[luckymann]

After two full seasons of utter turmoil, the AL and NL finally bury the hatchet. 1903 will be the first united Major League campaign.

After a slow start as they reel from the loss of two of their best pitchers in Jack Chesbro and Jesse Tannehill – who had combined for nearly half of the Pirates’ 103 wins in ’02 – to the Highlanders, the Pirates storm back into contention, winning 15 straight including a record six shutouts in a row. Led by pitchers Sam Leever and Deacon Phillippe and with their offence powered by Honus Wagner, player-manager Fred Clarke and outfielder Ginger Beaumont, the Bucs eventually kick clear of the Giants to win another NL pennant by 6½ games.

In the AL, a 36-year-old Cy Young along with fellow pitcher Bill Dinneen and position players Buck Freeman and Patsy Daugherty lead the Boston Americans to a 91-47 year and comfortable pennant win, 14½ games clear of the defending champion A’s.

The tough campaign takes its toll on Pittsburgh, and with Wagner hobbled by a leg injury the Americans account for them in the first ever World Series by 5 games to 3. Of those eight games, Deacon Phillippe starts five for the Pirates in a superhuman, yet ultimately futile, effort.

• Twelve spectators are killed and nearly 300 injured when an overhang behind the third-base stands at Philadelphia’s Baker Bowl collapses during the first game of a doubleheader between the Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals on August 8.
• Washington’s Ed Delahanty is killed under mysterious circumstances near Niagara Falls on July 2. His body is found two days later at the bottom of the falls. His death ends a stellar career in which he batted .346 with 2,597 hits. Only four other players in the history of the game will list a higher career batting mark.
• The AL follows the lead of the NL and commences applying the foul ball rule as we now know it. As happened in the NL in 1901, the impact on the AL is telling as scoring falls by 17% and batting average drops from .275 to .255.
• The White Sox tie a major league record by committing 12 errors in one game on May 6. Detroit adds six to set an all-time mark for the most errors by both teams in one game, at 18. Still manages to beat the Tigers, 10-9.
• On August 1, Rube Waddell of the Philadelphia Athletics goes the distance and allows four hits against the New York Highlanders; all four hits are by Kid Elberfeld, setting an AL mark for most hits by one player while his teammates collect none. Elberfeld’s hits—and six walks given up by Waddell—lead to a 3-2 Highlanders victory over the A’s.
• The Boston Americans score in a major league record 17 straight innings over three games, setting the record on the day they clinch the AL pennant with a 14-3 home rout over Cleveland.
• The first known moving picture footage of a major league game is shot during a postseason series between the Cleveland Blues and the Cincinnati Reds.
• Cleveland Blues rookie Jesse Stovall tosses an 11-inning shutout against the Detroit Tigers, a feat that still remains as the longest shutout ever for a major league pitching debut.
• On October 1, Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Jimmy Sebring becomes the first player to hit a home run in the World Series when he connects for a solo shot off of Boston's Cy Young in the seventh inning. The very next day, Americans outfielder Patsy Dougherty becomes the first player to hit multiple homers in a WS game when he drills solo shots in each of the 1st and 6th inning of Game 2.

Top Ten Lists (courtesy of thisgreatgame.com)

NL Hitters

1. HONUS WAGNER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .355 average, 19 triples, 5 home runs, 101 RBIs, 46 stolen bases.
• Wagner returned to the top podium in the NL batting race for the first time in three years—and the first of six times over the next seven seasons.

2. JIMMY SHECKARD, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: .332 average, 99 runs, 9 home runs, 75 RBIs, 75 walks, 67 stolen bases.
• Sheckard returned to prominence in Brooklyn following a disappointing 1902 season in which he fled to the AL’s Baltimore Orioles—and then fled from them after four games when he realized what a mistake he had made.

3. FRANK CHANCE, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: .327 average, 83 runs, 81 RBIs, 78 walks, 67 stolen bases, .439 on-base percentage.
• The soon-to-be Cubs manager evolved from part-time catcher to everyday first baseman, allowing him the opportunity to show off his everyday penchant for reaching base.

4. MIKE DONLIN, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .351 average, 110 runs, 18 triples, 7 home runs, 67 RBIs.
• A year after spending five months in jail for assaulting an actress and her boyfriend/escort, Donlin got in a rare full season—and a good one, too.

5. FRED CLARKE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .351 average, 88 runs, 32 doubles, 15 triples, 5 home runs, 70 RBIs.
• The Pirates’ manager-outfielder continued to lead by example, hitting for his second highest average following a .390 mark during his 1897 rookie managerial effort at Louisville.

