During the late 1890s and early 1900s, when a Chicago Cubs pitcher got himself into trouble, he undoubtedly hoped for a sharp ground ball on the infield. When the ball headed off the bat and toward the ground, the pitcher could be assured that his best friend, the double play, would about to be turned with perfection. The double-play became so routine for the Chicago Cubs infield that it was not uncommon for spectators to see the combination “Tinkers to Evers to Chance” at least a few times per ball game.
For fifteen years, Frank Chance anchored himself at first base awaiting the baseball as his teammate Johnny Evers pivoted at second and reared himself to make the throw. Known mainly for his role in the immortal double play combination, Frank Chance surprisingly held his own with the lumber. He compiled a respectable .296 batting average, led the National League with 103 runs scored in 1906, won two stolen base titles, and hit .310 in four World Series appearances.
Frank Chance also served as a very effective manager. As a player/manager, he led the Cubs to four pennants in five years and their last World Series championship in 1908. He also went on to manage the New York Yankees and the Boston Red Sox. In 1946, Frank Chance, along with his double play partners Johnny Evers and Joe Tinker, was elected to baseball’s Hall of Fame.