1897 Major League Baseball season

January 2025 1897 1897 MLB season National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 19 – October 3, 1897Temple Cup: October 4–11, 1897 132 12 Pennant winner NL Boston Beaneaters Baltimore Orioles Temple Cup 1897 Temple Cup South End Grounds, Boston, Massachusetts Union Park, Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore Orioles Boston Beaneaters List of Major League Baseball seasons MLB 1896 Major League Baseball season 1896 1898 Major League Baseball season 1898 The 1897 major league baseball season began on April 19, 1897. The regular season ended on October 3, with the Boston Beaneaters as the pennant winner of the National League and the Baltimore Orioles as runner-up. The postseason began with Game 1 of the fourth Temple Cup on October 4 and ended with Game 5 on October 11. The Orioles defeated the Beaneaters, four games to one, capturing their second consecutive Temple Cup. Due to lack of enthusiasm from both players and fans, and the perception that the Temple Cup was more of an exhibition contest than a true championship contest, the 1897 Temple Cup would be the final version of the championship series.Best Jason 1897: Last Gasp of the Temple Cup Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1897-last-gasp-of-the-temple-cup/ 2025-01-23 en-US Aside from the 1900 Chronicle-Telegraph Cup, this would be the last championship series until the birth of the modern World Series in 1903. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1897 schedule consisted of 132 games for the twelve teams of the National League. Each team was scheduled to play 12 games against the other eleven teams in the league. This continued the format put in place since 1893 and was the last season to use the format, which saw an extension of the schedule to 154 games the following season. Opening Day took place on April 19 featuring a game between the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Beaneaters. The final day of the season was on October 3, featuring four teams.1897 Major Leagues Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1897-schedule.shtml 2025-01-23 Baseball Reference en The Temple Cup took place between October 4 and October 11, with two exhibition games breaking up the series played on October 7–8 between Games 3 and 4. Rule changes The 1897 season saw the following rule changes: A new rule eliminating on-field coaches when the bases were empty was implemented. If a runner got on, one base coach was permitted. With two or more runners on base, both coaching boxes could be filled.Talbot Jamie 1896 Winter Meetings: The Height of Factionalism Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1896-1897-national-league-winter-meetings/ 2025-03-26 en-US Team captains were now prohibited from leaving his position on the field in order to dispute an umpire’s ruling (this included outfielders). If a stolen base figured in the scoring of a run, that run would be considered unearned. The power to appoint official game scorers was conferred upon the league president, a move designed to eliminate hometown favoritism in base-hit and error rulings. Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1897 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1897-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandUnion Park6,500Ned Hanlon baseballBoston BeaneatersBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds6,600Frank SeleeBrooklyn BridegroomsBrooklyn, New YorkA 1 1Eastern Park12,000Billy BarnieChicago ColtsChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park13,000Cap AnsonCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioLeague Park (Cincinnati)9,000Buck EwingCleveland SpidersCleveland, OhioLeague Park (Cleveland)9,000Patsy TebeauLouisville ColonelsLouisville, KentuckyEclipse Park6,400Jim Rogers baseballFred ClarkeNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds16,000Bill Joyce baseballPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaNational League Park18,000George StallingsPittsburgh PiratesAllegheny, PennsylvaniaB 1 1Exposition Park6,500Patsy DonovanSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriNew Sportsman's Park14,500Tommy Dowd baseballHugh NicolBill Hallman second basemanChris von der AheWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Boundary Field6,500Gus SchmelzTom Brown outfielder A 1 In today's New York, New York. B 1 In today's Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Standings National League Boston Beaneaters Tie games 23 tie games, which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again), occurred throughout the season. Baltimore Orioles, 6 Boston Beaneaters, 3 Brooklyn Bridegrooms, 4 Chicago Colts, 6 Cincinnati Reds, 2 Cleveland Spiders, 1 Louisville Colonels, 6 New York Giants, 7 Philadelphia Phillies, 2 