Highlighted Year: Al Orth, 1901

Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies

Age:  29 (Sept. 5)

7^th season with Phillies

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1901:

Born in Missouri and raised in Danville, Indiana, Orth pitched for DePauw University and then went on to play professionally for the Lynchburg Hill Climbers of the Virginia League in 1895 where he posted a 24-7 record with a 2.51 ERA and 130 strikeouts over 269 innings pitched. The Hill Climbers sold his contract to the Phillies for $1000. He pitched in 11 games (10 of them starts) in the remainder of the 1895 NL season with the Phillies and had an 8-1 tally and 3.89 ERA with 25 strikeouts over 88 innings. With the eighth place Phillies in 1896, his record was 15-10 with a 4.41 ERA, 19 complete games, and 23 strikeouts over 196 innings. With a deceptively easy delivery and excellent control, Orth’s pitches appeared to be slow and hittable, but his ability to change speeds managed to get hitters out with regularity. He was called “the Curveless Wonder” due to his lack of a breaking pitch and was a very good hitting pitcher who was occasionally used in the outfield between starts to keep his bat in the lineup. The Phillies remained a losing team again in 1897 and Orth’s record slipped to 14-19 and a 4.62 ERA with 64 strikeouts over 282.1 innings. The club improved to register a winning record in 1898 and Orth went 15-13 with a 3.02 ERA and 52 strikeouts with 53 walks over 250 innings. Along the way he pitched and won both games in a doubleheader against Brooklyn. In 1899 the Phillies finished in third place and Orth produced a 14-3 tally and 2.49 ERA with a mere 35 strikeouts and 19 walks across 144.2 innings. In 1900 he went 14-14 with a 3.78 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 262 innings.

1901 Season Summary

Appeared in 42 games

P – 35, CF – 4, PH – 4

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 35 [16, tied with Bill Duggleby]

Games Started – 33 [12, tied with Red Donahue & Togie Pittinger]

Complete Games – 30 [11, tied with Deacon Phillippe & Jack Taylor]

Wins – 20 [6, tied with four others]

Losses – 12 [20, tied with four others]

PCT - .625 [7, tied with Bill Donovan & Bill Duggleby]

Saves – 1 [6, tied with four others]

Shutouts – 6 [1, tied with Jack Chesbro & Vic Willis]

Innings Pitched – 281.2 [15]

Hits – 250

Runs – 101

Earned Runs – 71

Home Runs – 3

Bases on Balls – 32

Strikeouts – 92

ERA – 2.27 [3]

Hit Batters – 8

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 5 [17, tied with four others]

Midseason Snapshot: 10-7, ERA - 2.13, SO - 45 in 143.2 IP

---

Most strikeouts, game – 7 (in 9 IP) vs. Chi. Orphans 5/21, (in 9 IP) at Cincinnati 9/30

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) at NY Giants 8/3

 Batting

PA – 134, AB – 128, R – 14, H – 36, 2B – 6, 3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 15, BB – 3, SO – 11, SB – 3, CS – N/A, AVG - .281, GDP – N/A, HBP – 1, SH – 0, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 110

Put Outs – 21

Assists – 83

Errors – 6

DP – 2

Pct. - .945

---

The Phillies went 83-57 to finish second in the NL, 7.5 games behind the pennant-winning Pittsburgh Pirates. The pitching staff led the league in shutouts (15, tied with Pittsburgh). Despite key player defections to the American League, the Phillies remained competitive through a 38-31 first half. Despite a 16-win September, they could gain no ground on the surging Pirates, who accounted for five of their 9 September losses.

Aftermath of 1901:

