1899 Major League Baseball season

January 2025 1899 1899 MLB season National League (NL) Baseball April 14 – October 15, 1899 154 12 Pennant winner NL Brooklyn Superbas Boston Beaneaters List of Major League Baseball seasons MLB 1898 Major League Baseball season 1898 1900 Major League Baseball season 1900 The 1899 major league baseball season was contested from April 14 through October 15, 1899, and saw the Brooklyn Superbas as the pennant winner of the National League. There was no postseason. The 1899 was the final season of a stable 12-team, eight-season run which saw no expansion or contraction of teams. Following the end of the season, the National League contracted from 12 to 8 teams, eliminating the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Spiders, Louisville Colonels, and Washington Senators. The elimination of major-league baseball from these cities prompted the minor league Western League to position themselves as a major league in 1901, by beginning a transition from a Midwest-focused league to the nationwide focused American League. The 1899 season is famous for the Cleveland Spiders finishing with the worst single-season record of all time (minimum 120 games), finishing at a dismal 20 134 (20 134), largely due to the fact that the Spiders-owning Robison family bought the St. Louis Perfectos prior to the 1899 season, then proceeded to move all Cleveland talent to St. Louis, leaving the Spiders a talent-depleted team. The only other major-league team of the 19th century with a worse record was the 1884 Wilmington Quicksteps, who entered the unstable single-season Union Association as a late-season replacement for the Philadelphia Keystones and played only 18 games, with a record of 2 16 (2 16). The Brooklyn Bridegrooms and St. Louis Browns renamed as the Brooklyn Superbas and St. Louis Perfectos, respectively. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1899 schedule consisted of 154 games for the twelve teams of the National League. Each team was scheduled to play 14 games against the other eleven teams in the league. This format had previously been used by the National League in 1892 and the previous season. This would be the final season which saw this format, due to the reduction of teams the following season. Opening Day took place on April 14 featuring four teams. The final day of the season on October 15, featuring five teams play in four games (Chicago hosted Louisville and St. Louis hosted Chicago, while Cincinnati hosted Cleveland in a doubleheader).1899 Major Leagues Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1899-schedule.shtml 2025-01-22 Baseball Reference en Rule changes The 1899 season saw the following rule changes: Home plate is required to be a 12 x 12 in cm square, positioned such that opposite corners point towards the pitcher and catcher.Why is home plate shaped different than other bases? https://www.mlb.com/news/why-is-home-plate-shaped-different-than-other-bases-c177695752?msockid=3be33c0cfebd68e930bc2971ffda693e 2025-01-23 MLB.com en As a result of catcher's interference, a batter is now awarded first base.MLB Rule Changes https://www.baseball-almanac.com/rulechng.shtml 2025-01-23 Baseball Almanac en-us Catchers must remain within the catcher's box until a pitch was released from the pitcher's hand (Rule 17).Talbot Jamie 1898 Winter Meetings: Little of Substance Accomplished Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1898-1899-national-league-winter-meetings/ 2025-03-26 en-US A player in a uniform different from his teammates will not be allowed on the field (Rule 19). A foul tip caught by a catcher in the catcher's box is a strike (Rule 43). Restrictions on coaches in the coaching boxes were implemented, forbidding them from bench jockeying, arguing umpire calls, and interacting with spectators (Rule 52). The number of players that each team could place its reserved list to was reduced to 18. Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1899 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1899-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandUnion Park11,000John McGrawBoston BeaneatersBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds6,600Frank SeleeBrooklyn SuperbasNew York, New YorkWashington Park12,000Ned Hanlon baseballChicago OrphansChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park13,000Tom Burns baseballCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioLeague Park (Cincinnati)9,000Buck EwingCleveland SpidersCleveland, OhioLeague Park (Cleveland)9,000Lave CrossJoe Quinn second basemanLouisville ColonelsLouisville, KentuckyEclipse Park6,400Fred ClarkeNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds16,000John Day John B. DayFred Hoey baseball managerPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaNational League Park18,000Bill ShettslinePittsburgh PiratesAllegheny, PennsylvaniaA 1 1Exposition Park6,500Bill Watkins baseballPatsy DonovanSt. Louis PerfectosSt. Louis, MissouriLeague Park (St. Louis)14,500Patsy TebeauWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Boundary Field6,500Arthur Irwin A 1 In today's Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Sunday games Blue laws restricted Sunday activities in several localities, causing several teams to play at ballparks in a different locality. TeamCityBallparkCapacityGames playedCleveland SpidersCleveland Spiders – Seamheads.com Ballparks Database https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/team.php?TeamID=CL4 2026-01-29 www.seamheads.comSt. Louis, MissouriLeague Park (St. Louis)14,5001New York GiantsNew York Giants – Seamheads.com Ballparks Database https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/team.php?TeamID=NY1 