In Just A Bit Outside we examine the four best players who were not chosen for their franchise’s All-Time Team.
Wilbur Wood
Wilbur Wood signed with the Boston Red Sox as an amateur free agent prior to the 1960 season. He spent parts of four seasons with the Red Sox before he was sold to the Pirates in September 1964. Wood established himself as an effective reliever for Pittsburgh in 1965. The Pirates traded him to Chicago in October, 1966.
Wood relied on his knuckle ball to become a mainstay for the Chicago pitching staff from 1967-1978. He was incredible durable and versatile during his White Sox career.
Wood led the league in appearances three straight seasons from 1968-1970.
He shifted to the starting rotation in 1971. He immediately established himself as one of the best starters in the game, leading the AL with a 189 ERA+.
Wood also continued to eat innings at an elite level. During his White Sox career, Wood led the league in games started four times and innings pitched twice.
Beyond his durability, he remained an excellent pitcher for several seasons. He led the AL in wins twice with back-to-back 24-win seasons in 1972-1973.
Wood was a three-time All Star, finished in the top-five in the Cy Young voting three times, and received MVP votes in three seasons as well.
From 1967-1978, Wilbur Wood produced 50.3 bWAR, 7th best in franchise history.
With a career 116 ERA+ over 2524.1 innings, Wood is clearly among the best pitchers in White Sox history. He was the last player cut from the White Sox All-Time Team.
Eddie Cicotte
Eddie Cicotte signed as an amateur free agent with the Detroit Tigers before the 1905 season. He pitched just three games for the Tigers. His contract was then purchased by the Red Sox before 1908. He proved to be an effective starter during his five seasons with Boston. The White Sox purchased him from the Red Sox in July, 1912.
Cicotte broke out for the White Sox, posting a 186 ERA+ in 1913. His 7.5 bWAR was tied for third best among AL pitchers that year.
Cicotte remained a solidly above-average pitcher in his early 30s, averaging 123 ERA+ from 1914-1916.
1917 was his career year. He led the league in wins (28), ERA (1.53), and innings (346.2). His 11.5 bWAR was the best of his career, and tops in the American League that season. The 1917 White Sox won the American League, and defeated the New York Giants in six games to win the World Series. Cicotte was 1-1 with a 1.57 ERA in 23 innings during the fall classic.
1919
The White Sox returned to the World Series in 1919. Cicotte was again the team’s ace pitcher winning 29 games and finishing with a 176 ERA+ over 306.2 innings.
In the best-of-nine 1919 World Series, the White Sox took on the NL Champion Cincinnati Reds. The usually reliable Cicotte was drilled for six runs in 3.2 innings, and took the loss in the opener.
With the Sox trailing two games to one, manager Kid Gleason gave Cicotte the ball again in Game Four. This time it was two-unearned runs, resulting from his own fielding errors in the top of the fifth inning, that sealed his fate. The Reds won 2-0 to take a commanding 3-1 series lead.
In an attempt to redeem himself, Cicotte tossed a complete game gem in Game Seven, and the Sox won 4-1. Unfortunately, the team dropped the next game, and the series to the Reds.
In the aftermath of the series, rumors began to circulate that members of the White Sox team, including Cicotte, had conspired with gamblers to throw the series.
Cicotte won 21 games in 1920, his last season in the majors. As the season concluded, Cicotte became the focal point of an investigation into allegations that the 1919 World Series was a sham. Cicotte, and seven of his teammates, were indicted by a grand jury in Cook County Court for their role in the conspiracy. Although the players were acquitted in court, new MLB Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis banned the players from ever again playing big league baseball.
Legacy
Cicotte’s playing career alone would place him firmly in consideration for the White Sox All-Time team. His 50.3 bWAR ranks 8th in franchise history. His 133 ERA+ is 5th in Sox history.
Unlike his Black Sox teammate Shoeless Joe Jackson, Cicotte was not selected for the White Sox All-Time Team. While both players were banned from baseball following the 1920 season, some historians have questioned Jackson’s true role in the scandal.
Cicotte’s involvement is beyond dispute. He offered an official confession to his guilt that was later lost by court officials. Unlike Jackson, his record of play in the series, including two suspect loses, offers no argument for his overall innocence. As a result, one of the most dominant pitchers in White Sox history is Just A Bit Outside the All-Time Team.
