Your World Champion Chicago Cubs

[mattsey9]

Over the last several years I've cobbled together a collection of players who featured for the 1908 World Series champion Chicago Cubs. Most of the cards are from the T206 series, but some others who didn't appear in that set are from other offerings. As you'll soon see, condition means very little to me. I'm still one player short of having everyone on the team who had a card available (Bill Mack and Karl Spongberg never had a card issued AFAIK). Anyone got a poor grade Andy Coakley T204?


Note that I suck with a scanner, and cut off an edge or two on most every card...

Here are the remainder of the team in all their glory:

THE REGULARS

Catcher: Johnny "Noisy" Kling

Mordecai Brown, along with other Cubs pitchers of the era, said Kling was by far the best catcher of his day at calling a game. Left the Cubs for a season in 1909 to open a pool room in Kansas City and won the World Championship in that sport as well.



First Base/Manager: Frank "Husk" Chance

After Kling had bumped him years before from behind the plate, this HOFer manned first base for the Cubs in addition to piloting them to two World Series crowns.



Second Base: John "The Crab" Evers

Weighing in at a mere 145 lbs., Evers was small even for the era. Even so, he led the '08 champs in batting average and OBP.



Shortstop: Joe Tinker

The final member of the legendary double play combo, Tinker's bat was the main power source for the Cubs. He led the team in triples, homers, RBIs and SLG. He delivered a big hit off of Christy Mathewson in the '08 playoff game at the Polo Grounds. Mathewson wrote often that Tinker was the hitter he could never consistently get out.



Third Base: Harry Steinfeldt

The answer to the trivia question, "Who was the other guy besides Tinker, Evers & Chance in the infield?" Hard living Harry was on the downside of his long career, and he passed away in 1911 at the age of 33.



Outfielders: Jimmy Sheckard, Jimmy "Rabbit" Slagle & Frank "Wildfire" Schulte

Not a lot of hitting going on with the Cubs primary flycatchers. Schulte's .236 BA led the trio, and they combined for a mere three roundtrippers for the year.







THE RESERVES

Outfielder: Arthur "Circus Solly" Hofman

Hofman patrolled the outfield frequently, appearing in 120 games and getting 478 ABs. He also spelled Evers and Chance when they were out of the lineup. Hofman is the man who noticed Fred Merkle didn't touch second base, which is an event of some note to Cubs fans...



Utility: Del Howard

Del appeared in nearly 100 games for the '08 Cubs, hitting .279 as Steinfeldt's backup and a utility outfielder.



Catcher: Pat Moran

Moran's 14 year ML career is highlighted by his two World Series titles as a member of the '07/'08 Northsiders (West Siders?). Moran was Kling's primary backup at catcher.



Second Baseman: Henry "Heinie" Zimmerman

Zimmerman was a young prospect on this club, but not for much longer. After Steinfeldt left the Cubs, Zimmerman became the regular man at the hot corner. In 1912, he led the Senior Circuit in home runs with 14 and batting average with a .372 mark.



Outfielder: Jack Hayden

Hayden came to the Cubs from Indianapolis late in the season, but featured in several important games down the stretch. He was a valuable enough man to stick in any game, as evidenced by his inclusion as starting center fielder in the Merkle game. 1908 was the last of his three seasons in the big leagues.



Utility: William "Doc" Marshall

Bought from the Cardinals in May of '08, Marshall was one of the last guys off the bench. Though he appeared in only 20 games for the Cubs, that was enough to get him a piece of the title.



Outfielder: Blaine "Kid" Durbin

A failed pitching prospect, Durbin showed enough with the bat in '07 to be a benchwarmer on the '08 side as well. Durbin played three major league seasons, and played for three World Series winners. ('07/'08 Cubs, '09 Pirates)

[mattsey9]

Pinch Hitter: Arthur "Vin" Campbell

One at bat in one game for the '08 champions. Finished his career as a lifetime .310 hitter over six major league seasons.



THE PITCHERS

Mordecai "Three Finger" "Miner" Brown

We all know the story of Brown's missing digits. Brown was the winning pitcher in the '08 replay against the Giants to win the pennant. The man from Nyesville, Indiana was the best pitcher on some of the best teams in the history of the National League. Nuf ced.

A little poetry from William James Lampton:

Gloom gathers above us,
There's murk in the air,
There's no one to shove us
Along to get where
The crown of the victor
Will rest on this town,
For the Giants see nothing
But Mordecai Brown,
Mordecai, Mordecai
Three-fingered Brown.

Fans wail on the bleechers,
Fans weep in the stands,
Fans cry with the screechers,
For any way, every way,
Far up and down.
There's nothing that greets them
But Mordecai, Mordecai
Three-fingered Brown

Baseball is no longer
The game of a club
Which had it been stronger,
Might wallop the dub
That hails from the windy
And comes to this town
To razzle the Giants
With Mordecai Brown.
Mordecai, Mordecai,
Threee-Fingered Brown.

