MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON RECAP 1898

Season Recap: 1898

League Champion: Boston Beaneaters

Charles Ebbets

After the death of Charles H. Byrne Charles Ebbets replaces the one-third owner as president of the Bridegrooms (Dodgers)

1898 – National League president Nick Young announces the more experienced umpire will stay behind the plate when the new two-umpire system is instituted. Previously, the single umpire would stand behind the pitcher only with men on base.

Cap Anson is released after 19 years as first baseman/manager with the Chicago National League teams

Cap Anson is released after 19 years as first baseman/manager with the Chicago National League teams

Cincinnati Reds president John Brush dismisses criticism of his proposed league resolution

Pitcher Amos Rusie and OF Mike Tiernan of the Giants are on the sick list. The cold and wet weather while the team has been playing at Lakewood, NY‚ instead of Hot Springs‚ AR‚ is blamed.

1898 – At the Baker Bowl, Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Bill Duggleby hits a grand slam in his first major league at-bat. In 1968, Bobby Bonds of the San Francisco Giants will hit one in his first game in his third at-bat, against the Dodgers, but Duggleby’s feat will not be matched until August 31, 2005, when Jeremy Hermida of the Florida Marlins goes yard with the bases full against the Cardinals.

On the same day, Ted Breitenstein of the Cincinnati Reds and Jay Hughes of the Baltimore Orioles each pitch no-hit ball games.

On the same day, Ted Breitenstein of the Cincinnati Reds and Jay Hughes of the Baltimore Orioles each pitch no-hit ball games.

Andy Cooper is born in Waco, Texas

Opening Day at Brooklyn’s new Washington Park attracts 15‚000 fans to see a 6-4 Brooklyn loss to Philadelphia. President Charles Ebbets and his young daughter‚ dressed in red‚ white‚ and blue‚ participate in the elaborate‚ patriotic pageantry. Veteran Sam Thompson hits the first HR in the new park‚ his last homer in the ML.

The Board of Discipline of the National Baseball League adopts a set of rules to suppress rowdy ball playing. John T. Brush will later say that the resolution, which he proposed, “has worked like a charm.”

Jimmy Sheckard of the Brooklyn Bridegrooms hits a home run, two triples, and a single in a 9 – 6 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. The eleven total bases by Sheckard will be the season’s one-game high mark.

5/9/1898 – St. Louis was playing in Cincinnati, and it manager Tim Hurst’s lineup given to home plate ump Charles Cushman had Russ Hall batting seventh and Jack Crooks eighth. However, the lineup in the dugout had the two reversed. In the second, Crooks came up out of order and walked. Hall then batted and sacrificed. Under the current rule, and the rule in place then was the same according to our research, the correct batter would have been the number nine hitter once Crooks walk was allowed to stand. The Reds protested after Hall’s sacrifice, and Cushman was apparently confused about the rule. He called Hall out even though he was already out on the sacrifice, not the ninth spot hitter, Jim Hughey. More amazingly, rather than sending Crooks back to first, he had him bat again, and this time he struck out.

5/22/1898 – The Chicago Orphans (now Cubs) were hosting Washington when in the bottom of third with two outs Bill Dahlen stole second with Jimmy Ryan at bat. However, Ryan interfered with the throw to second be jumping in front of the plate. The umpire, Tommy Connolly called interference and apparently ruled Dahlen out. (The Chicago Tribune story says Connolly, the only umpire due to the other one assigned refusing to work on Sundays, had his back to the plate as he ran to call the play at second and could not see Ryan’s interference.) Ryan came up to lead off the fourth and singled. Washington objected by pointing out the Ryan should have been called out for interference and was batting out of order. Connolly agreed and called Ryan out although he should have called out Sam Mertes, the batter after Ryan in the order. All of that got the crowd upset, and eventually Connolly ejected Dahlen who rushed out to complain.