In the offseason Orth jumped to the new American League and signed with the Washington Senators. He had a disappointing season with Washington in 1902, producing a 19-18 record with a 3.97 ERA and 76 strikeouts over 324 innings pitched. He also led the league by surrendering 18 home runs, a huge number by “Dead Ball Era” standards. He still kept his walks to a minimum by averaging 1.1 bases on balls per nine innings with his total of 40. In 1903 Orth compiled a 10-22 tally and 4.34 ERA with 30 complete games and 88 strikeouts over 279.2 innings while walking 88 batters. Off to a 3-4 start in 1904, he was traded to the New York Highlanders (now Yankees) in July and went a solid 11-6 the rest of the way for a combined record of 14-10 with a 3.41 ERA, 18 complete games, 70 strikeouts and 34 walks over 211.1 innings. He also learned to throw a spitball (a legal pitch at the time) and proved to be adept at using it, since it tended to break sideways rather than down. A contending team in 1904, the Highlanders dropped to sixth in 1905 but Orth, relying on his new pitch more, had a solid 18-16 tally with a 2.86 ERA, 26 complete games, 6 shutouts, and 121 strikeouts over 305.1 innings. The Highlanders finished a close second in the 1906 AL pennant race, and Orth led the league in wins with his 27-17 record, as well as complete games (36), and innings pitched (338.2) while producing a 2.34 ERA and 133 strikeouts. The club dropped to 70-78 in 1907 and Orth posted a 14-21 tally to lead the league in losses a year after topping the circuit in wins. His ERA was a respectable 2.61 and he pitched 21 complete games with 78 strikeouts over 248.2 innings. Orth was 2-13 with a 3.42 ERA in 1908 when the Highlanders released him in August. Returning to his home in Lynchburg, Virginia he became a part-owner and player/manager for the Lynchburg Shoemakers of the Virginia League. He returned to the Highlanders in 1909 as a second baseman and pinch-hitter who made only one ineffectual pitching appearance. Making 40 plate appearances he batted .265 with a .359 OBP in his final major league season. For his major league career Orth compiled a 204-189 record and 3.37 ERA with 324 complete games, 31 shutouts, 6 saves, and 948 strikeouts over 3354.2 innings. He issued only 661 walks to average 1.8 per nine innings. With the Phillies he went 100-72 with a 3.49 ERA, 149 complete games, 14 shutouts, and 359 strikeouts over 1504.2 innings. He walked 230 batters for an average of 1.8 per nine innings. The good-hitting pitcher batted .273 with 61 doubles, 30 triples, 12 home runs, 184 RBIs, and a .289 on-base percentage. Following his playing career, he was a National League umpire for several seasons and was a coach at Washington & Lee University and VMI. He also served as a YMCA athletic director for troops stationed in France during World War I. Orth died in 1948 at the age of 76.

---

Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Reggie Jackson, 1968

Outfielder, Oakland Athletics

Age:  22 (May 18)

2^nd season with Athletics

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 195 

Prior to 1968:

A native of Pennsylvania from the Philadelphia suburb of Wyncote, Jackson excelled in football, basketball, and track, as well as baseball, at Cheltenham High School. After high school he went to Arizona State University on a football scholarship. Fast, tough, and talented, he was starting in the defensive backfield as a sophomore. Jackson tried out for the baseball team and impressed with his batting power. After playing summer ball in Baltimore to sharpen his skills, he became the starting center fielder as a sophomore. Self-confident and charismatic with a flair for the dramatic, as well as an impressive raw talent, he was chosen by the Athletics, at the time located in Kansas City, second overall in the 1966 amateur draft. While tempted to remain in school, he signed with the A’s for a $85,000 bonus. Starting out professionally with the Lewiston Broncs of the short-season Class A Northwest League, he was quickly moved to Modesto of the Class A California League where, in 56 games, he batted .299 with 21 home runs and 60 RBIs. Promoted to Birmingham of the Class AA Southern League in 1967, Jackson hit .293 with 26 doubles, 17 triples, 17 home runs, 58 RBIs, a .372 on-base percentage, and a .562 slugging percentage, receiving a late-season trial with Kansas City that amounted to only a .178 average with one home run. Jackson was starting in right field with the A’s, now in Oakland, in 1968.

1968 Season Summary

Appeared in 154 games

RF – 148, CF – 10, PH – 4, PR – 2, LF – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 614 [20, tied with Joe Foy]

At Bats – 553 [17]

Runs – 82 [7]

Hits – 138

Doubles – 13

Triples – 6 [14, tied with four others]

Home Runs – 29 [4]

RBI – 74 [8, tied with Carl Yastrzemski]

Bases on Balls – 50

Int. BB – 5

Strikeouts – 171 [1]

Stolen Bases – 14 [15, tied with Rick Monday]

Caught Stealing – 4

Average - .250

OBP - .316

Slugging Pct. - .452 [8]

Total Bases – 250 [7]

GDP – 3

Hit By Pitches – 5 [13, tied with eight others]

