Baseball – 1909

Baseball in 1909

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January

January 11The National Commission approves owner Charles Murphy’s payment of a $10‚000 bonus to his Cubs for their 1908 World Series triumph.
January 14With the National Commission approving the reinstatement of Hal Chase‚ who jumped from the Highlanders when he didn’t get the manager’s job‚ New York feels free to sell 3B/1B George Moriarty to the Detroit Tigers (as noted by Lyle Spatz in Yankees Coming‚ Yankees Going)
January 15Minor leaguer Nicholas Mathewson‚ brother of Christy‚ commits suicide by shooting himself at age 22.
January 27Lou Criger sends a telegram to Boston fans expressing his regrets on being traded by the Beaneaters to the St. Louis Browns.

February

February 4John Clarkson‚ a 326-game winner of the 19th century‚ dies at Belmont‚ MA‚ at age 47.
February 7Billy Sullivan‚ White Sox catcher‚ is granted a patent for a new chest protector‚ nicknamed the snowpad protector‚ to replace the inflatable protector. Sullivan made plans for the manufacture of the new protector last fall before leaving to vacation in Ireland.
February 17The NL deprives umpires of the power to fine players and decrees that relief pitchers must retire at least one batter before being relieved.

The Yankees sell 3B Wid Connors to the Washington Senators.
February 18NL president Harry Pulliam‚ in ill health‚ is granted a leave of absence. The league secretary‚ John Heydler‚ assumes his duties. The NL abolishes Ladies Days‚ and sets a 25-player limit from May 15 to August 20.

The Boston Red Sox trade Cy Young‚ who won 21 games at age 41 last season‚ to the Cleveland Naps for righty pitchers Charlie Chech and Jack Ryan‚ and $12‚500. Young pitched for Cleveland in the 1890s.
February 26Alfred Reach and John Rogers sell the Phillies to a group headed by Israel Durham. Durham will become president.
February 27Joe “Iron Man” McGinnity‚ released by the Giants‚ will pitch in the minor leagues for another 13 years‚ winning 20 or more in 6 of them. He finished his ML career with 247 wins. The Giants also release another veteran pitcher‚ Dummy Taylor‚ whose ML career is finished as well.

March

March 20Cubs catcher Johnny Kling wires the manager Joe Tinker in Shreveport that he is quitting‚ citing the need to take care of his business interests in Kansas City. Teammates speculate that he is still upset at president Murphy‚ who he blames for preventing him from buying a billiard establishment in Cincinnati last spring. Murphy accused Reds owner Herrmann of tampering with the catcher and the deal fell through. Kling owns a two floor billiard parlor in Kansas City and also plans to play semi-pro baseball there.
March 26Charles Comiskey fails in his attempt to lure Fielder Jones back as manager of the White Sox‚ rejecting Jones’ offer to have an option to buy between 40-50% of the team’s stock. Billy Sullivan will manage the team.
March 31The National Commission rules that players who jump contracts will be suspended for 5 years. Players joining outlaw organizations will be suspended for 3 years as punishment for going outside organized baseball.

April

April 1The National Commissioner awards P Ben Henderson to the Indians. Both the Boston Nationals and Cleveland had claimed the pitcher.
April 3Eddie Plank pitches the A’s to a 5-4 win over the Phillies to even the Philadelphia series at one game apiece.
April 8While at spring training‚ Hal Chase of the Highlanders contracts smallpox. The entire team is vaccinated and quarantined while traveling north.
April 12Billy Sullivan‚ the White Sox catcher in the first AL game‚ replaces Fielder Jones as manager.

Philadelphia’s Shibe Park is dedicated as a record crowd of 31‚160 sees 18-year-old John “Stuffy” McInnis make his ML debut at SS. Eddie Plank pitches the A’s to an 8-1 win over Boston‚ allowing 6 hits. A’s catcher Mike “Doc” Powers injures himself going after a foul pop‚ and after the game complains of intestinal pains (other versions have the pain due to a sandwich or twisting himself in an unusual fashion). The 38-year-old will be operated on tomorrow‚ but will not survive the month‚ the first ML death this century caused by an on-field injury.

At Washington‚ the Yankees open the season under new manager George Stallings‚ losing to the Senators‚ 4-1. The Nationals score three runs in the first off journeyman Doc Newton to pave the way for Charlie Smith. Smith allows just 4 hits and strikes out 10.
April 14On Opening Day in Detroit‚ Detroit’s George Mullin pitches a one-hitter‚ beating the White Sox‚ 2-0‚ and setting a record for fewest base runners in an opener. Gavvy Cravath singles and walks‚ the only Sox to reach base.
April 15With Christy Mathewson sidelined with a bruised hand‚ the result of a line drive off the bat of Moose McCormick‚ Red Ames gets the call. Before an Opening Day crowd of 30‚000 at New York‚ Ames pitches a no-hitter for 9 innings against the Brooklyn Superbas‚ loses it with one out in the 10th‚ then loses the game 3-0 in the 13th. Kaiser Wilhelm matches Ames by not allowing a hit until the 8th inning. The Giants outfield has no putouts.

In the Browns 4-1 win over visiting Cleveland‚ Brownie Danny Hoffman bangs the first homer ever hit at Sportsman’s Park. In 1956‚ Willie Mays will collect the last.
April 18The Tigers announce plans to build a new concrete and steel stadium. The Pirates name their million-dollar ballpark Forbes Field in honor of the English general who founded Pittsburgh.

The Pirates edge Chicago‚ 1-0‚ in 12 innings‚ handing the loss to ace Three Fingered Brown.

In an exhibition game between the New York Highlanders and the Jersey City Skeeters‚ the 2 teams are concerned about violating the Sunday “Blue Laws.” Worried about arrests‚ the Jersey management passes out cards to spectators asking them to keep quiet.
April 20The National Commission learns that an effort to bribe umpires Klem and Johnstone was made before the Giants-Cubs playoff game in 1908. The identity of the alleged briber is not disclosed‚ but all clubs are notified of the results of the investigation. Klem reveals that the alleged briber was Dr. Joseph Creamer‚ a well-known New York physician‚ who served at many cycling and boxing events. Creamer‚ who served as the Giants’ team physician last season‚ denies the charges but he will be barred for life from all major league ball parks.
April 23In the 6th inning of the Reds-Pirates game in Pittsburgh‚ Honus Wagner steps across the plate to the other batter’s box as Reds P Harry Gaspar delivers the ball. Umpire Bill Klem refuses to call him out. The Pirates win 2-1‚ but Reds manager Clark Grif?th protests and acting NL president Heydler backs Klem. But the league will override Heydler and Klem and order the game replayed September 20th. The Pirates will win again‚ by a score of 4-3.
April 24Sidelined much of April with the flu‚ Walter Johnson makes his 1st appearance of the year. He should’ve stood in bed as the Highlanders rough him up for 6 runs before he’s lifted in the 3rd. Behind Joe Lake‚ New York rolls to a 17-0 win over Washington‚ a club record shutout loss for the Nationals. It’ll be tied by New York in 1920.

