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1906 Chicago Cubs

Record: 116-36, .763
Notes:. The Cubs finished with a record-setting 60-15 record on the road.
World Series: Lost to Chicago White Sox in 6 games

The Chicago Cubs set the modern mark for victories in 1906, but, due largely in part to their disaster in the World Series, the team isn't remembered as one of the greatest of all time.

The Cubs won 92 games in 1905, but could only manage a third place finish in the National League race. Fans had been waiting since 1886 for the Cubs to win another championship and the stellar pace the team set in 1906 held promise for a strong postseason.

The season was marked by a hard-fought battle for first between the Cubs and the New York Giants. It was a bitter battle -- until June. From that point on, the Cubs simply blew away the competition. 

IN THE FIELD

Harry Steinfeldt (3B), Frank Chance (1B), Johnny Evers (2B) and Joe Tinker (SS) comprised a strong infield and helped Cubs pitchers to give up the lowest number of runs by any team since 1900. Chance tied honus Wagner for the league lead with 103 runs and a .406 on-base average. He also set the record for steals in a season by a first baseman with 57. Steinfeldt, who joined the Cubs in the offseason, hit .327 and led the league with 83 RBIs.

1906 FACTS
 
  • Road Game: The Cubs finished 60-15 on the road, a record-setting feat.
  • Two More: The Cubs could have won 118 games. The team was not allowed to make up two games that had been postponed.
  • Best in NL: Three Finger Brown posted a league-best 1.04 ERA. It the lowest ERA for pitchers with at least 250 innings pitched.
  • Top Pitchers: As a team, the Cubs finished with a 1.76 ERA, the best in both leagues.
  • World Series loss: The Cubs lost in 6 games to the underdog White Sox.
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    The outfield of Wildfire Schulte, Jimmy Slagle and Jimmy Sheckard wasn't overpowering, but provided consistent offense and defense.

    Catcher Johnny Kling hit for a high average and led the stellar pitching performance. Overall, the Cubs offense outscored the nearest opponent by 80 runs.

    ON THE MOUND

    The pitching staff was simply outstanding. The Cubs led all of baseball with a team 1.76 earned run average and allowed just 381 runs on the season. Six pitchers finished with double-digit victories - Three Finger Brown (26), Jack Pfiester (20), Ed Reulbach (19), Carl Lundgren (17), Orvie Overall (12) and Jack Taylor (12). 

    Brown also led all pitchers with an amazing 1.04 ERA -- the lowest ERA ever posted by a pitcher with at least 250 innings. It was the beginning of his six-year run of winning at least 20 games for the Cubs.

    By the end of the season, the Cubs had won 116 games and dominated the National League. The team could have actually finished with 118 wins, but the Cubs were not allowed to make up two games that had been postponed. The effort was enough to beat the second-place Giants by 20 games.

    SAME-CITY SERIES

    Cross-town rivals, the White Sox, won 93 games won the American League Pennant with excellent pitching and a terrible batting average (.230). The two entered the first one-city World Series with the Cubs as the clear favorite.

    In the World Series, the White Sox pitching stepped up to the challenge and the Cubs were plagued with bad luck. In Game 1, the Cubs made two errors that helped the White Sox to a 201 win. The Cubs rebounded in Game 2 to win 7-1 behind Reulbach's complete game. It was the first one-hitter in World Series history. 

    In game 3, the Cubs made two more errors and finished with a 3-0 loss. Brown outdueled Nick Altrock in Game 4 for a 1-0 victory. In game 5, the White Sox committed 6 errors, but won the game 8-6 on the strength of 12 hits. The White Sox wrapped up the series in Game 6, 8-3, behind 14 hits.

    -- Dean Lollis

    Sources: Sports Encyclopedia, Conlon Cards, 20th Century Baseball Chronicle