Sac Hits – 4

Sac Flies – 2 

League-leading batting strikeouts were +28 ahead of runner-up Rick Monday

Midseason snapshot: HR - 13, RBI - 34, AVG - .262, SLG – .430, OBP – .343

---

Most hits, game – 3 (in 3 AB) at NY Yankees 4/16, (in 5 AB) at Boston 5/3, (in 3 AB) at Baltimore 6/7, (in 5 AB) at California 9/1

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at Detroit 9/14

HR at home – 9

HR on road – 20

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Minnesota 7/27

Pinch-hitting/running – 1 for 2 (.500) with 2 R, 1 RBI & 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 295

Put Outs – 269

Assists – 14

Errors – 12

DP – 5

Pct. - .959

Awards & Honors:

17^th in AL MVP voting, tied with Brooks Robinson, Balt. (8 points, 3% share)

---

The relocated Athletics went 82-80 to finish sixth in the AL, 21 games behind the pennant-winning Detroit Tigers, while leading the league in hits (1300), stolen bases (147), and batting (.240). The resurgent A’s.climbed as high as third place in June prior to a seven-game losing streak that moved them back into the middle of the pack. Still, they finished with their best record since 1952, when they were still in Philadelphia, which was not enough to save manager Bob Kennedy’s job. Attendance at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum was a disappointing 837,466, presaging many years of mediocre returns at the gate.

Aftermath of 1968:

