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.

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.

ByTom

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.

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

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

ByThis Day in Baseball

Although he tried to return the money, Christy Mathewson is accused by Connie Mack of reneging on his contract with Philadelphia. In January, ‘Big Six,’ after meeting with the A’s manager, received a signing bonus, committing himself to play for the 1901 season with the American League team, but then used the offer as leverage to get a richer contract from the Giants.

JimmyCollins

Jimmy Collins switches leagues but not cities

ByThis Day in Baseball

1901 – Jimmy Collins switches leagues but not cities. Collins leaves the Boston Beaneaters National League club to play and manage the American League’s new Boston Americans. The NL Beaneaters will also lose outfielder Hugh Duffy, who becomes manager of Milwaukee’s new AL entry, and catcher Billy Sullivan, who signs with the Chicago White Sox.

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.

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.

ByTom

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.

Jimmy Collins jumps from the National League to the American League

Jimmy Collins jumps from the National League to the American League

ByThis Day in Baseball

On March 15, 1901, star third baseman Jimmy Collins jumps from the National League to the American League. The 28-year-old Collins leaves the Boston Beaneaters to sign a guaranteed $4,000 contract with the Boston Americans (Soon to be the Red Sox)   @ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiIiwiYWZ0ZXIiOiIiLCJsaW5rX3RvX3Rlcm1fcGFnZSI6Im9uIiwic2VwYXJhdG9yIjoiIHwgIiwiY2F0ZWdvcnlfdHlwZSI6InBvc3RfdGFnIn19@ [jetpack_subscription_form title=”Join the Community” subscribe_text=”We bring you cool stories about the game,…

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

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

ByThis Day in Baseball

On March 11, 1901, The Cincinnati Enquirer reports that Baltimore Orioles manager John McGraw has signed a Cherokee Indian named “Tokohama” to play second base. In reality, Tokohama isn’t a Native American his real name is Charlie Grant, trying to pass off the black infielder as a Cherokee Indian The skipper’s scheme to secretly integrate…

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.

ByTom

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.

JimmyCollins

Jimmy Collins switches leagues but not cities

ByTom

1901 – Jimmy Collins, the choice of Connie Mack as the best all-time third baseman, switches leagues but not cities. Collins leaves the Boston Beaneaters National League club to manage the new Boston Americans of the American League. The Beaneaters will also lose outfielder Hugh Duffy, who becomes manager of Milwaukee’s new AL entry, and catcher Billy Sullivan, who signs with the Chicago White Sox. More than half the AL rosters – a total of 185 – will be filled by former NL players.

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

ByThis Day in Baseball

1901 – The National League Rules Committee decrees that all foul balls are to count as strikes, except after two strikes. To cut the cost of lost foul balls, the committee urges that batsmen who foul off good strikes are to be disciplined. The American League will not adopt this rule for several years. Other new rules: catchers must play within 10 feet of the batter; a ball will be called if the pitcher does not throw to a ready and waiting batter within 20 seconds, and players using indecent or improper language will be banished by the umpire. A ball will be called when a batter is hit by a pitch, but, in a mail vote, the owners will rescind this in April, and a HBP will earn a batter first base.