The 1903 major league baseball season began on April 16, 1903. The regular season ended on September 29, with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Americans as regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the first modern World Series on October 1 and ended with Game 8 on October 13. The Americans defeated the Pirates, five games to three, capturing their first championship in franchise history.
The 1903 season saw the return of a postseason championship series, the World Series, following the one-off 1900 Chronicle-Telegraph Cup. It was also the first inter-league series since the 1890 World's Championship Series between the National League and defunct-since- American Association. The 1903 World Series would also mark the first championship series that is still celebrated today, as all previous series are considered pre-modern and these early contests are discussed by MLB and baseball historians separately. However, the 1903 arrangement was primarily between the two participating clubs rather than a formal arrangement between the leagues, essentially making this season's World Series a voluntary event.
The defunct Baltimore Orioles were replaced by a new franchise in New York City known as the New York Highlanders; it was the last change to the lineup of AL and NL franchises until . The American League would not return to Baltimore until the St. Louis Browns relocated there as a new Baltimore Orioles in . The Chicago Orphans and Cleveland Bronchos were renamed as the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Naps, respectively.
Schedule
The 1903 schedule consisted of 140 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had eight teams. Each team was scheduled to play 20 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place for the season. This would be the last season with this format, as the following season would see an increase of games played.
National League Opening Day took place on April 16 with four teams playing, while American League Opening Day did not take place until April 20, with a doubleheader between the Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Americans. The National League would see its final day of the regular season on September 27, while the American League would see its final day of the season on September 29. The inaugural World Series took place between October 1 and October 13.
Rule changes The 1903 season saw the following rule changes: The pitcher's mound height was capped at 15 inches. Previously adopted by the National league in , the American League adopted the rule that foul balls are to count as strike balls, except after two strikes. Previously, foul balls would not affect the count. To cut the cost of lost foul balls, the committee urges that batters who foul off good strikes are to be disciplined. A unified balk rule was agreed on, stating "a balk shall constitute any delivery of the ball to the batsman by the pitcher while either foot of the pitcher is back of the plate."
Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBoston AmericansBoston, MassachusettsHuntington Avenue Grounds11,500Chicago White StockingsChicago, IllinoisSouth Side Park14,000Cleveland NapsCleveland, OhioLeague Park (Cleveland)9,000Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBennett Park8,500New York HighlandersNew York, New YorkHilltop Park16,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaColumbia Park9,500St. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park8,000Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.American League Park7,000Boston BeaneatersBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds6,600Brooklyn SuperbasNew York, New YorkWashington Park12,000Chicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park13,000Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioPalace of the Fans12,000New York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds16,000Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaNational League Park18,000Columbia Park*9,500*Pittsburgh PiratesAllegheny, PennsylvaniaExposition Park16,000St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriLeague Park (St. Louis)15,200
Sunday games Blue laws restricted Sunday activities in several localities, causing several teams to play at ballparks in a different locality.
TeamCityBallparkCapacityGames playedBoston BeaneatersWarwick, Rhode IslandRocky Point State ParkUnknown1Cleveland NapsCanton, OhioMahaffey ParkUnknown2Columbus, OhioNeil Park6,0001Detroit TigersToledo, OhioArmory ParkUnknown2East Grand Rapids, MichiganRamona Park1
Standings
American League
National League
Tie games 15 tie games (6 in AL, 9 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again), occurred throughout the season.
American League Boston Americans, 3 Chicago White Stockings, 1 Detroit Tigers, 1 New York Highlanders, 2 Philadelphia Athletics, 2 Washington Senators, 3
National League Boston Beaneaters, 2 Brooklyn Superbas, 3 Chicago Cubs, 1 Cincinnati Reds, 2 New York Giants, 3 Philadelphia Phillies, 4 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 St. Louis Cardinals, 2
Postseason The postseason began on October 1 and ended on October 13 with the Boston Americans defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1903 World Series in eight games.
Bracket
"Battle of Ohio" Termed the "Battle of Ohio", the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Naps played an unofficial best of 11-game exhibition series after the regular season, with Cleveland winning the series six games to three.
