It’s finally 1903 and time to get into some serious World Series action. The Pittsburg Pirates will be facing the Boston Americans, a series that when played in 1903 resulted in a Boston Championship in 8 games. This was a best of 9 series, but for the purpose of this replay, this series and all proceeding series will be the best of 7.
In January of 1903 representatives of both the National and American Leagues met to form a National Commission. This Commission would settle disputes between both leagues and would consist of the Presidents of both leagues and a 3rd member chosen by the Presidents and team owners. This Commission would oversee all of organized baseball, as well as the Minor Leagues. American League President Ban Johnson, National League President Harry Pulliam, and Cincinnati President Garry Herrmann would make up the 1st National Commission.
Both leagues would now adopt the foul strike rule, that is still utilized today, and mandate that the pitcher’s mound would be limited to a maximum height of 15 inches.
In the National League the status quo was kept as the Pirates won their 3rd straight NL pennant. They would beat out the 2nd place Giants by 6 1/2 games.
In the American League the Boston Americans would take over 1st place on June 23rd and would not look back, winning the pennant by 14 1/2 games over the Philadelphia A’s. Cleveland would become the Naps in honor of their Hall of Fame 2nd baseman Nap Lajoie, and the Baltimore Orioles would be transferred to New York and would become the Highlanders, soon to become the Yankees. This would be the last franchise shift in baseball until 1953.
When both pennant races were settled the Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss and Americans owner Henry Killilea got together and agreed to meet in a post season series to determine the Championship of the United States, the 1st modern World Series.
OTHER EVENTS:
5/6- The White Sox and Tigers combine for 18 errors, a ML record that still stands.
5/8- White Sox pitcher Nixey Callahan would get 5 hits in a game for the 3rd time in his career. A record for pitchers that still stands. Callahan would lose this game in extra innings and would not pitch again in the majors.
6/25- Wiley Piatt pitches and losses complete games in both ends of a doubleheader for the Boston Beaneaters. This would be the only time a pitcher would accomplish this inglorious feat.
7/2- Ed Delahanty falls to his death from a bridge spanning the Niagara River. Click here for more information.
8/8- An overhang above the left field bleachers collapsed during a game at Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl, killing 12 and injuring over 200.
9/18- Chick Fraser of the Phillies would no-hit the Cubs 10-0.
Births:
2/12- Chick Hafey
2/21- Tom Yawkey
4/6- Mickey Cochrane
4/16- Paul Waner
5/11- Charlie Gehringer
6/19- Lou Gehrig
6/22- Carl Hubbell
12/6- Tony Lazzeri
Deaths:
5/3- Count Sensenderfer
5/16- Jimmy Wolf
7/2- Ed Delahanty
11/12- Win Mercer
In World news, Orville Wright made the 1st sustained powered airplane flight in Kitty Hawk NC. The flight took place on Dec. 17th and lasted 12 seconds while travelling a distance of 120 feet.
1903 Final Standings
NL
Team Name G W L T PCT GB RS RA Pittsburgh Pirates 141 91 49 1 .650 - 793 613 New York Giants 142 84 55 3 .604 6.5 729 567 Chicago Cubs 139 82 56 1 .594 8.0 695 599 Cincinnati Reds 141 74 65 2 .532 16.5 765 656 Brooklyn Superbas 139 70 66 3 .515 19.0 667 682 Boston Beaneaters 140 58 80 2 .420 32.0 578 699 Philadelphia Phillies 139 49 86 4 .363 39.5 617 738 St. Louis Cardinals 139 43 94 2 .314 46.5 505 795
AL
Team Name G W L T PCT GB RS RA Boston Americans 141 91 47 3 .659 - 708 504 Philadelphia Athletics 137 75 60 2 .556 14.5 597 519 Cleveland Naps 140 77 63 0 .550 15.0 639 579 New York Highlanders 136 72 62 2 .537 17.0 579 573 Detroit Tigers 137 65 71 1 .478 25.0 567 539 St. Louis Browns 139 65 74 0 .468 26.5 500 525 Chicago White Sox 138 60 77 1 .438 30.5 516 613 Washington Senators 140 43 94 3 .314 47.5 437 691
| AMERICAN LEAGUE | NATIONAL LEAGUE |
| AVG: Nap Lajoie(CLEV)- .344
|
AVG: Honus Wagner(PIT)- .355
|
| HRs: Buck Freeman(BOS)- 13
|
HRs: Jimmy Sheckard(BRO)- 9
|
| RBI: Buck Freeman(BOS)- 103
|
RBI: Sam Mertes(NY)- 104
|
| WINS: Cy Young(BOS)- 28
|
WINS: Joe McGinnity(NY)- 31
|
| K’s: Rube Waddell(PHIL)- 302
|
K’s: C. Mathewson(NY)- 267
|
| ERA: Earl Moore(CLE)- 1.74
|
ERA: Sam Leever(PIT)- 2.06
|
| MVP:** Nap Lajoie(CLEV) .344-7-93
|
MVP: Honus Wagner(PIT) .355-5-101
|
| CY YOUNG:** Cy Young(BOS) 28-9, 2.08
|
CY YOUNG: C. Mathewson(NY) 31-13, 2.26
|
| ROY:** Chief Bender(PHIL) 17-14, 3.07
|
ROY: Jake Weimer(CHIC) 20-8, 2.30
|
**These awards were not awarded in 1902. The MVP is my choice, while the Cy Young and Rookie of The Year are based on a SABR vote.
