1903 Major League Baseball season

Last updated

1903 MLB season
League American League (AL)
National League (NL)
Sport Baseball
DurationRegular season:
  • April 20 – September 27, 1903 (AL)
  • April 16 – September 29, 1903 (NL)
World Series:
  • October 1–13, 1903
Number of games140
Number of teams16 (8 per league)
Pennant winners
AL champions Boston Americans
  AL runners-up Philadelphia Athletics
NL champions Pittsburgh Pirates
  NL runners-up New York Giants
World Series
Champions Boston Americans
  Runners-up Pittsburgh Pirates
MLB seasons
Locations of teams for the 1903 American League season
ButtonRed.svg American League
Locations of teams for the 1903–1906 National League seasons
ButtonBlue.svg National League

The 1903 Major League baseball season began on April 16, 1903. The regular season ended on September 29, with the Pittsburgh Pirates and the Boston Americans as regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the first modern World Series on October 1 and ended with Game 8 on October 13. The Americans defeated the Pirates, five games to three, capturing their first championship in franchise history. [1]

Contents

The 1903 season saw the return of a postseason championship series, the World Series, following the one-off 1900 Chronicle-Telegraph Cup. It was also the first inter-league series since the 1890 World's Championship Series between the National League and defunct-since-1891 American Association. The 1903 World Series would also mark the first championship series that is still celebrated today, as all previous series are considered pre-modern and these early contests are discussed by MLB and baseball historians separately. [2]

The defunct Baltimore Orioles were replaced by a new franchise in New York City known as the New York Highlanders; it was the last change to the lineup of AL and NL franchises until 1953. The Chicago Orphans and Cleveland Bronchos were renamed as the Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Naps, respectively.

Schedule

The 1903 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 continued the format put in place for the 1901 season. This would be the last season with this format, as the following season would see an increase of games played.

National League Opening Day took place on April 16 with four teams playing, while American League Opening Day did not take place until April 20, with a doubleheader between the Philadelphia Athletics and the Boston Americans. The National League would see its final day of the regular season on September 27, while the American League would see its final day of the season on September 29. The inaugural World Series took place between October 1 and October 13.

Rule changes

The 1903 season saw the following rule changes:

Teams

LeagueTeamCityStadiumCapacityManager [7]
American League Boston Americans Boston, Massachusetts Huntington Avenue Grounds 11,500 Jimmy Collins
Chicago White Stockings Chicago, Illinois South Side Park 14,000 Jimmy Callahan
Cleveland Naps Cleveland, Ohio League Park (Cleveland) 9,000 Bill Armour
Detroit Tigers Detroit, Michigan Bennett Park 8,500 Ed Barrow
New York Highlanders New York, New York Hilltop Park 16,000 Clark Griffith
Philadelphia Athletics Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Columbia Park 9,500 Connie Mack
St. Louis Browns St. Louis, Missouri Sportsman's Park 8,000 Jimmy McAleer
Washington Senators Washington, D.C. American League Park 7,000 Tom Loftus
National League Boston Beaneaters Boston, Massachusetts South End Grounds 6,600 Al Buckenberger
Brooklyn Superbas New York, New York Washington Park 12,000 Ned Hanlon
Chicago Cubs Chicago, Illinois West Side Park 13,000 Frank Selee
Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati, Ohio Palace of the Fans 12,000 Joe Kelley
New York Giants New York, New York Polo Grounds 16,000 John McGraw
Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, Pennsylvania National League Park 18,000 Chief Zimmer
Pittsburgh Pirates Allegheny, Pennsylvania Exposition Park 16,000 Fred Clarke
St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis, Missouri League Park (St. Louis) 15,200 Patsy Donovan

Standings

American League

American League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Boston Americans 9147.659—49‍–‍2042‍–‍27
Philadelphia Athletics 7560.55614½44‍–‍2131‍–‍39
Cleveland Naps 7763.5501549‍–‍2528‍–‍38
New York Highlanders 7262.5371741‍–‍2631‍–‍36
Detroit Tigers 6571.4782537‍–‍2828‍–‍43
St. Louis Browns 6574.46826½38‍–‍3227‍–‍42
Chicago White Stockings 6077.43830½41‍–‍2819‍–‍49
Washington Senators 4394.31447½29‍–‍4014‍–‍54

National League

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Pittsburgh Pirates 9149.650—46‍–‍2445‍–‍25
New York Giants 8455.6046½41‍–‍2743‍–‍28
Chicago Cubs 8256.594845‍–‍2837‍–‍28
Cincinnati Reds 7465.53216½41‍–‍3533‍–‍30
Brooklyn Superbas 7066.5151940‍–‍3330‍–‍33
Boston Beaneaters 5880.4203231‍–‍3527‍–‍45
Philadelphia Phillies 4986.36339½25‍–‍3324‍–‍53
St. Louis Cardinals 4394.31446½22‍–‍4521‍–‍49

