Major League Baseball Season Recap 1909

1909 STANDINGS

The Chicago Cubs won 104 games in their quest for a fourth straight National League crown, but the Pittsburgh Pirates were not to be denied as they breezed to a 110-42 record. The road was tougher in the World Series, but the Pirates prevailed in a back-and-forth struggle against Detroit. Pittsburgh starter Babe Adams had three complete-game victories in the Series, including a six-hit shutout in the seventh and deciding game. After leading the American League with a .377 average, the Tigers’ Ty Cobb hit just .231 in the Series.

The batting of Honus Wagner (.339, 100 RBI) and the pitching of Howie Camnitz (25-6, 1.62 ERA) led Pittsburgh. Adams, a 27-year-old rookie, went 12-3 with a 1.11 ERA late in the year. The Cubs were in first place on May 29, but the Pirates swept a doubleheader from them the next day and never gave up the lead again.

Detroit got hot in late August and climbed ahead of the pack with a 14-game winning streak that included three-game sweeps against their closest competition, the Athletics and the Red Sox. George Mullin (29-9, 2.22) was the ace of the staff, with Ed Willett (22-9, 2.33) not far behind. Eddie Collins, Philadelphia’s 22-year-old SS, hit .347 to rank second in the majors behind Cobb.

Nine Players who debuted this season 

Coming soon!

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World Series – Pittsburgh Pirates NL over Detriot Tigers AL 4 games to 3

The stories that shaped the year:

Sort bySearch Days, Events, Players Title (A - Z)Date (Newest)

January 11, 1909

The National Commission approves owner Charles Murphy’s payment of a $10,000 bonus to his Chicago Cubs players for their 1908 World Series triumph.

January 27, 1909

1909 – Catcher Lou Criger sends a telegram to Boston Red Sox fans expressing his regrets on being traded to the St. Louis Browns.

February 3, 1909

Sox and Cubs to Face off in 15 game series

February 4, 1909

Hall of Fame pitcher John Clarkson dies at the age of 47

February 17, 1909

The National League deprives umpires of the power to fine players and decrees that relief pitchers must retire at least one batter before being relieved.

February 18, 1909

Boston Red Sox trade Cy Young to the Cleveland Naps

February 18, 1909

National League president Harry Pulliam, in ill health, is granted a leave of absence.

February 26, 1909

Jimmy Potter sells the Philadelphia Phillies to a group headed by Israel Durham. Durham will become president, but will pass away on June 28th.

February 27, 1909

New York Giants release “Iron Man” Joe McGinnity

March 1, 1909

The Pittsburgh Pirates begin construction on Forbes Field

March 2, 1909

Mel Ott is born listen to his World Series At Bats vs Lefty Gomez

March 31, 1909

The National Commission rules that players who jump contracts will be suspended for five years. Players joining outlaw organizations will be suspended for three years as punishment for going outside organized baseball.

April 8, 1909

Hal Chase of the New York Highlanders contracts smallpox

April 12, 1909

With Christy Mathewson sidelined with diphtheria, Red Ames pitches the opener for the New York Giants

April 12, 1909

The 61-year history of Shibe Park begins with the A’s defeating the Red Sox, 8-1

April 15, 1909

Red Ames of the New York Giants pitches a no-hitter for nine innings against the Brooklyn Superbas, loses no hitter and game in 10th

April 27, 1909

The Chicago White Sox win their third straight 1 – 0 game over the St. Louis Browns in three days.

May 2, 1909

Honus Wagner steals his way around the bases in the 1st inning of a game against the Cubs

May 9, 1909

The St. Louis Cardinals take out a $50,000 life insurance policy on manager Roger Bresnahan for reasons having to do more with publicity than concerns about his health.

May 10, 1909

The White Sox edge the Senators, 1 – 0, in 11 innings, handing Walter Johnson his second straight 1 – 0 loss on his way to a 20th century record ten losses by shutouts. For the Nationals, it is their third straight 1 – 0 loss, tying a mark set by the Browns two weeks ago.

May 10, 1909

Church bells ring when Fred Toney completes the longest no-hitter in organized baseball history, a 1-0 victory over the Lexington Colts of the Blue Grass League

May 16, 1909

National League President John Heydler calls a meeting with the league’s umpires to discuss ways that the new two-umpire system can prevent fighting by the players. A serious incident occurred several days earlier in Boston when Reds catcher Frank Roth attacked umpire Steve Cusack after a play at home. Several other Reds players threatened the umpire with baseball bats.

