Chicago White Stockings
The 1883 Chicago White Stockings players (top row, left to right): George F. Gore center field, Frank Flint catcher, A.C. Anson captain & first baseman, James McCormick pitcher, Mike Kelly right field, Fred Pfeffer second base; (bottom row, left to right) Edward Williamson third base, Albert Dalrymple left field, Thomas Burns short stop, John Clarkson pitcher, and W.A. Sunday right field.
The premier professional team of the 1880’s was the Chicago White Stockings. They later became the Chicago Cubs. Adrian “Cap” Anson led the team to five league championships. Tall, muscular and a powerful hitter, he played in the league for twenty-seven years. Nicknamed “The Heroic Legion of Baseball” the White Stockings were put together by Anson and legendary owner A.G. Spaulding. The Chicago infield was called “The Stone Wall” with Anson on first, Fred Pfeffer on second, Ned Williamson on third and slick fielder Tommy Burns at shortstop. Frank Flint played catcher. Billy joined this excellent collection of players in 1883 and began playing in stadiums around the country.
PLAYER BIOS
![\"Cap](\"https://billysundayevangelist.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Cap_Anson-460x820.jpg\")
A.C. Anson
Position: Captain and First Baseman
Nickname: Captain Anson
Seasons with the Stockings: 1876-1897 (21 years)
Major League Career: 23 years
Major Accomplishments: Anson batted .300 for twenty consecutive seasons. The first major leaguer to join the 3000 hit club. He was their fearless leader and manager of the White Stockings leading them to five NL pennants. Anson was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1939.
![\"Tommy](\"https://billysundayevangelist.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Tommy_Burns-460x820.jpg\")
Thomas Burns
Position: Short Stop
Seasons with the Stockings: 1880-1891 (11 years)
Major League Career: 12 years
Major Accomplishments: On September 6, 1883, during an 18-run inning, Burns had three hits—two doubles and a home run. Pfeffer and Williamson also had three hits in the same inning, playing against the Detroit Nationals. No major leaguer had a three-hit inning again until 1953.
![\"John](\"https://billysundayevangelist.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/John_Clarkson-460x820.jpg\")
John Clarkson
Position: Pitcher
Seasons with the Stockings: 1884-1887 (4 years)
Major League Career: 12 years
Major Accomplishments: Clarkson won 53 games as a pitcher in 1885. The team won in that year won 83. He won 328 games in his career. Over a 100 years later this still ranks him as 12th on the all time wins list. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963.
![\"Frank](\"https://billysundayevangelist.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Frank_Flint-460x820.jpg\")
Frank Flint
Position: Catcher
Nickname: Silver
Seasons with the Stockings: 1879-1890 (11 years)
Major League Career: 13 years
Major Accomplishments: Flint was described as one of the best catchers of the pre-1900 era. He refused to wear any kind of face mask, chest protector or shin guards. Because of this he broke every joint in every finger at least once, lost several of his teeth and broke his nose at least twice. He was given a glove to use once and discarded it claiming it was “a hindrance.” Anson described Flint’s hands as being like gnarled and knotted branches of a scrub oak.
![\"George](\"https://billysundayevangelist.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/George_Gore-460x820.jpg\")
George Gore
Position: Center Field
Nickname: Piano Legs
Seasons with the Stockings: 1879-1886 (8 years)
Major League Career: 14 years
Major Accomplishments: Gore led the league in 1880 with a .360 batting average.
![\"Mike](\"https://billysundayevangelist.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Mike_Kelly-460x820.jpg\")
Mike Kelly
Position: Right Field
Nickname: $10,000 Kelly
Seasons with the Stockings: 1880-1886 (7 years)
Major League Career: 16 years
Major Accomplishments: Kelly was the National League batting champion twice (1884 & 1886), and the runs scoring leader three times (1884-1886), He played on six National League championship teams. Kelly was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945.
![\"James](\"https://billysundayevangelist.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/James_McCormick-460x820.jpg\")
James McCormick
Position: Pitcher
Seasons with the Stockings: 1885-1886 (2 years)
Major League Career: 10 years
Major Accomplishments: McCormick was the National League (NL) wins leader twice, and also the NL ERA leader in 1883. He won 265 games as a pitcher.
![\"Fred](\"https://billysundayevangelist.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Fred_Pfeffer-460x820.jpg\")
Fred Pfeffer
Position: Second Base
Nickname: Dandelion or Fritz
Seasons with the Stockings: 1883-1889 (7 years)
Major League Career: 17 years
Major Accomplishments: Pfeffer played on three championship teams.
![\"Billy](\"https://billysundayevangelist.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/WA_Sunday-460x820.jpg\")
Billy Sunday
Position: Right Field
Nickname: Parson
Seasons with the Stockings: 1883-1887 (5 years)
Major League Career: 8 years
Major Accomplishments: Sunday was a league leader in steals and outfield plays.
![\"Edward](\"https://billysundayevangelist.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/Ned_Williamson-460x820.jpg\")
Edward Williamson
Position: Third Base
Nickname: Ned
Seasons with the Stockings: 1883-1889 (11 years)
Major League Career: 13 years
Major Accomplishments: Williamson hit 27 home runs in 1884 for a league record that would last until 1919, when it was broken by the legendary Babe Ruth.