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBaltimore OriolesWilbert RobinsonTeam foldedChicago White StockingsClark GriffithJimmy CallahanDetroit TigersFrank DwyerEd BarrowNew York HighlandersTeam enfranchisedClark GriffithPhiladelphia PhilliesBill ShettslineChief Zimmer
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Nap Lajoie (CLE) .344 OPS Nap Lajoie (CLE) .896 HR Buck Freeman (BOS) 13 RBI Buck Freeman (BOS) 104 R Patsy Dougherty (BOS) 107 H Patsy Dougherty (BOS) 195 SB Harry Bay (CLE) 45
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Cy Young (BOS) 28 L Patsy Flaherty (CWS) 25 ERA Earl Moore (CLE) 1.74 K Rube Waddell (PHA) 302 IP Cy Young (BOS) 341.2 SV Bill Dinneen (BOS)George Mullin (DET)Al Orth (WSH)Jack Powell (SLB)Cy Young (BOS) 2 WHIP Addie Joss (CLE) 0.948
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Honus Wagner (PIT) .355 OPS Fred Clarke (PIT) .946 HR Jimmy Sheckard (BRO) 9 RBI Sam Mertes (NYG) 104 R Ginger Beaumont (PIT) 137 H Ginger Beaumont (PIT) 209 SB Jimmy Sheckard (BRO)Frank Chance (CHC) 67
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Joe McGinnity (NYG) 31 L Togie Pittinger (BSN) 22 ERA Sam Leever (PIT) 2.06 K Christy Mathewson (NYG) 267 IP Joe McGinnity (NYG) 434.0 SV Carl Lundgren (CHC)Roscoe Miller (NYG) 3 WHIP Deacon Phillippe (PIT) 1.030
Milestones Batters Cycles
Fred Clarke (PIT): Clarke hit for his second cycle and third in franchise history, on May 7 against the Cincinnati Reds. Buck Freeman (BOS): Freeman hit for his first cycle and the first cycle in franchise history, on June 21 against the Cleveland Naps. Patsy Dougherty (BOS): Dougherty hit for his first cycle and the second cycle in franchise history, on July 29 against the New York Highlanders. Bill Bradley (CLE): Bradley hit for his first cycle and the first cycle in franchise history, September 24 against the Washington Senators.
Other batting accomplishments Jack Doyle (BRO): Recorded his 500th career stolen base against the Philadelphia Phillies on July 29. He became the 11th player to reach this mark. Patsy Donovan (STL): Recorded his 500th career stolen base against the Brooklyn Superbas in game one of a doubleheader on August 17. He became the 12th player to reach this mark.
Pitchers No-hitters
Chick Fraser (PHI): Fraser threw his first career no-hitter and the third no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Chicago Cubs 10–0 in game two of a doubleheader on September 18. Fraser walked five and struck out four.
Other pitching accomplishments Joe McGinnity (NYG): Became the first pitcher to win two complete games in one day on August 1, with 4–1 and 5–2 victories over the Boston Beaneaters in a doubleheader..
Miscellaneous Chicago White Stockings / Detroit Tigers: Set a major league record for most errors in a game at 18 (twelve committed by Chicago, and six by Detroit).
Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceNew York Giants84 75.0%579,53091.3%8,279Philadelphia Athletics75 −9.6%422,4730.6%6,306Chicago Cubs82 20.6%386,205 46.5%5,290St. Louis Browns65 −16.7%380,40539.7%5,434Boston Americans91 18.2%379,3388.8%5,419Cincinnati Reds74 5.7%351,680 61.8%4,627Pittsburgh Pirates91 −11.7%326,855 34.1%4,669Cleveland Naps7711.6%311,28013.0%4,206Chicago White Stockings60 −18.9%286,183 −15.3%4,088St. Louis Cardinals43 −23.2%226,538 0.1%3,283Brooklyn Superbas70 −6.7%224,670 12.4%3,078Detroit Tigers65 25.0%224,523 18.5%3,454New York Highlanders72211,8083,161Philadelphia Phillies49 −12.5%151,729 35.4%2,487Boston Beaneaters58 −20.5%143,155 22.4%2,105Washington Senators43 −29.5%128,878 −31.5%1,815
Venues The 1903 season saw the enfranchisement of the New York Highlanders, in place of the folded Baltimore Orioles, playing at Hilltop Park in New York City, New York, where they would play for ten seasons through .
Regarding games that were rescheduled to Sunday, and existing blue laws: For 1903 only, the Boston Beaneaters, played one game at Rocky Point State Park in Warwick, Rhode Island on September 6. The Cleveland Naps continue playing a few Sunday games at Mahaffey Park in Canton, Ohio (two games on May 10 and June 21) and at Neil Park (one game on May 17). Previously, the Naps played Sunday games at Jail Flats in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Fairview Park in Dayton, Ohio. This would be the last season of separate Sunday games. The Detroit Tigers ceased playing at their prior Sunday home game venue, Burns Park in Springwells Township (outside of Detroit city limits), and played at Armory Park in Toledo, Ohio (two games on June 28 and August 16) and Ramona Park in East Grand Rapids, Michigan (one game on May 24).
On August 8, in what is known as the worst disaster in American sports spectating history, Black Saturday, a section of balcony at the Philadelphia Phillies' home at the Baker Bowl collapsed, killing 12 spectators and injuring 232. The Philadelphia Phillies played the last 16 of their 61 home games at the home of the American League crosstown Philadelphia Athletics, Columbia Park from August 20.
See also 1903 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths)
References
External links 1903 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference 1903 in baseball history from ThisGreatGame.com