Jackson broke out in a big way in 1969 as he hit 37 home runs by the All-Star break, putting him on a record pace. He tailed off thereafter and ended up with 47 homers for the year while batting .275 with 118 RBIs and a league-leading 123 runs scored and .608 slugging percentage in addition to again topping the circuit in striking out with 142 whiffs. Jackson held out in the spring of 1970 and got off to a slow start at the plate that had him publicly feuding with owner Charlie Finley throughout the season, who threatened to send him down to the minors. The result was 23 home runs, 66 RBIs, a .237 average, and a .359 OBP. He played winter ball in Puerto Rico under the guidance of long-time hitting star Frank Robinson to get back on track. The A’s topped the AL West in 1971 and Jackson contributed significantly by hitting .277 with 32 home runs and 80 RBIs. In the All-Star Game he hit a long home run at Detroit’s Tiger Stadium that hit a light stand some 520 feet from home plate. The A’s lost to Baltimore in the ALCS but Jackson hit two home runs in his first taste of postseason action. He had lesser numbers in 1972 while batting .265 with 25 home runs and 75 RBIs. Oakland again topped the division but lost Jackson to a torn hamstring during the ALCS against Detroit, and he was in a cast for the seven-game World Series triumph over Cincinnati. By 1973 he was a three-time All-Star who had received MVP votes in each of the prior two seasons while playing for a championship club. After seeing significant action in center field in 1972, Jackson was almost exclusively a right fielder in 1973 and had an outstanding year as Oakland again won the division. He led the AL in home runs (32), RBIs (117), runs scored (99), and slugging (.531) while batting .293 with a .383 OBP. He was selected as league MVP for his efforts and was also MVP of the seven-game World Series win against the New York Mets by hitting .310 and his two-RBI performance in Game 6 kept the A’s alive in a Series in which owner Finley instigated a near player mutiny by his attempted “firing” of second baseman Mike Andrews after his two twelfth inning errors led to a loss in Game 2. The A’s topped the AL West for the fourth straight season in 1974 amidst turmoil that included Jackson getting in fights with catcher Ray Fosse and outfielder Bill North that resulted in his suffering a shoulder injury that limited his production in the season’s second half. He still batted .289 with 29 home runs and 93 RBIs. The talented but fractious club won the AL pennant and a third consecutive World Series, beating the Dodgers in five games while Jackson hit .286 with a home run. Oakland topped the AL West again in 1975 while Jackson hit 36 home runs and tied for the league lead with Milwaukee’s George Scott. He also batted .253 with a .329 OBP and 104 RBIs. Facing the final year of his contract in 1976, the A’s traded Jackson to the Baltimore Orioles along with LHP Ken Holtzman for three players that included outfielder Don Baylor and RHP Mike Torrez just prior to the season’s start. Jackson held out and missed the first few weeks. He got off to a slow start once he ironed out his contract difficulties and reported to the Orioles. His bat eventually came around and he ended up hitting .277 with 27 home runs and 91 RBIs while posting a league-leading .502 slugging percentage. A free agent in the offseason, he signed with the New York Yankees for five years and $2.96 million. Jackson was involved in turmoil during the 1977 season, most notably a dugout confrontation with manager Billy Martin after he was removed from a game in Boston in June. Once again finding himself on a winning team with a fractious atmosphere, he batted .286 with 32 home runs and 110 RBIs and tied for eighth in league MVP balloting. The Yankees reached the World Series against the Dodgers. Following a quiet ALCS performance, Jackson earned Series MVP honors by hitting three straight first-pitch home runs in the decisive Game 6 (of a total of 5 homers in the series), thus earning himself the nickname “Mr. October”. The Yankees came from behind in 1978 to end up in a playoff with Boston for the AL East title, which they won. Jackson contributed 27 home runs, 97 RBIs, a .274 average, and a .356 OBP. He hit two more home runs in the ALCS triumph over the Royals to get the club to another World Series against the Dodgers. LA moved out to a two-games-to-none advantage with the most dramatic moment occurring when Jackson was struck out by rookie RHP Bob Welch to cap Game 2. The Yankees battled back and “Mr. October” hit two home runs, one off Welch, in the climactic Game 6 win. The Yanks dropped to fourth in a tragedy-and injury-marred 1979 season. Jackson hit .297 with 29 home runs and 89 RBIs. The club returned to first place in 1980, while Jackson batted .300 with 41 home runs, 111 RBIs, a .398 on-base percentage, and a .597 slugging percentage. The club was swept by Kansas City in the ALCS. Jackson spent one more year with the Yankees in the strike-shortened 1981 season and ended up hitting .237 with 15 home runs and 54 RBIs. The Yanks lost to the Dodgers in the World Series. A free agent in the off-season, Jackson signed with the California Angels where he joined a veteran-filled lineup in 1982 and topped the AL with 39 home runs while also batting .275 with 101 RBIs. He finished sixth in league MVP voting and homered in the ALCS loss to Milwaukee. His production sagged in 1983 as he turned 37 and he ended up hitting a paltry .194 with just 14 home runs. Jackson rebounded somewhat in 1984, batting .223 with a .300 OBP along with 25 home runs and 81 RBIs while primarily appearing as Designated Hitter in tandem with Brian Downing. He added another 27 home runs in 1985 while hitting .252 with a .360 OBP. One more division-winning season in 1986 was followed by a return to Oakland to close out his career in 1987. Overall, for his major league career, Jackson batted .262 with 2584 hits that included 463 doubles, 49 triples, and 563 home runs. He scored 1551 runs, compiled 1702 RBIs with a .356 OBP and .490 slugging percentage. He also struck out 2597 times. With Oakland he totaled .262 with 1228 hits, 234 doubles, 27 triples, 269 home runs, 776 RBIs, 756 runs scored, a .355 OBP, .496 slugging percentage, and 1226 batter strikeouts.  Appearing in 77 postseason games (32 with Oakland) he hit .278 with 18 home runs and 48 RBIs and was a two-time World Series MVP. A 14-time All-Star (six with the A’s), he finished in the top 10 in league MVP voting seven times, including one win. Better known for his batting prowess than his fielding, he placed second in outfield assists four times and led AL outfielders in errors in five seasons. The A’s retired his #9 and the Yankees retired the #44 that he wore with them, and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1993. A shrewd investor, Jackson enhanced his wealth in retirement, but he also dabbled in broadcasting and acting and served as a hitting coach for the Athletics.

---

Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Enos Slaughter, 1955

Outfielder, New York Yankees/Kansas City Athletics

Age: 39 (April 27)

2^nd season with Yankees

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 180

Prior to 1955:

