Major League Baseball Season Recap 1902

1902, Upheaval in the ranks was the hallmark of the 1902 season. When the American League’s Milwaukee Brewers folded and the franchise was moved to St. Louis, six of the regulars from the National League’s Cardinals jumped to play for the new team. The Browns finished second behind Philadelphia in the AL race, as the Athletics won 11 of 12 down the stretch. They were 6 games out of first on July 1, when newly acquired pitcher Rube Waddell earned his first victory. Waddell ended with a 24-7 record and the league lead in strikeouts despite not playing for the first two and a half months of the season. Cy Young pitched 385 innings and posted a 32-11 record for the third-place Boston team. Several other National League stars jumped to the AL, including Ed Delahanty, who moved from the Phillies to the Washington Senators and led the AL in batting with a .276 average.

The National League, Pittsburgh was not victimized the raiding that other clubs were suffering, and the Pirates fielded essentially the same team they had the previous year. The result was another NL championship, this one by a whopping 27 1/2 games ahead of the Brooklyn Superbas. Ginger Beaumont and Honus Wagner led the hitting attack, while Jack Chesbro, Jesse Tannehill, and Deacon Phillippe each won 20 games or more. The workhorse of the National League was Boston’s Vic Willis, who completed 45 of the 46 games he started and pitched 410 innings. He and Togie Pittinger each won 27 games for the Braves, but they had only one .300 hitter in their lineup and finished third in the standings.

Nine Players Who Debuted 

Coming Soon 

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League Champion: Pittsburgh Pirates

The stories that shaped the year:

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

January 4, 1902

Bill Dineen switchs from Beaneaters (Braves) to crosstown (Red Sox)

March 7, 1902

Hall of Famer James “Pud” Galvin dies at the age of 45

March 27, 1902

The nickname Cubs is coined by the Chicago Daily News

April 3, 1902

1902 – The National League names club owners Arthur Soden, John T. Brush, and James Hart as an interim committee to run the league.

April 23, 1902

Behind the pitching of Harry Howell, the New York Highlanders win their first major league game, 7 – 2, over the Washington Senators.

April 23, 1902

Luis Castro is the first and last player from Colombia to appear in the big leagues until 1974

April 24, 1902

1902 – Professional baseball gets its start in Durham, North Carolina as the Durham Tobacconists (who will be renamed the Bulls 11 years later) play an exhibition game against Trinity College (now Duke University). The Bulls, except for 1971-1980, when minor league baseball didn’t exist in the city, will continue to play in Durham until the present day.

April 26, 1902

Addie Joss pitches a one-hit shutout in his major league debut

April 29, 1902

John McGraw is hit by pitches five times

May 8, 1902

Bill Duggleby, the first league jumper to return to the Phillies, loses 2 – 1, to St. Louis. Returnee Chick Fraser will win his first start on May 23rd, 5 – 2 over Chicago. Harry Wolverton will return after 59 games with the Washington Senators. All others will remain with their new teams. Of all those that the rival Athletics acquired, only Monte Crossstays.

May 8, 1902

The Chicago Orphans again top the Giants, winning 10 – 4. Chicago manager Frank Selee comments that the distance from the pitcher’s mound to the plate looks short. Horace Fogel, the Giants manager, measures the distance and finds the lane is 15 inches short. New York protests and it is upheld on June 3rd. The two games are ordered replayed.

May 16, 1902

two deaf-mute players face each other for the first time in major league history

May 21, 1902

1902 – At Pittsburgh, the Giants top the leading Pirates, 5 – 2, with Christy Mathewson winning in relief. Matty takes over for Dummy Taylor in the 7th, allows a tying run to score, then scores the winning run himself in the 8th.

May 21, 1902

The Earl of Snohomish – Earl Averill is born

May 22, 1902

Giants star George Van Haltren, age 36, snaps a small bone near his right ankle while stealing second base. Van Haltren is done for the season, and will play only 80 more big league games.