Rookie Harry Steinfeldt, the “wonder from Wonderville,” replaces injured Bid McPhee at second base for the Cincinnati Reds, gets three hits against Louisville, and handles nine chances afield.

Amos Rusie of the Giants sets down Brooklyn on one hit and wins, 5 – 0.

Tommy O'Brien rightfielder completes unassisted double play

Tommy O’Brien rightfielder completes unassisted double play

A 9th-inning scratch single by Brooklyn batter Fielder Jones breaks up a no-hit effort by Chick Fraser of Louisville, who wins, 3 – 0.

The Eastern League‚ struggling to stay alive‚ cuts all rosters to 15 players.

The highest run total of the season is scored in a 15 – 13 Oriole defeat of the Orphans in Chicago. The pitchers yield 36 hits‚ 10 walks‚ 2 wild pitches‚ and 3 hit batsmen. Pitcher Clark Griffith of Chicago‚ ejected from the game‚ spews obscene language at umpire Tom Lynch‚ who threatens him with the Board of Discipline. Sporting Life notes “the only witness appears to be catcher Frank Bowerman of Baltimore‚ who is hardly likely to testify against Griffith.”

A hard week for managers: Tom Brown is replaced at Washington by “Dirty Jack” Doyle‚ Billy Barnie is fired by 9th-place Brooklyn. Barnie’s successor‚ CF Mike Griffin‚ resigns after 4 games; President Charlie Ebbets fills in. “Scrappy” Bill Joyce is dropped by the New York Giants in favor of Cap Anson‚ who takes over tomorrow.

1898 – Cap Anson makes his debut as Giants manager and guides New York to a 6 – 2 win over Brooklyn at the Polo Grounds. Anson will not be happy with owner Andrew Freedman and last just 22 games at the Giants’ helm before Bill Joyce returns as manager‚

6/17/1898 – Washington was in Boston and its official lineup had Zeke Wrigley seventh, and Bert Myers eighth. Apparently, they batted out of order in the second although that is not desribed completely in any newspaper story we have seen. In the fourth with a runner on second and one out, the number seven hitter was due up. Myers came up and made an out. With the Myers play accepted by Boston, the proper next batter was the number nine hitter, the pitcher Win Mercer. Wrigley then came up, singled in a run, and Bostson objected. The home plate umpire, Tom Lynch, called Wrigley out to end the inning, not Mercer who had failed to bat when his turn came.

lizzie-arrlington

Lizzie (Stroud) Arlington becomes the first woman to play in organized baseball as she pitches for Reading in the Eastern League

Lefty Frank Killen‚ released by Pittsburgh‚ hurls Washington to a 4 – 1 win over New York.

1898 – Nap Lajoie singles against the Browns to become the first hitter this year to reach 150 hits.

Fire at League Park 1898

Fire at League Park 1898

Reds first baseman Jake Beckley handles a record 22 chances, making 21 put outs and one assist, without committing any errors. The Cincinnati infielder’s defensive acumen contributes to the home team’s 9-2 victory over the Cleveland Spiders League Park.

1898 – New York Giants president Andrew Freedman renews his team’s lease on the Polo Grounds for the next 10 years.

Baltimore manager Ned Hanlon‚ not unexpectedly‚ speaks out against the Brush resolution to curb rowdyism‚ cited by some as resulting in less interest and smaller crowds. "This past season I saw none that ought to scare anyone."

Baltimore manager Ned Hanlon‚ not unexpectedly‚ speaks out against the Brush resolution to curb rowdyism‚ cited by some as resulting in less interest and smaller crowds. “This past season I saw none that ought to scare anyone.”

1898 – Roy Thomas‚ University of Pennsylvania outfielder‚ is signed by the Phillies for next season. Sporting Life calls him the “greatest amateur player of this generation.”

John Day is named as the Giants manager. New York’s new skipper will be replaced by Fred Hoey after just 66 games next season when the team gets off to a 29-35 start.

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