1914 – Three players hit their first career homer for the Kansas City Packers of the Federal League: Duke Kenworthy, Art Kruger and John Potts all go deep in a feat that will not be matched until June 24, 2017, by the Oakland A’s. The Packers defeat the Chicago Chi-Feds, 12 – 4 at Weeghman Park.
An estimated crowd of 21,000, about 2,000 of whom stand and watch in a cordoned-off outfield section, brave a chilly wind off the lake to witness the Chicago Whales of the Federal League host the Kansas City Packers in their home opener at the new Weeghman Park. It is the first major league game in the new ballpark, which will later be renamed Wrigley Field. After two innings of play, Packers starting pitcher George Howard “Murphy” Johnson is served with an injunction by his former club, the Cincinnati Reds, from whom he had jumped a few days earlier. Johnson is forced to leave the game. The Whales win, 9 – 1.
In Federal League action, the Chicago Chi-Feds host the Kansas City Packers at newly-built Weegham Park, on Chicago’s North Side. With two home runs by Art Wilson, and a five-hitter by Claude Hendrix, the Chi-Feds coast to a 9 – 1 win before a crowd of 21,000. The name of the stadium will change to Cubs Park in time for opening day, 1920, and will be renamed “Wrigley Field” in 1926.
On April 22, 1914, future Hall of Famer Babe Ruth makes his pitching debut for the minor league Baltimore Orioles of the International League. The left-handed throwing Ruth allows only six hits in shutting out the Buffalo Bisons, 6-0. At the plate, Ruth picks up two singles in four at-bats.
1914 – The 25-player limit is suspended in the American and National leagues. With uncertainty over who has signed with what teams as a result of the creation of the Federal League, it is almost impossible to know how many players may be on the roster at any one time.
4/17/1914: Luther Bonin of the Buffalo Blues in the Federal League hit a home run into the bleachers during a game in Baltimore against the Terrapins. However, as he rounded third base, manager Larry Schlafly, who was coaching third, patted Bonin on the back. Bonin was declared out by the umpires. This would have been Bonin’s only home run in his 21-game major league career. He was credited with a triple, the only one of his career!
Major league baseball returns to Baltimore as the first Federal League game is played with approximately 27,000 patrons on hand to watch the Terrapins beat the Buffalo Blues at Terrapin Park, 3-2. After the hometown Orioles were eliminated from the National League at the end of the 1899 season, first-year player/manager John McGraw’s club joins the new rival American League, beginning in 1901, but the newly formed team stayed in the Charm City for only two seasons before being moved to New York, becoming the Yankees after briefly known as the Highlanders.
An attempt to legalize Sunday baseball in Massachusetts is defeated.
On April 1, 1914, George Edward Waddell, better known as “Rube” dies from tuberculosis in San Antonio, TX, at the age of 37. The eccentric Future Hall of Fame was Known as much for his off-field behavior as on the field . . . he will miss an occasional miss a scheduled start because he…
Babe Ruth makes his first start of his professional career when he defeats the world champion Philadelphia Athletics, 6-2, in an exhibition game played in Wilmington, N.C. The 19 year-old Red Sox rookie left-hander had faced 29 batters in relief, allowing just six hits to earn a spot in manager Jack Dunn’s rotation.
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