While the White Sox build a new contender, turmoil in the Cubs’ front office sours their play on the field in the 1910’s. A new challenger takes the opportunity to steal some of the west side fans as the Federal League pops up and builds a stadium on Chicago’s north side. Sportswriter Sean Deveney joins the show to discuss the impact of the upstart league and Kent State history professor Leslie Heaphy discusses some of the star Negro Leaguers who never got a chance to play in the city series.
Extra Notes
- Chicago’s Federal League team went 173-133 in their two years of existence.
- Walter Johnson’s 1915 numbers with Washington: 27-13, 1.55 ERA
- In a complete coincidence, my interview with Leslie Heaphy about Negro League baseball took place on the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Negro National League
- Running totals through 1916 (including ’06 World Series):
- Series – White Sox 7-2-1
- Games – White Sox 37-26-2
Sources and generally good reading*
Black Baseball and Chicago: Essays on the Players, Teams and Games Edited by Leslie Heaphy
Black Baseball in Chicago by Larry Lester, Sammy J. Miller & Dick Clark
*Many books were used to research features of several episodes of this podcast. Each book will be listed only once.
Featured Songs
“It’s a Long Way to Tipperary” by The Band of the Coldstream Guards
“Ballin’ the Jack” by The Hit Crew
“If I Had You” by Al Bowlly
“St. Louis Blues” by WC Handy
“Sunshine and Roses” by Billy Cotton and His Band
“Weary Blues” by Artie Matthews and Louis Armstrong
“What D’Ye Mean You Lost Your Dog?” by Albert White & His Gaslight Orchestra
“Alexander’s Ragtime Band” by Irving Berlin
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