Chicago's Civil War

During the latter third of the 19th century, Chicago established itself as a world class city. It was becoming a world class baseball city too with the White Sox joining the Cubs in town. A rivalry was sparked instantly between Owners James Hart and Charles Comiskey, making an eventual competition between the two teams inevitable. John McMurray, the chair of SABR's Deadball Era Committee joins this week's show to talk about the formation of the AL and the start of city series all around baseball.

For 40 years, the Cubs and White Sox met nearly every October for a best of seven city series. The games were taken seriously in front of sellout crowds. Players earned raises or lost their jobs based on their performance against their crosstown rivals.

Starting April 22 and continuing each Wednesday, Chicago's Civil War will take an in depth look at these games and the rivalry that they cultivated.