Let’s call him Home Run. At Boston‚ the A’s Frank Baker hits his first homer‚ off Frank Arellanes‚ as the Athletics win‚ 4-1.
April 25Great Scott! White Sox rookie Jim Scott debuts with a 1-0 win over the Browns.
April 26A’s popular C Doc Powers dies at the age of 38. He developed intestinal problems sustained when he ran into a wall during the Shibe Park opener on April 12th.
April 27The White Sox win their 3rd 1-0 game from St. Louis in 3 days‚ setting the AL mark for consecutive 1-0 wins. Hits by the two teams in the three games total only 18.

May

May 2Honus Wagner steals his away around the bases in the first inning of the nitecap against Chicago It is the 3rd time he has performed this feat‚ an NL record. The Pirates take both games in Chicago‚ winning 5-2 and 6-0‚ swiping 2 bases in the opener and 6 steals in first inning of the nitecap.

In a 6-5 Detroit win over the White Stockings‚ Ty Cobb is thumbed out of a game for the first time. He tries stretching a double and is called out at 3B. Then he is tossed out by Silk O’Loughlin.
May 3The Pirates top Chicago‚ 9-2‚ as Wagner again steals 3 bases‚ including home. Wagner‚ who was 5-for-6 yesterday‚ duplicates that today.

In a 7-1 Boston win over Washington‚ Tris Speaker hits his first ML homer‚ off Dolly Gray.
May 4The Pirates sweep Chicago‚ winning their 4th straight by edging Three-Finger Brown‚ 1-0‚ in 11 innings. Dots Miller drives in the lone run. It is the 2nd time in three weeks that the Pirates have beaten Brown‚ 1-0‚ in extra innings.

Christy Mathewson makes his first appearance of the year‚ giving up 9 hits‚ 4 walks and 3 runs in 7 innings against the Phillies. Philadelphia wins‚ 5-2‚ to complete a 3-game sweep of the cellar-dwelling Giants.

Red Sox hurler Cy Morgan allows just 2 hits but loses‚ 1-0‚ to Washington. Tannehill allows 3 hits for the Nationals.
May 5The Pirates move into first place to stay in the NL. The Tigers will lead all the way in the AL‚ except for one week in May and 2 in mid-August.

In a 5-2 win over the Reds‚ the Cubs Harry Steinfeldt drives in 3 runs on 3 sac flies.

Highlanders pitcher Lew Brockett records 9 assists in his 2-0 win over the Boston Americans.
May 9The St. Louis Cardinals take out a $50‚000 life insurance policy on manager Roger Bresnahan for reasons having to do more with publicity than concerns about his health.

Led by Harry Steinfeldt and Heinie Zimmerman‚ the Cubs beat the Reds‚ 5-2 in the 1st of a 4-game series in Chicago. Zim scores 3 runs‚ each one on a sac fly by Steinfeldt (as noted by Ernie Lanigan). The Cubs will sweep the series.
May 10Organized baseball’s longest no-hitter takes place in a Blue Grass League contest between the Lexington Colts and the Winchester Hustlers. Fred Toney‚ later to pitch in the only double no-hitter‚ throws a 17-inning no-hitter for Winchester‚ winning 1-0. He fans 19 opponents and walks only one‚ in beating Lexington’s Baker‚ who allows 7 hits. A squeeze play ends the game.

The White Sox edge the Senators 1-0 in 11 innings‚ handing Walter Johnson his 2nd straight 1-0 loss on his way to a 20th century record ten losses by shutouts. For the Nationals‚ it is their 3rd straight 1-0 loss‚ tying a mark set by the Browns two weeks ago.

Eddie Plank outpitches Rube Waddell to give the White Sox a 5-1 victory over the Browns. The Browns also lose George Stone‚ the AL’s leading hitter‚ when he sprains his ankle sliding into 1B trying to beat out a grounder to Collins. Stone will end up with a .256 average in this‚ his last‚ season.
May 12The first use of wireless to transmit baseball results is made by the Columbia University Wireless Club. The proceedings of the game between the University of Pennsylvania and Columbia were relayed from the Bellevue-Stratford in Philadelphia to New York’s Waldorf Astoria‚ where students took the messages. Penn prevails 11-0.
May 13New York ace Christy Mathewson tosses a 4-hitter‚ to beat the Cubs Ruby Kroh‚ 4-1.

The Red Sox jump on former teammate Cy Young for 17 hits-4 by Harry Hooper-in an 8-1 win over Cleveland. Cleveland 3B Bill Bradley makes 7 put outs‚ tying his own team mark set in 1901.
May 16With two outs in the 9th‚ Detroit’s George Moriarty tries to steal home but is tagged out by Boston catcher Bill Carrigan to end the game‚ a 3-2 Boston win. Carrigan then spits tobacco on Moriarty‚ saying‚ “don’t try that and pull that on a smart guy.” Moriarty then flattens Carrigan and the two of them will be suspended by the AL for fighting.

NL President John Heydler calls a meeting with the league’s umpires to discuss ways that the new two-umpire system can prevent fighting by the players. A serious incident occurred several days earlier in Boston when Reds catcher Frank Roth attacked umpire Steve Cusack after a play at home. Several other Reds players threatened the umpire with baseball bats.
May 17After giving up a leadoff triple to Dick Egan‚ Christy Mathewson shuts down the Reds and the Giants paddle Dick Rowan to win‚ 6-0.
May 18The Yankees sell infielder Neal Ball to the Cleveland Naps.
May 20In New York‚ Honus Wagner is given a silver trophy for winning the 1908 NL batting crown. The Giants then edge the Pirates‚ 2-1.

After 5 losses‚ Walter Johnson picks up his first win‚ outdueling Cleveland’s Addie Joss 3-2. Johnson strikes out 10 and drives in the winning run.
May 21In Boston‚ Cubs P Orval Overall (8-2) allows 2 hits and strikes out 8 in beating Boston‚ 7-0. His batterymate Pat Moran has a triple and a homer off losing P Al Mattern‚ one of 20 losses he’ll have this year.
May 24Under new manager Roger Bresnahan‚ the Cardinals finally beat Christy Mathewson after losing to the Giants ace 24 consecutive times. Matty allows just 6 hits to his former battery mate’s squad‚ but the Giants score once off John Lush to lose‚ 3-1.

At Brooklyn‚ the Cubs beat the Dodgers‚ 4-3‚ on Solly Hofman‘s inside-the-park homer in the 11th inning. Brooklyn CF Tom Catterson attempts a shoestring catch on the liner but misses.
May 25Righthander George Mullin wins his 9th in a row for Detroit 7-4 over Washington‚ on his way to a league-leading 29-8 record.