May 24, 1909

Under new manager Roger Bresnahan‚ the Cardinals finally beat Christy Mathewson after losing to the Giants’ ace 24 consecutive times. Matty allows just 6 hits to his former battery mate’s squad‚ but the Giants score once off John Lush to lose‚ 3 – 1.

May 24, 1909

At Brooklyn‚ the Cubs beat the Superbas‚ 4 – 3‚ on Solly Hofman’s inside-the-park homer in the 11th inning. Brooklyn CF Tom Catterson attempts a shoestring catch on the liner but misses.

May 27, 1909

In an American League game featuring a major league record-setting 44 assists by both teams, the Cleveland Naps defeat the St. Louis Browns, 5 – 2. The National League-high assist marks of April 23, 1903 and May 15, 1909 (both between the New York Giants and Cincinnati Reds) fall short of today’s record. Addie Joss for Cleveland and Barney Pelty for St. Louis are the pitchers as each team records 22 assists.

May 29, 1909

Recently elected President William Howard Taft joins 14,000 fans at Pittsburgh’s Exposition Park to watch the Pirates play the Cubs. The Commander in Chief proves to be a bad luck charm when the Bucs lose to Chicago, 8-3, marking the only time the team will be defeated in a span of 19 games.

May 30, 1909

In the first game of a scheduled Memorial Day doubleheader in the Three-I League, the Decatur Commodores defeat the Bloomington Bloomers, 2 – 1, in 26 innings. It is the longest professional game played until that time, and won’t be topped until 1960. Both pitchers, Ed Clark for Bloomington, and Otto Burns, making his first professional pitching appearance for Decatur, go all the way. SS Mark Purtell, a .130 hitter for the year, drives in the winning run. The second game of the twinbill is postponed by darkness.

June 8, 1909

Cack Henley completes the longest complete-game shutout in baseball history, blanking his opponents over 24 innings in the Seals’ 1-0 victory over the Oakland Oaks

June 10, 1909

George Mullin’s winning streak reaches 11 with a 2 – 1 win over New York. On the 15th‚ he will finally lose to the Athletics, 5 – 4.

June 11, 1909

At the West Side Grounds‚ Boston wins over Chicago‚ 4 – 2‚ for their only win against the Cubs this year. Rookie Kirby “Red” Whitewalks in a run but at the plate drives in two Doves with a triple. Boston will go 1-21 against the Cubs and 1-20 versus the Pirates.

June 16, 1909

Jim Thorpe makes his baseball pitching debut for the Rocky Mount Railroaders 

June 18, 1909

Night game experiment 1909

June 22, 1909

The Detroit club buys the rest of the vacant Bennett Field grounds as the site for a new park.

June 22, 1909

The National League postpones its games for today because of the funeral of George Dovey, co-owner of the Boston Doves with his brother John. Pittsburgh owner Barney Dreyfuss is one of the honorary pall bearers for the funeral in Philadelphia.

June 22, 1909

Christy Mathewson pitches four innings for the Bucknell alumni against the varsity, as the undergrads win, 13 – 12. Matty also plays 3B and chips in with three hits.

June 23, 1909

1909 – At the Polo Grounds, Christy Mathewson wins a doubleheader against Boston. Matty relieves Rube Marquard in the opener with the score tied 4 – 4 in the 9th. After shutting down Boston, the Giants score a run for the 5 – 4 win. Matty then coasts in the nitecap to an 11 – 1 win. Mathewson leaves after two innings with a 4 – 1 lead, and Doc Crandall operates the rest of the way. The official scorer awards the game to Christy.

June 25, 1909

The Giants sweep their third doubleheader in a row, beating Brooklyn, 4 – 2 and 9 – 1. Hooks Wiltse wins the opener and Christy Mathewson takes the nightcap, leaving after five innings with a 7 – 0 lead.

June 28, 1909

Phillies president Israel Durham dies four months after taking over the team.

June 29, 1909

Pittsburgh Pirates play their last game in Exposition Park

June 29, 1909

Walter Johnson gives up the first home run he’s allowed since his debut in 1907

June 30, 1909

At Washington Park, the Superbas gaff the Giants, 7 – 2, beating Hooks Wiltse in the opener. The Giants come back in the nitecap, 3 – 0, behind Christy Mathewson. Matty strikes out nine and allows four hits.

