Chicago White Sox Season Lookback - 1902

Record - 74-60, Finished Fourth Place in the American League
Pythagorean Record - 74-60

Starters (Note - I couldn't find a set lineup, so I'm listing the players who got the most time at their respective positions)

Hitters (BA/OBP/SLG)

C - Billy Sullivan (.243/.268/.323)
1b - Frank Isbell (.252/.276/.318)
2b - Tom Daly (.225/.303/.288)
3b - Sammy Strang (.295/.387/.364)
SS - George Davis (.299/.386/.402)
LF - Sam Mertes (.282/.334/.362)
CF - Fielder Jones (.321/.390/.370)
RF - Danny Green (.312/.388/.391)

Team Leaders

Homeruns - Frank Isbell (4)
Batting Average - Fielder Jones (.321)
OPS - Gerogie Davie (.788)
Best Fielder - Fielder Jones (15 Fielding Runs Above Average)

Pitchers (IP/W/ERA)

SP - Roy Patterson (268/19/3.06)
SP - Clark Griffith (213/15/4.18)
SP - Wiley Piatt (246/12/3.51)
SP - Nixey Callahan (282.3/16/3.60)
SP - Ned Garvin (175.3/10/2.21)

Team Leaders

Wins - Roy Patterson (19)
ERA - Ned Garvin (2.21)
Strikeouts - Wiley Piatt (96)

Synopsis

1902 was a step back for the White Sox. They won nine less games and finished in fourth place in the American League, eight games back of the Philadelphia Athletics. Only the Detroit Tigers (.320) had a worse slugging percentage then the White Sox (.335). They did finish second in walks (411), first in stolen bases (265) and first in sacrafice hits (154). Offensive leaders included Fielder Jones, who finished first in singles (150), tenth in hitting (.321) and sixth in On Base Percentage (.390). They also got a good season out of newcomer and future Hall of Famer George Davis. Davis was fifth in the league with 93 RBIs, and finished fifth in walks as well (60).

Pitching declined as well. The team added almost half a run to their ERA (3.41). 1901 staff ace and Hall of Famer Clark Griffith had the first of several erratic seasons. His ERA+ of 81 was the worst of any season where he threw more then fifty innings. Ned Garvin, who was traded late in the season, led the team in ERA and was eighth in the league in WHIP (1.209).