6. SAM MERTES, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: .280 average, 100 runs, 32 doubles, 14 triples, 7 home runs, 104 RBIs, 45 stolen bases.
• One of the rare cases of an AL player being stolen away from a NL team (though the Giants had become awfully good at that), Mertes cooled off after a blazing start but still reigned as one of the NL’s top sluggers of the moment.

7. ROGER BRESNAHAN, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 113 games, .350 average, 87 runs, 30 doubles, 61 walks.
• Playing most of the year in the outfield before finding his calling as an inventive catcher, Bresnahan sparkled with a career-high batting average.

8. GINGER BEAUMONT, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: .341 average, 137 runs, 209 hits, 7 home runs, 68 RBIs.
• The speedy redhead paced the NL in runs for the only time in his career, while notching his lone 200-hit season.

9. CY SEYMOUR, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .342 average, 85 runs, 191 hits, 15 triples, 7 home runs, 72 RBIs.
• Seymour returned to the NL as a dangerous hitter after leaving it as a workhorse pitcher in 1900.

10. JAKE BECKLEY, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: .327 average, 29 doubles, 10 triples, 81 RBIs.
• Like fine wine, the 36-year-old Beckley continued to show how he could do it better than most others in the majors.

AL Hitters

1. NAP LAJOIE, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 125 games, .344 average, 90 runs, 167 hits, 41 doubles, 7 home runs, 93 RBIs.
• Lajoie was able to fully concentrate on baseball a year after the bitter tug-of-war between the leagues got him sidelined by the courts.

2. SAM CRAWFORD, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: .335 average, 23 doubles, 25 triples, 89 RBIs.
• After being among the last of the highly disputed acquisitions between the AL and NL, Crawford came, saw and conquered the junior circuit.

3. BILL BRADLEY, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .313 average, 101 runs, 36 doubles, 22 triples.
• A solid year for Bradley highlighted with single-game accomplishments; he became the first player in franchise history to hit for the cycle, while becoming the first American Leaguer to nail three triples in one game.

4. BUCK FREEMAN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 141 games, .287 average, 39 doubles, 20 triples, 13 home runs, 104 RBIs.
• The AL’s premier bruiser by the numbers, Freeman led the AL for the second straight year in both extra-base hits and RBIs while leading it in home runs for the only time in his career.

5. PATSY DOUGHERTY, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .331 average, 107 runs, 195 hits, 35 stolen bases.
• Dougherty enjoyed the salad days of his very short—yet popular—tenure at Boston.

6. JIMMY COLLINS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .296 average, 33 doubles, 17 triples, 5 home runs, 72 RBIs.
• Despite not hitting .300 for the first time in three years, the third baseman-manager remained a tough out while leading the Americans (Red Sox) to their first world title.

7. FREDDY PARENT, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: .304 average, 31 doubles, 17 triples, 4 home runs, 80 RBIs.
• Known more for his abilities at shortstop, Parent had one of his stronger years at the plate.

8. HARRY DAVIS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 106 games, .298 average, 6 home runs, 55 RBIs.
• A midseason injury kept Davis from ranking higher on the list as he warmed up for his upcoming reign as the AL’s premier bopper.

9. SOCKS SEYBOLD, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: .299 average, 45 doubles, 8 home runs, 84 RBIs.
• The veteran outfielder kept the top home run spot warm for Davis by leading the A’s with eight—while leading the AL with 45 doubles.

10. CHARLIE HICKMAN, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: .295 average, 12 home runs, 97 RBIs.
• In one of the few seasons he’d spend with just one team, Hickman set a career high in home runs.

NL Pitchers

1. JOE MCGINNITY, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.43 ERA, 31 wins, 20 losses, 55 games, 48 starts, 44 complete games, 434 innings.
• Firmly established in New York under manager John McGraw, McGinnity was let loose and racked up a NL modern era-record 434 innings along with his first of two straight 30-win campaigns.

2. SAM LEEVER, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.06 ERA, 25 wins, 7 losses, .781 win percentage, 284.1 innings.
• Though Deacon Phillippe would be remembered in this season for his workhorse performance at the World Series, Leever was his exhaustive equal during the regular season—with slightly better efficiency.

3. DEACON PHILLIPPE, PITTSBURGH

• Key Numbers: 2.43 ERA, 25 wins, 9 losses, 289.1 innings.
• Phillippe’s 25 wins would represent a personal best and cap a run of five straight years with at least 20.

