Season Recap: 1897 League Champion: Boston Beaneaters Sort bySearch Days, Events, Players Title (A - Z)Date (Newest) February 5, 1897 Charley Radbourn dies in Bloomington, Illinois, at age of 42 March 27, 1897...
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1897 – At the age of 38, Charles Ebbets, who “has handled every dollar” entering the Brooklyn Dodgers club’s treasury for the past 15 years, gains a controlling 80 percent interest in the team.
Read MoreOn October 3, 1897.00 1897 – Cap Anson closes out a remarkable 27-year career that started in the National Association in 1871. He hits two home runs against St. Louis. At age 46, he becomes the oldest player to homer in...
Read MoreAlthough he gives up 14 runs on 17 hits, Dave Wright of the Chicago Colts (Cubs) wins his first and only major league game. The 21 year-old Dennison, Ohio native is the beneficiary of Chicago’s 11-run fifth inning when the club beats the Pirates, 15-14.
Read MoreAlthough he gives up 14 runs on 17 hits, Dave Wright of the Chicago Colts (Cubs) wins his first and only major league game. The 21 year-old Dennison, Ohio native is the beneficiary of Chicago’s 11-run fifth inning when the club beats the Pirates, 15-14.
Read More9/8/1897: In the second game of a doubleheader in Washington, Kip Selbach of the home team bounced a ball into the stands for a home run in the fourth inning. However, the game was forfeited by Cleveland to Washington in the top of the fifth inning and the statistics did not count for the contest. (See forfeits page for details.)
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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.
Read More1897 – Baltimore regains 2nd place with an 11 – 7 victory over its favorite opponent‚ Philadelphia.
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In the 2nd inning of the second game of a doubleheader between the Pirates and Reds in Cincinnati, OH, fans throw an empty beer bottle in the direction of umpire Tim Hurst. Hurst picks it up and throws it right back in the crowd. He is arrested and fined $100 dollars on a charge of assault and battery when the bottle hits a spectator, causing a gash over his right eye.
Read MoreSt. Louis hurler John Grimes establishes a major league record which still stands today by hitting six batters in a nine-inning game.
Read MoreJohn Grimes, who appeared in only three games during his one-year career with the St. Louis Brown Stockings, establishes a major league record by hitting six batters in a nine-inning game. The post-1900 record is four hit batsmen, a dubious mark shared by many pitchers.
Read MoreOn July 27, 1897, one of the finest catchers in Negro leagues history is born in Eagle Pass, Texas. James “Biz” Mackey played from 1918 to 1947, much of that time as a player/manager. In a 1954 poll conducted by the...
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On July 19, 1897, Honus Wagner made his big league debut with the Louisville Colonels. Wagner won...
Read MoreAt the age of 45, Chicago’s Cap Anson becomes the first major leaguer to amass 3,000 hits when he singles off Baltimore’s George Blackburn.
Read MoreColts first baseman Cap Anson becomes the first major leaguer to collect 3000 hits when he singles off George Blackburn. The 45 year-old infielder’s historic hit comes in a 2-1 loss to Baltimore at Chicago’s West Side Grounds.
Read MoreLouisville’s Tom McCreery hits three home runs, providing the difference in the Colonels’ 10-7 victory over the Phillies at the Baker Bowl. Each of the outfielder’s round-trippers is of the inside-the-park variety, and all are given up by Philadelphia right-hander Jack Taylor.
Read MoreThe Chicago Colts of the National League establish the record for most runs scored in a game by one team as they maul Louisville, 36 – 7.
Read MoreThe Chicago Colts (Cubs) of the National League establish the record for most runs scored in a game by one team when they clobber the Louisville Colonels, 36-7. The Cardinals will beat the Phillies 28-6 at Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl in 1929 to set the modern NL mark.
Read MoreChicago’s versatile Nixey Callahan wears his pitching hat in an 8 – 5 victory at Washington. Nixey will be 12-9 this year‚ while hitting .292 in 94 games as an IF/OF as well as a pitcher.
Read MoreFor the second time in four days‚ manager Patsy Donovan’s aggressive tactics cost the Pirates a game by forfeit. With the weather threatening in the 4th inning‚ the Pirates stall egregiously hoping for a rainout‚ until umpire Jim McDonald declares a forfeit.
Read MoreThe Cincinnati Reds acquire slick first baseman and good hitter Jake Beckley from the New York Giants.
Read MoreA “shoot the chutes” waterslide opens at Sportsman’s Park in St. Louis. With the Browns in last place at 5-20‚ owner Chris Von der Ahe is trying to draw customers with a variety of amusement park attractions. It doesn’t help today as the Browns lose their 21st‚ 14 – 6‚ to Louisville.
Read MoreBill Joyce hits four triples to lead the New York Giants to an 11 – 5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Exposition Park. This is the last time this feat has been accomplished in major league history. Previously, George Strief of the American Association Philadelphia Athletics hit four triples in a game on June 25, 1885.
Read MoreFans assemble for Cleveland’s first Sunday baseball game only to have the police arrest the players after the 1st inning. Players and umpire Tim Hurst are released on bail provided by Cleveland club owner Frank DeHaas Robison. A test case is made of rookie hurler John Powell. On June 10th, he will be found guilty of playing ball on Sunday and fined $5.
Read MoreIn National League action, Washington Senators catcher Duke Farrell picks up 8 assists in a game against the Baltimore Orioles. For many years, record books will credit him with 8 runners caught stealing, but that is incorrect. Only 5 of the assists were on stolen base attempts; one came on a pick-off and the last two on other fielding plays. In spite of Farrell’s efforts, the Senators lose anyway, 6 – 3.
Read MoreNap Lajoie slugs two home runs and a double to lead the Phillies to a 13 – 1 rout of St. Louis. Lajoie continues the hitting streak he started on May 8th and will not go hitless until May 31st, a string of twenty games.
Read MoreJack Doyle hits an unusual home run for Baltimore, but Washington defeats the Orioles, 13 – 5. The home run is noteworthy in that the ball rolls to the fence where a ladder had been placed. It rolls up the ladder and disappears over the fence.
Read MoreWith the New York Giants leading 7 – 0 after two innings, the Washington Senators start delaying the game in hopes that the imminent rainstorm will wash the game out. Umpire Tom Lynch forfeits the game to New York.
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Effa Manley was born on March 27, 1897 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. After marrying her second...
Read More1897 – Cleveland Spiders president Frank DeHaas Robison proposes that National League clubs chip in to pay the 1896 salary of New York Giants stellar pitcher Amos Rusie, who refused to play due to a contract dispute. Robison and other NL officials want to avoid Rusie’s lawsuit, in which he seeks free agency. Although New York president Andrew Freedman vehemently opposes the plan, the $3,000 payment is made and Rusie rejoins the Giants.
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1897 – Pitcher Charley Radbourn dies in Bloomington, Illinois, at age of 42. In an 11-season career, Radbourn played for the Providence Grays, Boston Beaneaters, Boston Reds and Cincinnati Reds, compiling a 309-195 record with 1830 strikeouts and a 2.67 ERA. He posted at least 20 wins in nine seasons, including 59 in 1884 and 48 a year before. Affectionately nicknamed “Old Hoss”, Radburn will be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1939.
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