Orval Overall‚ in relief of Jack Pfiester‚ picks up the win in Chicago’s 4-3 win over Brooklyn. Harry McIntire takes the loss.
May 26At Brooklyn‚ Cubs ace Orval Overall pitches a complete game and beats George Bell‚ 2-0‚ to stretch his winning streak over Brooklyn to 11 straight games. The streak began in 1906.
May 27In a game featuring a AL record-setting 44 assists by both teams (as noted by historian Joe Dittmar)‚ the Naps nip the Browns‚ 5-2. The NL high assist marks of April 23‚ 1903 and May 15‚ 1909 (NY vs. Cin) fall short of today’s record. Addie Joss for Cleveland and Barney Pelty for St. Louis are the pitchers as each team records 22 assists.
May 28At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants and Phils split two. The Phils win the opener‚ 11-1‚ then lose to Christy Mathewson 3-0 in a rain-shortened 6 inning affair.
May 29At Pittsburgh’s Exposition Field‚ President William Taft and his half brother Charles‚ a part owner of the Cubs‚ are among the overflow crowd of 14‚000 on hand for the Chicago-Pirates game. The visitors break open the 3-3 game in the 11th by scoring 5 runs to win for Three-Finger Brown and move Chicago just percentage points behind the Bucs. Both teams leave immediately to play two games tomorrow in Chicago.

The A’s sweep a doubleheader from the visiting Red Sox‚ 6-2 and 6-4. In game 1 the A’s Frank Baker belts the first homer ever hit over the RF wall at the new Shibe Park. His drive comes off Red Sox hurler Frank Arellanes.
May 30The Pirates come from behind to beat Chicago‚ 5-4 in the first game of a DH. In the nitecap‚ Honus Wagner breaks up a 2-2 tie with a 9th inning double off Jack Pfiester and the Pirates prevail‚ 4-2. Pittsburgh now leads the Cubs by 2 games‚ and will not lose for another 13 games.

The Cardinals score 11 runs in the first inning against the Reds and win‚ 12-2.
May 31The Giants sweep an A.M.-P.M. twinbill. Hooks Wiltse wins the morning game‚ 3-2 and Mathewson thrills the crowd of 35‚000 with a 5-4 victory over Lew Moren in the p.m. game. Matty wins the game with an 8th inning HR into the LF bleachers.

Pitchers Otto Burns of Decatur and Ed Clarke of Bloomington (Three I League) both go the distance in a 26-inning game won by Decatur 2-1.

June

June 1At Philadelphia‚ the 2nd place A’s and the 4th place Red Sox split a pair‚ each winning‚ 1-0. Harry Krause‚ who will lead the AL in ERA with 1.39‚ wins the opener for Philadelphia‚ beating Jack Ryan. The A’s score with 2 outs in the 9th to win. It’s one of 7 shutouts Krause will throw this year. Fred Burchell returns the favor in the nitecap‚ beating Eddie Plank as the Sox score their lone run of the day in the 8th. Boston CF Tris Speaker pulls off an unassisted DP in game 2‚ the first of a ML record 6 he’ll make. He’ll do it again next April. Speaker will lead the AL outfielders this year with 12 double plays‚ the first of 6 season he’ll lead the AL flycatchers in this category.
June 5St. Louis admirers give Roger Bresnahan a diamond ring and give the rest of the team silk umbrellas‚ then Cardinal errors give the Giants 6 runs and the game‚ 8-7. John McGraw and Larry Doyle are tossed by umpire Charlie Criger.

The Red Sox ship off pitcher Cy Morgan one day after he turns gun shy on a tag at the plate on Ty Cobb. The Sox get pitcher Biff Schlitzer in exchange. Cobb‚ on 2B when Morgan tossed a wild pitch‚ never slowed rounding 3B and headed home. Morgan had the ball in plenty of time for the tag at home‚ but preferred to stand aside and execute a Veronica instead of blocking the plate. Cobb easily avoided the tag.
June 7The Phillies bring back INF Joe Ward for a 2nd tour of duty‚ buying him from the Yankees.
June 8At Chicago‚ the Cubs score two runs off Mathewson in the first inning with the help of two errors‚ but tally just one hit in the next 8 innings. Matty emerges with a 3-2 win over Three Fingered Brown‚ his first win against Brown since 1903.

San Francisco (Pacific Coast League) hurler Cack Henley tosses a 24-inning 1-0 shutout over Oakland‚ surrendering only 9 hits and one walk in the 3-hour and 35-minute contest. Jimmy Wiggs matches Henley for 23 frames before Nick Williams drives home the winner with a single in the 24th. In the only other game scheduled in the league‚ Portland and Sacramento play an 18 inning 1-1 tie.
June 9Benjamin Shibe‚ of Bala‚ Pennsylvania‚ obtains a patent for a cork-center baseball. Spalding will license the idea and manufacturer a ball.

The Red Sox edge the Browns‚ 3-2‚ scoring the winning run in the 8th inning. Ed Cicotte‚ relieving for Jack Ryan‚ pitches the last 3 innings for the victory. (In most record books‚ Cicotte is erroneously listed as pitching just one inning and is credited with a save. Researcher Dix Tourangeau noted the error).
June 10George Mullin’s winning streak reaches 11 with a 2-1 win over New York. On the 15th‚ he will finally lose to the Athletics 5-4.
June 11At the West Side Grounds‚ Boston wins over Chicago‚ 4-2‚ for their only win against the Cubs this year. Rookie Kirby “Red” White walks in a run but at the plate drives in two Doves with a triple. Boston will go 1-21 against the Cubs and 1-20 versus the Pirates.
June 12At Cincinnati‚ the Giants edge the Reds‚ 2-0‚ as Mathewson bests Bob Ewing. The Reds manage 4 hits off Matty.
June 16New York’s Christy Mathewson capsizes the Pirates‚ 8-2‚ ending Pittsburgh’s 14-game win streak. The Pirates garner 10 hits off Matty‚ Lefty Leifield is peppered by the Giants.

Jim Thorpe makes his baseball pitching debut for Rocky Mount (Eastern Carolina League) with a 4-2 win over Raleigh. It is the professional play in this year that will cause him to lose the medals he’ll win in the 1912 Olympics.
June 18At Cincinnati’s “Palace of the Fans” a night game is played between a local amateur team and one from Newport‚ Kentucky. The lighting is provided by George Cahill who is moving from city to city demonstrating his lighting system on five towers.
June 19Walter Johnson has a strange day beating the New York Highlanders 7-4. He gives up just 3 hits‚ but is unusually wild‚ issuing 7 walks‚ uncorking 4 wild pitches‚ and hitting one batter‚ while fanning 10.

The Phils make only 2 hits but beat the Reds‚ 2-0.

Boston Doves co-owner and president George Dovey‚ 48‚ dies suddenly while on a scouting trip in Ohio. His brother John takes over the presidency.

An exhibition night game featuring two amateur teams is played in the Reds’ park before 3‚000 spectators‚ including the Cincinnati and Philadelphia teams‚ which had played there earlier. The hometown Elks win‚ 8-5.
June 22The Detroit club buys the rest of the vacant Bennett Field grounds as the site for a new park.