A native of Roxboro, North Carolina, Slaughter was raised on a farm where he developed into a stocky young man with much of his strength and fitness due to working chores. He and his brothers played for the local county baseball team, and he also played football in addition to baseball in high school. Slaughter passed on a college scholarship to work at a textile mill in Durham and play semipro ball. A tryout with the St. Louis Cardinals resulted in his signing with them. Assigned to Martinsville of the Class D Bi-State League in 1935, he found himself moved to the outfield after originally having been a second baseman. He batted .273 with 25 doubles, 11 triples, and 18 home runs. Advancing to Columbus of the Class B South Atlantic (or Sally) League in 1936 he received sarcastic advice from manager Eddie Dyer that proved meaningful to his entire baseball career. While loping toward the dugout from the outfield during a change of innings, he slowed to a walk as he passed first base and Dyer said “Are you too tired to run all the way? If you are, I’ll get some help for you.” From then on Slaughter always ran when entering and exiting the ballfield and became noted for his hustling, and aggressive, style of play. For the season he hit .325 with 31 doubles, 20 triples, 9 home runs, 118 RBIs, a .394 on-base percentage, and a .497 slugging percentage. Moving from Columbus, Georgia to Columbus, Ohio (both teams were called the Red Birds but the Ohio team was in the Class AA American Association) in 1937 he obtained the nickname “Country”, which proved to be long-lasting, from manager Burt Shotton, based on his appearance and manner of dress. He again hit the ball with authority and batted .382 with 245 hits, 42 doubles, 13 triples, 26 home runs, 122 RBIs, a .444 OBP, and a .609 slugging percentage. Having earned a promotion to the Cardinals in 1938, Slaughter hit .276 as a rookie with 20 doubles, 10 triples, 8 home runs, 58 RBIs, a .330 OBP, and a .438 slugging percentage. In 1939 Slaughter led the NL with 52 doubles while batting .320 with 12 home runs, 86 RBIs, a .371 OBP, and a .482 slugging percentage. He tied for nineteenth in league MVP voting. His development continued in 1940 as he hit .306 with 25 doubles, 13 triples, 17 home runs, 73 RBIs, a .370 OBP, and a .504 slugging percentage. With the Cardinals developing into contenders in 1941 and despite being somewhat hindered while playing with a broken collarbone, Slaughter hit .311 with 22 doubles, 9 triples, 13 home runs, 76 RBIs, a .390 OBP, and a .496 slugging percentage. Gaining recognition for his defensive play in addition to his productive batting, he was an All-Star for the first time. The Cardinals won the NL pennant in 1942 and Slaughter contributed by leading the league in hits (188), triples (17), and total bases (292) while batting .318 with 31 doubles, 13 home runs, 98 RBIs, a .412 OBP, and a .494 slugging percentage. He became the club’s inspirational leader and part of an esteemed outfield along with center fielder Terry Moore and rookie left fielder Stan Musial. Slaughter finished second in league MVP balloting and in the five-game World Series defeat of the New York Yankees, he homered and contributed a couple of significant defensive plays. Slaughter missed the next three seasons due to World War II military service. Upon his return to the Cardinals in 1946, he continued where he had left off as the Cardinals reached the World Series again. “Country” led the NL in RBIs (130) while batting .300 with 30 doubles, 8 triples, 18 home runs, a .374 OBP, and a .465 slugging percentage. Defensively he led all NL right fielders with 21 assists. He finished third in league MVP voting. In the World Series against the Boston Red Sox, he famously scored the winning run of the decisive seventh game with his “Mad Dash” from first base on a double, ignoring the third base coach’s signal to hold up, and beating the slow relay throw from Boston shortstop Johnny Pesky. It was a legendary play that exemplified Slaughter’s style of play and for the Series, he hit .320 with a home run and 5 runs scored while playing through the pain of a sore elbow after being hit by a pitch in Game 5. He remained a key contributor in 1947 and 1948, batting .294 and .321, respectively, along with 13 and 11 triples, 10 and 11 home runs, 86 and 90 RBIs, and a .366 and .409 OBP. He tied for seventh in league MVP voting in 1948. Now playing in left field, he was among the leaders in putouts and assists both seasons. Slaughter placed third in MVP balloting in 1949 and tied for the NL lead in triples, along with teammate Musial. He further hit .336 with 34 doubles, 13 home runs, 96 RBIs, a .418 OBP, and a .511 slugging percentage. The Sporting News named him NL Player of the Year. The perennially contending Cardinals dropped to fifth place in 1950 but Slaughter batted .290 with 26 doubles, 7 triples, 10 home runs, 101 RBIs, and a .367 OBP. He spent three more productive seasons with the Cardinals before being traded to the New York Yankees prior to the 1954 season to make room for rookie outfielder Wally Moon (Slaughter openly cried in the clubhouse when informed of the trade). Hampered by a wrist injury, the 38-year-old Slaughter was limited to 69 games and hit a mere .248 with a .386 OBP, seeing most of his action as a pinch-hitter. He started the 1955 season with the Yankees but was dealt to the Athletics in May.