May 23, 1902

Charles Somers gives Nap Lajoie $28K

May 24, 1902

Cleveland third baseman Bill Bradley becomes the first player in the American League to hit a home run in each of four consecutive games, a record not matched until Babe Ruth does it on June 25, 1918.

June 3, 1902

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Mike O’Neill hits the first pinch grand slam ever in the majors, against the Boston Beaneaters. He also becomes the first pitcher in the National League to hit a grand slam in the 20th century. The hurler’s ninth-inning blast off Beaneater Togie Pittinger proves to be the difference in the Redbirds’ 11-9 victory over Boston at South End Grounds.

June 4, 1902

1902 – The Boston Americans buy two pitchers – George Prentiss and Bert Husting – from the Baltimore Orioles‚ and waste no time putting Prentiss to work. He starts today in a 4 – 3 loss to Cleveland. Prentiss played under the name “George Pepper Wilson” last year.

June 10, 1902

Led by Erve Beck‚ the Reds roll over Bill Duggleby and the Phillies‚ 10 – 1. Beck has 5 hits‚ including a pair of triples. Bob Ewing is the victor.

June 10, 1902

Bobby Wallace‚ slick-fielding St. Louis SS‚ handles an American League record 17 chances in a 9-inning game while losing 5 – 4 to Boston. Wallace‚ whose 25-year career will place him in the Hall of Fame‚ has 11 assists and 6 putouts‚ but makes 2 errors.

June 10, 1902

Baseball lifer Horace Fogel, also known for his career as a sportswriter, is fired as the manager of the Giants just 44 games into the season. The 51 year-old former skipper, who will go on to an administrative position with the Phillies, will be best remembered in New York for his attempt to turn future Hall of Fame hurler Christy Mathewson, a sophomore pitcher who won 20 games in his rookie year, into a position player.

June 11, 1902

Chicago’s Clark Griffith beats the Boston Americans‚ 3 – 2 snapping Cy Young’s win streak at 10 games.

June 11, 1902

Connie Mack signs Rube Waddell‚ who was pitching in the Pacific Coast League. He will go 24-7 during the remainder of 1902.

June 15, 1902

Nig Clarke reportedly hits eight home runs for Corsicana against Texarkana

June 22, 1902

Cleveland plays its third straight Sunday game in a minor league park, this time in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Cleveland beats Washington, 6 – 4, behind Addie Joss.

June 25, 1902

A federal court judge rules that Brooklyn has no claim on C Deacon McGuire

June 25, 1902

The Phillies beat New York and Christy Mathewson, 3 – 1. The Quakers SS Rudy Hulswitt kills a New York rally in the 8th inning by picking off Steve Brodie with a hidden ball trick.

June 30, 1902

Cleveland is the first American League team to hit three consecutive home runs in one inning

June 30, 1902

Jim Jones, Giants LF, throws three baserunners out at home in an 8 – 0 loss to Boston. His three assists at home ties the major league record set by Dummy Hoy on June 19, 1889. It will be tied again in 1905.

July 1, 1902

Rube Waddell debuts in historic fashion for A’s

July 5, 1902

At St. Louis, the Cards win their third straight from the Giants, beating New York, 1 – 0. The lone Cardinal run comes in on a wild pitch by Christy Mathewson.

July 6, 1902

Corsicana of the Texas League wins its 27th game in a row, topping Charlotte’s record of 25 set earlier this year

July 6, 1902

7/6/1902 – George Yeager of the New York Giants ended the sixth inning. When the Giants came to bat in the seventh, Yeager led off in Heinie Smiths batting spot and singled. As Smith came to bat, the St. Louis fans started to make noise about the mistake. Umpire Hank O’Day called out Smith and removed Yeager from first base.

