new york giants john mcgraw

Mobile, AL local judge issues a warrant for the arrest for New York Giants beating a local umpire unconscious during an exhibition game

ByThis Day in Baseball

1904 – New York Giants players leave Mobile, AL ahead of the law after a local judge issues a warrant for their arrest for beating a local umpire unconscious during an exhibition game. The players were goaded by manager John McGraw

Ban johnson

At the league meeting, Ban Johnson is reelected American League president and given a raise to $10,000. Also, the AL votes to allow coaches at third base and first base at all times: till now, only one coach was permitted except if there were two or more baserunners. The AL also institutes the “foul strike” rule, used by the National League since 1901: a foul will be counted as a strike unless there are already two strikes.

ByThis Day in Baseball

1903 – At the league meeting, Ban Johnson is reelected American League president and given a raise to $10,000. Also, the AL votes to allow coaches at third base and first base at all times: till now, only one coach was permitted except if there were two or more baserunners. The AL also institutes the “foul strike” rule, used by the National League since 1901: a foul will be counted as a strike unless there are already two strikes.

three fingers brown

Jack Taylor is traded with two others for Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown.

ByThis Day in Baseball

During the post-season City Series in Chicago, Cubs veteran Jack Taylor is chided for losing three games to the White Stockings and Cubs president Jim Hart is convinced that gambling was involved. Taylor is traded to the St. Louis Cardinals with rookie C Larry McLean for pitcher Mike O’Neill and a righthander who was 9-13 in his first season, Mordecai “Three Finger” Brown.

Bill dahlen

John McGraw trades for Bill Dahen

ByThis Day in Baseball

Continuing efforts to build a winner in New York, John McGraw acquires 34-year-old SS Bill Dahlen from Brooklyn in exchange for pitcher Jack Cronin and iron-fingered SS Charlie Babb. McGraw says this is the trade that makes the Giants into winners. In 1904, Dahlen will top the National League with 80 RBI. When he retires in 1911, he will have fielded more chances than any other SS.

History of the World Series – 1903

History of the World Series – 1903

ByThis Day in Baseball

After going at each other viciously for two years, the established National League and fledgling American League buried the hatchet, at least temporarily, in 1903 — thanks in large part to the owners of the NL’s Pittsburgh club and the AL’s Boston team. With their clubs apparently headed toward pennants, Pittsburgh’s Barney Dreyfuss and Boston’s…