1955 Season Summary

Appeared in 118 games (NY – 10/KC – 108)

RF – 77, PH – 59

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 325 (NY – 10/KC – 315)

At Bats – 276 (NY – 9/KC – 267)

Runs – 50 (NY – 1/KC – 49)

Hits – 87 (NY – 1/KC – 86)

Doubles – 12 (KC)

Triples – 4 (KC)

Home Runs – 5 (KC)

RBI – 35 (NYY – 1/KC – 34)

Bases on Balls – 41 (NY – 1/KC – 40)

Int. BB – 4 (KC)

Strikeouts – 18 (NY – 1/KC – 17)

Stolen Bases – 2 (KC)

Caught Stealing – 3 (KC)

Average - .315 [Non-qualifying] (NY – .111/KC – .322)

OBP - .401 [Non-qualifying] (NY – .200/KC – .408)

Slugging Pct. - .442 [Non-qualifying] (NY – .111/KC – .453)

Total Bases – 122 (NY – 1/KC – 121)

GDP – 8 (KC)

Hit by Pitches – 2 (KC)

Sac Hits – 1 (KC)

Sac Flies – 5 [18, tied with nine others] (KC) 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 2, HR - 1, RBI - 12, AVG - .271, OBP – .352

---

Most hits, game – 3 (in 5 AB) at Chi. White Sox 5/21, (in 4 AB) at Chi. White Sox 5/22, (in 5 AB) at Cleveland 8/19 – 11 innings

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

HR at home – 3

HR on road – 2

Most home runs, game – 1 on five occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 2 at NY Yankees 5/15, vs. Baltimore 6/12, at Washington 7/26, at Cleveland 9/5

Pinch-hitting – 16 for 41 (.390) with 8 R, 4 2B, 1 HR, 16 RBI, 12 BB & 1 HBP 

Fielding (appeared in OF with KC only)

Chances – 133

Put Outs – 126

Assists – 5

Errors – 2

DP – 2

Pct. – .985

---

The relocated Athletics went 63-91 to finish sixth in the AL, 33 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees, while leading the league in fewest stolen bases (22) and fewest walks drawn (462). The pitching-poor A’s lost seven of their first nine games which set the tone for a season in which they still finished higher than their final Philadelphia year and drew a healthy 1,393,054 fans to Municipal Stadium, which was over a million more than they drew in ’54.

Aftermath of 1955:

Slaughter was back with the A’s in 1956 and batting .278 with a .362 OBP when he was waived in August and claimed by the Yankees. He proved his value in a utility role when he hit a three-run home run in Game 3 of the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers that provided the winning margin for the Yankees. In 1957 he appeared in 96 games, mostly in left field and as a pinch-hitter. He hit .254 with 5 home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .369 OBP. He batted .304 in 1958 at age 42 and would typically sit next to manager Casey Stengel in the dugout and complain about some of the younger players. He remained with the Yankees in his part-time role in which he was especially effective as a pinch-hitter until he was released late in the 1959 season. Picked up by the Milwaukee Braves, his major league career reached a conclusion at season’s end. For his major league career, Slaughter batted .300 with 2383 hits that included 413 doubles, 148 triples, and 169 home runs. He scored 1247 runs and compiled 1304 RBIs, 71 stolen bases, a .382 OBP, and a .453 slugging percentage. With the Athletics he batted .302 with 148 hits, 86 runs scored, 26 doubles, 7 triples, 7 home runs, 57 RBIs, a .387 OBP, and a .427 slugging percentage. Slaughter appeared in 27 World Series games and hit .291 with 3 home runs and 8 RBIs. A 10-time All-Star, he placed in the top 10 in NL MVP voting five times and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985. The Cardinals retired his #9. Following his playing career Slaughter was a minor league manager for two years and later became the baseball coach at Duke University. He also worked on his large North Carolina farm and was married and divorced five times. He summed up his playing career by saying in his characteristic gravel voice that “regardless of what uniform I wore. I gave 100 % for whatever team I played.” Slaughter, died in 2002 at age 86. 