July 8, 1902

A rough outing as Boston righthander Doc Adkins faces 16 batters and gives up 12 hits and 12 runs in the 6th inning of a Philadelphia A’s 22 – 9 win over the Americans. Five players – Topsy Hartsel, Harry Davis, Lave Cross, Socks Seybold and Danny Murphy – collect two hits apiece in the frame. The A’s new 2B Murphy does not arrive until the 2nd inning and takes the field with no batting practice: he is 6 for 6, including a grand slam off Cy Young, while handling 12 chances flawlessly in a sensational debut. Teammate Davis adds another grand slam to tie the major-league record for a game. The 45 hits – 27 by the A’s – by the two teams sets an American League record. Rube Waddell picks up the win, facing just three batters in relief, while singling in the big inning.

July 8, 1902

John McGraw, accused by Ban Johnson of trying to wreck the Baltimore and Washington clubs, negotiates his release from the Orioles and officially signs to manage the Giants

July 9, 1902

The A’s Rube Waddell goes 17 for the victory

July 11, 1902

Bid McPhee resigns as Reds manager and is replaced by interim manager Frank Bancroft.

July 11, 1902

Lefty Davis, 26, in stealing second “broke his leg in the same manner George Van Haltren did two months ago on the same spot,” according to the Sporting Life

July 12, 1902

Jack Chesbro pitches a five-hit shutout and strikes out 11 Giants to beat Christy Mathewson, 4 – 0

July 15, 1902

At Cincinnati, Christy Mathewson starts a triple play in the 2nd inning, but then leaves trailing, 6 – 0. The loss leaves the New York Giantspitcher with a 6-8 record.

July 16, 1902

John McGraw starts his 30 year career with the Giants

July 17, 1902

Left with only five players available to play after mass defections to the National League, the Orioles forfeit a game to St. Louis and their franchise to the league

July 19, 1902

John McGraw, the team’s third skipper this season, begins his 30-year tenure as manager of the Giants, losing to Philadelphia at the Polo Grounds, 5-3. The fiery skipper left the fledgling American League Orioles midseason, bringing three key players from Baltimore, first baseman Dan McGann, catcher Roger Bresnahan, and right-hander Joe McGinnity, all who started in today’s game.

July 19, 1902

En route to a 2-0 victory over Baltimore, left-handed hurler Rube Wadell, playing in his first game for Connie Mack’s A’s, faces the minimum 27 batters, striking out 13 in the Oriole Park contest. In the sixth frame, the 25 year-old Philadelphia southpaw becomes the first American League pitcher to toss an immaculate inning when he fans Billy Gilbert, Harry Howell, and Jack Cronin on nine consecutive pitches.

July 21, 1902

1902 – At Brooklyn, the Superbas maul the Phillies, 10 – 1, nicking Doc White for 14 hits. Doc gets his due in the four-run 5th inning when he strikes 4 batters out, the first pitcher to strike out 4 in an inning since 1888 and the first to do it at 60′ 6″ (the record books list Hooks Wiltse in 1906 as the first this century). Bill Dahlen and Charlie Irwin strike out while 2 runs score. Ed Wheeler’s swinging third strike gets past Red Dooin with Hughie Hearne scoring. Frank Kitson singles and Jimmy Sheckard strikes out for the 4th K. White fans 5 in the game.

July 23, 1902

1902 – John McGraw has his first win as the Giants’ manager, when New York downs Brooklyn, 4 – 1.

July 25, 1902

Cy Seymour sets a major-league record by hitting four sacrifice flies in a 6 – 1 win over the Chicago

August 3, 1902

Before a Sunday crowd of 4,500 in Columbus, Ohio, Cleveland loses to Washington, 5 – 2.

August 5, 1902

Cleveland rookie Otto Hess, who made his debut two days ago, wobbles to a 7 – 6, ten-inning win over the Washington Nationals. The Nats test the rookie by laying down 14 bunts, three of which are misplayed by Hess, four are hits, and seven go for sacrifices. Cleveland SS John Gochnauer breaks his finger in the 3rd inning when he tries to flag down a line drive hit by Ed Delahanty. Gochnauer stays in the game and doubles in the tying runs in the 8th inning and doubles home the winner off Case Patten in the 10th.