The National League postpones its games for today because of the funeral of George Dovey‚ co-owner of the Boston Nationals with his brother John. Pittsburgh owner Barney Dreyfuss is one of the honorary pall bearers for the funeral in Philadelphia.

Christy Mathewson pitches 4 innings for the Bucknell alumni against the varsity‚ as the undergrads win‚ 13-12. Matty also plays 3B and chips in with 3 hits.
June 23At the Polo Grounds‚ Christy Mathewson wins a doubleheader against Boston. Matty relieves Marquard in the opener with the score tied 4-4 in the 9th. After shutting down Boston‚ the Giants score a run for the 5-4 win. Matty then coasts in the nitecap to an 11-1 win. Mathewson leaves after two innings with a 4-1 lead‚ and Doc Crandall operates the rest of the way‚ The official scorer awards the game to Christy‚
June 25The Giant sweep their 3rd DH in a row‚ beating Brooklyn 4-2 and 9-1. Hooks Wilts wins the opener and Mathewson takes the nitecap‚ leaving after 5 innings with a 7-0 lead.

The Cubs beat Cincinnati‚ 7-0‚ with Mordecai Brown tossing the shutout over Jean Dubuc. Brown has not lost to the Reds since 1906 and will end a streak of 13 straight victories on September 14.
June 26In Detroit‚ the Tigers bid a fond goodbye to the Browns by whipping them and Rube Waddell‚ 6-2. It is the 8th straight game between the two teams‚ in St. Louis and Detroit‚ and the Tigers win all eight.
June 28Phillies president Israel Durham dies four months after taking over the team.
June 29Pitching against the Highlanders‚ Johnson gives up a solo homer to Ray Demmitt in the 7th‚ the first home run he’s allowed since his debut in 1907‚ Demmitt’s shot is the only score for New York‚ as Johnson beats them for the 2nd time in 10 days.

Playing their last game in Exposition Park‚ the Pirates score 4 runs in the first inning off Mordecai Brown and sail to an 8-1 win over Chicago. Lefty Leifield is the winner. Tomorrow‚ the Pirates will move to Forbes Field‚ named after British General John Forbes‚ who captured Ft. Duquesne during the French and Indian Wars.
June 30Chicago’s Ed Reulbach spoils Pittsburgh’s dedication of Forbes Field before 30‚338‚ allowing 3 hits and beating Vic Willis‚ 3-2. A parade of old-time players precedes the game. The Pirates will draw 98‚000 fans‚ including 41‚000 on July 5‚ in their first five home games.

At Washington Park‚ the Superbas gaff the Giants‚ 7-2 beating Hooks Wiltse in the opener. The Giants come back in the nitecap‚ 3-0‚ behind Mathewson. Matty strikes out 9 and allows 4 hits.

July

July 2The White Sox steal 12 bases in the course of a 15-3 win over St. Louis. Three are steals of home‚ including one by P Ed Walsh in the 6th inning‚ for a modern ML record.

After the Phils take game 1 over Boston‚ 5-4‚ Boston pitcher Al Mattern pitches a 2-hit‚ 4-0 win over the Quakers. Mattern will allow a league-high 322 hits in 316.1 innings this year.
July 3Seventeen Cardinals commit errors in a doubleheader loss to the Reds‚ 10-2 and 13-7‚ to tie a modern ML record.

At a packed Washington Park‚ the Giants beat up Brooklyn‚ winning 5-3 and 2-1 in a total of 23 innings. In the opener‚ Mathewson relieves Bugs Raymond with the score knotted at 3-3 in the 9th. Matty shuts out the Superbas in the next 6 innings‚ and the Giants score 2 in the 14th off Harry McIntire for the win.

The Browns Bill Dinneen allows 2 hits in shutting out the White Sox‚ 40.
July 5The Giants sweep the Phillies‚ winning 3-0 and 3-2 in 15 innings. The nitecap is the longest game in the NL this year. Bugs Raymond wins the marathon‚ relieving Mathewson with the score 2-2 in the 9th.
July 6Red Sox rookie Larry Pape makes his debut with a 2-0 win over the Nationals.
July 7In the Giants 3-1 win over the Phils‚ New York collects 6 straight walks in 6th. This is a ML record since tied in the NL‚ but will be broken in the AL next month.

Inventor George Cahill brings his portable lights to Grand Rapids‚ Michigan for a night game with the Zanesville Infants (Central L). The host team wins 11-10 in 7 innings‚ with the only complaints coming from the outfielders‚ who had trouble seeing balls hit above the lights.
July 12The Pirates split with the Giants‚ dropping the opener 3-0 when Christy Mathewson limits the Bucs to 4 hits. Mathewson (13-2) has won 11 straight. Pittsburgh wins the nitecap 9-0.
July 13At Nicollet Park in Minneapolis‚ Irv Young puts on “the greatest single-day mound performance in the history of the Millers” (historian Stew Thornley). In the first game of a doubleheader with the Milwaukee Brewers (AA)‚ Young holds the Brewers to 4 hits to win‚ 1-0. Young homers in the fifth for the game’s only run. So impressive is Young that he pitches the nightcap‚ holding the Brewers hitless until the 9th and finishing with a one-hit‚ 5-0 victory. The double shutout puts the Millers two games in front of Milwaukee. The 2 teams will fight for the AA lead for the next 2 months‚ before fading in the final week‚ allowing Louisville to sneak into first.
July 15Ty Cobb has 2 inside-the-park homers to lead the Tigers to a sweep of the Nationals. Detroit wins‚ 9-5 and 7-0.
July 16At Bennett Field‚ Detroit and Washington play the longest scoreless game in AL history-18 innings. Ed Summers pitches the complete game‚ holding the Nationals to 7 hits‚ two walks (one intentional)‚ while fanning 10. The Nationals’ 30-year-old rookie‚ Bill “Dolly” Gray‚ allows only one hit before leaving with an injury after 8 innings. He is replaced by Bob Groom. Gray will put another entry in the record books next month when he walks 7 straight batters.

With the Nationals on the road‚ their home field is host to the first Congressional baseball game. The Democrats beat the Republicans‚ 26-16 in 7 innings.

The Giants sweep the Reds‚ winning the last game 2-1 behind Mathewson. Jack Rowan takes the loss for Cincy.

The Phillies send righthanded pitchers Buster Brown and Lew Richie and 2B Dave Shean to the Boston Nationals for OF Johnny Bates and INF Charlie Starr.
July 17Red Sox reliever Smoky Joe Wood fans 10 Cleveland batters in just 4 innings‚ as visiting Boston wins‚ 6-4.

