After a four year hiatus, Chicago’s Major League Baseball teams resume their annual challenges and the White Sox try to resume their annual domination, but get a little pushback. Both the Cubs and the Sox had their share of success stories between 1921 and 1926, and their share of tragedies. The tales of Grover Cleveland Alexander, Dickey Kerr and Frank Chance are explored, among others. As are the blow by blow recaps of the annual city series.

Extra Notes

• As impressive as the dual complete game from Ted Blankenship and Grover Cleveland Alexander in game one of the 1925 city series was, it wasn’t nearly the longest. On May 1, 1920, Brooklyn’s Leon Cadore and Boston’s Joe Oeschger both pitched 26 innings in a 1-1 tie.
  • A simple summation from James Crusinberry the day after Blankenship v. Alexander: “Col. Blankenship of Oklahoma, dad of the illustrious Sox hurler, came up to see his son work. He saw what he came to see.”
• Writer Westbrook Pegler’s explanation for why the Cubs let G.C. Alexander go in 1926: “He annoyed his roommate by eating apples in bed in a loud tone of voice and was always a day behind in his shaving.”
• Running totals through 1926 (including ’06 World Series):
  • Series – White Sox 11-4-1
  • Games – White Sox 58-41-3

Featured Songs

“Wabash Blues” by Isham Jones
“The Sheik of Araby” by Fats Waller
“Has Anybody Seen My Gal?” by Art Landry’s Orchestra
“What’ll I Do” by Irving Berlin
“The Charleston” by James P. Johnson
“Copenhagen” by Ambrose and His Orchestra
“Sunny” by George Olsen

Photos