A DYNASTY BEGINS?
Desiring a presence in the biggest market in the country, the American League sold the Baltimore franchise to businessmen Frank Farrell and Bill Deveery for $18,000. The new club, dubbed the Highlanders because they will play their home games at Hilltop Park, would retain the services of Baltimore player-manager John McGraw despite the frequent run-ins McGraw had with American League President Ban Johnson.
JOHN MCGRAW
McGraw was an extremely interesting character and probably one of the greatest baseball minds of his era. He is credited as the main reason baseball added addtional umpires on the bases. The story has it that while the single umpire would follow the flight of the ball McGraw would do everything he could to obstruct baserunners including blocking or tripping them. He was continuously having run-ins with baseball's establishment and one such disagreement over the folding of Baltimore's National League team in 1900 led him to organize the Baltimore Orioles franchise in the new American League. However, McGraw ran into more trouble this time with AL President Ban Johnson and in mid-1902 jumped to the NL's New York Giants where he would remain for 30 years. His managerial style was similiar to his playing antics as he incited crowds and opposing teams alike as his Giants quickly became the most despised team in baseball. In 1906 he arrogantly had "Champions of the World" emblazoned across the front of his team's jerseys. He retired as a manager in 1932 with 2763 career victories, second only to Connie Mack. It remains to be seen if McGraw's HOB2 career will be anywhere near as interesting.
The Yankee Dynasty in its Infancy
The transplanted Baltimore franchise brought plenty of talent north to New York. The team featuring Roger Bresnahan, Honus Wagner, McGraw, Bill Keister, Mike Donlin, Cy Seymour and Joe McGinnity added another strong starter in Happy Townsend via free agency and had rookie Barney Wolfe burst onto the scene. The result was a 90 win season and an American League Pennant. 27 game winner Harry Howell left for Washington as a free agent but with the addition of Townsend (17-5, 2.13) and rookie of the year Wolfe (25-14, 2.53) no one missed him. New York had solid pitching and the best offense in the league with Mike Donlin, Steve Brodie and Bill Keister all finishing in the top 10 in batting while Cy Seymour led the American League in rbi's.
The only real challenge came from Philadelphia but the White Elephants were no match for the New Yorkers. Free agent pickup Nixey Callahan, the ex-White Sox hurler, went 29-16 to win the Markle Award. Eddie Plank chipped in with 22 victories. Nap Lajoie won his third straight batting crown but infuriated Philadelphia management and fans by refusing to sign a lucrative contract extension. Lajoie will test the free agent waters and almost assuredly will not be back in an A's uniform.
PHILLIES SUFFER SAME FATE AS PITTSBURGH
Just like the Pirates a year ago, the Philadelphia Phillies endured a serious hangover following their pennant winning season. Free agency decimated the Phillies as Happy Townsend, Elmer Flick and Ed Delahanty all skipped town. In their place the Phillies only managed to sign pitcher Jack Harper. It was a move they would have been better off not making. Harper, who was 27-16 for the Cardinals last year, was injured early and struggled to a 9-20 season. Without Delahanty and Flick, the Philadelphia offense was the worst in the league.
Boston had a little more success in the free agent market. The Beaneaters signed ex-Pirate Deacon Phillippe and he went 18-11 to solidify a rotation that included Vic Willis (22-11) and Bill Dineen (20-17). The other key free agent pickup was third baseman Jimmy Collins, fresh off his World Series victory with the cross-town Pilgrims. Collins (.291) teamed with Pat Carney (.276), Jimmy Sheckard (.318) and Bobby Wallace (78 rbi) to lead the Boston offense.
Bob Ewing (26-14, 2.50) of second place Cincinnati was named the loop's top pitcher. MVP honours went to Jesse Burkett of St Louis. Burkett finished second to teammate Ed Delahanty in batting and led the league with 13 homers. Oscar Grove of Brooklyn was named the rookie of the year. The 24 year old went 24-18 and earned a spot on the midseason all-star team.
NOTES
Elmer Flick of Chicago(A) hit just 6 homers all season but 3 of them came in one game. "I don't know what Flicky had for breakfast that morning," said teammate Frank Isbell, "but I got to get me some." Flick drove in 5 runs and his final homer came in the 13th inning to give the White Sox a 6-4 win over St Louis.
The National League won its second straight all-star game, nipping the American Leaguers 5-4. Brooklyn third baseman Fred Hartman's rbi single in the top of the ninth capped a 3 run inning as the NL rallied for the victory. Ed Delahanty was named the game's MVP. Delahanty had 2 hits including a double. He also scored a run and added an rbi despite being in a very quiet mood during the entire day as a result of an incident two nights before on the train from Brooklyn. Cardinals pitcher Alex Pearson was the winner with Bill Reidy of the Browns taking the loss. Nixey Callahan of the A's pitched 3 perfect innings to start the game for the American League.
NEAR MISS FOR DELAHANTY
Rumour has it Ed Delahanty nearly plunged into the Niagara River just prior to the allstar game. The incident is said to occur as 4 Cardinals; Delahanty, Jesse Burkett, Alex Pearson and Otto Williams were traveling from Brooklyn to Detroit for the all star game. Although none of the players involved would discuss the incident it appears Delahanty was so distraught at his gambling debts that he threatened to throw himself into the Falls as the train stopped at the Canadian border. One observer says Delahanty was wandering at the edge of the Falls in a drunken state and he lost his footing. Teammate Jesse Burkett managed to catch the star outfielder and return him to safety.
