Chicago Orphans

The club took the name Orphans after Cap Anson left in 1897, having run it for nineteen years — the writers said the players had been orphaned. Five seasons at 346-368, no pennant, and a best of 1898 at 85-65 in the first year under the name.

What happened in those five seasons matters more than the record. Frank Selee arrived to manage in 1902 and began assembling the club that would win four pennants: he put Joe Tinker at shortstop, moved Johnny Evers to second base and Frank Chance from catcher to first. All three were on the roster before the name changed to Cubs in 1903.

Six Hall of Famers played here, including that infield, Clark Griffith, who pitched and later owned the Washington club, and Rube Waddell. The worst season is 1901, at 53-86, the year the new American League took players from every National League roster. Home was West Side Park.