4. JACK TAYLOR, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.45 ERA, 21 wins, 14 losses, 312.1 innings.
• A slight dropdown for Taylor from his stellar 1902 effort—but the Cubs still got rid of him after the season because of his attraction to being bribed. Not that Chicago risked talent loss; in trading Taylor to the Cardinals, the Cubs got Three Finger Brown in return.

5. CHRISTY MATHEWSON, NEW YORK

• Key Numbers: 2.26 ERA, 30 wins, 13 losses, 45 games, 42 starts, 366.1 innings, 267 strikeouts.
• The Giants’ saint to the sinner that was the feisty Joe McGinnity (above), the straitlaced Mathewson began his run of three straight 30-win efforts—and his strikeout total was the most by a National Leaguer until Sandy Koufax came along.

6. NOODLES HAHN, CINCINNATI

• Key Numbers: 2.52 ERA, 22 wins, 12 losses, 296 innings.
• The Reds’ workhorse ace completed every one of his 34 starts but failed to pitch over 300 innings for the first time in his career.

7. JAKE WEIMER, CHICAGO

• Key Numbers: 2.30 ERA, 20 wins, 8 losses, 282 innings.
• The rookie 20-game-winner felt close to home in Chicago; after all, he was only 250 miles from his Iowa hometown.

8. TULLY SPARKS, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.72 ERA, 11 wins, 15 losses.
• After bouncing around here and there over the past six seasons with virtually no success, Sparks finally found his rhythm with the Phillies by becoming a master of mixing up the velocity of his pitches.

9. OSCAR JONES, BROOKLYN

• Key Numbers: 2.94 ERA, 19 wins, 14 losses, 324.1 innings.
• Nicknamed Flip-Flap for reasons we’re yet to uncover, Jones set a career mark for wins in his first (and arguably best) of a mere three years he’d spend in the majors.

10. VIC WILLIS, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.98 ERA, 12 wins, 18 losses, 278 innings.
• A rare year in the career of Willis when he didn’t win and/or lose 20 games; still, his 12-18 mark failed to dignify a quality ERA.

AL Pitchers

1. CY YOUNG, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.08 ERA, 28 wins, 9 losses, .757 win percentage, 341.2 innings, 37 walks.
• Young failed to reach 30 wins for the first time since joining the AL, but for all it was worth, he certainly could hit (a career-high .321 in 137 at-bats).

2. BILL DINNEEN, BOSTON

• Key Numbers: 2.26 ERA, 21 wins, 13 losses, 299 innings.
• The Americans’ World Series hero (two shutouts against Pittsburgh) continued to flank Young as a worthy #2 during the regular season at Boston.

3. EARL MOORE, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 1.74 ERA, 20 wins, 8 losses.
• In between a rotten start and final month curtailed by injury, the sidewinding Moore put together a sterling career-year campaign.

4. ADDIE JOSS, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.19 ERA, 18 wins, 13 losses, 283.2 innings.
• There would be no sophomore jinx for Joss, who followed up a solid rookie season with a better second one; from here, it would only get better.

5. RUBE WADDELL, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.44 ERA, 21 wins, 16 losses, 324 innings.
• For the second straight season, Waddell managed to rack up 20+ wins for the A’s despite not being around from start to finish; in this case, he left in mid-August to chase a stage career.

6. EDDIE PLANK, PHILADELPHIA

• Key Numbers: 2.38 ERA, 23 wins, 16 losses, 43 games, 40 starts, 336 innings.
• The A’s gave Plank one less run of support per start than the year before, but that’s okay—he lowered his ERA by a run to compensate.

7. BILL BERNHARD, CLEVELAND

• Key Numbers: 2.12 ERA, 14 wins, 5 losses.
• Though he was limited to 20 appearances, Bernhard made the most of it and ran his two-year record to a terrific 32-10.

8. WILLIE SUDHOFF, ST. LOUIS

• Key Numbers: 2.27 ERA, 21 wins, 15 losses, 293.2 innings.
• Typically an average major league pitcher (at best) who historically lost more than he won, Sudhoff had one shining moment of a season for the Browns.

9. BILL DONOVAN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.29 ERA, 17 wins, 16 losses, 307 innings.
• The right-hander began a consistently efficient (if not injury-prone) 10-year tenure with the Tigers with his finest career ERA to date.

10. GEORGE MULLIN, DETROIT

• Key Numbers: 2.25 ERA, 19 wins, 15 losses, 320.2 innings.
• Despite his predilection for walks—he led the AL for the first of four straight years with 106—Mullin dropped his ERA from a 3.67 rookie showing the year before, and logged 300 innings for the first of five consecutive seasons.