Chicago Whales, 1914–1915

The Chicago Whales disappeared more than a century ago. Their ballpark became one of the most famous places in baseball.

Before They Were the Whales

Chicago's Federal League club actually began before the league declared itself a major league.

The team played in 1913 and became known as the Chicago Federals, or Chi-Feds, when the Federal League challenged the National and American Leagues in 1914.

Their owner was Chicago restaurateur Charles Weeghman.

Their manager was already a Chicago baseball legend: Joe Tinker, the shortstop forever linked with the famous Cubs double-play combination of Tinker to Evers to Chance.

A New Ballpark on the North Side

Weeghman needed a home for his new major league team.

So he built one.

Weeghman Park opened in 1914 on Chicago's North Side. The Federals played the first game there on April 23, 1914.

Chicago finished 87–67 that season, just 1½ games behind the Indianapolis Hoosiers.

Bring in the Whales

Before the 1915 season, Weeghman held a public contest to give his team an official nickname.

Nearly 300 suggestions came in.

Weeghman chose Whales, believing the name suggested strength and power while being unlike anything else in baseball.

The team's uniforms even featured a whale inside a large letter C.

Federal League Champions

The Whales gave their new name a championship season.

Chicago finished 86–66 in 1915, ending the season in a virtual tie with the St. Louis Terriers.

The difference came down to winning percentage.

Chicago finished just ahead and was declared the Federal League champion.

It would also be the final championship in league history.

The Team Disappears. The Ballpark Remains.

The Federal League folded after the 1915 season.

As part of the settlement ending the league, Weeghman was allowed to purchase a controlling interest in the Chicago Cubs.

He moved the Cubs into the ballpark he had built for the Whales.

Weeghman Park later became Cubs Park and eventually received the name baseball fans know today:

Wrigley Field.

The Whales were gone, but their home never left the major leagues.