August 5, 1902

The first-place Pirates whip New York, 3 – 0 behind Jesse Tannehill’s two-hitter. Christy Mathewson strikes out 11 Bucs in the loss.

August 7, 1902

For the second time this year, Boston’s Cy Young gives up 6 runs in the 1st inning and is lifted. This time, the Browns bomb him en route to a 12 – 4 victory in St. Louis. Young will complete 41 of 43 starts this year.

August 10, 1902

1902 – At Chicago, Boston tops the White Sox, 5 – 4, in 11 innings, as Cy Young records his 25th win.

August 13, 1902

Pirate Honus Wagner steals second base, third base and home in the 7th inning

August 13, 1902

In an attempted double steal by the A’s, the Tigers concede second base to Harry Davis, freezing Dave Fultz, the runner on third, which prompts Davis to return to first base on the pitcher’s next delivery. When Davis takes off for second for the second time, he draws a throw and, in the resulting run-down Dave Fultz scores from third, and he is called safe at second again, but will be credited with only one stolen base for all of his efforts during the sixth frame of Philadelphia’s 9-0 victory over Detroit at Columbia Park.

August 14, 1902

Little Tommy Leach of Pittsburgh, hits two home runs at Boston

August 16, 1902

Rube Waddell beats the Whitesox 2-1 leading the A’s into first place

August 18, 1902

The first unassisted triple play ever in a professional game is executed by 1B Hal O’Hagan, of the Rochester Bronchos (Eastern League) against Jersey City.

August 18, 1902

Christy Mathewson shuts out Chicago, 5 – 0, to give New York its 4th straight win over the host Windy City squad. Jack Taylor takes the loss.

August 19, 1902

1902 – Baltimore outfielder Kip Selbach sets the post-1900 mark in the American League by making four errors, a mark tied by Braves flychaser Fred Nicholson in 1922.

August 21, 1902

Sam Leever hurls a two-hitter to give the first place Pirates a 2 – 0 win over the Giants and Christy Mathewson.

August 21, 1902

Philadelphia’s Rube Waddell allows three hits in edging the Tigers, 1 – 0, in the opener of a doubleheader. Waddell then pitches the nitecap as well, giving up eight hits before losing, 2 – 1.

August 21, 1902

Joe McGinnity of the National League’s Baltimore Orioles is thrown out of the league for punching and spitting at an umpire. Due to his popularity, ‘Iron Man Mike’ will be quickly reinstated.

August 25, 1902

1902 – Ban Johnson announces the American League’s intention to have a New York team in 1903, with Clark Griffith as manager. The Baltimore franchise will be moved.

August 26, 1902

At Cincinnati, Christy Mathewson tosses his 7th shutout of the year, beating the Reds, 6 – 0. Henry Thielman loses his 3rd encounter of the year with Matty.

August 31, 1902

1902 – In Fort Wayne, IN, a Sunday crowd of 3,500 watch a match-up of Cleveland’s Addie Joss and Boston’s Cy Young. Boston pushes over two runs in the 11th to win, 3 – 1.

September 1, 1902

In today’s split of a doubleheader with the Phillies‚ Joe Tinker‚ Johnny Evers‚ and Frank Chance appear together in the Chicago Orphans lineup for the first time‚ but not in the positions that will earn them immortality. Evers‚ a New York State League rookie‚ starts at SS‚ with Tinker at 3B‚ Chance at 1B‚ and veteran Bobby Lowe at 2B. Philadelphia takes the opener‚ 11 – 3, behind Doc White‚ while Chicago is victorious in the nitecap‚ 6 – 1‚ behind Jack Taylor’s pitching.

