Chicago Hornets Atop the World

[chicago_gm]

CHICAGO STUNS SLOP WORLD
Hornets Crush Carolina & Memphis to Win Championship

By Caitlen Sullivan
Chicago Sun Times Sports
October 9, 1844

The Hornets set a goal for 1844: improve from 81 wins to 87 and make a run for a playoff spot. They exceeded their season goal by ending up the year 90-72, seven games behind the Carolina Kings in the Nationwide League. That finish was good enough to get the team into the playoffs against Carolina. All goals had been met.

But the playoffs were nothing short of unbelievable, and the Chicago Hornets, just one season removed from a 100 loss season, sit atop the baseball world after stunning defeats of Nationwide League champion Carolina and then Associated League champion Memphis in the playoffs.

The Wild Card Round
The Hornets were 8-10 versus Carolina during the regular season, and a close playoff battle was expected. Carolina, the winningest team in the SLOP league, was heavily favored in Las Vegas. But the Hornets started fast by winning the first two games in Carolina. Carolina bounced back by shutting out the Hornets in the first game in Chicago. It was all Chicago from that point on as the Hornets won the second game at home and then blitzed the Kings 7-3 in Carolina to win the series 4-1.

The World Series:
Memphis won the first game of the World Series by scoring two in the bottom of the ninth to win it 3-2. Colby Wade blew the save and took the loss. The Hornets didn’t take kindly to that and proceeded to sweep the next five games in the best of nine series to bring the bacon home to a delirious Chicago. The Hornets outscored the Smokers 36 to 17 in the six games.

First Baseman Steve Chowen was named the MVP of the World Series. In the playoffs he led the Hornets with five home runs and thirteen runs batted in. Spencer Miller led the team in hits during the post season with 14 (.333).

But it was the pitching that really excelled during the post season. The bullpen pitched a grand total of twelve and two thirds innings in the eleven games as the starters went deep and strong in almost every game. 21-year-old Bill Hicks was the star of the staff with three wins in three starts, an ERA of just 1.52, and a WHIP of an amazing 0.63. Rookie Artie Richer and ace Bobby Foster each won two games. Rich Malone and Colby Wade accounted for the other two wins.

Chicago will celebrate with a parade down South Columbus Drive and festivities at Grant Park tomorrow beginning at 11:00 AM.

[Young Drachma]

You put together a nice ballclub. Glad to see the complete turnaround of the Hornets.