June 30, 1909

Forbes Field opens in Pittsburgh, PA with a sell-out crowd of 30,332 watching the first-place Pirates lose, 3 – 2, to the Cubs

July 2, 1909

The White Sox steal 12 bases in the course of a 15 – 3 win over St. Louis. Three are steals of home, including one by P Ed Walsh in the 6th inning, for a modern major league record.

July 3, 1909

The Cardinals commit 17 errors in a doubleheader loss to the Reds, 10 – 2 and 13 – 7, to tie a modern major league record.

July 3, 1909

At a packed Washington Park, the Giants beat up Brooklyn, winning, 5 – 3 and 2 – 1, in a total of 23 innings. In the opener, Christy Mathewson relieves Bugs Raymond with the score knotted at 3 in the 9th. Matty shuts out the Superbas in the next six innings, and the Giants score two in the 14th off Harry McIntire for the win.

July 5, 1909

The Giants sweep the Phillies, winning 3 – 0 and 3 – 2 in 15 innings. The nitecap is the longest game in the National League this year. Bugs Raymond wins the marathon, relieving Christy Mathewson with the score 2 – 2 in the 9th.

July 6, 1909

Red Sox rookie Larry Pape makes his debut with a 2 – 0 win over the Nationals.

July 7, 1909

Inventor George Cahill brings his portable lights to Grand Rapids, Michigan for a night game with the Zanesville Infants (Central League). The host team wins, 11 – 10, in seven innings, with the only complaints coming from the outfielders, who have trouble seeing balls hit above the lights.

July 7, 1909

In the Giants’ 3 – 1 win over the Phils, New York collects six straight walks in the 6th. This is a major-league record since tied in the National League, but it will be broken in the American League next month.

July 7, 1909

In a 15-3 blow-out of the Browns, the White Sox collect 12 stolen bases. The thievery at Chicago’s South Side Park includes the theft of home plate three times.

July 11, 1909

St. Paul Colored Gophers. 100 Years Negro Leauge. 1909

July 13, 1909

At Nicollet Park in Minneapolis, Irv Young puts on “the greatest single-day mound performance in the history of the Millers”. In the first game of a doubleheader with the Milwaukee Brewers, Young holds them to four hits to win, 1 – 0. Young homers in the 5th for the game’s only run. So impressive is Young that he pitches the nitecap, holding the Brewers hitless until the 9th and finishing with a one-hit, 5 – 0 victory. The double shutout puts the Millers two games in front of Milwaukee. The two teams will fight for the American Association lead for the next two months, before fading in the final week, allowing Louisville to sneak into first.

July 15, 1909

Ty Cobb has two inside-the-park homers to lead the Detroit Tigers to a sweep of the Washington Nationals. Detroit wins, 9 – 5 and 7 – 0.

July 16, 1909

The Phillies send righthanded pitchers Buster Brown and Lew Richie and 2B Dave Shean to the Boston Nationals for OF Johnny Bates and IF Charlie Starr.

July 16, 1909

The Giants sweep the Reds, winning the last game, 2 – 1, behind Christy Mathewson. Jack Rowan takes the loss for Cincy.

July 16, 1909

At Bennett Park, the Tigers and Senators play the longest scoreless game in American League history. Ed Summers pitches the complete game, holding the Nationals to seven hits, two walks (one intentional), while fanning 10. The Nationals’ 30-year-old rookie, Bill “Dolly” Gray, allows only one hit before leaving with an injury after eight innings. He is replaced by Bob Groom. Gray will put another entry in the record books next month when he walks seven straight batters. The 0 – 0 contest is called after the 18th inning.

July 17, 1909

Bill Bergen’s hitless streak ends at 45 at bats

July 17, 1909

Fanning Feat By Smokey Joe Wood

July 18, 1909

Harry Krause loses, 5 – 4 ends his 10-game winning streak

July 19, 1909

Neal Ball completes the first unassisted triple play

July 20, 1909

Christy Mathewson breaks a finger on Joe Delahanty drive

July 22, 1909

Brooklyn ace Nap Rucker strikes out 16 Cardinals in a 1 – 0 win.

July 22, 1909

Pitching for Portland (Pacific Coast League), Alex Carson pitches a 10-inning no-hitter against Los Angeles, winning, 1 – 0.

July 22, 1909

Ty Cobb of the Detroit Tigers steals second base, third base, and home plate during the seventh inning of a 6-0 win over the Boston Pilgrims

July 23, 1909

1909 – Three days after pitching a 1 – 0 shutout, Grover Cleveland Alexander of the Galesburg (IL) Boosters, tosses a no-hitter against Pekin. He strikes out 10 and walks one. On the 26th he will beat Macomb, 1 – 0, in 18 innings. In that game he doesn’t allow a hit until the 10th inning.

