1901, Baseball in the 20th century dawned under troubled skies. The new American League, declaring itself a second major league, put three of its eight franchises in cities where the National League already held sway, and a number of National League players took lucrative salaries to switch to the new major league. The top prize was Nap Lajoie, who left the Philadelphia Phillies to sign with their new crosstown rival, the Athletics. Lajoie won the Triple Crown with a .426 average, 14 home runs, and 125 runs batted in. His team could do no better than fourth, however, behind Chicago, Boston, and Detroit. The White Sox finished 4 games up on Boston, thanks to a balanced offense and a strong pitching staff led by Clark Griffith (24-7, 2.67 ERA). Boston pitcher Cy Young, lured over from the St. Louis National League club, won 33 games at the age of 34.

Pittsburgh was the class of the National League behind the hitting of Honus Wagner, Ginger Beaumont, and Fred Clarke plus the strong arms of Deacon Phillippe and Jack Chesbro. Wagner was fourth in batting average and led the league with 126 runs batted in (in a 140-game season). The NL’s top hitter was Jesse Burkett of St. Louis at .376. Sam Crawford had a league-leading 16 home runs for last-place Cincinnati. Christy Mathewson, the Giants’ 20-year-old sensation, pitched the first no-hitter of the new century on July 15 against the Cardinals.

Nine Players Who Debuted in 1901

Terry Turner
George McBride
Wid Conroy
Hobe Ferris
Jim Delahanty
Germany Schaefer
George Browne
Davy Jones
Matty McIntyre

In 1901 there were no official awards . . .

Nap Lajoie of the Philadelphia Athletics hits .426, an AL batting average record that still stands today. This record is also the modern or post-1900 batting average record and is often cited as the highest batting average of all time. However, the all-time batting average leader is Hugh Duffy, who hit .440 in 1894. He also won the NL triple crown. 

Cy Young of the Boston Americans leads the AL in ERA at 1.62 and wins 33 games, 41.8% of the Pilgrims’ total, winning the Triple Crown as well. 

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National League Champion: Pittsburgh Pirates

American League Champion: Chicago White Stockings

The stories that shaped the year:

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

January 4, 1901

The Baltimore Orioles of the American League club incorporates, with John McGraw as manager and part owner.

January 22, 1901

1901 – Philadelphia Athletics manager-GM Connie Mack signs a 10-year lease on grounds at 29th and Columbia to be called Columbia Park. A contract is set for construction of single-deck stands to hold 7,500.

January 28, 1901

American League is born January 28 1901

January 29, 1901

No banning the bunt

February 8, 1901

Phillies star infielder Nap Lajoie in violation of reserve clause jumps to the new American League

February 9, 1901

Giants and Pirates outfielder Tom O’Brien dies at 28

February 26, 1901

National League officials meet with Charles “Chief” Zimmer, Pittsburgh Pirates catcher and the president of the Players Protective Association, and agree to contract concession

February 27, 1901

The National League Rules Committee decrees that all foul balls are to count as strikes, except after two strikes.

March 2, 1901

Jimmy Collins switches leagues but not cities

March 5, 1901

1901 – The American League approves a 14-player limit to go into effect 14 days after the start of the season. The limit is changed at the last minute, the deadline postponed for two weeks, and the limit increased to 15 players by Ban Johnson, after six teams request the change.

March 11, 1901

Baltimore Orioles manager John McGraw announces that he has signed a Cherokee Indian

March 14, 1901

The bleachers at League Park during a Cleveland Indians game

March 15, 1901

Jimmy Collins jumps from the National League to the American League

March 28, 1901

Philadelphia Phillies owner John Rogers files for an injunction prohibiting Nap Lajoie, Bill Bernhard, and Chick Fraser from playing for any other team – the most serious legal test of the reserve clause to date.

April 2, 1901

Jimmy Collins switches leagues but not cities

April 3, 1901

Christy Mathewson is accused by Connie Mack of reneging on his contract

April 24, 1901

First game in American League History

April 24, 1901

Three rain postponements give Chicago the honor of hosting the first major league game in American League history (the circuit played as a minor league in 1900). At South Side Park, a crowd of over 10,000 fans attends the game to see pitcher Roy Patterson take the win for the Chicago White Sox over the the visiting Cleveland Blues, 8 – 2. Clark Griffith manages Chicago.

