The 1916 Presidents Cup Series Preview: Chicago Orphans

CHICAGO, IL. September 26, 1916 - The 1916 Presidents Cup Series starts today as the Philadelphia Centennials of the Columbia League take on the Chicago Orphans of the United League.

This is the Orphans first pennant win, and the first time they even had a shot. They're best finish was last season, when they finished 11 games back in 3rd place with a 79-61 record. We ran an article during the final stretch of the regular season about Orphans improvements over the years. To sum it up, they have steadily improved each year since the league began in 1912, and their patience has finally paid off.

The owner of the Chicago club is Jack O'Connor, a 72-year-old man who is slowly losing a battle with his health. He hasn't been seen at the park in many months, and many believe his son, William O'Connor is making the major decisions. The owner is one of the richest men in the league, gaining his wealth from a partnership in O'Connor & Whitfield Oil.

O'Connor is one of the wealthiest men in the United League, but he's made it spoken publically about the fact that this is just another business opportunity. It remains to be seen what his son, assuming it is in fact handed down to him, will do with the team.

The Orphans are managed by 59-year-old west-coast native Edmon Callahan. He's known for the way he connects with younger players, and he sure has done a solid job this season. Callahan spent the first three United League seasons with the Pittsburgh Keystones, but was relieved of his duties after a disappointing 1914 season. They went from Presidents Cup champions in 1913 to 5th place losers in 1914. He has the chance today to earn his second Presidents Cup trophy.

Here is the lineup that the manager sent out to the field all year:

1. 1B Forest Goldsmith (.266, 13 Doubles, 6 Triples, 22 RBI in Class A)
2. SS Clifton Kyle (.295, 19 Doubles, 8 Triples, 63 RBI)
3. LF Abner Chavez (.312, 26 Doubles, 5 Triples, 77 RBI)
4. RF Ezekiel Peel (.276, 20 Doubles, 11 Home runs, 79 RBI)
5. CF Burton Tompson (.306, 19 Doubles, 8 Home runs, 55 RBI)
6. 2B Byron Murry (.295, 23 Doubles, 7 Home runs, 74 RBI)
7. C Bimm Sheffield (.286, 19 Doubles, 7 Triples, 56 RBI)
8. 3B Flash Salmon (.283, 12 Doubles, 10 Home runs, 75 RBI)

Their pitching rotation is as follows:

1. RHP Earl Ebert (29-7, 1.83 ERA, 273 K)
2. RHP Harman Putman (26-10, 2.19 ERA, 238 K)
3. RHP Squire Ludwig (18-12, 3.02 ERA, 127 K)
4. RHP Bryant Laney (6-10, 3.21 ERA, 31 K)

Games One, Two, Five, Six, and Nine, will be played at O'Connor Park in Chicago. The ballpark holds 12,000 spectators and slightly favor right-handed hitters. The short walls in the gaps will bolster home run numbers and cut down doubles and triples severely.

LF: 307'
CF: 409'
RF: 307'

The Orphans wear gray pants and a gray top with a blue undershirt. A blue "C" is stitched onto the left side of the chest. Their cap is blue, and has a white "C" on it. The lettering is in old-english type.