July 24, 1909

Superbas sweep a twin bill from the visiting Cardinals with identical 1-0 scores

July 27, 1909

Star minor league pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander is hit in the forehead with a ball while running the bases and is knocked unconscious. Alexander will recover but his vision will be affected for months and he will not pitch again for Galesburg. The Indianapolis Indians purchase his contract.

July 27, 1909

At Boston, the third-place Giants split with the Doves, losing the opener, 7 – 4, then taking the nitecap, 6 – 2. In the second contest, Christy Mathewson wins for the 13th straight time, beating Forrest More.

July 27, 1909

The Philadelphia Phillies sweep a pair from Brooklyn, winning 7 – 0 and 3 – 2. Light-hitting Eddie Grant collects his first major league home run, off Deacon Phillippe.

July 28, 1909

Brooklyn’s Jim Pastorius no-hits the Phillies until pinch-hitter Doc Martel laces a one-out triple in the 9th inning. Pastorius wins, 4 – 0.

July 28, 1909

National League President Harry Pulliam commits suicide at the New York Athletic Club

July 29, 1909

National League president Harry Pulliamdies after shooting himself in his room at the New York Athletic Club yesterday

July 30, 1909

After winning 13 in a row, Christy Mathewson loses to Pittsburgh, 3 – 1

July 31, 1909

For the second time in two years – the first was on May 25, 1908 – Bill Burns has a no-hitter broken up with two outs in the 9th, when Washington’s Otis Clymer singles. But Burns and the White Sox win, 1 – 0, besting Walter Johnson in the first of two games. Burns is the only pitcher to suffer this fate twice, until Dave Stieb of Toronto does on September 24 and 30, 1988.

August 2, 1909

Harry Pulliam is buried in Louisville. For the first time in history, both National League and American League games are postponed in tribute. After the funeral, a special meeting of the Board of Directors appoints John Heydler to succeed Pulliam as president of the NL.

August 3, 1909

Despite allowing 15 hits and six runs, Christy Mathewson tops the Reds 7 – 6 in 10 innings. The Giants bail Matty out by hammering Bob Spade and Billy Campbell.

August 4, 1909

Umpire Tim Hurst instigates a riot by spitting in the face of  Eddie Collins

August 5, 1909

The Washington Nationals complete a marathon run of eight straight doubleheaders, a major-league record until the National League Braves top it in 1928.

August 7, 1909

In St. Louis, the Giants shell Fred Beebe for 6 hits and 4 runs in the 1st inning, and Christy Mathewson coasts to a 7 – 1 win.

August 8, 1909

1909 – In a 3 – 0 Giant win at St. Louis‚ outfielder Bill O’Hara swipes second base‚ third base‚ and home in the 8th inning.

August 11, 1909

John McGraw puts 49-year-old coach Arlie Latham at 2B in a 19 – 3 romp over St. Louis

August 12, 1909

In Chicago‚ the Giants sweep a doubleheader with the Cubs to inch closer to 2nd place. New York wins the opener‚ 5 – 2‚ then Christy Mathewson sets down the Cubs‚ 3 – 0‚ for his 18th win.

August 12, 1909

Umpire Tim Hurst is dropped by the American League following an investigation into the spitting incident in the August 3rd game between the Athletics and White Sox. His replacement is Mike Thompson, a former Georgetown University football player who has been a well-known football referee. Thompson tried to join the National Leagueumpiring staff last year but the roster was filled.

August 14, 1909

Chicago pitcher Ed Reulbach’s 14-game winning streak is stopped by the Giants, 5 – 2

August 16, 1909

Red Murray’s spectacular grab of Dots Miller’s long drive becomes a truly electrifying catch

August 16, 1909

The A’s jump on Walter Johnson, scoring six runs in five innings, before relief comes in. Before exiting, Johnson hits his first major league homer, off Harry Krause, who will lead the AL in ERA with a sparkling 1.39.

August 17, 1909

Walter Johnson gives up four hits in topping the A’s Chief Bender in 12 innings.

August 17, 1909

Nap Lajoie resigns as the manager of the faltering Cleveland club.

August 18, 1909

Giants player-coach Arlie Latham, at 50, he is the oldest player to swipe a base

August 18, 1909

For the second time in eight days, Cubs’ P Ed Reulbach wins his 16th consecutive game from an opponent, this time beating the Reds. His streak against Cincinnati started on April 15, 1906.

