1902 Baltimore Orioles season

American baseball team season March 2026 November 2013 Baltimore Orioles 1902 100px American League Oriole Park Baltimore, Maryland 50 88 y 8th John Mahon, Andrew Freedman, Ban Johnson John McGraw, Wilbert Robinson The 1902 Baltimore Orioles season finished with the Orioles in 8th place in the American League (AL) with a record of 50–88. The team was managed by John McGraw and Wilbert Robinson. The team played at Oriole Park in Baltimore, Maryland. During the season, Andrew Freedman, principal owner of the National League's (NL) New York Giants, with the financial backing of John T. Brush, principal owner of the NL's Cincinnati Reds, purchased the Orioles from John Mahon, who was deeply in debt. They raided the Orioles roster, releasing several of Baltimore's better players so that they could sign them to the Giants and Reds. AL president Ban Johnson seized control of the Orioles the next day and restocked their roster with players received on loan from other AL teams. The Orioles' second season in Baltimore would ultimately prove to be their last, as after the season the team was replaced by the New York Highlanders, now known as the New York Yankees. Season Offseason right|thumb|400px|Players of the American League with league president Ban Johnson in the center, 1902 Knowing that placing a franchise in New York City was key to the success of the American League (AL), AL president Ban Johnson secretly met with principal owner John Mahon and player-manager John McGraw, who was also a part-owner, before the season about relocating to New York. However, the transfer did not occur when they could not find a suitable venue for the team. In March, Mike Donlin went on a drinking binge in Baltimore, during which he was arrested for urinating in public and assaulting two chorus girls. The Orioles released Donlin when he was sentenced to six months in prison.3b51e847 Mike Donlin Michael Betzold November 9, 2013 Notable players jumped to the Orioles from the rival National League (NL). In December 1901, Joe Kelley jumped from the Brooklyn Superbas. Later in the offseason, Jimmy Sheckard also jumped from Brooklyn. Kip Selbach and Jim Jackson jumped from the New York Giants, Ernie Courtney jumped from the Boston Beaneaters, Tom Hughes jumped from the Chicago Orphans, and Dan McGann jumped from the St. Louis Cardinals. The Orioles signed Bill Keister as a free agent.1902 Baltimore Orioles Trades and Transactions – Baseball-Reference.com With these transactions, the Orioles were seen as a contender in the AL pennant going into the 1902 season.Baltimore Morning Herald – Google News Archive Search Regular season The Orioles drew over 10,000 fans on Opening Day. Three players returned to the NL in April 1902. Jack Dunn and Steve Brodie jumped to the Giants in April. Sheckard changed his mind about playing for the Orioles after four games, returning to Brooklyn.08c48a23 Jimmy Sheckard Don Jensen November 9, 2013 Johnson openly feuded with McGraw. Many Orioles found themselves suspended by Johnson by midseason, including McGraw and Kelley. In early July, McGraw resigned from the team and signed with the New York Giants of the NL. At this point, the Orioles had a 26–31 record. Kelley and Wilbert Robinson succeeded McGraw as player-managers.https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1651612372.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+09%2C+1902&author=&pub=The+Sun+%281837-1985%29&desc=M%27GRAW+HAS+RELEASE&pqatl=google https://archive.today/20120716184526/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/baltsun/access/1651612372.html?FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Jul+09,+1902&author=&pub=The+Sun+(1837-1985)&desc=M'GRAW+HAS+RELEASE&pqatl=google dead July 16, 2012 M'graw Has Release July 9, 1902 The Sun thumb|left|Billy Gilbert's 1902 baseball card. thumb | right | 1902 Baltimore Orioles logo The franchise began to fall into significant debt by July. Kelley, son-in-law of part-owner John Mahon, reported that the team owed as much as $12,000 ($ in current dollar terms).17b00755 Joe Kelley Jimmy Keenan March 24, 2012 Unable to afford that debt, Mahon purchased shares of the team from Kelley and McGraw. With this, Mahon became the majority shareholder, owning 201 of the team's 400 shares.fae12278 Sport McAllister Jimmy Keenan November 9, 2013 On July 17, 1902, Mahon sold his interest in the Orioles to Andrew Freedman, principal owner of the Giants, and John T. Brush, principal owner of the Cincinnati Reds, also of the NL. The transaction was reported to have been in the range of $20,000 ($ in current dollar terms). That day, Freedman and Brush released Kelley, Joe McGinnity, Roger Bresnahan, Jack Cronin, Cy Seymour, and Dan McGann from their Oriole contracts. Brush then signed Kelley and Seymour to the Reds, while Freedman signed McGinnity, Bresnahan, Cronin, and McGann, joining McGraw, his new player-manager, on the Giants.https://www.amazon.com/Total-Ballclubs-Ultimate-Baseball-Teams/dp/B0050FKNE8 Total Ballclubs: The Ultimate Book of Baseball Teams Donald Dewey Nicholas Acocella 1-894963-37-7 Sportclassic Books 2005 37 Though Kip Selbach and Jimmy Williams were both pressed to agree to relocate as well, they refused to leave Baltimore, saying they would honor their two-year contracts.https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1902/07/17/101959233.pdf