April 25, 1901

Detroit Tigers score 10 in bottom of ninth to pull out victory in franchise debut

April 26, 1901

Philadelphia’s A’s debut at Columbia Park

April 27, 1901

In the second game of the franchise’s history, Senator infielder Billy Clingman hits the team’s first home run. The 33 year-old switch-hitting shortstop blasts a two-run homer off A’s southpaw Wiley Piatt in the top of the fifth inning of Washington’s 11-5 victory over Philadelphia at Columbia Park.

April 28, 1901

At Chicago’s South Side Park, the Cleveland Blues (Indians) collect 23 singles as the team coasts to a 13-1 victory over the White Sox. Pale Hose hurler Bock Baker gives up all of the one-base hits, a major league record.

May 1, 1901

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.

May 2, 1901

After the Tigers take the lead in the top of the inning at Chicago’s South Side Park, the White Sox slow down the pace of the game in hopes the contest will be rained out. Umpire Tom Connolly is not impressed and forfeits the game, the first in American league history, giving Detroit a 7-5 victory.

May 4, 1901

Fred Brown makes his major league debut, his first appearance of a brief nine-game career, all for the Boston Beaneaters over two seasons. The 22 year-old outfielder, who goes 4-for-20 at the plate without making an error in the field, will enjoy a far more extended career as a politician, winning a Senate seat as a Democrat in then-conservative New Hampshire 1932 after serving as the state’s governor.

May 8, 1901

Cy Young Wins Home Opener for Boston Pilgrims

May 8, 1901

Amos Rusie, the “Hoosier Thunderbolt”, makes his first start for the Cincinnati Reds after a two-year layoff and is bombed, 14 – 3, by the Cards. Emmet Heidrick snags five singles off Rusie. After two more appearances, he goes back to digging ditches, having won 245 games, mostly for the New York Giants, in nine years.

May 8, 1901

In a letter to American League team owners, Ban Johnson says that the rule requiring clubs to cut their players to 14 will not be enforced until May 20th.

May 9, 1901

The Pirates beat Chicago, 8 – 1, as Deacon Phillippe tops Jock Menefee. It is the 8th game in nine days between the two teams, half in Pittsburgh and the last four in Chicago.

May 9, 1901

In Cleveland, rookie P Earl Moore, purchased from Dayton for $1,000, allows two unearned runs but no White Sox hits through nine innings. Cleveland matches the White Sox with two runs of their own in the 3rd inning. In the 10th, with rain coming down, the Sox use singles by Sam Mertes and Dutch Hartman off Moore, “The Steam Engine in Boots”, to score two runs and win, 4 – 2. The threatening weather keeps the crowd to 400 at League Park.

May 15, 1901

The first shutout in American League history (during its time as a major league) is recorded as Watty Lee of the Washington Senators blanks the Boston Americans, 4 – 0.

May 15, 1901

Christy Mathewson (6-0) tosses his third straight shutout, outpitching Jack Taylor to beat the Orphans, 4 – 0. The Giants move into first place with the win over Chicago.

May 15, 1901

Watty Lee throws the first shutout in American League history when the visiting Washington Senators blank the Americans at Boston’s Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds, 4-0. The 21 year-old southpaw, who will finish the season with a 16-16 record, will be the author of two of the eight shutouts thrown in the Junior Circuit’s inaugural season.

May 21, 1901

1901 – Giants fractious owner Andrew Freedman accuses umpire Billy Nash of incompetence and bars him from the Polo Grounds. The Pirates’ Chief Zimmer and the Giants’ John Warner are forced to officiate. Christy Mathewson then wins his 7th straight, 2 – 1, but his scoreless streak stops at 39 innings when the Bucs score an unearned run in the 9th.

May 22, 1901

At Cincinnati, Reds ace Noodles Hahn strikes out 16 Boston batters en route to a 4 – 3 Reds win. The 16 K’s will stand as the club record until matched by Jim Maloney in 1963.

May 23, 1901

Cleveland Blues rally for nine runs with two outs in the ninth inning to post an amazing 14-13 victory over the Washington Senators

May 23, 1901

Nap Lajoie intentional walked with bases loaded

May 24, 1901

At the Polo Grounds‚ Christy Mathewson wins his 8th straight‚ beating Cincinnati’s Bill Phillips‚ 1 – 0. Matty gives up just 3 hits.