August 19, 1909

Philadelphia Phillies set a major league record when they experience a rainout for the 10th consecutive day

August 21, 1909

The Giants edge the Reds, 1 – 0, with Christy Mathewson winning this one. Jack Rowan takes the loss when Larry Doyle walks in the 1st, goes to third base on a ground out and scores on another grounder.

August 21, 1909

Jack Taylor hurls two complete games in the Central League. On the mound for Grand Rapids, he shuts out Terre Haute on two hits to win, 4 – 0, in game one, then wins, 1 – 0, in 11 innings in game 2.

August 22, 1909

Deacon McGuire is named as Cleveland’s manager, replacing Nap Lajoie. The Deacon has previously managed Boston and Washington.

August 23, 1909

In the first game of a doubleheader, Brooklyn swipes six bases in a 7 – 0 win over the Cards, who steal two bases. With lefthander Jim Pastorius pitching in the second game, Brooklyn C Bill Bergen then throws out six (erroneously listed as 7) of eight base-stealing Cardinals in a 9 – 1 St. Louis victory. Bergen’s mark is a 20th century high, twice tied in 1915.

August 23, 1909

It’s a day for thievery as the Cubs steal home three times in a game at Boston, tying a major league mark. They waste no time, as Johnny Evers and Del Howard do it in the 1st inning, and Solly Hofman in the 2nd. Chicago wins, 11 – 6.

August 24, 1909

The Giants split with the Pirates, taking the first game, 4 – 3, behind Hooks Wiltse, then losing the second. Bugs Raymond toils the whole nine innings for the Giants and gets clobbered, 11 – 3. John McGraw leaves the high-living pitcher in the runaway to teach him a lesson.

August 24, 1909

At Detroit, A’s catcher Paddy Livingston throws out Ty Cobb trying to steal third base during an intentional walk to Sam Crawford. Cobb intentional spikes 3B Frank Baker on his bare hand during the play, prompting howls of protest from the Athletics. The Tigers win, 7 – 6, and A’s manager Connie Mack will complain to Ban Johnson about Cobb’s dirty play. Cobb gets a warning from the American League president.

August 25, 1909

1909 – Christy Mathewson stops the Pirates, 3 – 2, on five hits to notch his 20th victory of the season. It is the 7th season in a row in which Matty has hit 20 wins. Nick Maddox takes the loss for the leading Bucs.

August 26, 1909

1909 – Cuban Giants 2B William Bedford is killed by a bolt of lightning while playing a game, as the electricity carries through his spikes, ending his life at age 23.

August 27, 1909

1909 – Still pitching doubleheaders, Joe McGinnity wins a pair for Newark over Buffalo in the Eastern League.

August 28, 1909

In the first of two games at South Side Park, Dolly Gray of Washington enters the record book by walking eight White Sox in the 2nd inning, with seven of the walks in a row (both ML records). The six runs scored are enough for a 6 – 4 Chicago win, although they manage only one hit against Dolly. Leading off the 2nd, Patsy Dougherty logs the only hit, and when he bats again in the inning, manager Billy Sullivan suggests he go to the plate without a bat. For Dougherty, this is the third of four times he’ll have the only hit in a game.

August 28, 1909

In New York, the matchup between Three Finger Brown and Christy Mathewson fizzles when the Cubs score four runs in the first two innings. Matty is lifted and Brown wins the game, 6 – 1.

August 29, 1909

The Pirates trade 3B Jap Barbeau, 2B Alan Storke, and cash to the Cardinals for 3B Bobby Byrne.

August 30, 1909

The Cubs and Giants swap shutouts in this Monday doubleheader

August 31, 1909

1909 – The A.J. Reach Company is granted a patent for its cork-centered baseball, which will replace the hard rubber-cored one. This change will be particularly apparent in the National League in 1910 and 1911.

September 1, 1909

Bill O’Hara, inserted as a pinch runner, becomes the first major leaguer to steal two bags in the same inning when he swipes second and third base in the Giants’ 9-6 victory over St. Louis at the Polo Grounds. The 28 year-old New York outfielder, who will end the season with a total of 31 stolen bases, will duplicate the feat tomorrow against the same opponents.

September 2, 1909

Boston’s Cliff Curtis pitches his first major league game and beats the Pirates, 1 – 0.

