The 1901 major league baseball season was contested from April 18 through October 6, 1901. It was the inaugural major league season for the American League (AL) (having previously been the minor league Western League), with the Chicago White Stockings winning the AL pennant. In the National League (NL), in operation since 1876, the Pittsburgh Pirates won the NL pennant. There was no postseason. This was the first season of the modern era.
This would be the only season in which the Milwaukee Brewers played, as the team would relocate to St. Louis, Missouri for the following season as the St. Louis Browns (before that team relocated to Baltimore, Maryland as the modern Baltimore Orioles in , where they remain to this day. The Baltimore Orioles of this season would fold following the season).
Schedule
The 1901 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 format had previously been used by the National League during their – seasons. This format would last until , which saw an increase of games played.
National League Opening Day took place on April 18 with a game between the Brooklyn Superbas and the Philadelphia Phillies, while American League Opening Day did not take place until April 24, with a game between the Chicago White Stockings and the Cleveland Bluebirds. The American League would see its final day of the season on September 28, while the National League would see its final day of the season on October 6.
Rule changes On February 27, 1901, the National League Rules Committee announced several rule changes, effective immediately. All 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. The American League will not adopt this rule until the 1903 season. A one-ball penalty would be imposed if the pitcher throws a warm-up toss to anyone except the catcher. Catchers play within 10 feet of the batter. A ball will be called if the pitcher does not throw to a ready and waiting batter within 20 seconds, a predecessor to the modern-day pitch clock that was implemented 123 years later in . Players using indecent or improper language will be banished by the umpire. A ball will be called when a batter is hit by a pitch. Further changes were made in April: In a mail vote, the owners rescinded the new hit by pitch rule, restoring the rule that a HBP will earn a batter first base.
Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandOriole ParkUnknownBoston AmericansBoston, MassachusettsHuntington Avenue Grounds11,500Chicago White StockingsChicago, IllinoisSouth Side Park12,500Cleveland BluesCleveland, OhioLeague Park (Cleveland)9,000Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBennett Park8,500Milwaukee BrewersMilwaukee, WisconsinLloyd Street Grounds10,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaColumbia Park9,500Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.American League Park7,000Boston 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
Sunday games Blue laws restricted Sunday activities in several localities, causing several teams to play at ballparks in a different locality.
TeamCityBallparkCapacityGames playedDetroit TigersSpringwells Township, MichiganBurns Park3,70013
Standings
American League
National League
Tie games 15 tie games (8 in AL, 7 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again), occurred throughout the season.
American League Baltimore Orioles, 2 Boston Americans, 2 Chicago White Stockings, 1 Cleveland Blues, 2 Detroit Tigers, 1 Milwaukee Brewers, 2 Philadelphia Athletics, 1 Washington Senators, 5
National League Boston Beaneaters, 2 Brooklyn Superbas, 1 Chicago Orphans, 1 Cincinnati Reds, 3 New York Giants, 4 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 St. Louis Cardinals, 2
Managerial changes Off-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerBaltimore OriolesTeam enfranchisedJohn McGrawBoston AmericansTeam enfranchisedJimmy CollinsChicago White StockingsCharles Comiskey(minor league)Clark GriffithCincinnati RedsBob AllenBid McPheeCleveland BluesJimmy McAleer(minor league)Jimmy McAleerDetroit TigersGeorge Stallings(minor league)George StallingsMilwaukee BrewersConnie Mack(minor league)Hugh DuffyPhiladelphia AthleticsTeam enfranchisedConnie MackSt. Louis CardinalsLouie HeilbronerPatsy DonovanWashington SenatorsJim Manning(Kansas City Blues, minor league)Jim Manning
League leaders Any team shown in indicates a previous team a player was on during the season.
American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Nap Lajoie1 (PHA) .426 OPS Nap Lajoie (PHA) 1.106 HR Nap Lajoie1 (PHA) 14 RBI Nap Lajoie1 (PHA) 125 R Nap Lajoie (PHA) 145 H Nap Lajoie (PHA) 232 SB Frank Isbell (CWS) 46 1 American League Triple Crown batting winner
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Cy Young2 (BOS) 33 L Pete Dowling (CLE/) 25 ERA Cy Young2 (BOS) 1.62 K Cy Young2 (BOS) 158 IP Joe McGinnity (BLA) 382.0 SV Bill Hoffer (CLE) 3 WHIP Cy Young (BOS) 0.972 2 American League Triple Crown pitching winner
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Jesse Burkett (STL) .376 OPS Ed Delahanty (PHI) .955 HR Sam Crawford (CIN) 16 RBI Honus Wagner (PIT) 126 R Jesse Burkett (STL) 142 H Jesse Burkett (STL) 142 SB Honus Wagner (PIT) 49
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Bill Donovan (BRO) 25 L Luther Taylor (NYG) 27 ERA Jesse Tannehill (PIT) 2.18 K Noodles Hahn (CIN) 239 IP Noodles Hahn (CIN) 375.1 SV Bill Donovan (BRO)Jack Powell (STL) 3 WHIP Al Orth (PHI) 1.001
Milestones Batters Cycles
Fred Clarke (PIT): Clarke hit for his first cycle and second in franchise history, on July 23 against the Cincinnati Reds. Nap Lajoie (PHA): Lajoie hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, on July 30 against the Cleveland Blues.
Other batting accomplishments Billy Hamilton (BSN): Recorded his 900th career stolen base against the Brooklyn Superbas on May 9. He became the first player to reach this mark. Set the major league record for most career stolen bases when he stole his 914th base in game one of a doubleheader against the Chicago Orphans on September 13.
Nap Lajoie (PHA): Became the fourth player in major league history and the first in American League history to win the Triple Crown, an achievement of leading a league in batting average, home runs, and runs batted in (RBI) over the same season.
Pitchers No-hitters
Christy Mathewson (NYG): Mathewson threw his first career no-hitter and the second no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 5–0 on July 15. Mathewson walked four and struck out four.
Other pitching accomplishments Cy Young (BOS): Became the seventh member of the 300-win club, defeating the Philadelphia Athletics on July 12, winning 5–3. Won the pitching triple crown.
Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceSt. Louis Cardinals76 16.9%379,988 40.7%5,278Chicago White Stockings83354,3504,991New York Giants52 −13.3%297,65056.7%4,192Boston Americans79289,4484,195Detroit Tigers74259,4303,706Pittsburgh Pirates9013.9%251,955 −4.6%3,652Philadelphia Phillies83 10.7%234,937 −22.2%3,405Philadelphia Athletics74206,3293,126Cincinnati Reds52 −16.1%205,728 21.0%2,857Chicago Orphans53 −18.5%205,071 −17.5%2,930Brooklyn Superbas79 −3.7%198,200 8.3%2,915Washington Senators61161,6612,377Boston Beaneaters694.5%146,502 −27.5%2,093Baltimore Orioles68141,9522,151Milwaukee Brewers48139,0341,986Cleveland Blues54131,3801,904
Venues The 1901 season saw the American League elevated to major league status, and with it, eight new major league teams in eight venues: The Baltimore Orioles played at Oriole Park. The Boston Americans played at the Huntington Avenue Grounds. The Chicago White Stockings played at South Side Park. The Cleveland Blues played at League Park, former home of the NL Cleveland team. The Detroit Tigers played at Bennett Park and Sunday home games at Burns Park (playing 13 of 70 games). The Milwaukee Brewers played their only season at Lloyd Street Grounds, playing their final game during a doubleheader on September 12 against the Chicago White Stockings, relocating to St. Louis, Missouri at Sportsman's Park for the start of the season. The Philadelphia Athletics played at Columbia Park. The Washington Senators played at American League Park.
The Cincinnati Reds would play their final game at League Park, on October 6 during a doubleheader against the St. Louis Cardinals, moving into the Palace of the Fans for the start of the season.
See also 1901 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths)
References
External links 1901 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference 1901 in baseball history from ThisGreatGame.com