The Chicago Cubs (1901 - 1913)

Shortly after the formation of the American League, owner Al Spalding sold the team to John Hart in 1902, to concentrate on promoting his sporting goods company while touring the country. The team that Spalding put together would end up being one of his greatest accomplishments.

The Chicago Cubs consisted of three Hall-of-Fame infielders: Joe Tinker (SS), Johnny Evers (2B) and Frank Chance (1B), who played together from 1903 to 1912. They would form one of the greatest infields of all-time along with 3B - Harry Steinfeldt and catcher Johnny Kling. The Cubs (like in the past) relied on stellar pitching during these years, featuring Mordecai "Three-Finger" Brown, Jack Taylor, Ed Reulbach, Jack Pfiester, and Orval Overall.

The team became the first team in the either league to reach the World Series three consecutive seasons, and the first team to win two titles -- but have yet to do it since 1908, making it the longest championship drought in North American sports. Some historians believe that Johnny Kling's absence from the 1909 season (who momentarily retired to become a professional pockets billiard) prevented the team from the chance to win three straight championships, since the team ended the season only 6 games back from the league pennant. Kling would return in 1910, and the Cubs would return to the World Series, but would end up losing this time to the 1910 Philadelphia Athletics.