1909 Major League Baseball season

November 2013 1909 1909 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 12 – October 3, 1909 (AL) April 12 – October 7, 1909 (NL)World Series: October 8–16, 1909 154 16 (8 per league) Pennant winners NL Pittsburgh Pirates Chicago Cubs AL Detroit Tigers Philadelphia Athletics World Series 1909 World Series Pittsburgh Pirates Detroit Tigers List of Major League Baseball seasons MLB 1908 Major League Baseball season 1908 1910 Major League Baseball season 1910 The 1909 major league baseball season began on April 12, 1909. The regular season ended on October 7, with the Pittsburgh Pirates and Detroit Tigers as regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the sixth modern World Series on October 8 and ended with Game 7 on October 16. The Pirates defeated the Tigers, four games to three, capturing their first championship in franchise history. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the Chicago Cubs from the 1908 season. In the National League, the Chicago Cubs had a record of 104–49 but finished 6 1 2 games behind the Pirates, setting a record for the most wins in an MLB regular season without reaching the postseason, which has only been equaled once, by the 1942 Brooklyn Dodgers, who had a record of 104–50.https://www.mlb.com/news/best-baseball-teams-that-missed-the-postseason-c291835388 Best MLB teams to miss the postseason David Adler MLB.com 2019-09-30 2020-10-08 Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1909 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 American League would see its final day of the regular season on October 3, while the National League would see its final day of the regular season was on October 7. The World Series took place between October 8 and October 16. Rule changes The 1909 season saw the following rule changes: A pitcher must face a minimum of one batter, due to a time-wasting trick to enable a team's intended pitcher to warmup for longer. This had previously occurred when one pitcher initially threw warmup pitches on the mound, before being taken out of the game (before facing a batter) to make way for a relief pitcher who now had extra warmup time.A guide to rules changes in MLB (and sports) history https://www.mlb.com/news/history-of-mlb-rules-changes 2023-02-01 2024-04-14 MLB.com en The American League implemented the following rules: 40 minutes before each game for practice was allotted, with the first 30 minutes dedicated to the visiting team, while the last 10 minutes were for the home team.Pajot Dennis 1908 Winter Meetings: Major Issues in the Minors, Bribery Charges, and World Series Ticket Scandal Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1908-winter-meetings/ 2025-03-28 en-US Base runners were no longer allowed to advance more than two bases when a ball was thrown into the stands. Previously, there was no limit to how far a runner could go. No passes to games were to be issued to members of the visiting team. All teams must now maintain a large bulletin board giving the batting order accurately and indicating all changes as they are made. Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the departure from a ballpark mid-season. LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1909 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1909-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enAmerican League American LeagueBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsHuntington Avenue Grounds11,500Fred LakeChicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisSouth Side Park15,000Billy Sullivan baseball, born 1875Cleveland NapsCleveland, OhioLeague Park (Cleveland)9,000Nap LajoieDeacon McGuireDetroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBennett Park8,500Hughie JenningsNew York HighlandersNew York, New YorkHilltop Park16,000George StallingsPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park23,000Connie MackSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park18,000Jimmy McAleerWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.National Park9,000Joe CantillonNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston DovesBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds9,800Harry Smith 1900s catcherFrank BowermanBrooklyn SuperbasNew York, New YorkWashington Park14,000Harry Lumley baseballChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park16,000Frank ChanceCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioPalace of the Fans12,000Clark GriffithNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds16,000John McGrawPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaNational League Park18,000Billy Murray baseballPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaExposition Park*16,000*Fred ClarkeForbes Field23,000St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriLeague Park (St. Louis)21,000Roger Bresnahan Standings start American League Detroit Tigers break National League Pittsburgh Pirates end Tie games 23 tie games (13 in AL, 10 