1908 Major League Baseball season

November 2013 1908 1908 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 14 – October 8, 1908World Series: October 10–14, 1908 154 16 (8 per league) Pennant winners AL Detroit Tigers Cleveland Naps NL Chicago Cubs New York Giants World Series 1908 World Series Chicago Cubs Detroit Tigers List of Major League Baseball seasons MLB 1907 Major League Baseball season 1907 1909 Major League Baseball season 1909 The 1908 major league baseball season began on April 14, 1908. The regular season ended on October 8, with the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers as regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. In a rematch of the prior year's postseason, the postseason began with Game 1 of the fifth modern World Series on October 10 and ended with Game 5 on October 14. In the second iteration of this World Series matchup (and a rematch of the previous year), The Cubs defeated the Tigers, four games to one, capturing their second championship in franchise history, and the first team to win back-to-back World Series. The Boston Americans renamed as the Boston Red Sox. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1908 schedule consisted of 154 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had eight teams. Each team was scheduled to play 22 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place for the 1904 season. This format would last until 1919. Opening Day took place on April 14 with all but the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals playing. The final day of the regular season was on October 8. The World Series took place between October 10 and October 14. Rule changes The 1908 season saw the following rule changes: The American League made the following rule changes:Nowlin Bill 1907 Winter Meetings: The New Cooperation: The Manifest Desire to Elevate the Game Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1907-winter-meetings-the-new-cooperation-the-manifest-desire-to-elevate-the-game/ 2025-03-26 en-US Language on postponed games was adopted, stating "All postponed games of the first series shall be played on the first or succeeding days of the second series; all postponed games of the second and third series shall be played on the next day or succeeding day of the same series." A rule stating "restricts the practice of acquiring a player by refusing waiver on him and then immediately turning him over to a club outside the league." On February 27, 1908, the three organizations of the National Commission of Baseball Clubs, National League, and American League announced several rule changes, effective immediately.PITCHERS MUST NOT SOIL NEW BASEBALL; Rules Committee Puts Ban on Custom Which Tends to Delay the Game. NEW SACRIFICE HIT RULE Batter Is Credited with No Time at Bat When He Drives In a Runner on Fly Ball That Is Caught. http://timesmachine.nytimes.comhttp//timesmachine.content-tagging.us-east-1-01.prd.dvsp.nyt.net/timesmachine/1908/02/28/104798153.html?pageNumber=8 1908-02-28 2024-04-13 The New York Times en The act of rubbing the ball on the ground, clothing, shoes, or dropping the ball and picking it up with a handful of gravel or dirt by the pitcher was prohibited. The sacrifice fly rule is adopted. No time at bat is charged if a run scores after the catch of a fly ball. The rule would eventually be repealed in 1931, then reinstated (or changed) several times before gaining permanent acceptance in 1954. The trend of each team playing 22 games with every other in-league team was written into the Major League Baseball Constitution, with rules for playing makeup games at the originally scheduled ballpark in the event of tie games, rain delays, and other game-preventing situations being put in place. If the series of all scheduled games has ended with makeup games remaining, if possible, the remaining game(s) can be made up on the opposite team's ballpark, with a date agreed by the two teams. Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1908 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1908-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enAmerican League American LeagueBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsHuntington Avenue Grounds11,500Deacon McGuireFred LakeChicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisSouth Side Park15,000Fielder JonesCleveland NapsCleveland, OhioLeague Park (Cleveland)9,000Nap LajoieDetroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBennett Park8,500Hughie JenningsNew York HighlandersNew York, New YorkHilltop Park16,000Clark GriffithKid ElberfeldPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaColumbia Park13,600Connie MackSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park8,000Jimmy McAleerWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.National Park9,000Joe CantillonNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston DovesBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds9,800Joe KelleyBrooklyn SuperbasNew York, New YorkWashington Park14,000Patsy DonovanChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park16,000Frank ChanceCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioPalace of the Fans12,000John GanzelNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds16,000John McGrawPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaNational League Park18,000Billy Murray baseballPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaExposition Park16,000Fred ClarkeSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriLeague Park (St. Louis)15,200John McCloskey baseball manager Standings start American League Detroit Tigers break National League Chicago Cubs end Tie games 16 tie games (10 in AL, 6 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again), occurred throughout the season. start American League Boston Red Sox, 1 Chicago White Sox, 4 Cleveland Naps, 3 Detroit Tigers, 1 New York Highlanders, 1 Philadelphia Athletics, 4 St. Louis Browns, 3 Washington Senators, 3 break National League Boston Doves, 2 Chicago Cubs, 4 Cincinnati Reds, 1 New York Giants, 3 Philadelphia Phillies, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 end Postseason The postseason began on October 10 and ended on October 14 with the Chicago Cubs defeating the Detroit Tigers in the 1908 World Series in five games. Bracket World Series AL Detroit Tigers 1 NL Chicago Cubs 4 Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston DovesFred TenneyJoe KelleyCincinnati RedsNed HanlonJohn Ganzel In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston Red SoxDeacon McGuireFred LakeNew York HighlandersClark GriffithKid Elberfeld League leaders Any team shown in small text indicates a previous team a player was on during the season. American League start + Hitting leaders1908 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1908-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Ty Cobb (DET) .324 OPS Ty Cobb (DET) .844 HR Sam Crawford (DET) 7 RBI Ty Cobb (DET) 108 R Matty McIntyre (DET) 105 H Ty Cobb (DET) 188 SB Patsy Dougherty (CWS) 47 break + Pitching leaders1908 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1908-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Ed Walsh (CWS) 40 L Joe Lake (NYH) 22 ERA Addie Joss (CLE) 1.16 K Ed Walsh (CWS) 269 IP Ed Walsh1 (CWS) 464.0 SV Ed Walsh (CWS) 6 WHIP Addie Joss (CLE) 0.806 1 Modern (1901–present) single-season innings pitched record end National League start + Hitting leaders1908 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1908-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Honus Wagner (PIT) .354 OPS Honus Wagner (PIT) .957 HR Tim Jordan (BRO) 12 RBI Honus Wagner (PIT) 109 R Fred Tenney (NYG) 101 H Honus Wagner (PIT) 201 SB Honus Wagner (PIT) 53 break + Pitching leaders1908 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1908-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Christy Mathewson2 (NYG) 37 L Bugs Raymond (STL) 25 ERA Christy Mathewson2 (NYG) 1.43 K Christy Mathewson2 (NYG) 259 IP Christy Mathewson (NYG) 390.2 SV Mordecai Brown (CHC)Christy Mathewson (NYG)Joe McGinnity (NYG) 5 WHIP Christy Mathewson (NYG) 0.827 2 National League Triple Crown pitching winner end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Otis Clymer (WSH): Clymer hit for his first cycle and first in franchise history, on October 2 against the New York Highlanders.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 Other batting accomplishments Honus Wagner (PIT): Recorded his 500th career stolen base against the Cincinnati Reds on June 21. He became the 15th player to reach this mark.Honus Wagner Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More — Honus Wagner: Standard Batting (1897-1908) https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/wagneho01.shtml#1897-1908-sum:players_standard_batting 2026-06-11 Baseball Reference enHonus Wagner 1908 Batting Game Logs — Honus Wagner: Batting Stats Career Game 1405-1455 https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=wagneho01&t=b&year=1908#1405-1455-sum:players_standard_batting 2026-06-11 Baseball Reference enPittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Box Score: June 21, 1908 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN190806210.shtml 2026-06-11 Baseball Reference en George Davis (CWS): Recorded his 600th career stolen base against the Detroit Tigers on July 5. He became the fourth player to reach this mark.George Davis Stats, Height, Weight, Position, Rookie Status & More — George Davis: Standard Batting (1890-1908) https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/d/davisge01.shtml#1890-1908-sum:players_standard_batting 2026-06-11 Baseball Reference enGeorge Davis 1908 Batting Game Logs — George Davis: Batting Stats Career Game 1180-1240 https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=davisge01&t=b&year=1908#1180-1240-sum:players_standard_batting 2026-06-11 Baseball Reference enDetroit Tigers vs Chicago White Sox Box Score: 1908-07-05 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA190807050.shtml 2026-06-11 Baseball Reference en Pitchers Perfect games List of Major League Baseball perfect games Addie Joss (CLE): Pitched the fourth perfect game in major league history and the first in franchise history on October 