Brooklyn and Chicago swap shutouts‚ with George Bell topping Chicago’s Orval Overall‚ 1-0‚ in the opener. Ed Reulbach comes back in the 2nd game to beat Kaiser Wilhelm‚ 4-0. Bill Bergen‘s hitless streak ends. Bergen’s hitless streak started after he singled in his first at bat against the Giants on June 29‚ 1909. It ends in the second game today when‚ after sitting out the first game‚ he had a fourth inning infield single against Ed Reulbach. The catcher will hit just .139 this season‚ not a yearly low.
July 18Harry Krause of the A’s loses‚ 5-4‚ in 11 innings to the Browns‚ ending his 10-game winning streak.
July 19Cleveland SS Neal Ball executes the 20th century’s first unassisted triple play in the top of the 2nd against the Red Sox. With Heinie Wagner on 2B and Jake Stahl on 1B‚ Amby McConnell hits a line drive to Ball‚ who steps on 2B and tags Stahl coming down from 1B. In the last of the 2nd‚ Ball hits his first AL homer‚ an inside-the-park shot‚ and adds a double. Cleveland wins 6-1 behind Cy Young‚ but Boston wins the nitecap‚ 3-2.
July 20New York suffers two losses against the Cards. The first is a line drive in the 7th off the bat of Joe Delahanty that breaks a finger on the left hand of Christy Mathewson. Matty leaves the game and the Cards win‚ 4-3‚ in 11 innings. The Giants load the bases in the 11th with no outs but fail to score. Matty’s broken finger turns out to be “mashed.”
July 22Ty Cobb steals 2B‚ 3B‚ and home in the 7th inning‚ doing it against Red Sox pitcher Harry Wolter. The Tigers beat Boston 6-0‚ as Ty has 3 hits and 4 steals. Killian is the winning pitcher.

Pitching for Portland (PCL)‚ Alex Carson pitches a 10-inning no-hitter against LA‚ winning 1-0. He allows one baserunner‚ who reaches in the 8th on an error. Toser is the losing pitcher. National Baseball Commission head Garry Herrmann is in attendance.

Rube Carson of Portland (PCL) pitches a 10-inning no-hitter against Los Angeles. It is the first extra-inning no-hitter in PCL history.
July 23Three days after pitching a 1-0 shutout‚ Grover Cleveland Alexander of the Galesburg (IL) Boosters‚ tosses a no-hitter against Pekin. He strikes out 10 and walks one. On the 26th he will beat Macon‚ 1-0‚ in 18 innings. In that game he doesn’t allow a hit until the 10th inning.
July 24Brooklyn ace Nap Rucker strikes out 16 Cardinals in a 1-0 win. Rucker will fan 201 batters this year‚ just 4 behind Orval Overall‚ the NL leader.
July 27At Boston the 3rd place Giants split with the Doves‚ losing the opener‚ 7-4‚ then taking the nitecap‚ 6-2. In the 2nd contest‚ Mathewson wins for the 13th straight time‚ beating Forrest More.

The Phillies sweep a pair from Brooklyn‚ winning 7-0 and 3-2. Light hitting Eddie Grant collects his 1st ML HR‚ off Deacon Phillippe

Star minor league pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander is hit in the forehead with a ball while running the bases and is knocked unconscious. Alexander will recover but his vision will be affected for months and he will not pitch again for Galesburg. The Indianapolis Indians purchase his contract.
July 28Brooklyn’s Jim Pastorius no-hits the Phillies until pinch hitter Marty Martel laces a one-out triple in the 9th inning. Pastorius wins 4-0.
July 29NL president Harry Pulliam‚ despondent over his inability to handle the problems and controversies of the league‚ dies after shooting himself in his room at the New York Athletic Club yesterday. Pulliam had been suffering from a nervous breakdown.
July 30After winning 13 in a row‚ Christy Mathewson loses to Pittsburgh 3-1‚ giving up 4 hits and 3 runs in the first inning. Red Ames relieves in the 2nd. Mathewson’s record is now 15-3.
July 31For the 2nd time in 2 years-the first was on May 25‚ 1908-Bill Burns has a no-hitter broken up with two outs in the 9th‚ when Washington’s Otis Clymer singles. But Burns and the White Sox win 1-0‚ besting Walter Johnson in the first of two games. Burns is the only pitcher to suffer this fate twice‚ until Dave Stieb of Toronto does on September 24 and 30‚ 1988.

August

August 1In Chicago‚ Three Finger Brown pitches a one-hitter in beating the Phillies 3-0 in the first of two. Kitty Bransfield‘s single is the only safety. The Cubs sweep by winning game 2‚ 7-6.
August 2Harry Pulliam is buried in Louisville. For the first time in history‚ both NL and AL games are postponed in tribute. After the funeral‚ a special meeting of the Board of Directors appoints John Heydler to succeed Pulliam.
August 3Despite allowing 15 hits and 6 runs‚ Christy Mathewson tops the Reds 7-6 in 10 innings. The Giants bail Matty out by hammering Bob Spade and Billy Campbell.
August 4Umpire Tim Hurst instigates a riot by spitting in the face of Athletics 2B Eddie Collins‚ who had questioned a call. Under police guard‚ Hurst is ushered off the field. This incident eventually leads to Hurst’s banishment from baseball 2 weeks later.
August 5The Washington Nationals complete a marathon run of eight straight doubleheaders‚ a ML record until the Nation League Braves top it in 1928. The marathon started on July 27th and 28th with Philadelphia; Chicago on July 29th‚ 30th‚ and 31st; and Cleveland for the 3rd‚ 4th and today’s twinbill with Cleveland. The Nats lose 9-4 and win game 2‚ 2-0.
August 7In St. Louis‚ the Giants shell Fred Beebe for 6 hits and 4 runs in the first inning‚ and Christy Mathewson coasts to a 7-1 win.
August 8In a 3-0 Giant win at St. Louis‚ outfielder Bill O’Hara swipes 2B‚ 3B‚ and home in the 8th inning.
August 10At West Side Grounds‚ the Cubs Ed Reulbach stops Brooklyn‚ 8-1‚ for his 16th straight win over Brooklyn. The string started on July 30‚ 1907.
August 11John McGraw puts 49-year-old coach Arlie Latham at 2B in a 19-3 romp over St. Louis. Latham goes hitless but handles 2 assists. Cy Seymour scores 5 runs.
August 12In Chicago‚ the Giants sweep a doubleheader with the Cubs to inch loser to 2nd place. New York wins the opener‚ 5-2‚ then Mathewson sets down the Cubs‚ 3-0‚ for his 18th win.
August 14Chicago pitcher’s Ed Reulbach‘s 14-game winning streak is stopped by the Giants 5-2. New York has now won 9 in a row‚ but Chicago will stop that tomorrow.
August 151909 In the PCL, Los Angeles stops the 16-game winning streak of San Francisco pitcher Frank Browning, beating him, 2-1. His streak started June 10 and was highlighted by a no-hitter July 5 against Oakland. The streak is a PCL record.
August 16New York and Pittsburgh play to a 2-2 tie‚ stopped after 8 innings because of a drenching downpour. Off Christy Mathewson‚ Ham Hyatt hits his 3rd pinch triple of the year‚ a record that won’t be matched till 1970. Outfielder Red Murray prevents a loss for Matty with one of the greatest catches ever seen at Forbes Field. With two outs and two on‚ Dots Miller belts a long line drive off Matty into the growing darkness. With everyone straining to follow the ball‚ a bolt of lightening flashes and Murray is seen making a bare-handed grab on the dead run to end the inning. Bill Klem then calls the game.

