The 1900 major league baseball season began on April 19, 1900. The regular season ended on October 14, with the Brooklyn Superbas as the regular season champion of the National League. The Superbas and runner-up Pittsburgh Pirates competed in the Chronicle-Telegraph Cup, a precursor to the current World Series, over four days, with Game 1 on October 15 and ended with Game 4 on October 18. The Superbas defeated the Pirates in the best-of-five series in four games.
The 1900 season saw the return of a postseason championship series (albeit as a one-off), the Chronicle-Telegraph Cup, following the end of the Temple Cup in .
The 1900 season saw the aftermath of the National League contracting from 12 to 8 teams, eliminating the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Spiders, Louisville Colonels, and Washington Senators. The elimination of major-league baseball from these cities prompted the minor league American League to declare themselves as a major league the following year.
The St. Louis Perfectos were renamed the St. Louis Cardinals.
Schedule
The 1900 schedule consisted of 140 games for the eight teams of the National League. Each team was scheduled to play 20 games against the other seven teams in the league. This format had previously been used by the National League during their – seasons. This format would last until , which saw an increase of games played.
Opening Day took place on April 19 featuring all eight teams. The final day of the season on October 14. The Chronicle-Telegraph Cup, a precursor to the current World Series, took place between October 15 and October 18.
Rule change The 1900 season saw the following rule change: Home plate is changed from a square to a five-sided figure, as developed by Robert M. Keating. The balk rule was modified so that a batter was no longer rewarded first base. Runners already on base will move up.
Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBoston BeaneatersBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds6,600Brooklyn SuperbasNew York, New YorkWashington Park12,000Chicago OrphansChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park13,000Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioLeague Park (Cincinnati)9,000New York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds16,000Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaNational League Park18,000Pittsburgh PiratesAllegheny, PennsylvaniaExposition Park16,000St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriLeague Park (St. Louis)15,200
Standings National League
Tie games 15 tie games, which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again), occurred throughout the season. Boston Beaneaters, 4 Brooklyn Superbas, 6 Chicago Orphans, 6 Cincinnati Reds, 5 New York Giants, 3 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 St. Louis Cardinals, 2
Postseason Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerBaltimore OriolesJohn McGrawTeam foldedChicago OrphansTom BurnsTom LoftusCincinnati RedsBuck EwingBob AllenCleveland SpidersJoe QuinnTeam foldedLouisville ColonelsFred ClarkeTeam foldedNew York GiantsFred HoeyBuck EwingPittsburgh PiratesPatsy DonovanFred ClarkeWashington SenatorsArthur IrwinTeam folded
In-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerNew York GiantsBuck EwingGeorge DavisSt. Louis CardinalsPatsy TebeauLouie Heilbroner
League leaders National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Honus Wagner (PIT) .381 OPS Honus Wagner (PIT) 1.007 HR Herman Long (BSN) 12 RBI Elmer Flick (PHI) 110 R Roy Thomas (PHI) 132 H Willie Keeler (BRO) 204 SB Patsy Donovan (STL)George Van Haltren (NYG) 45
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Joe McGinnity (BRO) 28 L Bill Carrick (NYG) 22 ERA Rube Waddell (PIT) 2.37 K Noodles Hahn (CIN) 132 IP Joe McGinnity (BRO) 343.0 SV Frank Kitson (BRO) 4 WHIP Rube Waddell (PIT) 1.107
Milestones Batters George Van Haltren (NYG): Recorded his 500th career stolen base against the Cincinnati Reds on June 4. He became the ninth player to reach this mark.
Pitchers No-hitters
Noodles Hahn (CIN): Hahn threw his first career no-hitter and the third no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4–0 on July 12. Hahn walked two, hit one by pitch, and struck out eight. Other pitching accomplishments Kid Nichols (BSN): Became the sixth member of the 300-win club, defeating the Chicago Orphans on July 7, winning 11–4.
Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendancePhiladelphia Phillies75 −20.2%301,913 −22.4%4,313St. Louis Cardinals65 −22.6%270,000 −27.8%3,750Pittsburgh Pirates793.9%264,000 4.8%3,771Chicago Orphans65 −13.3%248,577 −29.4%3,228Boston Beaneaters66−30.5%202,000 0.8%2,767New York Giants60 0.0%190,00056.5%2,676Brooklyn Superbas82 −18.8%183,000 −32.1%2,507Cincinnati Reds62 −25.3%170,000 −34.5%2,698
See also 1900 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths)
References
External links 1900 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference 1900 in baseball history from ThisGreatGame.com