Kid Nichols

Kid Nichols and Christy Mathewson throw shutout ball for nine innings

1901 – Kid Nichols and Christy Mathewson face each other again and both throw shutout ball for nine innings. Boston finally scores three in the 10th to win, 3 – 0. Nichols and Mathewson will go at each other tomorrow, in the second game of two, with the match ending in an 11-inning, 5 – 5 tie.

Giants and Brooklyn split two Christy Mathewson wins night cap

Giants and Brooklyn split two Christy Mathewson wins night cap

1901 – At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants and Brooklyn split two‚ Brooklyn winning the opener‚ 3 – 0‚ before losing the nitecap to Christy Mathewson‚ 4 – 1. Brooklyn threatens in the 6th‚ putting two on with no outs‚ but Matty K’s Cozy Dolan‚ allows a single‚ then strikes out Tom Daly and Bill Dahlen to end the threat.

Brooklyn righty Frank Kitson

Brooklyn righty Frank Kitson outpitches Christy Mathewson, allowing just one Giant hit in beating New York, 5 – 0

1901 – Brooklyn righty Frank Kitson outpitches Christy Mathewson, allowing just one Giant hit in beating New York, 5 – 0. Four of the Brooklyn runs are unearned. Algie McBride has the only safety, a single, for New York.

Player-manager George Davis leads the Giants to a 9 - 3 win over Cincinnati

George Davis leads the Giants to a 9 – 3 win over Cincinnati with four hits

Player-manager George Davis leads the Giants to a 9 – 3 win over Cincinnati with four hits, including two inside-the-park homers, and 4 RBIs. Christy Mathewson beats Dick Scott for the second time this year, though Matty’s control is off. He walks four batters and hits two, including Cincy 1B Jake Beckley, who is hit in the head with a Matty pitch and knocked out for five minutes.

Honus Wagner becomes the first 20th Century player to steal home twice in a single game

Pittsburgh’s Honus Wagner becomes the first 20th Century player to steal home twice in a single game

On June 20, 1901 – At the Polo Grounds with 5,000 in attendance, Pittsburgh Pirate Shortstop Honus Wagner becomes the first 20th Century player to steal home twice in a single game, as Jack Chesbro blanks the New York Giants, 7 – 0. Wagner will top off the day by going three for five with…

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

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

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.

kid Gleason

Giants and Pirates outfielder Tom O’Brien dies at 28

1901 – Giants and Pirates outfielder Tom O’Brien, 28, dies in Phoenix, AZ. A popular player with the Giants, O’Brien played for Pirates in 1900, then accompanied the Giants and Superbas last fall on a trip to Cuba for a series of exhibition games. On the boat trip over, he was told that if he drank enough sea water he’d be sick, but would then be cured of any sea sickness. Both O’Brien and Kid Gleason became violently ill following the prescription, but O’Brien was so affected that all his internal organs were damaged, and he never recovered.