At Fenway Park, the Red Sox celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first American League game in Boston

At Fenway Park, the Red Sox celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first American League game in Boston

At Fenway Park, the Red Sox celebrate the 50th anniversary of their first American League game in Boston. On hand are 29 old-timers who played, managed, or umpired in the AL in that first year including Connie Mack, Dummy Hoy, Cy Young, Hugh Duffy, Clark Griffith, Tom Connolly, Billy Sullivan, Wid Conroy, Bill Bradley and Ollie Pickering. Eight of the 29 participated in the first AL game, played in Chicago on April 24, 1901. The game that follows the ceremony features dramatic home runs as Ted Williams hits the 300th homer of his career in the 4th inning against Chicago’s Howie Judson. With Williams up in the 8th inning, White Sox manager Paul Richards moves reliever Harry Dorish to 3B and brings in Billy Pierce to pitch to Ted. Williams pops up against the lefty, and Dorish then returns to the mound. Boston ties the game against Dorish at 7 – 7, but little Nellie Fox, playing in his 6th season, cracks his first major league homer in the 11th to give Dorish a 9 – 7 victory. Ray Scarborough is the loser. The Sox will win their next 13 games.

White Sox pitcher Ed Walsh throws 23 balls off Mt Washington (555 ft) before C Billy Sullivan snares one

White Sox pitcher Ed Walsh throws 23 balls off Mt Washington (555 ft) before C Billy Sullivan snares one

1910 – Atop the Washington Monument, White Sox pitcher Ed Walsh throws 23 balls before C Billy Sullivan snares one, then catches two more, 555 feet below. It duplicates Gabby Street’s catch of August 21, 1908. The estimated speed of the ball is 161 feet per second. On the field Walsh will be 18-20 despite a league-leading 1.27 ERA, the only time a pitcher with a losing record loses 20 and leads either league in ERA.

Jimmy Collins switches leagues but not cities

Jimmy Collins switches leagues but not cities

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.

Jimmy Collins, the choice of Connie Mack as the best all-time third baseman, switches leagues but not cities.

Jimmy Collins, the choice of Connie Mack as the best all-time third baseman, switches leagues but not cities.

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.