The 1904 Boston Americans season was the fourth season for the professional baseball franchise that later became known as the Boston Red Sox. The Americans finished first in the American League (AL) with a record of 95 wins and 59 losses, games ahead of the New York Highlanders. The team was managed by Jimmy Collins and played its home games at Huntington Avenue Grounds. The Americans were set to play the National League (NL) champion New York Giants in the 1904 World Series; however, the Giants refused to play.
Offseason
Transactions December 7, 1903: It is reported that the Boston Americans will trade catcher Jake Stahl to the Washington Senators. December 23, 1903: The Boston Americans trade pitcher Tom Hughes to the New York Highlanders for pitcher Jesse Tannehill.
Prior to the regular season, the team held spring training in Macon, Georgia.
Regular season April 14: The regular season opens with an 8–2 loss to the New York Highlanders at Hilltop Park in New York City. April 18: In the home opener, the Americans defeat the visiting Washington Senators, 5–0. May 5: Cy Young throws the first no-hitter in franchise history; it was also a perfect game. The Americans beat the Philadelphia Athletics by a score of 3–0 in Boston.Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.144, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, NY, June 12: In their longest game of the season, the Americans defeat the St. Louis Browns, 2–1 in 16 innings, at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis. June 18: The team's highest scoring game of the season ends as a 13–10 win in 11 innings, on the road against the Chicago White Sox. August 17: Jesse Tannehill throws a no-hitter against the White Sox at South Side Park in Chicago. October 10: The regular season ends with a doubleheader on the road against the Highlanders; Boston won the first game, 3–2, while New York won the second game, 1–0 in 10 innings.
Statistical leaders The offense was led by Buck Freeman, who hit 7 home runs and had 84 RBIs, and Freddy Parent with a .291 batting average. The pitching staff was led by Cy Young, who made 43 appearances (41 starts) and pitched 40 complete games with a 26–16 record and 1.97 ERA, while striking out 200 in 380 innings. The team had two other 20-game winners; Bill Dinneen (23–14) and Jesse Tannehill (21–11).
Season standings
The team had three games end in a tie; September 13 at Philadelphia, September 14 vs. New York, and September 15 vs. New York. Both ties against New York were the second games of doubleheaders. Tie games are not counted in league standings, but player statistics during tie games are counted.
Record vs. opponents
Opening Day lineup Patsy Dougherty LFJimmy Collins 3BChick Stahl CFBuck Freeman RFFreddy Parent SSCandy LaChance 1BHobe Ferris 2BLou Criger CCy Young P Source:
Roster 1904 Boston Americans Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders Manager
Player stats Batting Note: Stats in brackets are derived from Retrosheet which differ from the stats found on MLB.com.
Starters by position Note: Pos=Position; GP=Games played; AB=At bats; R=Runs; H=Hits; 2B=Doubles; 3B=Triples; HR=Home runs; RBI=Runs batted in; BB=Walks; AVG=Batting average; OBP=On base percentage; SLG=Slugging percentage Pos Player GP ABR H2B3B HR RBIBB AVGOBPSLGReference C 98 299 34 63 105 2 3427 (28) .211 .283 (.285).298 1B 157 573 (572) 55 130 195 1 4723 .227 .265 (.267).283 2B 156 563 (566) 50 120 2310 3 6323 (21) .213 (.212) .245 (.241).306 (.304) SS 155 591 (593) 85 172 (173) 229 6 7728 (26) .291 (.292) .330 (.328).389 (.390) 3B 156 631 (632) 85 171 3313 3 6727 .271 .306.379 (.378) RF 157 597 (599) 64 167 2019 7 8432 (31) .280 (.279) .329 (.327).412 (.411) LF 98 376 50 97 198 0 3049 .258 .348.351 CF 157 588 83 170 2719 3 6765 .289 .367.415
Other batters Note: Pos=Position; GP=Games played; AB=At bats; R=Runs; H=Hits; 2B=Doubles; 3B=Triples; HR=Home runs; RBI=Runs batted in; BB=Walks; AVG=Batting average; OBP=On base percentage; SLG=Slugging percentage Pos Player GP ABR H2B3B HR RBIBB AVGOBPSLGReferenceC 68 198 11 42 92 0 1514 .212 .278.278LF 49 195 33 53 54 0 425 .272 .357.338IF/OF Bill O'Neill 17 52 7 10 10 0 51 .192 .208.212C 12 32 1 4 01 0 04 .125 .243.188IF 9 13 1 2 10 0 21 .154 .214.231
Pitchers Note: GP=Games played; AB=At bats; R=Runs; H=Hits; 2B=Doubles; 3B=Triples; HR=Home runs; RBI=Runs batted in; BB=Walks; AVG=Batting average; OBP=On base percentage; SLG=Slugging percentage Player GP ABR H2B3B HR RBIBB AVGOBPSLGReference Cy Young 43 148 14 33 33 1 100 .223 .223.304 Jesse Tannehill 45 122 14 24 26 0 610 .197 .258.311 Bill Dinneen 37 120 9 25 01 0 95 .208 .252.225 Norwood Gibson 33 92 5 6 00 0 29 .065 .149.065 George Winter 24 44 7 5 00 0 05 .114 .204.114
Pitching Starting pitchers Note: GP=Games Played; GS=Games Started; IP=Innings Pitched; H=Hits; BB=Walks; R=Runs; ER=Earned Runs; SO=Strikeouts; W=Wins; L=Losses; SV=Saves; ERA=Earned Run Average Player GPGSIPHBBRER SO W LSV ERAReference 43 413803272910483 200 26 16 1 1.97 37 372836611582 153 23 14 0 2.20 33 31256338964 116 21 11 0 2.04 33 322732168111167 112 17 14 0 2.21 20 16126274735 3 8 4 0 2.32
References
External links 1904 Boston Americans team page at Baseball Reference 1904 Boston Americans season at baseball-almanac.com