The A’s jump on Walter Johnson‚ scoring 6 runs in 5 innings‚ before relief comes in. The A’s win‚ 6-1 over Johnson‚ but he’ll come back tomorrow to beat them. Before exiting‚ Johnson hits his first ML homer‚ off Harry Krause‚ who will lead the A.L. in ERA with a sparkling 1.39.
August 17Nap Lajoie resigns as Cleveland manager with the team in 6th place‚ but he remains as a player.

Walter Johnson gives up 4 hits in topping the A’s Chief Bender in 12 innings. The Nat’s win 1-0‚ but the overwork will take its toll on the young ace. He will develop a sore arm and in his next two outing he will give up 27 hits.
August 18Giants player-coach Arlie Latham steals 2B in the Giants’ 14-1 laugher over the Phillies. At 49‚ he is the oldest player to swipe a base.

For the second time in 8 days‚ Cubs P Ed Reulbach wins his 16th consecutive game from an opponent‚ this time beating the Reds‚ 1-0. His streak against Cincinnati (according to historian Ed Hartig) started on April 15‚ 1906. It is the 3rd shutout in a row for Chicago hurlers.
August 19The Phils end a series of rainouts with a split with the Giants. Doc Crandall slices the Phillies‚ 6-4‚ but the Quakers come back to beat Mathewson‚ 1-0. Sherry Magee scores the only run in the bottom of the 9th to tag Matty with the loss.
August 20The Browns and Tigers trade first baseman: Tom Jones goes to Detroit for Claude Rossman.
August 21The Giants edge the Reds‚ with Mathewson winning this one‚ 1-0. Jack Rowan takes the loss when Larry Doyle walks in the 1st‚ goes to 3B on a ground out and scores on another grounder.

Jack Taylor‚ former iron man pitcher in the NL‚ hurls two complete games in the Central League. On the mound for Dayton‚ he shuts out Terra Haute on 2 hits to win 4-0 in game one‚ then wins 1-0 in 11 innings in game 2. On June 4th‚ pitching for Grand Rapids in the same league‚ Taylor threw a 1-0 no-hitter over Fort Wayne.
August 22Deacon Maguire is named as Cleveland’s manager‚ replacing Nap Lajoie. The Deacon has previously managed Boston and Washington.
August 23With lefthander Jim Pastorius pitching‚ Brooklyn C Bill Bergen throws out 6 (erroneously listed as 7) of 8 base-stealing Cardinals in a 9-1 St. Louis victory. Bergen’s mark is a 20th century high‚ tied twice in 1915 by Schang and again by 3 A’s catchers on June 18. In the first game of the doubleheader today‚ it was Brooklyn’s turn as they swiped 6 bases in a 7-0 win. The Cards steal 2 bases.

It’s a day for thievery as the Cubs steal home 3 times in a game at Boston‚ tying a ML mark. They waste no time‚ as Johnny Evers and Del Howard do it in the first inning‚ and Solly Hofman in the 9-run 2nd. All three are on the front end of double steals. Chicago wins‚ 11-6.

The first place Giants outslug the visiting Reds‚ 12-9‚ using a 7-run 4th to do it. Seymour‚ McCormick and O’Hara each have two hits in the 4th.
August 24The Giants split with the Pirates‚ taking the first game 4-3 behind Hooks Wiltse‚ then losing the 2nd. Bug Raymond toils the whole 9 innings for the Giants and gets clobbered 11-3. McGraw leaves the high-living pitcher in the runaway to teach him a lesson.

At Detroit‚ A’s catcher Paddy Livingston throws out Ty Cobb trying to steal 3rd during an intentional walk to Sam Crawford. Cobb intentional spikes 3B Frank Baker on his bare hand during the play‚ prompting howls of protest from the Athletics. The Tigers win‚ 7-6‚ and A’s manager Connie Mack will complain to Ban Johnson about Cobb’s dirty play. Cobb gets a warning from the AL president.
August 25Christy Mathewson stops the Pirates‚ 3-2‚ on five hits to notch his 20th victory of the season. It is the 7th season in a row that Matty’s hit 20 wins. Nick Maddox takes the loss for the leading Bucs.
August 27Still pitching doubleheaders‚ Joe “Iron Man” McGinnity wins a pair for Newark over Buffalo in the Eastern League.
August 28In the first of two games at South Side Park‚ William “Dolly” Gray of Washington enters the record book by walking 8 White Sox in the 2nd inning‚ with 7 of the walks in a row (both ML records). The 6 runs scored are enough for a 6-4 Chicago win‚ although they manage only one hit against Dolly. Leading off the 2nd‚ Patsy Dougherty logs the only hit‚ and when he bats again in the inning‚ manager Billy Sullivan suggests he go to the plate without a bat. For Dougherty‚ this is the 3rd of 4 times he’ll have the only hit in a game. Washington cops the second game‚ 2-1.

In New York‚ the matchup between Three Fingered Brown and Christy Mathewson fizzles when the Cubs score 4 runs in the first two innings. Matty is lifted and Brown wins the game‚ 6-1.

The first six New York batters reach base safely‚ and though two cross the plate‚ only one counts as the Yankees lose‚ 2-1‚ to Detroit. Engel hits a leadoff single and stays on 1B when Chase chops a ball in the air and Engel thinks it is a pop up. Engle is tagged out. Four more singles plate one run and the Knight is called back to 3B when a hit ball touches an umpire. Cobb has a single‚ double and triple for the Bengals.

The Milwaukee White Sox and the Leland Giants square off at Auburn Park with the Sox winning‚ 1-0‚ in 11 innings. Pederson hits a 2-out single that scores Matt‚ who was on with a double. Till then‚ Dougherty had given up 2 hits. Ernie Groth is the winner.
August 29The Pirates trade 3B Jap Barbeau‚ 2B Allen Storke‚ and cash to the Cardinals for 3B Bobby Byrne.
August 30The Cubs and Giants swap shutouts in this Monday doubleheader. Chicago wins the opener‚ 2-0‚ in 11 innings‚ and Mathewson outpitches Ed Reulbach in the nitecap to win‚ 5-0‚ on 5 hits.

In a 5-0 shutout‚ A’s pitcher Eddie Plank swipes home on the front end of a double steal in against the White Sox in the 2nd. Plank allows 3 hits and strikes out the side in the 8th.
August 31The A. J. Reach Company is granted a patent for its cork-centered baseball‚ which will replace the hard rubber-cored one. This change will be particularly apparent in the NL in 1910-11. Less than three months ago‚ Shibe was granted a patent for his version of a cork-centered ball.

September

September 2Detroit beats Boston‚ 8-5‚ and completes a sweep of every series against visiting Eastern teams‚ winning their 14th in a row. The Tigers regain first place by a half game en route to their 3rd straight pennant.

