alternatehistory.com

Copied from my post at another board:

Johnny Kling plays for the Cubs in 1909: In OTL, Johnny Kling was also a famous pool player in addition to being known as one of the greatest catchers to play for the Chicago Cubs. A dispute over salary led to Kling sitting out the 1909 season after the Cubs were just coming off their second consecutive World Series title as well as their third consecutive National League pennant. The Cubs finished 104-49 in 1909, but finished second in the National League to the Pittsburgh Pirates (110-42) thanks in part to a memorable season by Honus Wagner. The difference was the 9-13 record the Cubs had against the Pirates in 1909. If the Cubs had gone 13-9 against the Pirates, they would have finished 108-44 and won the National League.

Kling won the world billiards championship in 1909 and returned to the Cubs for the 1910 season. But what if Kling played?

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The Cubs faced one of the fiercest challenges in 1909 in what was regarded as one of the greatest pennant races of the early 20th century. The three-time defending National League champion Chicago Cubs had a serious challenger in the Pittsburgh Pirates thanks in part to Honus Wagner's historic season. However, the Cubs boasted one of the strongest infields in the majors. The Cubs also featured a feared pitching staff.

The Cubs finished the season 108-44, ahead of the Pirates who were 106-42. The AL Champion Detroit Tigers faced the Cubs in the World Series for the third consecutive year to a similar outcome. The Cubs took their third consecutive World Series championship in seven games against the Tigers. It took the Philadelphia Athletics to end Chicago's reign at the top of the baseball world in 1910. The Cubs, meanwhile, have not won a World Series since 1909.

Babe Ruth traded to the Chicago White Sox: When the Boston Red Sox were looking to trade Babe Ruth, AL President limited Boston's trading partners to the White Sox and the Yankees. The White Sox were offering Shoeless Joe Jackson and $60,000 for Babe Ruth, but the Yankees offered an all-cash deal at $100,000.

But what if the Red Sox decided to deal Ruth to the White Sox instead, completely oblivious to the shady events that occurred in the 1919 World Series?

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When Shoeless Joe Jackson arrived in Boston, he quickly became a fan favorite. In Chicago, they saw Ruth's bat in the lineup everyday as something of greater value than his abilities as a pitcher. Ruth began wowing fans in Chicago with his home run power. However, news of the events of the 1919 World Series and the scandal surrounding it led to the suspension of six players. In Boston, Shoeless Joe was not spared and he too was suspended. The Black Sox were eventually banned from baseball. Misfortune surrounded the Red Sox and White Sox as their later inability to win a World Series was blamed on the Curse of the Black Sox.

Meanwhile, Charles Comiskey sold Babe Ruth to the New York Giants after a disappointing 1921 season, where he had a solid Hall of Fame career. Without Ruth, the Yankees were driven out of New York by Ban Johnson, and eventually returned to Baltimore where they once again became the Orioles.

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Any thoughts? Feel free to contribute some of your own.
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