On May 8, 1901, In their long-delayed American League home opener, Boston defeats Philadelphia’s Bill Bernhard, 12 – 4, behind Cy Young, who has jumped from the St. Louis Cardinals. Boston is led by Buck Freeman, who has a single, triple and homer. Young complains that he does not like the rule against pitchers warming up, but he will still lead the AL with his 1.62…
Herm McFarland of the Chicago White Sox hits the first grand slam in American League history in a 19 – 9 victory over the Detroit Tigers. His teammate Dummy Hoy also hits a grand slam, in a contest which features Detroit committing 12 errors, 10 by the infield, to set another AL record, which Chicago will tie on May 6, 1903, against the Tigers.
After two days of rain at Philadelphia’s Columbia Park, 10,547 fans witness Connie Mack’s A’s making their American League debut, losing to the Senators, 5-1. In their inaugural season in the Junior Circuit, the Mackmen will finish in fourth place, compiling a 74-62 record.
On April 25, 1901, the Detroit Tigers make an incredible comeback in their American League debut. Down 13-4 in the bottom of the ninth, the Tigers score 10 runs in their last at-bat to defeat the Milwaukee Brewers, 14-13. Frank Dillon drives in the game-winning run with a double.
On April 24, 1901, the Chicago White Stockings and Cleveland Blues play the first game in the history of the American League. A crowd of over 10,000 fans attends the game in Chicago, where the White Stockings rout the Blues, 8-2.
Although he tried to return the money, Christy Mathewson is accused by Connie Mack of reneging on his contract with Philadelphia. In January, ‘Big Six,’ after meeting with the A’s manager, received a signing bonus, committing himself to play for the 1901 season with the American League team, but then used the offer as leverage to get a richer contract from the Giants.
1901 – Jimmy Collins switches leagues but not cities. Collins leaves the Boston Beaneaters National League club to play and manage the American League’s new Boston Americans. The NL Beaneaters will also lose outfielder Hugh Duffy, who becomes manager of Milwaukee’s new AL entry, and catcher Billy Sullivan, who signs with the Chicago White Sox.
On March 15, 1901, star third baseman Jimmy Collins jumps from the National League to the American League. The 28-year-old Collins leaves the Boston Beaneaters to sign a guaranteed $4,000 contract with the Boston Americans (Soon to be the Red Sox) @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the Community” subscribe_text=”We bring you cool stories about the game,…
The bleachers at League Park during a Cleveland Indians game, 1901. Photo by National Baseball Hall of Fame Library’s
[adrotate banner=”32″] On March 11, 1901, The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Baltimore Orioles manager John McGraw has signed a Cherokee Indian named “Tokohama” to play second base. In reality, Tokohama isn’t a Native American his real name is Charlie Grant, trying to pass off the black infielder as a Cherokee Indian The skipper’s scheme to…
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