The New York Times LATEST BASEBALL DEAL; Freedman Practically Buys Baltimore American League Team. PLAYERS TO JOIN NEW YORKS Ban Johnson to Organize Another Club to Take Place of McGraw's Former Combination July 17, 1902 McGinnity allegedly attempted to contact Johnson that night, offering to stay with the Orioles if he could receive Johnson's personal assurance that he was welcome to stay. McGinnity did not hear back from Johnson, who had left his phone off the hook that night to avoid being contacted, and joined his teammates with the Giants.The Pittsburgh Press – Google News Archive Search On that day, the Orioles were forced to forfeit their game against the St. Louis Browns, as Baltimore lacked the minimum number of players required to compete. Johnson used a league rule to join the Orioles' minority owners to seize control of the team. Now running the Orioles, Johnson sought to restock the team. He requested players from the other AL franchises to fill the Orioles' roster. Sport McAllister was loaned to the Orioles from the Detroit Tigers for three games, but the Tigers requested McAllister back, as the Orioles came to Detroit to play the Tigers. The Orioles received Pop Dillon from the Tigers, but released him after using him in two games.a7b8d996 Pop Dillon Brian McKenna November 9, 2013 Snake Wiltse was sent to the Orioles from the Philadelphia Athletics on July 19, but he struggled for the Orioles.5c48a44a Snake Wiltse Mike Piazzi November 9, 2013 The Orioles also received Lew Drill on loan from the Washington Senators, sold Charlie Shields to the St. Louis Browns and purchased Jack Thoney from the Cleveland Bronchos. Season results The Orioles finished the season with a 50–88 record, good for last place in the AL. For their final game at Oriole Park, the team drew only 138 fans. During the owners meetings in late 1902, the franchise was transferred to New York. MLB would not return to Baltimore until the former Browns moved to Baltimore in 1954.https://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/506421142.html?dids=506421142:506421142&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+15%2C+1954&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=50%2C000+TO+SEE+ORIOLES%27+HOME+OPENER+TODAY&pqatl=google https://archive.today/20120715152225/http://pqasb.pqarchiver.com/chicagotribune/access/506421142.html?dids=506421142:506421142&FMT=ABS&FMTS=ABS:AI&type=historic&date=Apr+15,+1954&author=&pub=Chicago+Tribune&desc=50,000+TO+SEE+ORIOLES'+HOME+OPENER+TODAY&pqatl=google dead July 15, 2012 Chicago Daily Tribune 50,000 To See Orioles' Home Opener Today April 15, 1954 Season standings Baltimore Orioles Record vs. opponents BAL Roster 1902 Baltimore Orioles Roster Pitchers Ike Butler Jack Cronin Frank Foreman Dad Hale Crese Heismann Harry Howell Tom Hughes Jack Katoll Bob Lawson Joe McGinnity George Prentiss Ernie Ross Charlie Shields Snake Wiltse Catchers Lew Drill Wilbert Robinson Aleck Smith George Yeager Infielders Roger Bresnahan Ernie Courtney Pop Dillon Billy Gilbert Tom Jones Jimmy Mathison Sport McAllister Dan McGann John McGraw Bill Mellor Andy Oyler Jack Thoney Jimmy Williams Outfielders Harry Arndt Slats Jordan Joe Kelley Herm McFarland Kip Selbach Cy Seymour Jimmy Sheckard Other batters C. B. Burns Manager John McGraw Wilbert Robinson Player stats Batting Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI C Wilbert Robinson 91 335 98 .293 1 57 1B Dan McGann 68 250 79 .316 0 42 2B Jimmy Williams Jimmy Williams (second baseman) 125 498 156 .313 2 38 3B Roger Bresnahan 65 235 64 .272 4 34 SS Billy Gilbert Billy Gilbert (baseball) 129 445 109 .245 8 83 OF Harry Arndt 68 248 63 .254 2 28 OF Kip Selbach 128 503 161 .320 3 60 OF Cy Seymour 72 280 75 .268 3 41 Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Player G AB H Avg. HR RBI Harry Howell Harry Howell (baseball) 96 347 93 .268 2 42 Herm McFarland 61 242 78 .322 3 36 Joe Kelley 50 222 69 .311 1 34 Tom Jones Tom Jones (baseball) 37 159 45 .283 0 14 Aleck Smith 41 145 34 .234 0 21 Jimmy Mathison 29 91 24 .264 0 7 Andy Oyler 27 77 17 .221 1 6 John McGraw 20 63 18 .286 1 3 George Yeager 11 38 7 .184 0 1 Bill Mellor 10 36 13 .361 0 5 Jimmy Sheckard 4 15 4 .267 0 0 Sport McAllister 3 11 1 .091 0 1 Jack Thoney 3 11 0 .000 0 0 Lew Drill 2 8 2 .250 0 0 Pop Dillon 2 7 2 .286 0 0 Ernie Courtney 1 4 2 .500 0 1 Slats Jordan 1 4 0 .000 0 0 C. B. Burns 1 1 1 1.000 0 0 Pitching Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Harry Howell Harry Howell (baseball) 26 199.0 9 15 4.12 33 Joe McGinnity 25 198.2 15 10 3.44 39 Snake Wiltse 19 164.0 7 11 5.10 37 Charlie Shields Charlie Shields (1900s pitcher) 23 142.1 4 11 4.24 28 Ike Butler 16 116.1 1 10 5.34 13 Tom Hughes Tom Hughes (pitcher, born 1878) 13 108.1 7 5 3.90 45 Jack Katoll 15 123.0 5 10 4.02 25 Jack Cronin 10 75.2 3 5 2.62 20 Ernie Ross Ernie Ross (baseball) 2 17.0 1 1 7.41 2 Frank Foreman 2 16.1 0 2 6.06 2 Crese Heismann 3 16.0 0 3 8.44 2 George Prentiss 2 13.0 0 1 10.80 1 Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Dad Hale 3 14.0 0 1 4.50 6 Bob Lawson 3 13.0 0 2 4.85 5 References 30em External links 1902 Baltimore Orioles team page at Baseball Reference Baltimore Orioles team page at www.baseball-almanac.com Baltimore Orioles season Category:1902 in sports in Maryland Category:Baltimore Orioles (1901–02) seasons