|
1901 Season
The St. Louis Browns and Washington Eagles started off hot in the NBC, while the initial teams to beat in the ABC appeared to be the Baltimore Blackbirds, Boston Patriots and Pittsburgh Prowlers. In May, the Browns pulled away with another great month as the Eagles regressed. Meanwhile in the ABC, the Prowlers pulled ahead. For most of the rest of the season, the Browns and Prowlers continued to dominate. The Browns built and easily maintained a big lead, winning the first ever NBC pennant. The Prowlers held off challenges by the Blackbirds and the Virginia Beach Captains to win the ABC pennant. The first World Series began in Pittsburgh, where the Prowlers won the first two games. The next three games were held in St. Louis, where the Browns won all three. The teams took the train back to Pittsburgh, where the Browns needed one win on the road to win the first World Series. They could not, as the Prowlers won both of their home games to capture the FBL's first championship.
The Prowlers had the league MVP (Honus Wagner) and Pitcher of the Year (Jesse Tannehill) on their team. The league's first Rookie of the Year was pitcher Doc White of the Virginia Beach Captains.
The NBC's MVP was Jimmy Sheckard of the Hartford Lions. Pitcher of the Year was Bill Donovan, also of the Lions. Rookie of the Year was Washington Eagles second baseman John Farrell.
|