May 24, 1901

Reversing the previous day’s 9th-inning rally‚ the Washington Nationals‚ down 5 – 0 at the end of 8 innings‚ score 5 runs to tie the Blues. When Cleveland fails to score in the 9th‚ the game ends at 5 – 5.

May 28, 1901

Behind the shutout pitching of Jack Powell, the St. Louis Cardinals defeat Christy Mathewson and the New York Giants, 1 – 0. For Mathewson, it is his first loss of the season. His lone base on balls, in the 2nd inning, results in the game’s only run.

June 4, 1901

Jimmy Sheckard is called out at second base by umpire Bert Cunningham and curses him so vehemently that he is slapped with a $5 fine by the ump

June 9, 1901

New York Giants bang out 31 hits against the Cincinnati Reds

June 10, 1901

The Brooklyn-Colts game draws only 450 fans in Chicago as the visitors win‚ 9 – 1.

June 10, 1901

In Cincinnati‚ Boston’s Vic Willis is victorious over the Reds‚ 9 – 5. Willis hits his only career homer‚ off Doc Newton‚ to help his win. His batterymate Malachi Kittridge also homers. Noteworthy at the game is American League president Ban Johnson‚ who is the guest of Reds owner John Brush.

June 10, 1901

At Washington‚ the Washington Nationals overcome an 8-run deficit in the 8th to tie the game at 10 – 10 with the White Sox. Clark Griffith pops out as a pinch hitter in the 9th but stays on to pitch for the Sox. In the top of the 10th‚ Dummy Hoy‚ who earlier homered‚ singles to start the inning. Two outs later Frank Isbell walks and Fred Hartman homers to end the scoring‚ 13 – 10.

June 11, 1901

1901 – In Pittsburgh‚ the Pirates score 4 runs in 4 innings off Christy Mathewson to beat New York‚ 4 – 0. The game is called because of rain after the Giants bat in the 5th.

June 20, 1901

Pittsburgh’s Honus Wagner becomes the first 20th Century player to steal home twice in a single game

June 20, 1901

John W. Taylor goes the distance but takes the loss The right-hander’s start begins a remarkable streak of 187 consecutive complete games

June 21, 1901

Right-hander Harley ‘Doc’ Parker of the Reds gives up 21 runs and 26 hits to Brooklyn in his first start of the season – and major league farewell appearance. The 26 hits is a post-1900 record, tied by Al Travers in 1912, and by the A’s Hod Lisenbee in 1936. The 21 runs allowed is a National League mark. Harley also faces a record 55 batters in the game. Led by Willie Keeler’s five hits, including a home run and double, the Superbas win, 21 – 3.

June 24, 1901

The Giants edge St. Louis, 3 – 2, when Sammy Strang singles home Piano Legs Hickman in the bottom of the 9th. Christy Mathewson allows six hits in beating Willie Sudhoff, though the Cards’ pitcher hits a two-run homer, his only major league round tripper.

June 24, 1901

The Chicago Orphans lose, 2 – 1, to Brooklyn when Bill Dahlen hits a sacrifice fly to bring home Brooklyn’s Wee Willie Keeler. Brooklyn C Deacon McGuire throws out five Chicago runners.

June 24, 1901

After Cincy loses 8 – 0 in the opener of a twinbill, the Reds’ Bill Phillips sets several records in game two as he gives up 19 runs and 22 hits at Philadelphia, losing, 19 – 1. He faces a record 55 batters, with 49 official at bats – both records for the 20th century. Phils pitcher Doc White has four hits, including an inside-the-park home run.

June 26, 1901

Tom Daly and Wille Keeler have 4 hits each and Bill Donovan notches his 12th win

June 26, 1901

Boston Americans go to wrong park

June 28, 1901

Cubs shortstop Joe Tinker steals home twice becoming the first major leaguer to accomplish the feat in Chicago’s 11 – 1 home win over the Reds. Mordecai Brown is the winner.

July 1, 1901

Chicago 1B Jack Doyle, harassed by a Polo Grounds fan, jumps into the stands and hits him once with his left hand, reinjuring the hand which he had broken several weeks before. The Giants’ Dummy Taylor trims Chicago’s Jack Taylor, 6 – 4.

July 1, 1901

The Phillies hand the Pirates a 1 – 0 loss, for Pittsburgh’s only shutout of the year in 139 games. This is a 20th century National League record that will hold up; the 1894 Bostonand Philadelphia teams went through the 132-game season without being shut out in the highest-scoring season ever.