Pittsburgh Pirates, 4 St. Louis Browns, 2 Washington Senators, 3 Postseason Bracket Temple Cup 5 NL1 Boston Beaneaters 13 11 3 11 3 NL2 Baltimore Orioles 12 13 87 12 9 Managerial changes Off-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerBrooklyn BridegroomsDave FoutzBilly BarnieLouisville ColonelsBill McGunnigleJim RogersPhiladelphia PhilliesBilly NashGeorge StallingsPittsburgh PiratesConnie MackPatsy Donovan In-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerLouisville ColonelsJim RogersFred ClarkeSt. Louis BrownsTommy DowdHugh NicolHugh NicolBill HallmanBill HallmanChris von der AheWashington SenatorsGus SchmelzTom Brown League leaders National League start + Hitting leaders1897 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1897-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Willie Keeler (BAL) .424 OPS Willie Keeler (BAL) 1.003 HR Hugh Duffy (BSN) 11 RBI George Davis (NYG) 135 R Billy Hamilton (BSN) 152 H Willie Keeler (BAL) 239 SB Bill Lange (CHI) 73 break + Pitching leaders1897 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1897-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Kid Nichols (BSN) 31 L Red Donahue (STL) 35 ERA Amos Rusie (NYG) 2.54 K Doc McJames (WAS)Cy Seymour (NYG) 156 IP Kid Nichols (BSN) 368.0 SV Win Mercer (WAS)Kid Nichols (BSN) 3 WHIP Kid Nichols (BSN) 1.168 end Milestones Batters Cap Anson (CHI): Recorded his 3,000th career hit with a single in the fourth inning against the Baltimore Orioles on July 18. He is the first player to reach 3,000 hits.The Chicago Chronicle (1895-1907) 19 July 1897 — Illinois Digital Newspaper Collections https://idnc.library.illinois.edu/?a=d&d=CRN18970719-01.1.8 2026-01-30 idnc.library.illinois.eduEvery member of the 3,000-hit club https://www.mlb.com/news/3-000-hit-club-baseball-s-rare-feats-c273059328 2026-01-30 MLB.com enhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosepe01.shtml Pete Rose Statistics and History Baseball Reference Sports Reference 2010-07-04 https://web.archive.org/web/20090412052216/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/r/rosepe01.shtml 2009-04-12 live Other batting accomplishments Billy Hamilton (BSN): Broke the major league record for most career stolen bases when he stole his 742nd base, June 1.Progressive Leaders & Records for Stolen Bases https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SB_progress.shtml 2026-06-09 Baseball Reference en Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Cy Young (CLE): Young threw his first career no-hitter and the first no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Cincinnati Reds 6–0 in game 1 of a doubleheader on September 18. Young walked none, hit one by pitch, and struck out three, though three batters reached due to fielding errors.Appendix 1: Corrected box score and play-by-play for Cy Young’s first no-hitter – Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/appendix-1-corrected-box-score-and-play-by-play-for-cy-youngs-first-no-hitter/ 2026-01-30 en-USThe National League http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86071197/1897-09-19/ed-1/seq-7/ 2012-06-29 The Houston Daily Post 1897-09-19 Home field attendance Team nameWins%± Percent changeHome attendance%± Percent changePer game Average home attendance per gameNew York GiantsSan Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference83 29.7%390,34042.5%5,136Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference76 −1.3%336,800 −9.7%4,953Boston BeaneatersAtlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference9325.7%334,800 39.5%4,997Chicago ColtsChicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference59 −16.9%327,160 3.0%4,883Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference55 −11.3%290,027 −18.8%4,329Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BLO/attend.shtml 2025-01-22 Baseball Reference900.0%273,0469.5%3,957Brooklyn BridegroomsLos Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference61 5.2%220,831 9.9%3,155Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference60−9.1%165,950 −15.8%2,553Washington SenatorsWashington Senators Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/WAS/attend.shtml 2025-01-22 Baseball Reference615.2%151,028−32.3%2,221Louisville ColonelsLouisville Colonels Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LOU/attend.shtml 2025-01-22 Baseball Reference5236.8%145,2109.2%2,135St. Louis BrownsSt. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference29 −27.5%136,400 −25.9%2,236Cleveland SpidersCleveland Spiders Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLV/attend.shtml 2025-01-22 Baseball Reference69−13.8%115,250−24.2%1,773 See also 1897 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) References External links 1897 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1897 in baseball