---

Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Dave Fultz, 1902

Outfielder, Philadelphia Athletics

 Age:  27 (May 29)

2^nd season with Athletics

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 170 

Prior to 1902:

A native of Staunton, Virginia, Fultz was a member of a prominent family and received his high school education at Staunton Military Academy where he participated in football and baseball as well as track. He moved on to Brown University in 1894 and was an All-American in football and baseball in 1896 and ’97. As a halfback on the football team, Fultz set long-standing school records by scoring 31 touchdowns and 186 points. A second baseman on the baseball team, he captained the squad that won the 1896 national championship. Fultz played professional baseball and football after graduating from Brown while pursuing a law degree at Columbia University. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1898 and batted .182 over 19 games before leaving to become the football coach at the University of Missouri. Returning to the Phillies in 1899, he appeared in only two games and was released in July. Unwilling to play on Sundays became a sticking point in joining another team but he signed with the NL’s Baltimore Orioles and primarily playing at third base and in the outfield over the course of 57 games, Fultz hit .295 with 18 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, and a .342 on-base percentage. In 1900 he joined Milwaukee of the American League, which was not yet a major league. Primarily appearing at second base and shortstop, Fultz batted .298 with 16 doubles, 13 triples, and 4 home runs. In 1901 he followed Connie Mack, who had been general manager in Milwaukee, to the Philadelphia Athletics, a new AL club in what was now a major league. Moved to center field due to the acquisition of star second baseman Nap Lajoie, Fultz hit .292 with 17 doubles, 9 triples, 52 RBIs, 36 stolen bases, and a .334 OBP. With great speed, Fultz was an excellent base stealer and bunter. A patient hitter he also drew many walks. Defensively he covered center field very well. In addition to not playing on Sundays, he didn’t smoke, drink, or swear, and was esteemed by Mack for his good character.

1902 Season Summary

Appeared in 129 games

CF – 114, 2B – 16

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 605 [7]

At Bats – 506 [19]

Runs – 109 [1, tied with Topsy Hartsel]

Hits – 153 [19]

Doubles – 20

Triples – 5

Home Runs – 1

RBI – 49

Bases on Balls – 62 [6, tied with Ed Delahanty]

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 33 [18, tied with Elmer Flick & Charlie Hemphill]

Stolen Bases – 44 [3]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .302

OBP - .381 [14]

Slugging Pct. - .368

Total Bases – 186

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 35 [1]

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading sac hits were +11 ahead of runner-up Danny Green

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 9, HR – 1, RBI – 20, AVG - .300, OBP - .366

---

Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. Baltimore 5/7, (in 6 AB) vs. Cleveland 5/24 – 11 innings

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 0

Most home runs, game – 1 (in 4 AB) vs. St. Louis Browns 6/2

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. St. Louis Browns 6/2, vs. St. Louis Browns 8/22, vs. Washington 9/17

Pinch-hitting – N/A

Fielding (OF)

Chances – 259

Put Outs – 231

Assists – 18

Errors – 10

DP – 1

Pct. – .961

---

The Athletics went 83-53 to win the AL pennant by 5 games over the St. Louis Browns while leading the league in runs scored (775), hits (1392),, and fewest batting strikeouts (288). The A’s, initially hindered by the ongoing litigation with the NL’s Phillies over players who jumped to the AL club, entered July with only a 27-26 record, but within striking range of first place. The arrival of star LHP Rube Waddell and second baseman Danny Murphy in July fueled a surge that had them in first place to stay on August 15. A 20-5 stretch in September nailed down the first pennant in the young franchise’s history.

Aftermath of 1902:

Fultz sought to jump back to the National League in 1903, but following negotiations with Brooklyn and the New York Giants, he ended up being assigned to the AL’s New York Highlanders (now Yankees). In 1903, persistent leg soreness from his years of playing football limited him to 79 games and a .224 average with 13 extra-base hits and a .295 OBP. His defense suffered, too, but he returned to the Highlanders in 1904 and batted .274 with 17 doubles, 4 triples, 2 home runs, 32 RBIs, 17 stolen bases, and a .324 OBP. Following his receiving a law degree and passing the New York bar, Fultz stated that 1905 would be his last season as a player. In his final season, dealing with persistent knee pain, he hit .232 with 13 doubles, 3 triples, 42 RBIs, 44 stolen bases, and a .308 OBP. Defensively, he finished fourth among AL center fielders with 253 putouts. For his major league career Fultz batted .271 with 648 hits that included 84 doubles, 26 triples, and 3 home runs. He scored 369 runs and compiled 223 RBIs, 189 stolen bases, and a .332 OBP. With the Athletics he batted .297 with 204 runs scored, 317 hits, 37 doubles, 14 triples, one home run, 101 RBIs, 80 stolen bases, and a .357 OBP. Efforts to lure him back to the playing field failed. Following his playing career, he remained active with his law practice in New York and was a collegiate baseball coach. He became active in the movement to create a players’ union (which ultimately failed to take hold at that time). Fultz also served as president of the rival Federal League in 1914-15, cementing his reputation among major league owners as a radical outcast. Following service in the Aviation Corps near the end of World War I, Fultz became president of the International League, one of the top minor league circuits. Ousted late in 1920, he continued with his legal practice until retiring in 1947.He died in 1959 at age 84.