July 2, 1901

With Boston leading 5 – 2 over the Orioles in the 6th inning, the O’s score two runs off starter George Cuppy, and he leaves with two runners on base. Reliever Ted Lewisallows the runs to score, and Baltimore goes on to win, 7 – 5. Lewis is charged with the loss under the existing rules.

July 6, 1901

National League president Nick Young accedes to a protest regarding umpire Harry Colgan and allows the Giants and Pirates to officiate their own game in Pittsburgh. New York’s Charlie Buelow and Pirate Jack O’Connor call the game, won by the Bucs, 6 – 2.

July 8, 1901

George Davis leads the Giants to a 9 – 3 win over Cincinnati with four hits

July 8, 1901

An 8th-inning decision favoring the Brooklyn Superbas infuriates St. Louis fans. When the 7 – 5 Brooklyn win ends, they rush umpire Hank O’Day, who suffers a split lip before players and police can rescue him.

July 10, 1901

The Boston Nationals rap out 15 hits in 12 innings against Pittsburgh, but fail to score. The Pirates finally push over a run to win, 1 – 0. Boston sets a record for most hits, no runs.

July 10, 1901

At a secret meeting, the National League Board of Directors votes to abrogate the National Agreement that has governed organized baseball, effective September 30th.

July 12, 1901

Cy Young Records 300th Victory

July 15, 1901

Christy Mathewson Throws first no hitter

July 16, 1901

Boston’s Cy Young notches his 12th straight win

July 18, 1901

1901 – In Boston’s 6 – 5 loss at Cleveland, 1B Buck Freeman injures his foot chasing a foul ball. Freeman, leading the American League with seven homers, is replaced by Lou Criger. Buck will be back in the lineup on July 27th.

July 19, 1901

1901 – In Chicago, Jack Taylor allows 10 hits to the Giants, but is unscored on until the 9th. The Orphans paste Christy Mathewson for 12 hits to win, 5 – 2. Chicago has now won three in a row over the visiting New Yorkers, and will take the next two games in the series as well.

July 23, 1901

Brooklyn batters a wild Christy Mathewson for six hits in two innings, knocking him out of the game in the 3rd, the first time this season Matty has not finished a start. The Giantslose, 8 – 3.

July 23, 1901

Jack Chesbro stops the visiting Reds, 9 – 2, and Fred Clarke backs him up by hitting for the cycle.

July 24, 1901

Pittsburgh Pirates score in every inning, a major-league record of course, defeating the Reds, 11 – 2

July 24, 1901

Milwaukee’s Pink Hawley beats Boston, 4 – 3, and beans C Lou Criger with a pitch. Criger is unconscious for five minutes before being taken away. Ossee Schreckengost moves from 1B to C and Tommy Dowd moves to 1B.

July 25, 1901

Brooklyn righty Frank Kitson outpitches Christy Mathewson, allowing just one Giant hit in beating New York, 5 – 0

July 29, 1901

Boston’s Kid Nichols and Christy Mathewson square off for a ten-inning shootout, with Boston prevailing, 5 – 4

July 30, 1901

Ban Johnson says the American League will place a team in St. Louis in 1902.

July 31, 1901

In Cincinnati, the Reds take 14 innings to subdue the Chicago Orphans, 5 – 4. Reds pitcher Noodles Hahn strikes out 11 in the win, while Chicago pitcher Tom Hughesrecords 15 strikeouts.

August 1, 1901

Kid Nichols, in relief, and Christy Mathewson face each other for the second time in three days, with Matty winning this outing.

August 2, 1901

cy young wins 20th game

August 3, 1901

Cleveland pitcher Ed Scott goes all the way against Milwaukee and hits a solo home run in the top of the 10th to win, 8 – 7. It is the last game of Scott’s career. Bill Reidyserves up the homer in the loss.

August 4, 1901

Cincinnati and Pittsburgh players are clocked while running from home plate to first base. The fastest time for the 90-foot sprint is three seconds flat, by Pirates OF Ginger Beaumont.

August 5, 1901

In the second inning of the nightcap against the Americans in Baltimore, Jimmy Hart punches umpire John Haskell in the face. The Orioles’ rookie first baseman who hits .311 playing in a total of only 58 games in his major league career, serves a ten-day suspension, but quits after going 4-for-4 upon his return because the team refused to pay the $25 he had been fined.

