Chicago Sluggers

The Chicago White Stockings,later renamed the Cubs,won the inaugural National League Pennant in 1876 with a barrage of offensive numbers. Ross Barnes led the league at a .421 clip, and three other Chicago batters finished among the league,s top five hitters. Even pitcher Al Spalding hit an impressive .312. Thus began the "e;northsiders"e; tradition of producing some of the major leagues, greatest sluggers,including "e;Cap"e; Anson, "e;Gabby"e; Hartnett, and "e;Hack"e; Wilson.The Chicago White Sox,still named the White Sox,won the inaugural American League Pennant in 1901, led by Fielder Jones, .311 average for a team built more around pitching than hitting,a team that won its first World Series title in 1906 with the nickname "e;The Hitless Wonders."e; But the "e;southsiders"e; also put up some lofty offensive numbers with the likes of Shoeless Joe Jackson and Eddie Collins.