1903 Major League Baseball season
| 1903 MLB season | |
|---|---|
| League | American League (AL) National League (NL) |
| Sport | Baseball |
| Duration | Regular season:
|
| Games | 140 |
| Teams | 16 (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 |
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]
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] However, the 1903 arrangement was primarily between the two participating clubs rather than a formal arrangement between the leagues, essentially making this season's World Series a voluntary event.[3]
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 American League would not return to Baltimore until the St. Louis Browns relocated their as a new Baltimore Orioles in 1954. 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:
- The pitcher's mound height was capped at 15 inches.[4][5]
- Previously adopted by the National league in 1901, the American League adopted the rule that foul balls are to count as strike balls, except after two strikes. Previously, foul balls would not affect the count. To cut the cost of lost foul balls, the committee urges that batters who foul off good strikes are to be disciplined.[6][7]
- A unified balk rule was agreed on, stating "a balk shall constitute any delivery of the ball to the batsman by the pitcher while either foot of the pitcher is back of the plate."[8]
Teams
An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at
Sunday games
Blue laws restricted Sunday activities in several localities, causing several teams to play at ballparks in a different locality.
| Team | City | Ballpark | Capacity | Games played |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Beaneaters[10] | Warwick, Rhode Island | Rocky Point State Park | Unknown | 1 |
| Cleveland Naps[11] | Canton, Ohio | Mahaffey Park | Unknown | 2 |
| Columbus, Ohio | Neil Park | 6,000 | 1 | |
| Detroit Tigers[12] | Toledo, Ohio | Armory Park | Unknown | 2 |
| East Grand Rapids, Michigan | Ramona Park | 1 |
- ^ In today's Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Standings
American League
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston Americans | 91 | 47 | .659 | — | 49–20 | 42–27 |
| Philadelphia Athletics | 75 | 60 | .556 | 14½ | 44–21 | 31–39 |
| Cleveland Naps | 77 | 63 | .550 | 15 | 49–25 | 28–38 |
| New York Highlanders | 72 | 62 | .537 | 17 | 41–26 | 31–36 |
| Detroit Tigers | 65 | 71 | .478 | 25 | 37–28 | 28–43 |
| St. Louis Browns | 65 | 74 | .468 | 26½ | 38–32 | 27–42 |
| Chicago White Stockings | 60 | 77 | .438 | 30½ | 41–28 | 19–49 |
| Washington Senators | 43 | 94 | .314 | 47½ | 29–40 | 14–54 |
National League
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 91 | 49 | .650 | — | 46–24 | 45–25 |
| New York Giants | 84 | 55 | .604 | 6½ | 41–27 | 43–28 |
| Chicago Cubs | 82 | 56 | .594 | 8 | 45–28 | 37–28 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 74 | 65 | .532 | 16½ | 41–35 | 33–30 |
| Brooklyn Superbas | 70 | 66 | .515 | 19 | 40–33 | 30–33 |
| Boston Beaneaters | 58 | 80 | .420 | 32 | 31–35 | 27–45 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 49 | 86 | .363 | 39½ | 25–33 | 24–53 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 43 | 94 | .314 | 46½ | 22–45 | 21–49 |
Tie games
15 tie games (6 in AL, 9 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again), occurred throughout the season.
American League
- Boston Americans, 3
- Chicago White Stockings, 1
- Detroit Tigers, 1
- New York Highlanders, 2
- Philadelphia Athletics, 2
- Washington Senators, 3
National League
- Boston Beaneaters, 2
- Brooklyn Superbas, 3
- Chicago Cubs, 1
- Cincinnati Reds, 2
- New York Giants, 3
- Philadelphia Phillies, 4
- Pittsburgh Pirates, 1
- St. Louis Cardinals, 2
Postseason
The postseason began on October 1 and ended on October 13 with the Boston Americans defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1903 World Series in eight games.
