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Fans were excited for possible close division races for September in the American League, but both winners pulled away and took first place by ten game margins. In the East, the four-year reign for Boston has ended, as well as their quest for a third consecutive World Series win. Baltimore was 16-10 in September while the Red Sox were 10-15, which included the Orioles taking three of four in their last series hosting Boston.

At 99-63, Baltimore earned the top seed. The Red Sox finished 89-73 with Cleveland third at 87-75. This was a franchise-best for the Spiders. New York at 75-87 had its first-ever losing season, followed by Washington (71-91) and Philadelphia (68-94).

The Orioles led the Majors with 932 runs scored and led the AL with a +144 run differential. Baltimore also set new AL team records with a.455 slugging percentage and 191 home runs. Despite their lackluster record, the Nationals allowed the AL’s fewest runs at 686.

Milwaukee continued to roll by going 19-7 in September, repeating atop the West at 97-65. The Brewers had the best record of any team at the all-star break going 58-21, making up for being five below .500 at the break. Minnesota was second at 87-75, having gone 40-39 in the second half. Next was Kansas City (81-81) and Detroit (78-84), who both struggled in the back end after being in the mix early. Chicago at 75-87 posted its first losing season, while St. Louis had the AL’s worst record at 65-97.

AL Batter of the Month in September was Cleveland LF Henry Moore with a .441 average, 2 homers, 21 RBI, and 22 runs. His Spiders teammate Fred Tenney was the top pitcher with a 6-0 record, 56 innings, 38 strikeouts, and a 0.80 ERA. It was a clean sweep for Cleveland with SP Harry Staley as Rookie of the Month, going 5-0 with a 2.02 ERA and 22 Ks in 53.1 innings.



Detroit’s Duke Farrell became the third player in MLB history with a 50+ home run season. His 51 was one short of Hugh Duffy’s 1886 record. Baltimore LF Pete Browning earned his second batting title with a .361 average. His teammate Bug Holiday had the best OPS at 1.028. It is ultimately a wide-open field for the AL’s MVP. Milwaukee’s Lady Baldwin won the ERA title at 2.24. Pitcher of the Year is also competitive with New York’s Bert Dorr as the WARlord (7.9) and Minnesota’s Toad Ramsey as the strikeout leader (272).

Kansas City’s Billy Shindle set the single-season record with 92 stolen bases. Cleveland’s Henry Moore broke his own record for singles with 183. He led the majors with 238 hits, second-most all-time behind Dave Orr’s 252 from 1884.

On top of their terrible season, the Athletics got terrible news in late September. Two-way star Jim Whitney, a three-time all-star, suffered a partially torn UCL. The injury is severe enough that doctors think he’ll be out 12 months, likely missing most or all of the 1889 season. The Twins also saw their second-year pitcher Ed Beatin with a partially torn UCL late in the year, although his doctors think he could be back by the spring.