Training in Mexico

1906 saw one of the greatest upsets in World Series history. In the only Windy City Classic the White Sox, also known as the "Hitless Wonders," beat the Cubs. While the Cubs losing a World Series would seem shocking today only due to the fact that they had made it that far, one must remember that this was a team that went 116-36, the best in history. Did the White Sox celebrate their victory by going to Disneyland? No, the Magical Kingdom was still Southern California orange graves. But the White Sox did spend some of the next spring in Mexico. They were the first team to have spring training outside of the United States.

Spring training at the turn of the century was a bit different than it is today. For starters, teams trained by themselves. The idea of training with another team did not come into vogue until the teens. Also, a big chunk of spring training took place on the road, in the form of barnstorming back to the home city. This served both as a money maker and as a way to beat the bushes for undiscovered talent. As a result, while spring training may last many weeks, perhaps only a week or so would be at the official site.

The White Sox went to Mexico the same way they went everywhere, by train. The Wright brothers had invented the airplane only three years prior and several more generations of ballplayers would ride the rails. The White Sox left Chicago on March 5 with over 50 members in the official party. Many fans also followed them south of the border. Their train was normally known as the Cuban Special, but it was redubbed the White Sox Special in honor of its occupants. It featured two specially decorated engines, sporting Mexican and American flags and large banners. Any onlookers would be sure to know that the World Champions were pulling through town.

There were problems with the train. A steam pipe broke after they left Illinois and this cost the party some time. In order that the players make their connection in New Orleans the train was split and the players went ahead. There they transfered to the Sunset Limited, but that engine could not handle the strain of the extra cars. One journalist described it as a case of a minor league engine and a major league train. This would end up costing the White Sox a day and a game. When they arrived in San Antonio they found that they had missed their connection to Mexico. After a large meal (to make time the player's train had not included a dining car), some of the players visted the Alamo while others threw the ball around.

After a quiet night there was more excitement the next day. Frank Owen was describing his handgun accident (although it is unclear if this involved the burn on his pitching hand, the hole in his thigh, or both) and brandished his revolver to accent his tale. He quickly found himself in the pokey, a victim of local concealed-weapons laws. Police officials finally released Owen to Comiskey, on the pledge that he would return on his trip back from Mexico. The owner and the pitcher barely made their train. At the border the team had problems convincing Customs officials that their bats and balls were tools of the trade rather than items for sale, but "otherwise the function of passing the border line into foreign land was more ludicrous than serious."

On Sunday, March 10, 1907 the White Sox finally arrived in Mexico City. They were two hours late for their noon game, and did not put on a good show for the 1000 on hand. Once again the train had been split and the players sent ahead. They dressed on the train and hit the playing field without a meal. They divided up into two squads, "Blue" and "White" and played a game with 10 errors. The "high sky" was a common complaint of the players. The Blues, made up mainly of the vets, beat the Whites by a final of 8-2. After the game the team went to its hotel, only to find that rooms for 24 rather than 56 had been reserved. This lead to a scramble for housing. Still, the players were seeing exciting things, "Yesterday's trip through Mexico was prevented from being being tedious by the scenery. The sights and surroundings were all novel, even to such experienced travellers as ballplayers."

The following day the White Sox trained at the public baths, putting in two hours in the morning followed by two hours in the afternoon. Tuesday saw the Sox play their first game. They faced the "champions of Mexico," a team known as the Records. Judging by the names in the boxscore, the Records were probably just a bunch of Americans living in Mexico. A quick flip through a Mexico City phone book probably won't find too many Myers or Bells or Tolins, however, they did start a Juarez on the mound. The Records were in such bad shape that the White Sox loaned them a catcher. Chicago sent Doc White, Nick Altrock and Ed Walsh to the mound, although they were instructed not to throw curves or changeups. A few errors got the locals a pair of runs, but they shouldn't have been on the same field as the World Champions. The final of 12-2 probably has more to do with the mercy of the White Sox than it does the talent of the Records.

As sorry as the Records were, the next day's opponents were worse. At game time they had only five players, and since the White Sox were giving their regulars the day off, the quality of play was quite low. Frank Owen would not only pitch for the White Sox, but also play centerfield for the "Mexican Sox." Many players switched uniforms. The low value of the product upset the fans. They had been expecting the best team in the world. Obviously they were disappointed.

Thursday would see the last "international match." Probably the White Sox realized that playing club teams was not a good way to prepare for the upcoming American League season. They steamrollered their opponenents (this time an all-star squad) by a final of 15-4. This time a pitcher by the name of Casas was their victim. He did quite well, striking out 4 in the first 3 innings, but it is hard for a pitcher to be effective when he is backed by 11 errors.

Friday saw a morning practice where the subs thumped the regulars 20-6. Then the White Sox dispersed for sightseeing. This was but one of the reasons that the Sox were looking at Mexico as a prime location for Spring Training. It was noted that the dry weather, which in theory is perfect baseball weather, gave rise to dust that the players had difficulty with. The fact that the players could not speak Spanish lead team officials to believe that the players would not get into as much trouble, but I would hazard to guess that the risks of a cultural misunderstanding would have more than balanced this. A reporter had already made a point of observing "It is a deadly insult to call a Mexican by whistling." Also, the American players did not take to native cuisine, and often comlained of hunger. Some of the players tried their hand at pelota, but found that they could not handle the local game without more practice.

On Saturday it was again the Whites and the Blues. Juarez and Casas had been invited to pitch, but neither appeared. The bench players beat the Blues by a final of 13-12, with a run in the top of the ninth. That night the team attended a ball at the St. Francis hotal. Interestingly enough, they found that the high altitude affected their stamina for dancing.

The last game played in Mexico was won by the Blues 9-8. A small fire in the stands was the only excitement in the early goings. The Blues broke the game open with 6 runs in the seventh, buldging their lead to 9-2. The Whites would come up one run shy in the top of the ninth. When the two squads tried to leave the field the crowd insisted that they play a full nine. And so it was. The White Sox left for America that night.

Once again the trains let them down. One of their engines, vintage 1840, ran into mechanical trouble. This meant that they would not get to the border until after sunset. This caused some amount of trouble due to a quarantine. Border crossings were not allowed after dark. After the team doctor gave everyone a clean bill of health and the rail officials told the border authorities that the train had been fumigated since leaving Mexico City the White Sox were allowed back in America.

Was the trip a success? The White Sox hadn't played any fierce competition, but Comiskey claimed he made a profit (although he didn't carry out a planned return trip the following spring). The physical aspects of the training seem to have been covered - "The Sox left the ancient, mysterious home of the Aztecs well equipted physically for the long, arduous campaign ahead. Eight days of glorious sunshine, like July weather in Chicago, but without any of the discomforts produced by humidity, worked all the Winter's softness out of joints and muscles, though it was impossible to reduce flesh to any extent." The Sox would barnstorm their way back to Chicago, where they would finish third in 1907. They spent the following Spring in Los Angeles.