2 against the Chicago White Sox. Joss threw 74 pitches (the lowest known pitch count ever for a perfect game) and struck out three in the 1–0 victory.https://www.baseball-almanac.com/pitching/piperf.shtml Baseball Almanac 2012-11-05 Perfect Games by Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Cy Young (BOS): Young threw his third career no-hitter and the fourth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the New York Highlanders 8–0 on June 30. Young walked one and struck out two.Highlanders Shut Out http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83045396/1908-07-01/ed-1/seq-14/ The Salt Lake Tribune 1908-07-01 Hooks Wiltse (NYG): Wiltse threw his first career no-hitter and the fourth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 1–0 in 10 innings on the first game of a doubleheader on July 4. Wiltse hit one batter by pitch and struck out five.National League http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1908-07-05/ed-1/seq-37/ San Francisco Call 1908-07-05 Nap Rucker (BRO): Rucker threw his first career no-hitter and the sixth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Boston Doves 6–0 on the second game of a doubleheader on September 5. Rucker walked zero batters by pitch and struck out 14, though two batters would reach base via error.National League http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85066387/1908-09-06/ed-1/seq-27/ The San Francisco Call 1908-09-06 Bob Rhoads (CLE): Rhoads threw his first career no-hitter and the first no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Boston Red Sox 2–1 on September 18. Rhoads walked two, hit one by pitch, and struck out two.Cellar Champs Beat Leaders http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn85042462/1908-09-19/ed-1/seq-6/ Los Angeles Herald 1908-09-19 Frank Smith (CWS): Smith threw his second career no-hitter and the third no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Philadelphia Athletics 1–0 on September 20. Smith walked one and struck out two, though allowed two runners on base.Close Shave For Detroits http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83030272/1908-09-21/ed-1/seq-6/ The Sun (New York City) 1908-09-21 Other pitching accomplishments Ed Reulbach (CHC): Reulbach pitched two shutouts in a doubleheader against the Brooklyn Superbas on September 26, winning both games 5–0 and 3–0. Miscellaneous St. Louis Cardinals: Set a Major League record for least runs scored in a full season, by scoring only 372 runs.Runs Scored – Season Records https://www.baseball-almanac.com/recbooks/rb_runs2.shtml Baseball Almanac 2012-06-06 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 Reference98 19.5%910,000 69.0%11,375Chicago CubsChicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference99 −7.5%665,325 57.5%8,530Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference88 1.1%636,096 −4.5%8,155St. Louis BrownsBaltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference83 20.3%618,947 47.7%7,935Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference75 27.1%473,048 8.3%6,143Philadelphia AthleticsOakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference68 −22.7%455,062 −27.3%5,834Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference90 −2.2%436,199 46.8%5,592Cleveland NapsCleveland Guardians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference90 5.9%422,262 10.5%5,414Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference83 0.0%420,660 23.3%5,393Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference73 10.6%399,200 25.7%5,184Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference98 7.7%382,444 19.7%4,967New York HighlandersNew York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference51 −27.1%305,500 −12.7%3,968Brooklyn SuperbasLos Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference53 −18.5%275,600 −11.8%3,579Washington SenatorsMinnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference67 36.7%264,252 19.1%3,388Boston DovesAtlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference63 8.6%253,750 24.9%3,253St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference49 −5.8%205,129 10.7%2,664 Venues The Philadelphia Athletics would play their final game at Columbia Park with a doubleheader on October 3 against the Boston Red Sox, moving into Shibe Park for the start of the 1909 season. See also 1908 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) References Bibliography Anderson, David W. (2000). More Than Merkle: A History of the Best and Most Exciting Baseball Season in Human History. Lincoln, Nebraska: University of Nebraska Press. 0-8032-1056-6. Fleming, G.H. (1981). The Unforgettable Season: The Most Exciting & Calamitous Pennant Race of All Time. New York: Holt, Rinehart & Winston. 0-03-056221-X. Murphy, Cait. (2007). Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History. New York: HarperCollins/Smithsonian Books. 0-06-088937-3. External links 1908 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference 1908 in baseball history from ThisGreatGame.com Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1908 in baseball