The National League Rules Committee decrees that all foul balls are to count as strikes, except after two strikes.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1901 – The National League Rules Committee decrees that all foul balls are to count as strikes, except after two strikes. To cut the cost of lost foul balls, the committee urges that batsmen who foul off good strikes are to be disciplined. The American League will not adopt this rule for several years. Other new rules: catchers must play within 10 feet of the batter; a ball will be called if the pitcher does not throw to a ready and waiting batter within 20 seconds, and players using indecent or improper language will be banished by the umpire. A ball will be called when a batter is hit by a pitch, but, in a mail vote, the owners will rescind this in April, and a HBP will earn a batter first base.

National League officials meet with Charles “Chief” Zimmer, Pittsburgh Pirates catcher and the president of the Players Protective Association, and agree to contract concession

ByTom

1901 – National League officials meet with Charles “Chief” Zimmer, Pittsburgh Pirates catcher and the president of the Players Protective Association, and agree to contract concessions granted by the American League for NL players who will agree not to sign with AL clubs. Zimmer promises suspensions for members of the union who jump to the new league.

kid Gleason

Giants and Pirates outfielder Tom O’Brien dies at 28

ByTom

1901 – Giants and Pirates outfielder Tom O’Brien, 28, dies in Phoenix, AZ. A popular player with the Giants, O’Brien played for Pirates in 1900, then accompanied the Giants and Superbas last fall on a trip to Cuba for a series of exhibition games. On the boat trip over, he was told that if he drank enough sea water he’d be sick, but would then be cured of any sea sickness. Both O’Brien and Kid Gleason became violently ill following the prescription, but O’Brien was so affected that all his internal organs were damaged, and he never recovered.

Phillies star infielder Nap Lajoie in violation of reserve clause jumps to the new American League

Phillies star infielder Nap Lajoie in violation of reserve clause jumps to the new American League

ByTom

Phillies star infielder Napoleon Lajoie is rumored to have jumped to the new American League’s Philadelphia franchise. The National League’s leading hitter, clearly in violation of the reserve clause, does switch to the Junior Circuit, where he will win the Triple Crown, leading the league with a .426 batting average, 14 homers, and 125 RBIs.