and play at its best in the biggest stage, and the pressure to do so this time is the talk of the city.

The Orphans once again celebrated another pennant, their ninth overall with a qiuet reserve knowing very well what the city expected. Stars like Frank Clarke and Amos Rusie have been here before and know the feeling of losing to the American League. In front of the Orphans stand the Baltimore Orioles, who in contrast are said to be young and loose, having won a the championship only two years ago.

The difference this time around for Chicago is in their leader. Connie Mack deflects pressure like no other and is in charge of the team for the first time in the big series. Mack is confident and isnt worried about the past. He is a big change since the last time Chicago was here when hot tempered Al Spalding was in charge.

"There is tension but we are determined," said Mack, "we have to trust in our skills as ball players and not on some kind of fate."

Both teams won the pennants by big margins but it is the Orioles who will have the home field advantage in the best of seven series. The young pehnom Christy Mathewson who won 21 games again this year at the age of 21 will be standing on the moind in game one. Al Orth the 25 game winner of the Orphans who is the winningest pitcher of all times will oppose, Orth has a .641 career winning percentage.

Can Chicago finally break their drought? The entire baseball nation will be watching with great anticipation.

Name	G	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	TB	BB	K	SB	CS	AVG	OBP	SLG	OPS
Honus Wagner RF	137	594	99	189	24	23	7	96	280	37	54	36	33	.318	.363	.471	.834
Jesse Burkett LF	137	555	82	190	15	13	6	90	249	50	45	17	31	.342	.401	.449	.850
Ollie Pickering CF	131	505	77	122	14	7	0	50	150	49	42	24	30	.242	.317	.297	.614
Fred Clarke LF	130	500	85	155	25	14	3	76	217	51	22	17	25	.310	.387	.434	.821
Roger Bresnahan C	118	432	56	110	13	10	3	68	152	33	44	16	26	.255	.310	.352	.662
Reddy Mack 2B	124	380	60	113	11	2	0	51	128	89	35	15	11	.297	.435	.337	.772
Ossee Schreckengost C	106	342	60	112	15	5	1	47	140	6	27	6	6	.327	.346	.409	.755
Bill Joyce 1B	86	297	59	76	22	2	2	40	108	56	30	21	11	.256	.399	.364	.763
Fred Hartman 3B	90	284	45	62	10	7	4	37	98	26	26	20	11	.218	.290	.345	.635
Frank Isbell 1B	62	186	25	45	4	1	3	28	60	3	17	24	13	.242	.254	.323	.576

Name	W	L	SV	ERA	G	GS	IP	HA	R	ER	HR	BB	K	WHIP	OAVG	BABIP
Lee Viau SP	0	0	2	0.00	3	0	4.1	4	0	0	0	0	1	0.92	.250	.267
John Skopec MR	1	0	0	0.00	2	0	4.0	0	0	0	0	2	2	0.50	.000	.000
Tony Madigan MR	0	0	1	0.00	1	0	1.0	1	0	0	0	0	2	1.00	.250	.500
Ed Keas MR	0	1	0	0.00	4	0	6.2	9	5	0	0	1	1	1.50	.300	.310
Kid Carsey MR	0	0	0	2.38	6	0	11.1	21	3	3	0	3	5	2.12	.438	.488
Al Orth SP	25	10	0	2.44	37	37	331.1	382	153	90	5	52	92	1.31	.287	.305
Jack Chesbro SP	20	10	0	3.13	33	33	278.2	306	131	97	1	59	107	1.31	.277	.306
Charlie Geggus SP	6	11	0	3.16	21	21	165.0	200	92	58	4	50	57	1.52	.297	.320
Eddie Plank SP	18	16	0	3.29	38	38	325.1	396	178	119	8	63	136	1.41	.295	.324
Amos Rusie MR	6	4	3	3.46	15	9	83.1	97	45	32	4	14	12	1.33	.291	.293
John Ewing CL	3	1	0	4.37	12	2	35.0	51	30	17	2	14	1	1.86	.319	.312
Dummy Deegan MR	6	2	0	4.50	13	0	22.0	27	18	11	0	15	7	1.91	.284	.307

League News

• Elmer Flick just misses .400. The Reds outfielder flirted with the mark all season but a late slump had him end with a .395 average, still good enough for the best in either league.
• Young Sam Crawford has made hitting triples an art. Crawford broke the single season record for three baggers with 37 passing the previous mark by Dan Brouthers of 32 in 1894.
• Tommy Leach and Danny Green both had six hits in a game this month