Bracket
| World Series | ||||
| AL | Boston Americans | 5 | ||
| NL | Pittsburgh Pirates | 3 | ||
"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.[14]
Managerial changes
Off-season
| Team | Former Manager | New Manager |
|---|---|---|
| Baltimore Orioles | Wilbert Robinson | Team folded |
| Chicago White Stockings | Clark Griffith | Jimmy Callahan |
| Detroit Tigers | Frank Dwyer | Ed Barrow |
| New York Highlanders | Team enfranchised | Clark Griffith |
| Philadelphia Phillies | Bill Shettsline | Chief Zimmer |
League leaders
American League
| Stat | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| AVG | Nap Lajoie (CLE) | .344 |
| OPS | Nap Lajoie (CLE) | .896 |
| HR | Buck Freeman (BOS) | 13 |
| RBI | Buck Freeman (BOS) | 104 |
| R | Patsy Dougherty (BOS) | 107 |
| H | Patsy Dougherty (BOS) | 195 |
| SB | Harry Bay (CLE) | 45 |
| Stat | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| W | Cy Young (BOS) | 28 |
| L | Patsy Flaherty (CWS) | 25 |
| ERA | Earl Moore (CLE) | 1.74 |
| K | Rube Waddell (PHA) | 302 |
| IP | Cy Young (BOS) | 341.2 |
| SV | Bill Dinneen (BOS) George Mullin (DET) Al Orth (WSH) Jack Powell (SLB) Cy Young (BOS) |
2 |
| WHIP | Addie Joss (CLE) | 0.948 |
National League
| Stat | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| AVG | Honus Wagner (PIT) | .355 |
| OPS | Fred Clarke (PIT) | .946 |
| HR | Jimmy Sheckard (BRO) | 9 |
| RBI | Sam Mertes (NYG) | 104 |
| R | Ginger Beaumont (PIT) | 137 |
| H | Ginger Beaumont (PIT) | 209 |
| SB | Jimmy Sheckard (BRO) Frank Chance (CHC) |
67 |
| Stat | Player | Total |
|---|---|---|
| W | Joe McGinnity (NYG) | 31 |
| L | Togie Pittinger (BSN) | 22 |
| ERA | Sam Leever (PIT) | 2.06 |
| K | Christy Mathewson (NYG) | 267 |
| IP | Joe McGinnity (NYG) | 434.0 |
| SV | Carl Lundgren (CHC) Roscoe Miller (NYG) |
3 |
| WHIP | Deacon Phillippe (PIT) | 1.030 |
Milestones
Batters
Cycles
- Fred Clarke (PIT):
- Clarke hit for his second cycle and third in franchise history, on May 7 against the Cincinnati Reds.
- Buck Freeman (BOS):
- Freeman hit for his first cycle and the first cycle in franchise history, on June 21 against the Cleveland Naps.
- Patsy Dougherty (BOS):
- Dougherty hit for his first cycle and the second cycle in franchise history, on July 29 against the New York Highlanders.
- Bill Bradley (CLE):
- Bradley hit for his first cycle and the first cycle in franchise history, September 24 against the Washington Senators.
Pitchers
No-hitters
- Chick Fraser (PHI):
- Fraser threw his first career no-hitter and the third no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Chicago Cubs 10–0 in game 2 of a doubleheader on September 18. Fraser walked five and struck out four.[19]
Other pitching accomplishments
- Joe McGinnity (NYG):
- Became the first pitcher to win two complete games in one day on August 1, with 4–1 and 5–2 victories over the Boston Beaneaters in a doubleheader.[20]
Miscellaneous
- Chicago White Stockings / Detroit Tigers:
- Set a major league record for most errors in a game at 18 (twelve committed by Chicago, and six by Detroit).
Home field attendance
| Team name | Wins | %± | Home attendance | %± | Per game |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New York Giants[21] | 84 | 75.0% | 579,530 | 91.3% | 8,279 |
| Philadelphia Athletics[22] | 75 | −9.6% | 422,473 | 0.6% | 6,306 |
| Chicago Cubs[23] | 82 | 20.6% | 386,205 | 46.5% | 5,290 |
| St. Louis Browns[24] | 65 | −16.7% | 380,405 | 39.7% | 5,434 |
| Boston Americans[25] | 91 | 18.2% | 379,338 | 8.8% | 5,419 |
| Cincinnati Reds[26] | 74 | 5.7% | 351,680 | 61.8% | 4,627 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates[27] | 91 | −11.7% | 326,855 | 34.1% | 4,669 |
| Cleveland Naps[28] | 77 | 11.6% | 311,280 | 13.0% | 4,206 |
| Chicago White Stockings[29] | 60 | −18.9% | 286,183 | −15.3% | 4,088 |
| St. Louis Cardinals[30] | 43 | −23.2% | 226,538 | 0.1% | 3,283 |
| Brooklyn Superbas[31] | 70 | −6.7% | 224,670 | 12.4% | 3,078 |
| Detroit Tigers[32] | 65 | 25.0% | 224,523 | 18.5% | 3,454 |
| New York Highlanders[33] | 72 | 211,808 | 3,161 | ||
| Philadelphia Phillies[34] | 49 | −12.5% | 151,729 | 35.4% | 2,487 |
| Boston Beaneaters[35] | 58 | −20.5% | 143,155 | 22.4% | 2,105 |
| Washington Senators[36] | 43 | −29.5% | 128,878 | −31.5% | 1,815 |
Venues
The 1903 season saw the enfranchisement of the New York Highlanders, in place of the folded Baltimore Orioles, playing at Hilltop Park in New York City, New York, where they would play for ten seasons through 1912.