The murky clouds thicken,
The end cometh on
When nothing can quicken
The hope that is gone;
Manhatten is busted,
The pennant is down,
And the Giants are walloped
By Mordecai Brown.
Mordecai, Mordecai,
Three-fingered Brown.




"Big" Ed Reulbach

The Pippen to Brown's Jordan, Reulbach's 24-7 mark was only good for second best on this team. Pitched in four World Series for the Cubs.



Jack "The Giant Killer" Pfeister

When your biggest rival is the Giants, a man nicknamed "The Giant Killer" is a good man to have around. Former 20 game winner for the Cubs in 1906.



Orval Overall

The Cub flamethrower slumped in 1908, winning only 15 games versus 23 in 1907. When the Series rolled around, however, Overall was in form. He had two complete game wins against the Tigers in the '08 Fall Classic to go along with the one he picked up in 1907.



Charles "Chick" Fraser

Fraser battled wildness for most of his fourteen seasons in the big leagues, but for the Cubs in '07 and '08 he sported a 2.25 ERA. Not too bad for the fifth starter and long man out of the pen.



Carl Lundgren

Lundgren was finishing out an eight year career in the major leagues, but as a swingman he did eat up some innings for the Cubs. His 2.42 lifetime ERA shows he was no slouch in his prime.



Floyd "Rube" Kroh

Kroh spent parts of six seasons in the majors, appearing in two games for the 1908 champs. A 9-4 mark as a spot starter in 1909 highlighted his best season in baseball.

[Sean]

Excellent assemblage of Cubs Mike.

[timn1]

I think a bunch of us should do this with our favorite teams--

[PolarBear]

Great post, love it!

I'm getting ready to read Crazy '08 again, which is probably my favorite sports book.

As I'm contemplating starting another card collection, I'm considering a T206 Cubs set, but just the 13 "cubs" variations to make it more interesting.

[nebboy]

Very nicely done!!!

[Seiklis]

Very nice Mike

I've done something similar with the 1948 Indians and it's definitely a fun set to toss together...now if I can only find the 1947 Tip Top Wensloff

[RCMcKenzie]

Cool Cubs thread. Here are 2 more Cubs cards..

[z28jd]

I put together the 1887 Pittsburgh Alleghenys team set awhile ago. All the players are in the Old Judge set except outfielder Ed Beecher. Had to get a Buchner card for him.

[WillowGrove]

Love it. Thanks for posting Mike. Reading about the players in my SABR books is good but getting a succinct profile with their card is a great help in retaining who these players were and to appreciate them more.

Thanks again for posting.

Peter

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by timn1

I think a bunch of us should do this with our favorite teams--

I'd love to see it. The '48 Indians and '87 Alleghenies have been mentioned. Show 'em!

[the 'stache]

Nice collection, Mike.

I'd love to see the Cubs win it all in my lifetime. You won't find a more loyal bunch of fans anywhere (except maybe Packer fans ), and you guys deserve to see a parade on Michigan Avenue.

[z28jd]

Originally Posted by mattsey9

I'd love to see it. The '48 Indians and '87 Alleghenies have been mentioned. Show 'em!

I showed nine of them the other day here:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showpos...13&postcount=6

Don't have the others scanned unfortunately. Might have the Beecher somewhere, I'll see if I can find it

[PolarBear]

Just finished Crazy '08 again yesterday. Cait's irreverent prose is what makes it such a great book. Quoth the Turkey.

Now I really want to get some of the Cubs cards, or maybe the players involved in the Merkle game, Giants as well.

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by PolarBear

Just finished Crazy '08 again yesterday. Cait's irreverent prose is what makes it such a great book. Quoth the Turkey.

Now I really want to get some of the Cubs cards, or maybe the players involved in the Merkle game, Giants as well.

I'm one card away from having both lineups complete!

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by z28jd

I showed nine of them the other day here:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showpos...13&postcount=6

Don't have the others scanned unfortunately. Might have the Beecher somewhere, I'll see if I can find it

Nice cards!

[baseballart]

Not cards, but

[Sean]

Originally Posted by baseballart

Not cards, but

So is this the story of the 1907 Cubs championship?

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by Sean

So is this the story of the 1907 Cubs championship?

Great piece. How long is the story? You wouldn't have scans of the pages by any chance, would you?

[leaflover]

As per the Sports Encyclopedia(Baseball 9th Edition, Neft & Cohen) only 13 Cub players participated in the 1908 World Series. The 12 scanned and Del Howard who appeared only once as a pinch hitter.

[David W]

Very nice.

It's a shame you have to use 100+ year old cards to see pictures of World Series winners.....

If you were a Cardinal fan (like me) you could use shiny cards or have many other options and years to choose from.

[mattsey9]

Originally Posted by leaflover

As per the Sports Encyclopedia(Baseball 9th Edition, Neft & Cohen) only 13 Cub players participated in the 1908 World Series. The 12 scanned and Del Howard who appeared only once as a pinch hitter.

Great cards!