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, 7 Cleveland Naps, 2 Detroit Tigers, 6 New York Highlanders, 2 St. Louis Browns, 4 Washington Senators, 4 break National League Boston Doves, 2 Brooklyn Superbas, 2 Chicago Cubs, 2 Cincinnati Reds, 4 New York Giants, 5 Philadelphia Phillies, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 St. Louis Cardinals, 2 end Postseason The postseason began on October 8 and ended on October 16 with the Pittsburgh Pirates defeating the Detroit Tigers in the 1909 World Series in seven games. Bracket World Series AL Detroit Tigers 3 NL Pittsburgh Pirates 4 Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston DovesJoe KelleyHarry SmithBrooklyn SuperbasPatsy DonovanHarry LumleyChicago White SoxFielder JonesBilly SullivanCincinnati RedsJohn GanzelClark GriffithNew York Highlanders Kid ElberfeldGeorge StallingsSt. Louis CardinalsJohn McCloskeyRoger Bresnahan In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston DovesHarry SmithFrank BowermanCleveland Naps Nap LajoieDeacon McGuire League leaders American League start + Hitting leaders1909 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1909-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Ty Cobb1 (DET) .377 OPS Ty Cobb (DET) .947 HR Ty Cobb1 (DET) 9 RBI Ty Cobb1 (DET) 107 R Donie Bush (DET)Ty Cobb (DET) 115 H Ty Cobb (DET) 216 SB Ty Cobb (DET) 76 1 American League Triple Crown batting winner break + Pitching leaders1909 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1909-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W George Mullin (DET) 29 L Bob Groom (WSH) 26 ERA Harry Krause (PHA) 1.39 K Frank Smith (CWS) 177 IP Frank Smith (CWS) 365.0 SV Frank Arellanes (BOS) 6 WHIP Ed Walsh (CWS) 0.938 end National League start + Hitting leaders1909 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1909-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Honus Wagner (PIT) .339 OPS Honus Wagner (PIT) .909 HR Red Murray (NYG) 7 RBI Honus Wagner (PIT) 100 R Tommy Leach (PIT) 126 H Larry Doyle (NYG) 172 SB Bob Bescher (CIN) 54 break + Pitching leaders1909 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1909-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Mordecai Brown (CHC) 27 L Cecil Ferguson (BSN) 23 ERA Christy Mathewson (NYG) 1.14 K Orval Overall (CHC) 205 IP Mordecai Brown (CHC) 342.2 SV Mordecai Brown (CHC) 7 WHIP Christy Mathewson (NYG) 0.828 end Milestones Miscellaneous Boston Doves: Set the modern National League record for most losses in a season on October 6 with 108. Set the modern National League record for worst winning percentage with .294. 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 Reference92 -6.1%783,700 -13.9%10,178Philadelphia AthleticsOakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference95 39.7%674,915 48.3%8,880Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference88 17.3%668,965 41.4%8,920Chicago CubsChicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference104 5.1%633,480 -4.8%8,227Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference110 12.2%534,950 39.9%6,772New York HighlandersNew York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference74 45.1%501,000 64.0%6,506Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference98 8.9%490,490 12.4%6,288Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference78 -11.4%478,400 -24.8%5,906Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference77 5.5%424,643 6.4%5,308St. Louis BrownsBaltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference61 -26.5%366,274 -40.8%4,636Cleveland NapsCleveland Guardians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference71 -21.1%354,627 -16.0%4,606Brooklyn SuperbasLos Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference55 3.8%321,300 16.6%4,067Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference74 -10.8%303,177 -27.9%3,937St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference54 10.2%299,982 46.2%3,947Washington SenatorsMinnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference42 -37.3%205,199 -22.3%2,665Boston DovesAtlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference45 -28.6%195,188 -23.1%2,568 Venues The 1909 season saw two teams move to three new venues. The Philadelphia Athletics leave Columbia Park (where they played eight seasons), and opened Shibe Park, where they would go on to play for 46 seasons through 1954 before relocating to Kansas City, Kansas as the Kansas City Athletics. The Pittsburgh Pirates would play their last game at the Exposition Park site on June 29, having played 21 seasons there going back to 1882 (with a gap between 1884 and 1890), and opened Forbes Field on June 30, where they would go on to play for 62 seasons through the middle of 1970. See also 1909 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) References External links 1909 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference 1909 in baseball history from ThisGreatGame.com Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1909 in baseball