Boston’s Cliff Curtis pitches his first ML game and beats the Pirates‚ 1-0‚ to give the Doves their only win against Pittsburgh this year. The Pirates win the nightcap and will finish the season 20-1 against Boston.

For the 2nd day in a row‚ Giants outfielder Bill O’Hara is a pinch runner and swipes two bases. Today’s thefts come in the 9th inning of a 5-2 loss to the Cardinals: yesterday he did it in the 6th of a 9-6 win over the Cards. He is the first to accomplish this ML record‚ and he is the only one this century to do it twice.
September 6In the holiday doubleheader at the Polo Grounds‚ the Boston Doves take the opener‚ 2-0 and New York wins the nitecap‚ 5-4. Mathewson wins his own game for the Giants with a 10th inning triple to score Admiral Schlei.

The Cubs sweep a pair from the visiting Pirates‚ winning 3-1 and 6-1. The Bucs get a little solace as Babe Adams strikes out 6 Cubs in a row‚ one short of the record set by Wiltse in 1906.
September 7Pitcher Addie Joss hits his only career HR‚ off Detroit’s Ed Summers‚ in a 7-4 Cleveland win.
September 9The Pirates beat the Reds‚ 3-1. Charles “Moon” Gibson of Pittsburgh catches his 112th consecutive game‚ breaking Chief Zimmer‘s 1890 record. His streak will end at 140.

Chicago’s Orval Overall tops the St. Louis Cardinals‚ 2-1 for his 15th straight win over the Birds. He started the streak on June 6‚ 1906. It is the longest Cub winning streak by one pitcher over a single team.

Bill Dinneen‚ winner of 3 games in the first WS‚ is released by the St. Louis Browns and becomes an AL umpire‚ a position he will hold through 1937.
September 11The Athletics and Red Sox split a doubleheader‚ each team winning‚ 1-0. The Red Sox also pick up pitcher Jack Chesbro (0-4) on waivers from the Highlanders. The future Hall of Famer will pitch and lose one game (to New York) for Boston before calling it quits at 199-131.

Christy Mathewson and catcher Chief Meyers are all that the Giants need in the opener against Brooklyn. Matty allows 3 hits in shutting down the Superbas‚ and the Chief clubs his first major league homer in the 2nd inning‚ a grand slam to score all the runs. New York wins‚ 4-0‚ beating Elmer Knetzer. The Superbas take the nitecap‚ 10-1‚ behind Bugs Raymond. Rookie Zack Wheat has his first 2 ML hits in the nitecap‚ after being collared in the opener by Matty.
September 13Ty Cobb clinches the AL HR title with his 9th round-tripper in a 10-2 Detroit win over the Browns. It is an inside-the-park drive against the Browns. In fact‚ all his 9 HRs this season are inside-the-park‚ including 2 on July 15th. He is the only player in this century to lead in HRs without hitting one out of the park. Only Crawford (12 in 1901) has hit more inside-the-park homers in a year than Cobb.
September 14Cubs ace Three Fingered Brown shuts out the Reds‚ 4-0‚ for his 13th straight win over Cincy. The streak started on August 28‚ 1906.

John Heydler announces that the NL will use 2 umpires per game in 1910.
September 16President Taft attends a Cubs-Giants game in Chicago and players are introduced to him before the game. Giants ace Christy Mathewson then outdeals Chicago ace Three Fingered Brown‚ 2-1‚ with each allowing 7 hits. Taft downs popcorn and lemonade during the match‚ according to the Chicago Tribune.

The University of Wisconsin baseball team arrives in Tokyo to begin a series of games against Japanese schools.
September 18Before 35‚409‚ the largest paid baseball attendance ever‚ Chief Bender beats Bill Donovan and the Tigers 2-0 at Philadelphia to keep the A’s in the pennant race. The A’s are 14-8 against Detroit this year‚ setting an AL record for most wins against the pennant winner. Ty Cobb is the Triple Crown winner with a .377 BA‚ 9 home runs (all inside the park)‚ and 107 RBI. He also will lead the AL with 216 hits‚ 116 runs‚ and 296 total bases. His 76 stolen bases make him the only player ever to win a quadruple crown.

In Pittsburgh‚ Vic Willis stops Brooklyn on just one hit‚ a topped roller in the 3rd inning by Zack Wheat. It will be the closest ever to a no-hitter by any pitcher at Forbes Field. Pittsburgh wins‚ 6-0.
September 21Rest seems to have cured Walter Johnson‘s sore arm‚ as the Nats’ ace shuts out Detroit‚ 2-0‚ his first appearance since August 29th. He will finish the season at 13-25‚ 10 of the losses coming in shutouts. Five of the shutout losses were to the White Sox.
September 22Jimmy McAleer‚ one of the AL’s original managers‚ resigns from the Browns after 8 years‚ switching to Washington.

At Robison Field‚ the Cardinals collect 12 hits off Christy Mathewson‚ but still lose to the Giants‚ 4-3. Fred Beebe takes the loss. It is Beebe’s 14th straight loss to the Giants‚ establishing a ML record that’ll be tied in the 20th century by 7 pitchers.
September 24Charles Tenhuy of Dayton (Central League) dies as a result of a skull fracture when he was hit by a pitch thrown by Hagerman of Grand Rapids.
September 25The White Sox sweep a pair from the Nationals, 2–1, and 2–0. In game one, Washington rookie Bob Groom loses his 15th consecutive game, an AL record that will be surpassed by John Nabors (1916) and Mike Parrott (1980) He will lead the AL with 26 losses. Walter Johnson is the loser in game two as Bill Burns shuts out the Sox.

At Chicago‚ Cubs P Jack Pfiester beats Boston 7-4 for his 11th straight win over them stretching back to August 26‚ 1907.

At Philadelphia, the A’s tally two shutouts over Cleveland, winning, 5-0, behind Chief Bender and 3–0 behind veteran Cy Morgan.