American League Standings :
W L PCT GB
New York 90 50 .643 --
Philadelphia (A) 85 55 .607 5
Boston (A) 74 66 .529 16
St Louis(A) 68 72 .486 22
Detroit 65 75 .464 25
Chicago (A) 61 79 .436 29
Cleveland 61 79 .436 29
Washington 56 84 .400 34
National League Standings :
W L PCT GB
Boston (N) 81 59 .579 --
Cincinnati 77 63 .550 4
Chicago (N) 76 64 .543 5
St. Louis (N) 76 64 .543 5
New York (N) 74 66 .529 7
Brooklyn 68 72 .486 13
Pittsburgh 64 76 .457 17
Philadelphia (N) 44 96 .314 37
AMERICAN LEAGUE LEADERS
BATTING LEADERS
TOP 10 in BATTING AVG :
.367 Nap Lajoie(PHA,AL)
.328 Buck Freeman(BOS,AL)
.327 Steve Brodie(NYY,AL)
.326 Elmer Flick( CHW,AL)
.326 Ollie Pickering(CLE,AL)
.325 Mike Donlin(NYY,AL)
.324 Kid Elberfeld(DET,AL)
.315 Bill Keister(NYY,AL)
.315 Bill Bradley(CLE,AL)
.312 Sport Mcallister(DET)
TOP 10 in HOMERUNS :
13 Mike Donlin(NYY,AL)
11 Buck Freeman(BOS,AL)
11 Billy Hamilton(PHA)
11 Ducky Holmes(DET)
10 Pop Foster(WSH,AL)
9 Fred Clarke(SLB)
9 Nap Lajoie(PHA,AL)
7 Doc Nance(DET)
7 Bill Coughlin(WSH)
7 Cy Seymour(NYY,AL)
TOP 10 in RBI :
98 Cy Seymour(NYY,AL)
92 Bill Bradley(CLE,AL)
92 Nap Lajoie(PHA,AL)
88 Mike Donlin(NYY,AL)
85 Bill Keister(NYY,AL)
84 Harry Davis(PHA)
84 Algie Mcbride(SLB)
83 Pop Foster(WSH,AL)
83 John Anderson(SLB,AL)
81 Chick Stahl(BOS)
TOP 10 in ERA :
2.13 Happy Townsend ( NYY,AL)
2.24 Cy Young (BOS,AL)
2.49 Bill Bernhard (PHA)
2.49 Nixey Callahan ( PHA,AL)
2.50 John Deering ( NYY,AL)
2.53 Barney Wolfe ( NYY)
2.60 Norwood Gibson ( BOS)
2.63 Sam Mcmackin (CHW)
2.71 George Winter (BOS,AL)
2.90 Bill Reidy (SLB,AL)
TOP 10 in WINS :
29 Nixey Callahan ( PHA,AL)
25 Barney Wolfe ( NYY)
24 Sam Mcmackin (CHW)
23 Eddie Plank (PHA)
22 Cy Young (BOS,AL)
19 Dale Gear (WSH)
19 Tully Sparks (SLB)
19 Bill Reidy (SLB,AL)
18 George Winter (BOS,AL)
18 George Mullin (DET,AL)
NATIONAL LEAGUE LEADERS
TOP 10 in BATTING AVG :
.342 Ed Delahanty( STL,NL)
.333 Jesse Burkett(STL,NL)
.333 George Davis(NYG,NL)
.318 Jimmy Sheckard(BSN,NL)
.304 Billy Gilbert(NYG)
.303 Ginger Beaumont(PIT)
.301 Harry Bay(CIN)
.300 George Vanhaltren(NYG)
.298 Willie Keeler(BRO)
.295 Sam Crawford(CIN)
TOP 10 in HOMERUNS :
13 Jesse Burkett(STL,NL)
7 Ginger Beaumont(PIT)
6 Charlie Hickman(NYG,NL)
6 Jimmy Sheckard(BSN,NL)
6 George Vanhaltren(NYG)
6 Emmet Heidrick(STL)
6 Fred Tenney(BSN,NL)
6 Ed Delahanty( STL,NL)
5 Bunk Congalton(CHC)
5 Harry Steinfeldt( CIN)
TOP 10 in RBI :
94 George Davis(NYG,NL)
93 Jesse Burkett(STL,NL)
79 Tom Mccreery(BRO)
78 Pat Carney(BSN,NL)
78 Bobby Wallace(BSN,NL)
76 George Vanhaltren(NYG)
75 Fred Hartman(BRO,NL)
72 Topsy Hartsel(CHC)
71 Bunk Congalton(CHC)
70 Otto Williams(STL,NL)
TOP 10 in ERA :
2.21 Alex Pearson (STL,NL)
2.31 Christy Mathewson (NYG)
2.37 Deacon Phillippe ( BSN,NL)
2.38 Carl Lundgren (CHC,NL)
2.39 Jack Chesbro (PIT,NL)
2.50 Bob Ewing (CIN)
2.52 Jake Weimer ( CHC)
2.58 Ed Doheny (NYG)
2.66 Bill Dinneen (BSN,NL)
2.69 Vic Willis (BSN)
TOP 10 in WINS :
26 Bob Ewing (CIN)
24 Christy Mathewson (NYG)
24 Oscar Jones ( BRO,NL)
23 Ed Doheny (NYG)
22 Vic Willis (BSN)
21 Jesse Tannehill (PIT)
20 Bill Dinneen (BSN,NL)
19 Carl Lundgren (CHC,NL)
19 Alex Pearson (STL,NL)
19 Jack Chesbro (PIT,NL)
Next up the 1903 World Series between the New York Highlanders and the Boston Beaneaters.