New-York tribune., 1918-02-10
WhiteStockinos
And White Sox
On ntheDiamond
Name First Applied to Chi
cago Club When 1t De-
feated Cincinnati Reds

Since the beginning of professionl
baseball the name White Sox has been
magic to Chicago fans, who still gloat
over the fact that the organization of
the original White Stockings resulted
in the first defeat of the invincible Red
Stocking team of Cincinnati. The
White Sox first saw the light Of day
back in 1870.
Tom Foley and Jimmy Wood, might
have remained intact for a long while.
but year later the fire came along
and the team disbanded. Foley had
first called his team the White Stock
ings, so as to distinguish them from
the Red Stockings of Cincinnati, and
he placed the nine in the field in 1870
for the sole purpose of defeating the
Cincinnati Red Stockings, who in 1869
swept everything before them, winning
fifty-seven games and not suffering a
solitary reverse.
The Chicago uniform in this 1870
year consisted of white cap, white
shirt, white stockings and long blue
trousers.
Pop Anson Is Fired
Their first title of White Stockings
was distinctly appropriate, and to
carry out the original idea the team
continued to wear white stockings from
when James A. Hart. the president of
the club, discharged the veteran Adrian
Z. Anson, who had been manager and
captain for twentyone years, and ap-
pointed Tommy Burns, the old third
baseman. in his stead.
With the going of Anson went also
the historical white stockings.
But two years later they were adopt
ed by the American League club of
Chicago and are still worn by the play
ers of thai team.
However, the name has undergone a
slight change, the word stocking" be-
ing replaced by "sox," a shorter and
more pointed appellation.
Cubs Enter the Field
When the title of White Stockings
passed from the original holders the
latter won a new and popular nick
name, one that dstinctively belonged
to the name of Cubs.
They acquired this in 1890, when
nearly all of Anson's old players de-
serted him and went over to the Play
crs' (Srotherhood) League.
Ed Williamson, Fred Pfeffer, Charley
Farrell. Jimmy Ryan, Hugh Duffy,
frank Dwyer and Del Darling Jumped"
10 the Chicago Players League team;
John X. Tener, now president of the
National League, to the Pittsburgh
club; Addison Gumbert to Boston and
George Van Haltren to Brooklyn.
Tommy Burns, who succeeded him as
manager eight years later, and William
only players of the old guard who
were loyal to Anson and remained
under his wing.
Anson Rejuvenates Team
Anson then surrounded himself with
youngsters, who were styled "cubs, u
''colts" and "babies," just as the fancy
of the gamegoers dictated.
The name "Cubs" stuck to the team
and is now term of endearment
probably surprising in popularity with
the fans even the old original cogno-
men "White Stockings"
In the thirtyseven years of the Ma
tlonal Leagues existence the Cubs
have captured the penncnt ten times
oftener than any other team that ever
held membership in the circuit.
In all these thirty-seven years the
Chicago team in the National League
never has finished in last place, and in
the last ten years have only once wound
up below third place.
In 1908 they finished behind Pitts
burgh and New York, and in 1905 be-
hind New York and Pittsburgh, but in
the eight other years of the last ten
they won the pennant four times and
captured second honors four times.
Cubs Wonderful Record
Not only have the Chicago Cubs won
the pennant oftcner than any other
club, but they hold the distinction of
having captured the flag by the largest
percentage ever attained by any winner
This was in 1880, when they lost only
seventeen games out of eighty-fuur
played, giving them the high percent
age of .798.
They also have the record of having
won more games in season than any
other club.
This mark was made in 1906, when
they won 116 games. The second high.
est number of victories in season is
The lowest notch at which the Chi
cagos ever finished in the race was
ninth place.
This was twice their berth at tbs
close of season, first in 1893 and
again in 1897.
In these ye>rs the National League
that each time they landed in nirtf
place the Chicagos had the consolatlon
at least, Of beating out three otne,
clubs.
In 1893 they ran ahead of st. Louis
Louisville and Washington, and ir
1897 they finished in front of Philadel-
phia, st. Louis and Louisville.
Six times have the Chicago Natiora'
League representatives batted for the
worlds championship, winning it twice
losing three times and drawing once.