1913 STANDINGS National League New York Giants 101 51 .664 — Philadelphia Phillies 88 63 .583 12.5 Chicago Cubs 88 65 .575 13.5 Pittsburgh Pirates 78 71 .523 21.5 Boston Braves 69 82 .457 31.5 Brooklyn Dodgers 65 84 .436 34.5 Cincinnati Reds 64 89 .418 37.5 St. Louis Cardinals 51 99 .340…
On December 24, 1913, former outfielder Louis “Chief” Sockalexis dies from tuberculosis in Burlington, Maine. Sockalexis spent three seasons in the majors and was one of the first, if not the first, Native American to play professionally.
1913 – The Sporting News reports that 15 men died from baseball injuries during the 1913 season, according to a list compiled by J.R. Vickery of Chicago. The only name given is that of J. Whetstone of New Orleans, who suffered “a broken spine sustained in sliding to a base”; all other fatalities were the result of foul tips or pitched balls. The list “does not include a major league player or even a minor league athlete of sufficient experience to be widely known.”
While John McGraw is on his world tour, Giants president Harry Hempstead makes a swap with the Reds. The Reds send OF Bob Bescher to the Giants for young catcher Grover Hartley and Buck Herzog, who replaces Joe Tinker as manager and shortstop.
The Pirates clean house in an eight-player swap with the Cardinals. Going to St. Louis is Dots Miller, a 1909 World Series hero, 14-game winner Hank Robinson, 3B Cozy Dolan, infielder Art Butler, and OF Chief Wilson, king of the triple. The Pirates receive pitcher Bob Harmon, 3B Mike Mowrey, and 1B Ed Konetchy, whom the Bucs had been after for years.
The Cubs fire Johnny Evers as manager, but expect him to continue as a player. He declines.
The Reds trade outfielder Bob Bescher to the Giants for shortstop Buck Herzog, who will become the player-manager of the team, replacing Joe Tinker in the Cincinnati dugout. In his 2+ plus seasons, the club’s new skipper will compile a 165-226 (.422) record, never finishing higher than seventh-place in the eight-team circuit.
1913 – John K. Tener, one-time pitcher and congressman, now governor of Pennsylvania, is elected National League president for four years. John Heydler is elected secretary.
1913 – Exhibition teams made up of members of the Chicago White Sox and New York Giants play at Keio University Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. The next day, they play against the University’s team.
1913 – Joe Tinker is out as the Cincinnati Reds manager, but is still their property as a player. On December 12th he will be sold to the Brooklyn Robins for $25,000, $10,000 of which goes to him. Pitcher Earl Yingling and outfielder Herbie Moran are sent to Cincinnati later as part of the deal. When Brooklyn owner Charles Ebbets puts off signing Tinker, he jumps to the Federal League, signing to manage the Chicago Whales for $12,000.