Series Wrapup

Story

The Chicago White Sox captured their first American League pennant in 1906, securing first place by winning an American League record 19 straight games during the month of August.  Chicago finished the season with a record of 93-58, three games ahead of the second-place New York Highlanders and five games in front of the third-place Cleveland Naps.  

Hardly an offensive juggernaut, the White Sox posted a team batting average of just .230, typically scratching out their runs by drawing walks and stealing bases.  Shortstop George Davis was the team’s top offensive threat, finishing third in the league with 80 runs batted in.  However, Chicago had an outstanding pitching staff that included Doc White, who finished 18-6 with a league-leading 1.52 ERA, and Ed Walsh, who won 17 games, compiled a 1.88 ERA, and topped the circuit with 10 shutouts.

The White Sox entered the World Series as heavy underdogs against the crosstown Chicago Cubs, who won a National League record 116 games during the regular season.  Nevertheless, it was the light-hitting White Sox who prevailed, as they defeated the powerful Cubs in six games in the only all-Chicago World Series ever.

Other notable events and outstanding performers from the 1906 American League campaign follow:

• St. Louis' George Stone led the American League with a .358 batting average, a .501 slugging percentage, and 291 total bases.

• Cleveland’s Napoleon Lajoie was the league’s best offensive player, topping the circuit with 214 hits and 48 doubles, and finishing second with a .355 batting average, 91 runs batted in, a .392 on-base percentage, and a .465 slugging percentage.

• New York's Al Orth led the American League with 27 wins and 36 complete games.

• After batting .320 in his first full season, Ty Cobb left the Detroit Tigers to testify for his mother, who was on trial for shooting and killing his father.

• On July 18, Washington's Cy Falkenberg became the first American League pitcher to hit a grand slam.

• Philadelphia's Harry Davis led the American League with 12 home runs and 96 runs batted in.

• The A’s failed to score a run in 48 consecutive innings at one point during the month of September.