September 2, 1909

Detroit completes a sweep of every series against visiting eastern teams, winning their 14th in a row to regain first place by a half game en route to their 3rd straight pennant.

September 9, 1909

Bill Dinneen, winner of three games in the first World Series, is released by the St. Louis Browns and becomes an American League umpire, a position he will hold through 1937.

September 9, 1909

George Gibson of Pittsburgh catches his 112th consecutive game, breaking Chief Zimmer’s 1890 record. His streak will end at 140.

September 11, 1909

Christy Mathewson and catcher Chief Meyers are all that the Giants need in the opener against Brooklyn

September 11, 1909

The Athletics and Red Sox split a doubleheader and Red Sox also pick up pitcher Jack Chesbro (0-4) on waivers 

September 13, 1909

Ty Cobb clinches the American League home run title with his 9th round-tripper

September 14, 1909

In the second game of a doubleheader, as night is falling, second baseman Charles Pinkney of the Dayton Veterans of the central League is hit square in the head by a pitch from Casey Hageman of Grand Rapids Wolverines. He will die the in a Dayton, OH hospital the following day.

September 14, 1909

John Heydler announces that the National League will use two umpires per game in 1910.

September 16, 1909

William Howard Taft becomes the first U.S. President to attend a major league game

September 16, 1909

President Taft attends a Cubs-Giants game in Chicago and players are introduced to him before the game. Giants ace Christy Mathewson then outdeals Chicago ace Three Finger Brown, 2 – 1, with each allowing seven hits. Taft downs popcorn and lemonade during the match, according to the Chicago Tribune.

September 16, 1909

The University of Wisconsin baseball team arrives in Tokyo to begin a series of games against Japanese schools.

September 18, 1909

Before 35,409, the largest paid baseball attendance ever, Chief Bender beats Bill Donovan and the Tigers, 2 – 0, at Philadelphia to keep the A’s in the pennant race. The A’s are 14-8 against Detroit this year, setting an American League record for most wins against the pennant winner. Ty Cobb is the Triple Crown winner with a .377 BA, nine home runs (all inside-the-park), and 107 RBI. He also will lead the American League with 216 hits, 116 runs, and 296 total bases. His 76 stolen bases make him the only player ever to win a “quadruple crown”.

September 18, 1909

In Pittsburgh, Vic Willis stops Brooklyn on just one hit, a topped roller in the 3rd inning by Zack Wheat. It will be the closest ever to a no-hitter by any pitcher at Forbes Field.

September 21, 1909

1909 – Rest seems to have cured Walter Johnson’s sore arm, as the Nats’ ace shuts out Detroit, 2 – 0, in his first appearance since August 29th. He will finish the season at 13-25, 10 of the losses coming in shutouts. Five of the shutout losses are to the White Sox.

September 25, 1909

1909 – Washington rookie Bob Groom loses his 15th consecutive game, an American League record that will be surpassed by Jack Nabors (in 1916) and Mike Parrott (in 1980). He will lead the AL with 26 losses.

September 27, 1909

1909 – The first-place Pirates set a National League record with their 16th victory in a row, before the Giants stop them, 8 – 7, in the 2nd game of a doubleheader.

October 3, 1909

Tigers outfielder Ty Cobb becomes the first player in baseball history to win the Triple Crown,

October 9, 1909

Ty Cobb’s steal of home is the highlight of the Tigers’ 7-2 victory over the Pirates, that knots the World Series at one game apiece. The ‘Georgia Peach’ swipes home plate 54 times during his career, a major league record.

October 11, 1909

Honus Wagner becomes the first player to steal three bases in a World Series contest

October 14, 1909

1909 – George Mullin of the Detroit Tigers outlasts three Pittsburgh Pirates pitchers for a 5 – 4 victory that sends the World Series to a seventh game in Detroit. This is the first World Series to go the limit.

October 16, 1909

Pittsburgh Pirates rookie Babe Adams earns his third win of the World Series

October 18, 1909

1909 Reach Catcher’s Mitt advertisement

November 1, 1909

The Boston Red Sox hire former Washington Senators skipper Patsy Donovan as manager, replacing Fred Lake. Lake will move across town to manage the Doves next season.

November 26, 1909

1909 – The Philadelphia Phillies are sold for $350,000 to a group headed by sportswriter Horace Fogel. Because of his dual roles, Fogel will become the only executive barred from a league meeting.

December 15, 1909

1909 – Kid Elberfeld, who helped make the Highlanders a winner, is sold to Washington for $5,000.