John McGraw, accused by Ban Johnson of trying to wreck the Baltimore and Washington clubs, negotiates his release from the Orioles and officially signs to manage the Giants

John McGraw, accused by Ban Johnson of trying to wreck the Baltimore and Washington clubs, negotiates his release from the Orioles and officially signs to manage the Giants

ByThis Day in Baseball

John McGraw, accused by Ban Johnson of trying to wreck the Baltimore and Washington clubs, negotiates his release from the Orioles and officially signs to manage the Giantsat $11,000 a year, although he has already secretly signed a contract several days earlier brought to Baltimore by Giants secretary Fred M. Knowles. McGraw says, “I wish to state that I shall not tamper with any of the Baltimore club’s players.” But conspiring with National League owners John Brush and Andrew Freedman, McGraw swings the sale of the Orioles their way, enabling them to release Orioles Dan McGann, Roger Bresnahan, Joe McGinnity and Jack Cronin for signing by the Giants. Joe Kelley and Cy Seymour go to Brush’s Cincinnati Reds.

1902 St Louis

At St. Louis, the Cards win their third straight from the Giants, beating New York, 1 – 0. The lone Cardinal run comes in on a wild pitch by Christy Mathewson.

ByThis Day in Baseball

At St. Louis, the Cards win their third straight from the Giants, beating New York, 1 – 0. The lone Cardinal run comes in on a wild pitch by Christy Mathewson.

Rube Waddell debuts in historic fashion for A’s

Rube Waddell debuts in historic fashion for A’s

ByThis Day in Baseball

Playing his first game for Connie Mack’s A’s, Rube Waddell faces only 27 batters, blanking the Orioles, 2 – 0. The 25-year old southpaw strikes out the side three times by whiffing Billy Gilbert, Harry Howell and Jack Cronin in the 3rd (on just nine pitches) 6th, and 9th innings. C Ossee Schreckengost throws out the two baserunners.

Cleveland is the first American League team to hit three consecutive home runs in one inning

Cleveland is the first American League team to hit three consecutive home runs in one inning

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Cleveland is the first American League team to hit three consecutive home runs in one inning as Nap Lajoie, Piano Legs Hickman and Bill Bradley connect in the 6th off St. Louis, with all the hits ending in the LF bleachers at St. Louis. The last two come on the first pitch thrown. Jack Harper tees up the gopher balls in the 17 – 2 loss. The feat was last done on May 10, 1894.

A federal court judge rules that Brooklyn has no claim on C Deacon McGuire

A federal court judge rules that Brooklyn has no claim on C Deacon McGuire

ByThis Day in Baseball

On June 25, 1902 A federal court judge rules that Brooklyn has no claim on C Deacon McGuire, who jumped to Detroit. Two weeks later, another U.S. judge denies jurisdiction to stop Nap Lajoie from playing for Cleveland, thus ending the Phillies’ chances of regaining him legally.     @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@

Cleveland plays its third straight Sunday game in a minor league park, this time in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Cleveland beats Washington, 6 – 4, behind Addie Joss.

ByThis Day in Baseball

Cleveland plays its third straight Sunday game in a minor league park, this time in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Cleveland beats Washington, 6 – 4, behind Addie Joss.

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Nig Clarke reportedly hits eight home runs for Corsicana against Texarkana

ByThis Day in Baseball

On June 15, 1902, in a minor league game, Nig Clarke reportedly hits eight home runs for Corsicana against Texarkana. Because Sunday games were not allowed in Corsicana, the game was played at a much smaller field in Ennis, TX, where Clarke launched his homers over a short fence. Corsicana hit 21 homers in the…

Charles Somers gives Nap Lajoie $28K

Charles Somers gives Nap Lajoie $28K

ByThis Day in Baseball

Cleveland financier Charles Somers‚ who is also the president of the Boston club‚ meets with Nap Lajoie in Philadelphia and guarantees him a 4-year contract at $7‚000 per year no matter what the legal outcome of his case. Lajoie has played one game‚ then sat in the stands. In 1903‚ Cleveland fans will vote to rename the club the Naps in honor of Lajoie.