1902 Baseball Season Highlights
As previously mentioned, the 1902 baseball season was a time of great turmoil as the war between the American League and National league came to a boiling point.
The year was known for battles, both on the field and in the court room; but also for stellar performances by Hall-of-Famers like Jack Chesbro and Cy Young. Here are the highlights from the 1902 baseball season:
- Cleveland rookie Addie Joss tops the American League in shutouts with five.
 Addie Joss' rookie season in 1902 was a huge success and paved the way for his Hall-of-Fame career. See more baseball seasons pictures. |
- Pirates win the National League flag again -- by a record 27-1/2 games.
- Pittsburgh's Jack Chesbro leads the National League in wins (28) and win pct. (.824).
- Pittsburgh's Tommy Leach leads the National League with six homers, fewest by a leader in 20th century.
- The A's win their first American League flag.
- John McGraw jumps the American League in midseason to manage the Giants, but can't keep them out of last place.
- Washington's Ed Delahanty wins the American League batting title (.376) after winning the National League title in 1899.
- Philly's Socks Seybold leads the American League with 16 homers, tying Sam Crawford's 20th-century record.
- Pittsburgh and Brooklyn lead the National League with 19 homers; every American League team but Chicago has more.
- Pirate Ginger Beaumont leads the National League in batting (.357) and hits (193).
- Cy Young again leads the American League in wins with 32.
- Last in the American League in 1901, Milwaukee moves to St. Louis -- the American League's first franchise shift.
- Jack Taylor of second-division Cubs leads the National League in ERA (1.33) and posts a dazzling 23-11 record.
- George Davis of the White Sox has a .951 FA, a new record for shortstops.
- After an erratic showing in the National League, Philly's Rube Waddell goes 24-7 and leads the American League in Ks (210).
- Harry Pulliam is named the National League president.
- The Chicago Daily News coins the nickname "Cubs" for the Chicago National League team.
- Nig Ciarke of the Texas League's Corsicana goes 8-for-8 with eight homers.
- In his American League debut, Danny Murphy of the A's goes 6-for-6 vs. Cy Young.
- Jack Chesbro sets a record with 41 consecutive scoreless innings in the National League.
- Cubs Joe Tinker, Johnny Evers, and Frank Chance first play together in a game on Sept. 15.
- Chicago's Nixey Callahan no-hits the Tigers on Sept. 20.
- The Pirates are 56-15 at home, the best home record ever in National League.
- Boston's Vic Willis has a National League-record 45 complete games.
- Pete Childs of the Phils has a .266 SA, the lowest ever by a player with more than 400 at-bats.
- Cardinals Jack and Mike O'Neill form the National League's first brother battery.
- White Sox George Davis becomes the first switch-hitter to collect 2,000 hits.
- Sam Mertes of the White Sox plays all nine positions during the season.
- Cleveland makes an American League-record six errors in an inning on June 2.
- Cleveland's Piano Legs Hickman leads the American League in hits (193) and total bases (289).
- Detroit's Ed Siever tops the American League in ERA (1.91) and is the first ERA leader to post a below-.500 win pet.
- Honus Wagner leads the National League in runs (105), doubles (30), SA (.463), and steals (42).
- Braves have two 27-game winners, Vic Willis and Togie Pittinger.
- Phillie Ham Iburg sets a modern National League record for losses in a season (18) by a pitcher in his lone major league season.
- Baltimore's Jimmy Williams again tops the American League in triples (21).
- Red Donahue and Jack Powell lead the second-place Browns with 22 wins apiece.
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