1901 Major League Baseball season

November 2013 1901 1901 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball April 24 – September 28, 1901 (AL)April 18 – October 6, 1901 (NL) 140 16 (8 per league) Pennant winners AL Chicago White Stockings Boston Americans NL Pittsburgh Pirates Philadelphia Phillies List of Major League Baseball seasons MLB 1900 Major League Baseball season 1900 1902 Major League Baseball season 1902 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 1954, where they remain to this day. The Baltimore Orioles of this season would fold following the 1902 season). Schedule Major League Baseball 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 1888–1891 seasons. This format would last until 1904, 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.1901-02-27 The National League Rules Committee decrees that all foul balls are to count as strikes, except after two strikes. - This Day In Baseball https://thisdayinbaseball.com/1901-the-national-league-rules-committee-decrees-that-all-foul-balls-are-to-count-as-strikes-except-after-two-strikes-to-cut-the-cost-of-lost-foul-balls-the-com/ 2024-04-11 en-US2010-02-27 This Day in Sports: The National League Makes it Way Harder for Fans to Catch a Foul Ball https://www.espn.com/blog/sportscenter/post/_/id/33466/this-day-in-sports-the-national-league-makes-it-way-harder-for-fans-to-catch-a-foul-ball 2024-04-11 ESPN.com enTalbot Jamie 1900 Winter Meetings: A Threat of Competition Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1900-1901-national-league-winter-meetings/ 2025-03-26 en-US 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 2023. 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 LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1901 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1901-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enAmerican League American LeagueBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandOriole ParkUnknownJohn McGrawBoston AmericansBoston, MassachusettsHuntington Avenue Grounds11,500Jimmy CollinsChicago White StockingsChicago, IllinoisSouth Side Park12,500Clark GriffithCleveland BluesCleveland, OhioLeague Park (Cleveland)9,000Jimmy McAleerDetroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBennett Park8,500George StallingsMilwaukee BrewersMilwaukee, WisconsinLloyd Street Grounds10,000Hugh DuffyPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaColumbia Park9,500Connie MackWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.American League Park7,000Jim Manning baseball, born 1862National League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston BeaneatersBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds6,600Frank SeleeBrooklyn SuperbasNew York, New YorkWashington Park12,000Ned Hanlon baseballChicago OrphansChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park13,000Tom LoftusCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioLeague Park (Cincinnati)9,000Bid McPheeNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds16,000George Davis baseballPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaNational League Park18,000Bill ShettslinePittsburgh PiratesAllegheny, PennsylvaniaA 1 1Exposition Park16,000Fred ClarkeSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriLeague Park (St. Louis)15,200Patsy Donovan Sunday games Blue laws restricted Sunday activities in several localities, causing several teams to play at ballparks in a different locality. TeamCityBallparkCapacityGames playedDetroit TigersDetroit Tigers – Seamheads.com Ballparks Database https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/team.php?TeamID=DET 2026-01-29 www.seamheads.comSpringwells Township, MichiganB 1 1Burns Park3,7001900-04-25 A new baseball park https://www.newspapers.com/article/detroit-free-press-a-new-baseball-park/177352406/ 2025-07-24 Detroit Free Press 613 A 1 In today's Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. A 1 In today's Detroit, Michigan. Standings start American League Chicago White Stockings break National League Pittsburgh Pirates end 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. start 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 break 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 end 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 small text indicates a previous team a player was on during the season. American League start + Hitting leaders1901 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1901-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en 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 break + Pitching leaders1901 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1901-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Cy Young2 (BOS) 33 L Pete Dowling (CLE/MIL) 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 end National League start + Hitting leaders1901 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1901-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en 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 break + Pitching leaders1901 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1901-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en 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 end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Fred Clarke (PIT): Clarke hit for his first cycle and second in franchise history, on July 23 against the Cincinnati Reds.http://www.retrosheet.org/cycles.htm Cycles Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2018-06-29 https://web.archive.org/web/20180629045321/http://www.retrosheet.org/cycles.htm live 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.Billy Hamilton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More — Billy Hamilton: Standard Batting (1888-1901) https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamilbi01.shtml#1888-1901-sum:players_standard_batting 2026-06-10 Baseball Reference enBilly Hamilton 1901 Batting Game Logs — Billy Hamilton: Batting Stats Career Game 331-342 https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=hamilbi01&t=b&year=1901#331-342-sum:players_standard_batting 2026-06-09 Baseball Reference enBrooklyn Superbas vs Boston Nationals Box Score: May 9, 1901 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN190105090.shtml 2026-06-10 Baseball Reference en 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.Progressive Leaders & Records for Stolen Bases https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SB_progress.shtml 2026-06-09 Baseball Reference enBilly Hamilton Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/hamilbi01.shtml 2026-06-10 Baseball Reference en 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.https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1901-batting-leaders.shtml 1901 American League Batting Leaders Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball 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.Couldn't Hit Matty http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90059523/1901-07-16/ed-1/seq-7/ 2012-06-19 The St. Paul Globe 1901-07-16 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.Randhawa Manny 300-game winners in MLB history https://www.mlb.com/news/300-win-pitchers-c271491170 2020-05-10 2026-03-09 MLB.com en Won the pitching triple crown. Home field attendance Team nameWins%± Percent changeHome attendance%± Percent changePer game Average home attendance per gameSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference76 16.9%379,988 40.7%5,278Chicago White StockingsChicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference83354,3504,991New York GiantsSan Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference52 −13.3%297,65056.7%4,192Boston AmericansBoston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference79289,4484,195Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference74259,4303,706Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference9013.9%251,955 −4.6%3,652Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference83 10.7%234,937 −22.2%3,405Philadelphia AthleticsOakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference74206,3293,126Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference52 −16.1%205,728 21.0%2,857Chicago OrphansChicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference53 −18.5%205,071 −17.5%2,930Brooklyn SuperbasLos Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference79 −3.7%198,200 8.3%2,915Washington SenatorsMinnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference61161,6612,377Boston BeaneatersAtlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference694.5%146,502 −27.5%2,093Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BLA/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference68141,9522,151Milwaukee BrewersBaltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference48139,0341,986Cleveland BluesCleveland Guardians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference54131,3801,904 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 1902 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 1902 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 Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1901 in baseball