Postseason

Bracket

World Series
          
AL Boston Americans 3 32 4 11673
NL Pittsburgh Pirates 70 452 3 3 0
1903 Boston vs Chicago at Huntington Avenue Grounds 1903 Boston vs Chicago at Huntington Avenue Grounds.jpg
1903 Boston vs Chicago at Huntington Avenue Grounds

"Battle of Ohio"

Termed the "Battle of Ohio", the Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Naps played an unofficial best of 11-game exhibition series after the regular season, with Cleveland winning the series six games to three. [8]

Managerial changes

Off-season

TeamFormer ManagerNew Manager
Chicago White Stockings Clark Griffith Jimmy Callahan
Detroit Tigers Frank Dwyer Ed Barrow
Philadelphia Phillies Bill Shettsline Chief Zimmer

League leaders

American League

Hitting leaders [9]
StatPlayerTotal
AVG Nap Lajoie (CLE).344
OPS Nap Lajoie (CLE).896
HR Buck Freeman (BSA)14
RBI Buck Freeman (BSA)125
R Patsy Dougherty (BSA)107
H Patsy Dougherty (BSA)195
SB Harry Bay (CLE)45
Pitching leaders [10]
StatPlayerTotal
W Cy Young (BSA)28
L Patsy Flaherty (CWS)25
ERA Earl Moore (CLE)1.74
K Rube Waddell (PHA)302
IP Cy Young (BSA)341.2
SV Bill Dinneen (BSA)
George Mullin (DET)
Al Orth (WSH)
Jack Powell (SLB)
Cy Young (BSA)		2
WHIP Addie Joss (CLE)0.948

National League

Home field attendance

Team nameWins%±Home attendance%±Per game
New York Giants [13] 8475.0%579,53091.3%8,279
Philadelphia Athletics [14] 75−9.6%422,4730.6%6,306
Chicago Cubs [15] 8220.6%386,20546.5%5,290
St. Louis Browns [16] 65−16.7%380,40539.7%5,434
Boston Americans [17] 9118.2%379,3388.8%5,419
Cincinnati Reds [18] 745.7%351,68061.8%4,627
Pittsburgh Pirates [19] 91−11.7%326,85534.1%4,669
Cleveland Naps [20] 7711.6%311,28013.0%4,206
Chicago White Stockings [21] 60−18.9%286,183−15.3%4,088
St. Louis Cardinals [22] 43−23.2%226,5380.1%3,283
Brooklyn Superbas [23] 70−6.7%224,67012.4%3,078
Detroit Tigers [24] 6525.0%224,52318.5%3,454
New York Highlanders [25] 72211,8083,161
Philadelphia Phillies [26] 49−12.5%151,72935.4%2,487
Boston Beaneaters [27] 58−20.5%143,15522.4%2,105
Washington Senators [28] 43−29.5%128,878−31.5%1,815

Events

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References

  1. ↑ "History of the World Series – 1903". The Sporting News. Archived from the original on August 13, 2006. Retrieved September 3, 2006.
  2. ↑ "World Series Summary". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
  3. ↑ "A guide to rules changes in MLB (and sports) history". MLB.com. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  4. ↑ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (June 9, 2012). "Pitching Mound Is a Work of Art Often Abused". The New York Times . Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  5. ↑ "The National League Rules Committee decrees that all foul balls are to count as strikes, except after two strikes. - This Day In Baseball". February 27, 1901. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  6. ↑ "This Day in Sports: The National League Makes it Way Harder for Fans to Catch a Foul Ball". ESPN.com. February 27, 2010. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
  7. ↑ "1903 Major League Baseball Managers". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  8. ↑ Rhodes, Greg (2007). Cincinnati Reds Hall of Fame Highlights: Memorable Moments in Team History As Heard on the Reds Radio Network. United States: Clerisy Press. p. 251. ISBN   9781578603008.
  9. ↑ "1903 American League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  10. ↑ "1903 American League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  11. ↑ "1903 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  12. ↑ "1903 National League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  13. ↑ "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  14. ↑ "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  16. ↑ "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  17. ↑ "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  18. ↑ "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  19. ↑ "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  20. ↑ "Cleveland Guardians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  21. ↑ "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  22. ↑ "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  23. ↑ "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  24. ↑ "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  25. ↑ "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  26. ↑ "Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  27. ↑ "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  28. ↑ "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved March 28, 2024.
  29. ↑ Mackin, Bob (2004). The Unofficial Guide to Baseball's Most Unusual Records. Canada: Greystone Books. p. 240. ISBN   9781553650386..
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