[FuzzyRussianHat]

The Windy City was buzzing as Chicago’s two baseball clubs were to compete in the first-ever World Series. The White Sox had the best record in Major League Baseball and the best run differential at +209. Their 538 runs allowed were also the fewest in MLB. The Cubs were second in the National League for both runs scored and allowed.

The White Sox had home field advantage with a 55-26 home record, second in MLB to Buffalo’s 56-25. The Cubs had no problem taking two at Buffalo in the NLCS and had the best road record in MLB at 48-33. Of course, “road game” would be a relative term as the South Side Park and West Side Grounds were separated by only about five miles.

Game one had an offensive explosion with 30 combined hits. The White Sox took advantage though far more effectively in a 14-4 win, getting four home runs. SS Germany Smith was 3-5 with 5 RBI and 2 runs, while LF Tony Mullane was 2-4 with 4 RBI and DH Oscar Walker scored 4 runs.



Game two was a more expected pitcher’s duel, which was even 1-1 through three innings. In the bottom of the eighth, Germany Smith had a leadoff single and eventually scored what would be the White Sox winning run on a wild pitch. The Cubs got two singles in the top of the ninth, but the White Sox stranded them to escape the 2-1 victor. Mullane had the complete game win, allowing five hits with two walks and seven strikeouts.



The White Sox bats unloaded again to roll 10-2 in game three, putting them on the cusp of a sweep. Germany Smith scored thrice on two hits and 2B Candy Nelson had a three-run homer in the fifth.



The Cubs avoided getting swept in the first World Series, surviving for a 2-1 win in game four. Both Cub runs came in the bottom of the first inning, while Tim Keefe and Billy O’Brien combined on the mound to allow only three hits with 14 strikeouts and two walks.



Game five had an all-time pitching performance by Cubs righty Will White, who tossed a one-hit shutout with three walks and two strikeouts. White also had a two RBI single in the seventh en route to the 4-0 Cubs win, forcing game six back on the South Side.



The White Sox felt confident early in game six after a two run first inning and an injury to Cubs pitcher Frank Buttery in the third inning. The Cubs had an impressive fourth inning rally with four hits and four runs. The bullpen held the line and the Cubs prevailed 4-3. After being on the brink of getting swept, the Cubs won three straight to force the decisive seventh game. MLB officials were delighted to see the high drama from the comeback bid, which was getting plenty of attention in newspapers across the nation.



The decisive inning in game seven of the first World Series was the second. White Sox SS Germany Smith drew a one-out walk, then was knocked in by Candy Nelson’s RBI triple. Tony Mullane doubled in Nelson, then came around to score on an error. Those were the White Sox’s only runs, but it was enough with John Clarkson’s complete game effort.

Clarkson allowed four hits and two runs with 10 strikeouts. The Cubs got solo runs in the third and seventh innings, including a Dave Orr solo homer to lead off the seventh. However, Clarkson retired the next nine batters consecutively after Orr’s bomb and the White Sox survived 3-2. It was more dramatic than they wanted, considering they won the first three games of the series, but regardless the Chicago White Sox were the first-ever World Series champion in 1884.



Tony Mullane was the World Series MVP, posting a 2.50 ERA over his two complete games on the mound with 14 strikeouts, 11 hits allowed, and four walks. At the plate, Mullane was 5-15 with one homer and six RBI. He had also won ALCS MVP, as the White Sox’s sixth round draft pick proved critical. All four of his pitching outings in the playoffs were complete games, going 3-1 with a 1.75 ERA and 20 Ks.