August 5, 1901

In the first of two in Philly, Giant OF Ike Van Zandt makes an 11th-inning error and Philadelphia goes on to score three runs and win, 6 – 3. Van Zandt came on in the 9th after starting LF Kip Selbach was tossed for protesting strike calls. Christy Mathewson takes the loss for New York.

August 5, 1901

At Cincinnati, Topsy Hartsel strokes two inside-the-park homers, but they are not enough as Chicago loses to the Reds, 10 – 7. Whitey Guese takes the decision over Jock Menefee.

August 7, 1901

Ban Johnson suspends Baltimore 1B Burt Hart for striking umpire John Haskell yesterday, stating “This is the first time a player in the American League has struck an umpire, and it is an offense that cannot be overlooked.” The 31-year-old Hart will never play again.

August 7, 1901

In Boston’s 10 – 5 win in the first game of a twinbill at Baltimore, the Bostons pull off a triple play.

August 7, 1901

Milwaukee manager Hugh Duffy hits umpire Al Mannassau 

August 8, 1901

Giants and Brooklyn split two Christy Mathewson wins night cap

August 9, 1901

Jack Dunn is knocked out in game one by a foul ball off his own bat

August 10, 1901

At Cleveland’s League Park, the Blues (Indians) beat Chicago, 11-7. White Sox right-hander Frank Isbell strands eleven runners on the basepaths to set an American League record.

August 10, 1901

In the second game of a doubleheader, Washington P Dale Gear gives up an American League-record 41 total bases in losing, 13 – 0, to the Athletics. The 23 hits include four doubles, four triples, and two homers. Philadelphia A’s P Snake Wiltse, brother of Hooks, has two doubles and two triples, just one of three hurlers in history to collect four extra-base hits in a game. His 10 total bases is a major-league record for a pitcher. Snake was acquired last month from the Pirates. In the opener, a 9 – 4 Washington win, Nats’ pitcher Win Mercer becomes the first AL hurler to steal home. Nap Lajoie has a pair of homers for the A’s in game 1, his second game in a row with two homers. He hit two in yesterday’s game two win. He will lead the AL with 14, drive in 125 runs, and hit .422 to win the Triple Crown.

August 13, 1901

Kid Nichols and Christy Mathewson throw shutout ball for nine innings

August 17, 1901

8/17/1901 – In the first game of the day between Brooklyn and New York, Frank Bowerman was playing second base and hitting sixth in the New York lineup. However, as he was not a regular in the lineup, he went to the plate too early in the first inning. After the third hitter, Algie McBride, reached on an error with two out, Bowerman walked to the plate and was hit by a pitch. Fourth place hitter Charlie Hickman, who should have hit after McBride instead of Bowerman, made an out to end the inning and Brooklyn did not realize the two mistakes. (Once Bowerman reached base, the proper hitter was the seventh-place batter, John Ganzel, not Hickman.) In the second inning, New York hit correctly, starting with the #5 hitter, Sammy Strang. Then when Bowerman came to the plate again, Brooklyn protested to umpire Frank Dwyer. The arbiter looked at the batting order and proclaimed Bowerman to be the proper batter and the game went on.

August 19, 1901

Kid Nichols and Christy Mathewson square off for the third time in seven days, with Nichols winning easily, 11 – 6. New York makes four errors, but a tired Matty is pasted for 13 hits while striking out just one.

August 19, 1901

At St. Louis, the Pirates knock out the National League’s leading pitcher Jack Harper (21-8) in the 3rd en route to a 9 – 5 win. Harper will end up at 23-13.

August 20, 1901

Umpire Bob Emslie becomes ill before the second game of the Superbas-Phils twin bill and Phils P Al Orth and Superbas C Jim McGuire fill in for him. However, it is a close game, and Orth is needed as a pinch hitter in the 9th. Doc White then becomes the second umpire as Orth hits a single and scores a run. Brooklyn holds on for a 3 – 2 win.

August 20, 1901

At Boston, Cy Young pitches a 6 – 0 shutout over visiting Milwaukee.