2026-01-29 www.seamheads.comWest New York, New JerseyWest New York Field Club GroundsUnknown4 Standings National League Brooklyn Superbas Tie games 20 tie games, which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again), occurred throughout the season. Baltimore Orioles, 4 Boston Beaneaters, 1 Brooklyn Superbas, 2 Chicago Orphans, 4 Cincinnati Reds, 7 Louisville Colonels, 4 New York Giants, 3 Pittsburgh Pirates, 6 St. Louis Perfectos, 4 Washington Senators, 3 Managerial changes Off-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerBaltimore OriolesNed HanlonJohn McGrawBrooklyn SuperbasCharles EbbetsNed HanlonCleveland SpidersPatsy TebeauLave CrossNew York GiantsCap AnsonJohn DaySt. Louis PerfectosTim HurstPatsy Tebeau In-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerCleveland SpidersLave CrossJoe QuinnNew York GiantsJohn DayFred HoeyPittsburgh PiratesBill WatkinsPatsy Donovan League leaders National League start + Hitting leaders1899 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1899-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Ed Delahanty (PHI) .410 OPS Ed Delahanty (PHI) 1.046 HR Buck Freeman (WAS) 25 RBI Ed Delahanty (PHI) 137 R Willie Keeler (BRO)John McGraw (BAL) 140 H Ed Delahanty (PHI) 238 SB Jimmy Sheckard (BAL) 77 break + Pitching leaders1899 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1899-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Jay Hughes (BRO)Joe McGinnity (BAL) 28 L Jim Hughey (CLE) 30 ERA Vic Willis (BSN) 2.50 K Noodles Hahn (CIN) 145 IP Sam Leever (PIT) 379.0 SV Sam Leever (PIT) 3 WHIP Cy Young (STL) 1.116 end Milestones Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Deacon Phillippe (LOU): Phillippe threw his first career no-hitter and the fourth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the New York Giants 7–0 on May 25. Phillippe walked three struck out one.Retrosheet Boxscore: Louisville Colonels 7, New York Giants 0 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1899/B05250LS31899.htm 2026-01-29 RetrosheetNational League http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90059523/1899-05-26/ed-1/seq-5/ 2012-06-29 The St. Paul Globe 1899-05-26 Vic Willis (BSN): Willis threw his first career no-hitter and the second no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Washington Senators 7–1 on August 7. Willis walked three, hit two by pitch, and struck out five.Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Beaneaters 7, Washington Nationals 1 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1899/B08070BSN1899.htm 2026-01-29 RetrosheetNational League http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn90059523/1899-08-08/ed-1/seq-5/ 2012-06-29 The St. Paul Globe 1899-08-08 Home field attendance Team nameWins%± Percent changeHome attendance%± Percent changePer game Average home attendance per gamePhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference94 20.5%388,933 46.5%4,686St. Louis PerfectosSt. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference84 115.4%373,909 146.5%4,298Chicago OrphansChicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference75 −11.8%352,130 −17.0%4,143Brooklyn SuperbasLos Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference101 87.0%269,641 120.1%3,457Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference83 −9.8%259,536 −22.8%2,949Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference765.6%251,834 66.9%2,963Boston BeaneatersAtlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference95−6.9%200,384 −12.6%2,505Baltimore OriolesBaltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BLO/attend.shtml 2025-01-22 Baseball Reference86−1.2%121,935−2.5%1,584New York GiantsSan Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference60 −22.1%121,384−54.3%1,597Louisville ColonelsLouisville Colonels Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LOU/attend.shtml 2025-01-22 Baseball Reference75−15.2%109,3196.2%1,735Washington SenatorsWashington Senators Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/WAS/attend.shtml 2025-01-22 Baseball Reference54−16.3%86,392−15.3%1,094Cleveland SpidersCleveland Spiders Attendance, Stadiums, and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLV/attend.shtml 2025-01-22 Baseball Reference20−91.4%6,088−88.3%145 Venues The home of the St. Louis Perfectos, New Sportsman's Park, is renamed League Park. The home of the Louisville Colonels, Eclipse Park, was destroyed in a fire on August 12, while the team was on a road trip. Following their return home, they would have a 12-game homestand from August 22 through September 2 in a partially rebuilt park, before spending the rest of the season on the road. Regarding games that were rescheduled to Sunday, and existing blue laws: The Cleveland Spiders host the Louisville Colonels at the home of the St. Louis Perfectos at League Park on Sunday September 24, as part of Louisville's game 2 of their split doubleheader (both against St. Louis and Cleveland).1899 Cleveland Spiders Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLV/1899-schedule-scores.shtml 2026-01-29 Baseball Reference en Both Cleveland and St. Louis were owned by Frank and Stanley Robison. The New York Giants played four home games at the West New York Field Club Grounds in West New York, New Jersey on June 4, July 16, August 13, September 17.1899 New York Giants Schedule https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYG/1899-schedule-scores.shtml 2026-01-29 Baseball Reference en See also 1899 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) References External links 1899 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1899 in baseball