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1912 Presidents Cup Series Preview: Chicago Orphans


CHICAGO, IL. October 6, 1912 - Unlike their Buffalo counterpart, Chicago had plenty of competition in the United League pennant chase. First, it was St. Paul. A May article covered a series between the Saints and the Orphans calling it a very important match-up. St. Paul lost that series and was never the same after it, eventually finishing 70-84. Cleveland and Philadelphia were still in it by July, but Philadelphia went 30-41 after the All-Star break and quickly fell out of it.

By September, Cleveland was just 3 1/2 games out. Amazingly, they won their first nine games of September, bringing them within one game. But the lost five of their next eight, and would then face off against Chicago in a three-game series. They were swept, essentially putting an end to their chances.

Chicago is extremely well balanced, with their only real weakness being the running game. The Orphans ranked 2nd in batting average (.294), 1st in on-base percentage (.365), 1st in runs scored (748), 1st in walks (584), and tied for 1st in least amount of strikeouts (173).

The team had one big hole in the first half of the season, and that was at third-base. Danny Cochrane was penciled in as the starter at the start of the season, but the 32-year-old hit just .261 with a .310 on-base average. The Orphans needed an upgrade, and they could also use some speed in their lineup. They got a boost when the team traded Cochrane and three other prospects to get All-Star Will Eberle from Newark.

Eberle didn't disappoint. The team would have been happy if he continued his ways from Newark, where he hit .318, with a .414 OBP. But he did better. In 54 games with Chicago, Eberle hit .401 with a .484 OBP and a .604 SLG. He also stole 13 bases.

As good as the offense is, the pitching may even be better. The one-two punch of Dave Shipman and Patrick Bunch is arguably the best in the league. The team was 2nd in ERA (3.12), 2nd in runs allowed (553), 2nd in opponents average (.267) and had the fewest walks (379).

The team will be extremely tough to beat.

1. CF Kirby Shafer (.276, 3 HR, 55 RBI, 29 SB)
2. RF Bob Henke (.410, 1 HR. 4 RBI in 39 AB)
3. 2B Gilbert Stiles (.327, 0 HR, 75 RBI, 19 SB)
4. 3B Will Eberle (.348, 3 HR, 101 RBI, 25 SB w/ NEW and CHO)
5. LF Chad Abernathy (.300, 6 HR, 66 RBI)
6. 1B Mack Baker (.286, 1 HR, 85 RBI)
7. C Eric Matney (.300, 2 HR, 59 RBI)
8. SS John Barnes (.303, 2 HR, 37 RBI)

Dave Shipman (21-8, 2.09 ERA, 54 K)
Patrick Bunch (25-9, 2.58 ERA, 48 K)
Joe Vincent (13-15, 4.65 ERA, 33 K)
Larry Cowell (11-6, 4.26 ERA, 13 K)

The Chicago Orphans play their home games at O'Connor Park. The park holds 20,000 people and favors left-handed hitters slightly. You won't see any more home runs than usual, but the park does slightly diminish extra-base hits. The field has the following dimensions:

Left Line: 329 ft., 10 ft. wall
Left Field: 362 ft., 10 ft. wall
Left-Center: 397 ft., 10 ft. wall
Center: 424 ft., 10 ft. wall
Right-Center: 396 ft., 10 ft. wall
Right Field: 355 ft., 10 ft. wall
Right Line: 328 ft., 10 ft. wall

Chicago players wear a royal-blue cap with a "C", a gray jersey with "Chicago" written across the breast. They wear gray pants and royal blue stockings.

The club is owned by 53-year-old Jack O'Connor, an automobile magnate, and managed by 32-year-old Victor Estrada.