Regarding games that were rescheduled to Sunday, and existing blue laws:
- For 1903 only, the Boston Beaneaters, played one game at Rocky Point State Park in Warwick, Rhode Island on September 6.[10][37]
- The Cleveland Naps continue playing a few Sunday games at Mahaffey Park in Canton, Ohio (two games on May 10 and June 21) and at Neil Park (one game on May 17). Previously, the Naps played Sunday games at Jail Flats[38] in Fort Wayne, Indiana and Fairview Park in Dayton, Ohio. This would be the last season of separate Sunday games.[11][37]
- The Detroit Tigers ceased playing at their prior Sunday home game venue at Burns Park in Springwells Township (outside of Detroit city limits), and played at Armory Park in Toledo, Ohio (two games on June 28 and August 16) and Ramona Park in East Grand Rapids, Michigan (one game on May 24).[12][37]
On August 8, in what is known as the worst disaster in American sports spectating history,[39] Black Saturday, a section of balcony at the Philadelphia Phillies' home at the Baker Bowl collapsed, killing 12 spectators and injuring 232. The Philadelphia Phillies played their last 16 of their 61 home games at the home of the American League crosstown Philadelphia Athletics, Columbia Park from August 20.[40]
See also
References
- ^ "History of the World Series – 1903". The Sporting News. Archived from the original on August 13, 2006. Retrieved September 3, 2006.
- ^ "World Series Summary". MLB.com. MLB Advanced Media. Retrieved August 25, 2019.
- ^ "World Series: Every World Series in Major League Baseball History". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved February 3, 2017.
- ^ "A guide to rules changes in MLB (and sports) history". MLB.com. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (June 9, 2012). "Pitching Mound Is a Work of Art Often Abused". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2024.
- ^ "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.
- ^ "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.
- ^ Miskowiec, Abigail. "1902 Winter Meetings: A Peace Accord – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved March 26, 2025.
- ^ "1903 Major League Managers". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ^ a b "Boston Braves – Seamheads.com Ballparks Database". www.seamheads.com. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
- ^ a b "Cleveland Indians – Seamheads.com Ballparks Database". www.seamheads.com. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
- ^ a b "Detroit Tigers – Seamheads.com Ballparks Database". www.seamheads.com. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
- ^ Shieber, Tom (August 9, 2011). "Baseball Researcher: Nix Flicks Sticks in Box for Sox in Rox". Baseball Researcher. Retrieved May 20, 2025.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "1903 American League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ^ "1903 American League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ^ "1903 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ^ "1903 National League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
- ^ "No Hit Game For Fraser". St. Paul Globe. September 19, 1903. Retrieved June 29, 2012.
- ^ Mackin, Bob (2004). The Unofficial Guide to Baseball's Most Unusual Records. Canada: Greystone Books. p. 240. ISBN 9781553650386..
- ^ "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Cleveland Guardians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 28, 2024.
- ^ a b c "Seamheads.com Ballparks Database". www.seamheads.com. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
- ^ Griggs, Bill; Nitztitle, Jim. "League Park (Fort Wayne, IN) – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved January 28, 2026.
- ^ Browning, William. "Worst spectator deaths at sporting events". Yahoo Sports. Retrieved December 15, 2012.
- ^ "1903 Philadelphia Phillies Schedule". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved January 28, 2026.
External links
- 1903 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference
- 1903 in baseball history from ThisGreatGame.com