[FuzzyRussianHat]

After the first month of 1893, Baltimore has the American League’s best record at 18-10. New York is one back at 17-11 in the AL East with Philadelphia (16-12) and Washington (15-13) close behind. Minnesota leads the AL West at 17-11 with Kansas City next at 14-14 and everyone else below .500.

Twins RF Larry Twitchell was AL Batter of the Month for April with a .378 average, 7 home runs, 21 RBI, and 21 runs. Second-round pick Frank Rudderham for the Orioles was both Pitcher and Rookie of the Month. He had a 1.81 ERA, 5-0 record, and 30 strikeouts over 44.2 innings. In other notables, Athletics’ ace Toad Ramsey became the first pitcher with 2000 career strikeouts. Cleveland CF Bob Pettit became the eighth with 500 career stolen bases.

Two-time Pitcher of the Year Ed Daily is out 14 months after suffering a torn UCL in his third season with Boston. The 30-year old righty also missed most of 1891 with a bone spur in his elbow. He had been a huge free agent signing after his 1890 POTY with the Braves, but his one healthy year with the Red Sox was merely decent.

In bad news for Detroit, SP Jim Handiboe is out for the year with a partially torn UCL in his first start of the season. The 26-year old righty won the ERA title back in 1891. It is his second major injury, having missed most of 1889 with a torn flexor tendon. The Tigers also will be without C Jack O’Brien 4-5 months with post-concussion syndrome. The 33-year old won a Silver Slugger last year with the Red Sox and was signed in the offseason by Detroit.

Buffalo has the best record in all of MLB entering May at 19-9 atop the National League East Division. Philadelphia is right behind though in the East at 18-10, while Brooklyn (15-13) and Pittsburgh (14-13) also have winning records. No one is above .500 in the NL West with St. Louis and Indianapolis sharing the top spot at 14-14.

Phillies LF Joe Kelley won NL Batter of the Month in April with a .375 average, 9 home runs, 27 RBI, and 34 runs. Buffalo’s Adonis Terry was Pitcher of the Month on a 1.73 ERA over 52 innings with 44 Ks and a 4-2 record. The Pirates’ Gus McGinnis was Rookie of the Month as the #10 pick had a 2.76 ERA, 4-2 record, and 24 Ks in 49 innings.

Third-year Braves righty George Rettger had the first no-hitter of the season on April 3 against the Phillies. He struck out nine and walked four over 124 pitches on a rainy Monday as Boston won 2-0. Rettger was Reliever of the Year and the saves leader last season, but has fared well in the rotation for 1893.



Braves star LF Mike Tiernan made history three days later as the first in MLB history to reach 400 career home runs. Through April 1893, Tiernan is MLB’s all-time leader in homers (402), WAR (74.07), and both slugging (.698) and OPS (1.120) among those with 1300+ career plate appearances.