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…
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.
At Brooklyn’s Washington Park, the Superbas tie the score against the Giants in the 5th. Then, with two men on base, New York captain George Davis takes out pitcher Ed Doheny and brings in rookie Christy Mathewson, just brought up from Norfolk where he was 20-2. He hits 3 batters, walks 2, and gives up 6 runs in a 13-7 loss, charged to Doheny. The New York Times says, “Matty has lots of speed and gives promise of making his way.” Doheny also plunks a batter, while Brooklyn’s Joe McGinnity hits two for a combined 6 hit batsmen in the game, a record, since tied.
Washington Senator (NL) right-hander Roger Bresnahan makes his major league debut, shutting out the St. Louis Browns, 3-0, en route to posting a perfect 4-0 record along with a 3.95 ERA this season. The 18 year-old’s pitching time on the mound will be short-lived when the ‘The Duke Of Tralee’ switches to behind the plate to start a Hall of Fame career as a catcher.
On July 19, 1897, Honus Wagner made his big league debut with the Louisville Colonels. Wagner won eight batting titles in his career, and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1936. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IC0gLSAtIC0gLSAtIC0gIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ Learn More – Box Scores, Replay the Game, Play by Play, and more – Baseball Reference Box Score
Future Hall of Famer Fred Clarke sets a record by going 5 for 5 with a double in his first major league game, but Louisville squanders his performance in a 13 – 6 loss to Philadelphia. Clarke will be appointed manager in just three years.
Cy Young, making his major league debut, is credited with the win when the Cleveland Spiders beat the Colts in Chicago’s West Side Park, 8-1. During his 22-year career, the 23 year-old right-hander will average more than 23 victories per season en route to a major league record of 511 victories, a mark believed by many to be unbreakable.
The Brooklyn Bridegrooms, who will later be known as the Dodgers, play their first National League game. At South End Grounds, the former American Association club loses to the host Boston Beaneaters, 15 – 9. Brooklyn would go on to win the pennant in their first season in a new league, following their title in a different major league the previous season.
Oct 9, 1889 – Charlie Reilly hits a record 2 HRs in his ML debut with Columbus to lead the Babies to a 10-6 victory over the Athletics. Only Bob Nieman (9/14/51) and Bert Campaneris (7/23/64) will match this in the next century. @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@
1886 – At Washington’s Capitol Park, backstop Connie Mack makes his major league debut as the Nationals edge Philadelphia, 4 – 3.
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