Rising up in Chicago’s western suburbs, I used to be uncovered to baseball in a two-team market. Neither staff was formidable throughout that point, however I used to be drawn to the Chicago Cubs due to gamers like Invoice Buckner and Ryne Sandberg, and the long-lasting broadcast duo of Harry Caray and Steve Stone. My 1982 Fleer baseball playing cards, regardless of their blurry pictures and pedestrian design, was my first analysis software to understanding the sport’s hyperlink between the previous and the current.
By the mid-Nineteen Eighties my household relocated to a small city roughly one hour southwest of Chicago. Be trustworthy … when you heard of Dwight, Illinois, it’s for considered one of these causes: the Keeley Institute, the Dwight Correctional Heart (the previous Oakdale Reformatory for Ladies), Route 66, otherwise you grabbed some fries on the native McDonald’s. That’s the place I spent my highschool days patrolling the outfield and counting Andre Dawson house runs. Being an avid baseball fan, I used to be surprised to find many years later that the group had baseball historical past of its personal.
Why didn’t I be taught this whereas residing there? After becoming a member of SABR within the wake of the Cubs World Collection victory in 2016, my main analysis focus remained the Cubs. Then sooner or later a former highschool trainer talked about – had I heard that the Chicago Cubs performed an exhibition sport in Dwight within the early 1900s?
Since then, I’ve devoted my SABR analysis to uncovering Dwight’s hidden baseball historical past. A partnership with volunteers on the Dwight Historic Society opened the doorways to tales about an eccentric banker, actual property seller, and congressman named Col. Frank Leslie Smith. Throughout the early 1900s, Smith created his namesake semiprofessional staff to shine a lightweight on his political aspirations and introduced main leaguers to barnstorm in his hometown.
Between 1902 and 1915, Smith’s staff squared away in opposition to major-league caliber groups together with: Columbia Giants (1902), Detroit Tigers (1907), Washington Senators (1908), Chicago Cubs (1912), Pittsburgh Rebels (1915) and Chicago Whales (1915). Whereas we now have not positioned full field scores for each sport, however we’ve began constructing the gathering of gamers we will verify performed on the town. Researching and writing articles about these video games is rewarding, however memorializing these video games by means of displays and baseball playing cards is the place the enjoyable lies.
The beginning lineup contains a number of homegrown gamers. Eddie Higgins (St. Louis Cardinals, 1909-1910) is the one participant born and raised in Dwight who reached the majors. Whereas his skilled days had been restricted, he pitched usually for the Frank L. Smiths through the high-profile video games in opposition to main league crews. Bud Clancy (Chicago White Sox, 1924-1930; Brooklyn Dodgers, 1932; and Philadelphia Phillies, 1934), who grew up a number of miles south in Odell, Illinois, additionally performed on the town. George Cutshaw (Dodgers, 1912-1917; Pittsburgh Pirates, 1918-1921; Tigers, 1922-1923), from close by Wilmington, Illinois, loved probably the most vital main league profession.
Now to the playing cards – the Dwight Historic Society’s assortment contains Higgins’ 1911 Obak (Northwestern League’s Tacoma Tigers); Clancy’s 1929-1930 4-in-One (White Sox), 1933 Goudey (Dodgers) 1990 Goal one hundredth Anniversary (Dodgers with a White Sox uniform), and 1994 Conlon Assortment (White Sox); and Cutshaw’s 1914 B18 Blanket (Brooklyn Dodgers, inexperienced infield), 1991 American Caramel reprint (Tigers), and 2023 Heavy J Studios 1/1 (Dodgers with autograph).
The gathering additionally options a number of of the opponents and gamers who donned the native uniform. Mike Donlin (T206, fielding) who performed for the Smiths in opposition to the Tigers in 1907; Fred Payne (T205 gold border); Germany Schaefer (T205 gold border); Boss Schmidt (T206 white border); and Insurgent Oakes (T205 gold border, T206).
Joe Tinker (T205 gold border) is the one participant identified to in opposition to the Smiths with two completely different groups (1912 Cubs, 1915 Chicago Whales). Tinker, together with Ray Schalk (1981 TCMA, 1982 Cramer Baseball Legends), had been recognized as members of the Mates of Col. Frank L. Smith boosters’ membership in 1916 to advertise the hometown man as an Illinois gubernatorial candidate.
Just a few notes about three further gamers within the combine. The gathering contains Bugs Raymond (T206, white border), Charlie Schmutz (1911 Obak), and Billy Sullivan (T206, white border).
We have now not but discovered a report of Raymond taking part in for the native squad whereas present process alcohol therapy on the Keeley Institute in 1910, however articles point out that he’ll train the house staff a number of pitching ideas. He was expelled from this system for fixed violation of therapy guidelines, and tragically died two years later.
Schmutz was a member of the Seattle Excessive College baseball staff that toured the US through the summer season of 1907. The younger hurler, who loved a quick stint with the Dodgers in 1914-1915, pitched in opposition to and defeated Higgins and the Smiths when the highschool squad reached city. Then there’s the Billy Sullivan thriller.
When Dwight celebrated its centennial in 1954, as a part of the celebration, the group created a commemorative e book highlighting all points of the city’s historical past together with its baseball connection. It reads, “… additionally, Wm. Sullivan, Supervisor of the Chicago White Sox, was in Dwight for a short while, and performed with and coached the native staff.” To this date we now have not discovered any report of his look on the town. However after we do, his card is prepared.
Invoice Pearch is a lifelong Chicago Cubs fan and serves as secretary/e-newsletter editor for SABR’s Emil Rothe Chapter (Chicago). In 2022, he helped set up SABR’s Central Illinois Chapter. Invoice has contributed to SABR’s publications about Comiskey Park and Ebbets Area. His article, “Boodle and Barnstorming: When Politics and the Nationwide Pastime Convened in Dwight, Illinois,” revealed in The Nationwide Pastime: Coronary heart of the Midwest (2023), instructed the story of semipro staff proprietor Col. Frank L. Smith and the way baseball factored right into a scandalous pursuit of political workplace. Invoice is fortunately married to a Milwaukee Brewers fan. Observe him on Bluesky: @billpearch.bsky.social.
Trending Merchandise
