The AL aged another year, and the White Sox won their first pennant since their inaugural season in 1901. The Chicago club was nicknamed "The Hitless Wonders", in reference to their poor offense. Their victory was a surprise; the Cleveland team (not yet called the Indians) led the league in both runs scored and ERA, but finished five games behind Chicago. It was a very disappointing year for Cleveland, at the start of what was a mostly disappointing century for the franchise.
        In the World Series, the White Sox were underdogs against their mighty cross-town rivals, the Cubs. But the Hitless Wonders were victorious again, upsetting the Cubs and avenging the AL's humiliation in the previous year's Series.

         Cleveland's best pitcher was Hall Of Famer Addie Joss. Joss had a short career, only nine years; the first eight were outstanding, and were almost identical to one another. Joss is one of only two pitchers to record a career ERA under two runs a game; not only was he an excellent pitcher, but Joss also had the fortune to pitch in a new league during the lowest scoring era in baseball history. Joss also had the misfortune not to have a decline phase to his career; he died in 1911 from a form of meningitis.
        This is the only year in which I think that Joss was the best pitcher in the league. Does Joss deserve to be in the Hall Of Fame, despite his short career? He was not, I don't think, as dominant a pitcher as either Sandy Koufax or Dizzy Dean, two other Hall Of Famers who had short careers. Joss was probably more similar to Ron Guidry or David Cone, neither of whom are popular Hall Of Fame candidates. Joss may be underqualified for the Hall, but he was still a terrific pitcher.
        There are, I think, a number of orders in which the other pitchers could be placed that are easily defendable. Bob Rhoads was a teammate of Joss' in Cleveland, and had the best year of his short career. A third Cleveland pitcher was Otto Hess, who had his best year amid a number of ugly losing seasons.
        Big Ed Walsh had his first outstanding year for Chicago, though he didn't get much run support. Walsh's teammate, Doc White, didn't start many games, but was brilliant when he was on the mound. Consideration could also be given to Al Orth, who with the help of good offensive support led the league in wins despite not pitching as well as some of the other pitchers.