August 21, 1901

At Washington, umpire John Haskell is involved in another violent incident during the Washington-White Sox game when Sox SS Frank Shugart punches him after a disputed ball four call, followed by a Nationals bases-loaded triple. Teammate Jack Katoll tries to add his two cents, and a fan jumps in punching Shugart. The police intervene and both players are arrested. Shugart will be expelled. Washington’s Win Mercer lives up to his name with an 8 – 0 win over Chicago.

August 21, 1901

In Baltimore, Orioles pitcher Joe McGinnity is tossed for spitting in the face of umpire Tom Connolly. When Detroit’s Kid Elberfeld intervenes, he is decked by Baltimore’s Mike Donlin. Bill Keister also gets involved, as do some fans, and the police, who arrest the players and a fan. Judge Harry Goldman, a part-owner of the O’s, releases the players and fines the fan $100.

August 24, 1901

Irate Boston fans jump on umpire Joe Cantillon after a call goes against the Americans. Chick Stahl and Ted Lewis rescue the umpire.

August 26, 1901

Christy Mathewson fires 3 hitter beating the Phillies 3 – 1

August 27, 1901

1901 – At Boston, Cy Young goes 15 innings to defeat Detroit, 2 – 1, for his 25th win of the year.

September 2, 1901

1901 – Detroit sweeps a Labor Day doubleheader from Washington, picking up an American League record 21 infield assists in the second game. This is still the AL record. SS Kid Elberfeld has 12 assists to back up Roscoe Miller.

September 3, 1901

The Orphans drub the Giants, 10 – 4, putting New York in last place. New York will next play Pittsburgh, hosting the Pirates in three straight doubleheaders. Pittsburgh will win all 6, scoring not less than 10 runs in each game. Not until the year 2000, when the Mariners lose seven straight from August 13-20, all by nine or more runs, will a team allow 9+ runs in seven straight games.

September 3, 1901

Baltimore P Joe McGinnity hurls two complete games against Milwaukee, winning, 10 – 0, and losing, 6 – 1. The Brewers manage 15 hits on the afternoon off McGinnity, who will set a 20th-century record for most hits allowed during a season (401).

September 3, 1901

Cleveland rookie Bill Cristall debuts with a 4 – 0 gem over Boston, a first in the fledgling American League. Cristall allows five hits in the game two win. Teammate Earl Mooreshuts out faltering Boston on two hits in the opener to win, 1 – 0, over Ted Lewis.

September 5, 1901

1901 – In the first of two in Detroit, Tiger ace Roscoe Miller puts on a disgraceful exhibition against the A’s, lobbing in the ball, grinning as the A’s batters hit it, and throwing a buntinto the stands to allow three runs to score. Miller settles down in the last three innings, allowing only a single, but the Tigers lose, 11 – 9. His performance is explained by writers in that he is in one of his sulks. The A’s light up rookie Frank Owen in game two to win, 9 – 3.

September 7, 1901

Thankful to be back in New York after losing three straight doubleheaders in Pittsburgh, the Giants play a solo 5 – 2 win over the Cardinals. Dummy Taylor is the winner.

September 7, 1901

The first-place White Sox dispose of slumping Boston by beating them, 4 – 1, in a Saturday game at South Side Park. Nixey Callahan, enjoying his switch from the North side to the South side, is the victor over Ted Lewis.

September 8, 1901

In a rare Sunday game (Sunday games are not outlawed in Chicago) before an estimated 20,000 fans, the largest American League crowd of the year, White Sox OF Dummy Hoy laces a 2-run single in the bottom of the 9th off Boston’s Cy Young to give Chicago a 4 – 3 win.

September 8, 1901

The Players Protective Association instructs members to sign one-year contracts only, and not recognize the reserve clause.

September 9, 1901

The White Sox sweep a doubleheader – and the 4-game series – with Boston by scores of 4 – 3 and 6 – 4. Boston’s Buck Freeman belts his 12th homer of the year.

September 12, 1901

1901 – Baltimore’s Joe McGinnity hurls two more complete games, winning over Philadelphia, 4 – 3, and losing, 5 – 4. The A’s reach McGinnity for 10 hits in the nitecap.

September 13, 1901

Connie Mack sends up pinch-hitter Doc Powers to bat for Nap Lajoie, who is sulking and refuses to hit.

September 14, 1901

1901 – Boston’s Cy Young records his 30th win of the year, beating the visiting Washington Nationals, 12 – 1.