The Yankees’ eight-game winning streak halts against the visiting Tigers pitcher Ed Summers, 2–1, in the first game of a doubleheader. They also lose the second game, 10-4. The Yanks hit Summers freely across the first three innings with the help of a signal-stealing scheme. A hat advertisement in CF has the crossbar in “H” cut and painted white on one side and black on the other. Using a telescope, a man spotted the catcher’s signal and used a handle to flip the crossbar to indicate fastball or curve. Tigers manager Hughey Jennings sent the team trainer to investigate. He discovers the scam and destroys the crossbar. Jennings wasn’t the only manager to suspect the Yankees were swiping signs. Chicago White Sox manager Billy Sullivan later claimed that he had suspicions, but couldn’t prove anything. Joe Cantillon, manager of the Senators, also claimed he was aware of the practice, but didn’t complain because his team was out of the race. He identified the man in CF as former pitcher Gene McCann. Later, at the winter meetings the American League board of directors issues a statement saying that “after their investigation, they found no evidence of a signal tipping plan had been in effect.” The statement also declared that “if such a plan was discovered from any team in the league the manager or player responsible would be banned from the league for all time.” A rule prohibiting signal tipping will be implemented the following year.
September 27The first-place Pirates set an NL record with their 16th victory in a row‚ before the Giants stop them‚ 8-7‚ in the 2nd game of a doubleheader.
September 28Before the start of the game in Pittsburgh‚ Fred Clarke is feted by the fans. He is awarded more than $600 in gold and receives a watch from Pittsburgh mayor William Magee. Against the Giants‚ Clark walks twice before removing himself‚ and Wagner collects two doubles and a single. But the Giants outslug the Pirates to win‚ 13-9.
September 29At Chicago‚ the Cubs take a pair from the Phillies‚ 5-4 and 6-3. Phils rookie Fred Luderas debuts and goes 4-for-4 with a HR and double in the nitecap.
September 30At Pittsburgh‚ the Giants and Pirates split a twinbill; New York takes the opener‚ 6-2‚ then loses 9-1. In the game 2 laugher‚ 49-year-old coach Arlie Latham makes his last ML appearance‚ and his 4th this year. Latham first played ML ball in 1880‚ for Buffalo.

October

October 2Eddie Grant of the Phils is 7-for-7 against the Giants’ Rube Marquard and Christy Mathewson‚ as the Phils sweep two‚ 9-2 and 2-1. Marquard is clobbered in the opener‚ allowing 16 hits and 9 runs‚ and George McQuillan outpitches Mathewson in the nitecap for a 2-1 victory. Mathewson ends the season with an ERA of 1.14 and a career-high winning percentage of .806.

In the first game of a season-ending doubleheader against Washington‚ Jim Curry plays second base for the Athletics and goes 1-for-4 against Walter Johnson. At 16 years‚ six months‚ and 22 days‚ Curry is the youngest player in American League history and the youngest major league position player in the 20th century (his birth year is reported as both 1889 and 1893): Carl Scheib will debut at 16 years of age in 1943. Walter Johnson‘s 6-5 loss in the opener seals the last-place finish for Washington with 110 losses-Johnson and Bob Groom suffering 51 of them. The A’s take the nitecap as well‚ 7-2. Three years later‚ when Washington rises to 2nd place‚ Johnson and Groom will combine for 56 wins. Today‚ Groom and P Dolly Gray play the outfield for the Nationals. The last place finish costs Pongo Joe Cantillon his job. The new manager is Jimmy McAleer.

In Kansas City‚ former Cubs catcher Johnny Kling wins the world championship of pool‚ defeating Cowboy Weston‚ 800 to 789. Kling was ahead in each of the four days of play. He runs 198 straight balls today while Weston‚ the defending champion‚ runs 208 straight.

In an exhibition game in Chicago‚ the NL Colts lose 7-3 to the colored Leland Giants at Gunther Park. Merz‚ with no ML record‚ is the loser as all the regulars rest. In the second game‚ the Giants play the Gunthers‚ winning 8-4.
October 6Chicago Cubs King Cole makes his major league debut a royal one by stopping the Cardinals‚ 8-0‚ the first shutout for the Cubs in three weeks. It is the Cubs 32nd shutout of the year tying the ML mark set by the 1906 White Sox and the 1907 Cubs.

In New York‚ the Highlanders and Tigers play a game for the benefit of Sam Crane. Christy Mathewson and Joe McGinnity were the opposing pitchers. The season is over for the Highlanders but Matty pitches even though his Giants are still playing.
October 7On the last day of the season‚ Brooklyn beats the Giants‚ 7-5.
October 8The Pirates‚ winners of 110 games‚ face Detroit in the WS‚ which pits the 2 leagues’ top offensive stars‚ Honus Wagner and Ty Cobb. It is the first of three times that batting champs will face each other in the WS (Al Simmons and Chick Hafey in 1931: Bobby Avila and Willie Mays in 1954 are the others) Pittsburgh manager Fred Clarke starts 27-year-old rookie righthander Babe Adams against Tigers P George Mullin. There are only 11 hits in the game‚ but one is a HR by Clarke‚ and the Pirates win 4-1 before a crowd of 29‚264.
October 9The Tigers win the 2nd WS game behind Bill Donovan 7-2. Cobb’s steal of home highlights a 3-run 3rd. Detroit has been defenseless against stolen bases in the past 3 WS‚ giving up 16 in 5 games to the Cubs in 1907‚ 15 in 5 games to the Cubs in 1908‚ and 18 in 7 games to the Pirates this year‚ for a total of 49 in 17 games‚ and the highest SB totals in all of WS history.
October 11Paced by Honus Wagner‘s 3 hits‚ 3 RBI‚ and 3 stolen bases‚ the visiting Pirates take game 3‚ 8-6. Nick Maddox is the winner over Ed Summers.
October 12George Mullin’s 5-hitter‚ 5-0 victory evens the Series again‚ as Cobb drives in 2 runs with a double. Mullin strikes out 10 batters‚ as Lefty Leifield takes the loss. Lefty is not helped by 6 Buc errors.
October 13Babe Adams hurls his 2nd complete-game victory 8-4‚ despite a double and HR by Sam Crawford. Fred Clarke‘s 3-run HR breaks a tie and gives the Pirates a 3-2 Series lead.
October 14George Mullin outlasts 3 Pirates pitchers for a 5-4 win that sends the Series to a 7th game in Detroit. This is the first WS to go the limit.

In a series between the two leagues’ third-place finishers‚ the Red Sox defeat the Giants and win the series‚ 4 games to 1.
October 16Rookie Babe Adams comes through with a 6-hit‚ 8-0 win. It is his 3rd complete-game WS victory and gives the Pirates their first World Championship. He is the only rookie this century to win a game 7 in the WS: The next to do it will be John Lackey‚ in 2002. Clarke walks 4 times‚ and Wagner and Miller each drive in 2 runs. The 2 teams combine for a WS record 34 errors‚ with Detroit contributing 19‚ also a record.

November

November 1The Red Sox hire former Washington skipper Patsy Donovan as manager‚ replacing Fred Lake. Lake will move across town to manage the Braves next season.
November 18In Cuba‚ righty Eustaquio “Bombin” Pedroso no hits the AL champion Detroit Tigers for 11 innings‚ finally winning‚ 2-1. The only run for Detroit comes on an error in the 7th. A squeeze bunt against Bill Lelivelt in the 11th scores the winner. A collection is taken up for Pedroso and fans‚ including several Tigers‚ contribute $300. The Tigers‚ playing without Ty Cobb and Sam Crawford‚ win 4 of 12 games against Havana and Almendares.
November 26The Phils are sold for $350‚000 to a group headed by sportswriter Horace Fogel. Because of his dual roles‚ Fogel will become the only executive barred from a league meeting.

December

December 15Kid Elberfeld‚ who helped make the Highlanders a winner‚ is sold to Washington for $5‚000.

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