Doc White
Doc White was signed out of Georgetown University by the Philadelphia Phillies prior to the 1901 season. White made 67 appearances, working to a 110 ERA+ in two seasons with the Phillies.
In 1903, the White Sox convinced White to jump to their club in the fledgling American League. White was an instant success in Chicago.
From 1903-1906, White was one of the best pitchers in the American League. He went 68-47 with a 142 ERA+ over his first 1007.2 innings with the White Sox.
1906
In 1906, the 27-year-old lefty had his career year. He posted league-best marks in ERA (1.52) and WHIP (0.90) over 219.1 innings. His 6.1 bWAR was the top mark for the pitching staff that led the White Sox to the World Series.
Along with Franchise Phenom, Ed Walsh, White anchored Chicago’s pitching staff against the crosstown rival Chicago Cubs.
In Game Two of the series, White was removed for a pinch-hitter after allowing four unearned runs in three innings. White was hung with the loss, and the series was tied after two games.
In Game Five, with the series tied at two games apiece, player/manager and Franchise Phenom, Fielder Jones rode Walsh and White to victory. Walsh battled through six innings, but shoddy White Sox defense (the team made six errors in the game), kept the Cubs chances alive. After surrendering a leadoff double in the bottom of the 7th, Walsh was pulled in favor of White. White allowed just one hit and a walk the rest of the way to earn the save, and secure the White Sox victory.
Back on the South Side the following day, Jones gave the ball to White yet again, this time to start. In a match-up of the best pitchers from their respective leagues, the Cubs countered with Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown. The Sox got to Brown early and often, jumping out to a 7-0 lead after two innings. White went the distance, scattering 11 runners, and allowing three runs. In just their sixth year of existence, Doc White helped pitch the White Sox to the first World Championship in franchise history.
After the Championship
White backed up 1906 with another solid season in 1907. He led the league in wins (27) and K/BB rate (3.71).
1908 was the first below-average season of White’s career at 90 ERA+, but he still won 18 games.
At age 30, White had one more strong season in him. He threw 177.2 innings at a 138 ERA+ in 1909.
Although he hung on for parts of four more seasons, he was slightly below-average overall during the final stretch of his career.
In 11 years for the White Sox, Doc White won 159 games, and pitched 2498.1 innings for an ERA+ of 114. His 37.6 bWAR is 14th in White Sox history.
George Davis
George Davis grew up near Albany, New York. He signed with the Cleveland Spiders of the National League before the 1890 season. In three seasons for Cleveland, he was a solid above-average regular, splitting his time between third base and the outfield.
In February, 1893, the Spiders traded Davis to the New York Giants for star slugger Buck Ewing. While Ewing’s best days were behind him, Davis would emerge as a star in New York.
From 1893-1901, Davis laid the groundwork for a Hall of Fame career with the Giants. He averaged .332/.394/.468, 132 OPS+, and 5.0 bWAR during that stretch.
White Sox Career
Like many players of his day, including Doc White, Davis became wrapped up in an emerging drama between the National League and the new American League. Despite the contractual reserve clause that bound players to their teams as long as the team chose to retain them, many players began jumping to teams in the other league whenever they wanted a new contract.
Davis jumped to the White Sox where he had a solid season in 1902. He attempted to return to the Giants in 1903, but the subsequent legal dispute limited him to just four games that season. He was returned to Chicago for 1904. The SABR Bio on George Davis outlines the drama well.
Davis then finished his career with Chicago from 1904-1909. Although his offensive production with Chicago slipped well below that of his peak with the Giants, Davis remained the regular shortstop for the bulk of his time with the Sox. Defensive metrics, applied retroactively to his career, view his work in the field very favorably.
From 1904-1907, bWAR paints the picture of a star shortstop who was among the league’s best at the position. Davis averaged 6.9 bWAR during that stretch, and was the best player on the 1906 World Champs.
All told, George Davis is one of the best shortstops in the histories of both the New York Giants, and the Chicago White Sox. His 33.0 bWAR is 16th in White Sox history. His 44.6 bWAR in New York ranks him 12th all-time for the Giants.