Major League Baseball Season Recap 1911 World Series – Philadelphia A’s AL over New York Giants NL 4 games to 2 Awards – MVP – NL Frank Schulte AL Ty Cobb The Philadelphia Athletics struggled early, but pulled away to win the American League pennant handily. Then they repeated that performance against the New York Giants in the World…
On December 21, 1911, future Hall of Fame catcher Josh Gibson is born in Buena Vista, Georgia. Although record-keeping in the Negro Leagues is somewhat nebulous, Gibson will become the leading home run hitter in all of black baseball. Gibson’s legendary power will earn him the nickname, “The Black Babe Ruth.” Gibson began…
In the New York Evening Journal‚ 80s player-manager Sam Crane picks his all-time list‚ in response to a list that Charles Comiskey compiled. Crane graciously faults Comiskey for not including himself‚ as well as for not going back far enough. He lists 20 in chronological order: G. Wright‚ Ross Barnes‚ C. Anson‚ M. Kelly‚ C. Radbourne F. Dunlap‚ B. Ewing‚ J. Ward‚ C. Comiskey‚ B. Lange‚ J. McGraw‚ L. Lajoie‚ F. Clarke‚ H. Wagner‚ W. Keeler‚ J. Collins‚ C. Mathewson‚ H. Chase‚ T. Cobb‚ and E. Collins.
The earned run average (ERA) is adopted as an official statistic.
Pittsburgh Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss proposes that each team in the World Series be required to turn over one-fourth of its share of the gate to the league, to be divided among the other teams. Until now, ten percent of the gross went to the National Commission, 60 percent to the players, and the rest to the two pennant-winning clubs. The National League will pass the resolution and send it to the American League. It marks the beginning of changes that ultimately give players of the first four clubs a percentage of the World Series money.
The Boston Rustlers (formerly the Doves) are bought by New York politician James E. Gaffney and former player, now attorney, John Montgomery Ward. The team will be called the Braves because of Gaffney’s Tammany Hall connections.
New York politician James E. Gaffney and former player Montgomery Ward purchase the National League franchise Boston Doves. The team will be called the Braves due to Gaffney’s tie to Tammany Hall, which uses an Indian chief as their symbol.
At the National League meetings at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel in New York, NY, Sporting Life reports that “For the first time in history a woman sat in at a major league meeting. Mrs. H.H. Britton, owner of the St. Louis Cardinals, remained throughout the entire session of the National League meeting on the second day. Mrs. Britton took no voice in the meeting. She allowed President Edward A. Steininger to do all the voting.”
1911 – A rift between the leagues develops over widespread charges of ticket speculation during the World Series, and accusations that officials of the Giants and A’s were involved. The American League passes a resolution refusing to participate in another World Series until it has control of ticket sales in its own parks. The National Commission investigates the charge that speculators were given large blocks of tickets, but takes no action and releases no findings. The following spring, the Commission finds that much scalping occurred, but there is no evidence either team was involved, and peace is declared.
1911 – Future Hall of Fame member Walter Alston is born in Venice, Ohio. Although Alston will come to bat only once during a brief major league career, he will have far greater longevity as the manager of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1954 to 1976.