Cartoon Canon: The Pirates pulverize the Senior Circuit!

RICHMOND, Va. -- The dominant 1902 (then Pittsburg) Pirates were the best of the three consecutive National League champions to open the 20th century, and may well be the best team the franchise has ever fielded. Led by Ginger Beaumont, player/manager Fred Clarke and the legendary Honus Wagner, they clinched the NL pennant on September 3, with a full month of games yet to be played.

Of course, that was technically the end of the season, as the World Series didn't exist yet, but the Bucs easily prevailed against their American League counterparts in an exhibition series that, if the press clippings I found in my research are to be believed, was an exhibition in name only. The animosity between the two organizations, rife with accusations of player-stealing and widespread roster tampering, was at a fever pitch in 1902, and in fact cost the Pirates their star pitcher Jack Chesbro, who jumped to the New York Highlanders (now Yankees) the following season.

One can't help but wonder if that first World Series against Boston might have turned out differently if Pittsburgh had the services of ol' Chesbro in the lineup!