September 15, 1901

In the second of two games with Milwaukee, the White Stockings hit a major-league record five triples in the 8th inning against Milwaukee. Their total of six in the game is an American League record not duplicated until September 17, 1920. Chicago wins, 9 – 4, after taking the opener, 5 – 4, and hitting four triples.

September 15, 1901

The Detroit Tigers roll over Cleveland behind Ed Siever and Sport McAllister with what was the most lopsided score in American League history: 21 – 0

September 18, 1901

1901 – The American League season ends with Chicago four games in front. Says the Reach Guide: “Effective pitching and sharp fielding were the rule as only 17 batters hit over .300. There was less disorder in the field than the other league, owing to the vigilance of Ban Johnson in protecting umpires.”

September 19, 1901

All games are canceled out of respect for the funeral of President William McKinley, who died September 14th from gunshot wounds.

September 21, 1901

An American League record that still stands is set when Cleveland and Washington make 22 errors in a doubleheader, 16 by Cleveland. Washington wins both games, 18 – 7 and 11 – 3.

September 21, 1901

In Cincinnati, Christy Mathewson allows just three hits in beating the Reds, 5 – 1. It is Matty’s 20th win.

September 21, 1901

Tom Hughes of Chicago and Boston Beaneater Bill Dinneen pitch 16 scoreless innings before the Orphans score in the 17th on an error, hit batter, force out, and a single by Clarence Childs. Each pitcher gives up eight singles. This will stand as the longest shutout ever by a Cub pitcher. Hughes fans 13 in 17 frames. The 17 innings sets the major-league record for the longest game (at 60′ 6″). The record will be broken a number of times.

September 23, 1901

Brooklyn ties its highest score ever in blasting the Reds, 25 – 6

September 24, 1901

Jimmy Sheckard becomes the first 20th-century player to hit grand slams in two consecutive games

September 25, 1901

At Boston, Cy Young wins his 33rd game, beating the White Stockings, 5 – 2. Nixey Callahan takes the loss.

September 25, 1901

The first-place Pirates jump on Christy Mathewson for three runs in the 1st inning on their way to a 10 – 5 win over the Giants. The Bucs tally 14 hits off Matty to whip the visiting Giants.

September 27, 1901

At Philadelphia, the A’s beat the Brewers, 14 – 5, behind Snake Wiltse. Nap Lajoie has three hits including his American League-leading 14th homer, off Jack Bracken.

September 27, 1901

Behind Deacon Phillippe, Pittsburgh defeats the Superbas, 5 – 4, to clinch the National League pennant. Except for a few hours on July 4th, the Pirates have been in 1st place since June 15th.

September 27, 1901

Boston rookie George Wilson, purchased from Albany (New York State League) tops Milwaukee, 7 – 2, in his first game. Next year he’ll play under the name George Prentiss.

September 30, 1901

1901 – The visiting New York Giants drop a pair to the Cards, as John McGraw uses position players on the mound. Heinie Smith, primarily a second baseman, makes his only career start in game one and completes a 12 – 4 loss to the Redbirds. He bats 7th and hits a homer. Jim Jones also makes his only career start in the second match and loses 6 – 5 in a game called in the 6th inning because of darkness. Jones bats 2nd in game 1 and plays RF, and bats leadoff in game two going 0 for 4 in each.

October 5, 1901

1901 – The Brooklyn Superbas sweep two from the New York Giants, 8 – 0 and 4 – 2. Bill Donovan pitches the opener, allowing three hits, in winning his National League-high 25th game. Christy Mathewson umpires the first game, then loses the 2nd game, also umpired by a ball player.

October 20, 1901

1901 – Seven St. Louis Cardinals, including half the pitching staff and the three top hitters – Jesse Burkett, Emmet Heidrick and Bobby Wallace – jump to the new St. Louis Browns American League team.

November 5, 1901

Ban Johnson and Charles Comiskey lease Sportsman’s Park for five years for an American League team.

December 3, 1901

Milwaukee Brewers franchise is officially dropped from the American League and is replaced by the St. Louis Browns.

December 14, 1901

Suffering from too much infighting and no leadership, four National League clubs elect A.G. Spalding as president. Two days later, a court voids the election and enjoins him from serving, and he will eventually quit.

December 16, 1901

New York Giants owner Andrew Freedman files an injunction that prevents Albert Spalding from becoming president of the National League

June 17, 1931

Future Hall of Famer Tommy Connolly announces his retirement