September 1, 1902

At the Polo Grounds‚ the last-place Giants follow a successful road trip (7-4) by dropping two games to the Cards. St. Louis wins‚ 6 – 4, in game 1 as 5 of the first 6 batters in the 2nd inning lay down bunts. 3 runs score. The Cards then pummel Christy Mathewson for 12 hits in the nitecap to win‚ 8 – 2.

September 2, 1902

1902 – Cleveland pounds the Orioles, 23 – 7, collecting 23 hits off Bird pitcher Jack Katoll, a 10-game winner with the White Sox last season. Katoll goes the route.

September 4, 1902

Chicago Orphans rookie Alex Hardy debuts with a 1 – 0 shutout victory over Brooklyn, and becomes the first 20th century National League pitcher to toss a shutout in his first game. It’s happened twice already in the American League.

September 4, 1902

Dave Fultz steals second, third base, and home in the 2nd inning against Detroit, as the A’s romp, 13 – 3.

September 9, 1902

John T. Brush sells the Cincinnati Reds to Julius and Max Fleischmann, George B. Cox, and August “Garry” Herrmann for $150,000. Brush then buys control of the Giants from Andrew Freedman.

September 9, 1902

In Philadelphia, 17,291 see the Athletics beat Baltimore twice, while 172 watch the Phils play Pittsburgh. With the A’s 1902 attendance almost four times that of the Phillies, and the American League planning to oppose the weak Giants in New York, pressure mounts among National League directors for peace talks.

September 10, 1902

In a doubleheader with the Orioles, the A’s bring Rube Waddell in for eight innings of relief in the opening win. Rube comes back to pitch another two innings of relief in the nitecap to pick up his second win for the day. It won’t happen again until 1915.

September 11, 1902

John Malarkey, leading off in the bottom of the 11th inning, hits a game-ending homer off St. Louis right-hander Mike O’Neill to give the Beaneaters a 4-3 victory in the first game of a twin bill at Boston’s South End Grounds. Malarkey becomes the first pitcher in baseball history to earn a victory by hitting his own walk-off home run.

September 13, 1902

“Baseball’s Sad Lexicon,” better known as “Tinker to Evers to Chance” plays their first game

September 15, 1902

Chicago’s infield combo of Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, and Frank Chance pull off their first double play

September 20, 1902

The White Sox’ first no-hitter in franchise history is tossed by Jim Callahan when he defeats the Tigers, 2-0. The right-handed utility player, called Nixey by his teammates, will accumulate 99 victories on the mound but will pitch in only eight of his 13 seasons in the major leagues.

September 23, 1902

Boston beats the Giants, 2 – 1, with both runs scoring on wild pitches by Christy Mathewson.

September 23, 1902

Cy Young eases to his 32nd win as Boston pounds the A’s, 14 – 1.

September 28, 1902

On the last day of the season, the Browns and the White Sox decide to use an assortment of seven infielders and outfielders on the mound instead of relying on their pitching staffs. Chicago’s flychaser Sam Mertes earns the victory, and the Browns’ left fielder Jesse Burkett takes the loss in the Pale Hose’s 10-4 victory at Sportsman’s Park, making it the last time the winning and losing pitchers were both position players in the same game until 2012, when Chris Davis of the Orioles and Darnell McDonald of the Red Sox also accomplished the feat in Baltimore’s 17-inning victory at Fenway Park.

December 9, 1902

The American League announces purchase of grounds for a stadium in New York, and the next day the National League declares its readiness to make peace.

December 12, 1902

Harry Pulliam is elected president of the National League.

December 23, 1902

John A. Hillerich is issued a patent which devises a method of hardening the surface of a bat, improving the wood’s ability to drive a baseball and to preserve the material from checking, chipping, or splintering on its surface from exposure to the sun or the weather. The name “Louisville Slugger” had become the Kentuckian’s business registered trademark in 1894.