---

Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Yogi Berra, 1961

Outfielder/Catcher, New York Yankees

 Age:  36 (May 12)

15^th season with Yankees

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’7”    Weight: 185 

Prior to 1961:

Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri Lawrence Berra, who dropped out of high school, starred on his American Legion baseball team along with his neighbor Joe Garagiola. Christened with the nickname “Yogi” as a youth, Berra was short and stocky and had an awkward batting style. The Cardinals signed Garagiola to a contract with a bonus and when they made an offer to Berra that didn’t include a bonus, he turned them down. He also turned down the other St. Louis team, the Browns of the AL. The Yankees offered a $500 bonus along with a salary of $90 per month, so Berra signed with them in 1942. He played for the Norfolk Tars of the Class B Piedmont League in 1943, hitting .253 in 111 games, after which he enlisted in the Navy. Following the completion of his World War II military service, Berra reported to the Newark Bears of the Class AAA International League in 1946 where he hit .314 with 15 home runs and 59 RBIs in 77 games. A raw talent who was defensively limited as a catcher at this point, he received a late September call-up to the Yankees following the completion of Newark’s season. Appearing in seven games, Berra hit .364 with 2 home runs and 4 RBIs. He was used primarily as an outfielder during spring training in 1947, where he was a defensive liability. Splitting time between the outfield and catcher, he played in 83 games and hit .280 with 11 home runs and 54 RBIs.  In the World Series against the Dodgers, Berra was benched after getting off to a 0-for-7 start at the plate in the first two games but came on to hit the first pinch home run in World Series history as he batted .158 overall. He followed up with a .305 average with 14 home runs and 98 RBIs in 1948 and was chosen to his first All-Star Game along the way, while appearing in 125 games (71 at catcher) for the third place Yanks. With the arrival of Casey Stengel as manager in 1949, ex-Yankee great Bill Dickey was given the task of tutoring Berra on his technique behind the plate. Berra hit .277 that season with 20 home runs and 91 RBIs and was again selected as an All-Star. Much improved as a catcher, Berra had a strong year in 1950, producing 28 home runs and 124 RBIs with a .322 batting average and .383 on-base percentage. He placed third in AL MVP voting in addition to garnering All-Star honors once again. Berra received league MVP recognition in 1951 after batting .294 with 27 home runs, 88 RBIs, and a .350 OBP as the Yankees made it three straight titles. Berra had another strong season in 1952, hitting 30 home runs with 98 RBIs, a .273 average, and a .358 OBP. The Yankees won their fourth straight pennant and World Series and Berra finished fourth in the league MVP balloting. The Yanks made it five straight in 1953 with Berra contributing 27 home runs, 108 RBIs, a .296 average, and .363 OBP, placing second in the league MVP vote. The ungainly-looking Berra was a notorious “bad-ball” hitter who rarely struck out and performed well in clutch situations. While the Yankees lost the AL pennant to the Indians in 1954, Berra won his second MVP award after batting .307 with 22 home runs and 125 RBIs, also performing well behind the plate. The highest-paid player on the Yankees in 1955 at $48,000, Berra was an amiable and colorful character noted for his malapropisms that came to be known as “Yogi-isms”, and he was also referred to as the “assistant manager” by manager Casey Stengel in recognition of his level of baseball knowledge. Berra made it three MVP awards in 1955, as the Yankees returned to the top of the American League and the star catcher hit .272 with 27 home runs, 108 RBIs, and a .349 OBP. Berra tied his career high with 30 home runs in 1956 and hit .298 with 105 RBIs and a .378 OBP while finishing second to teammate Mickey Mantle in AL MVP voting. In the World Series he caught Don Larsen’s Game 5 perfect game. He continued to be a perennial All-Star with a team that typically topped the American League until his retirement following the 1963 season. Starting in 1960 he was utilized more in the outfield as Elston Howard became the team’s primary catcher. That season he hit .276 with 15 home runs, 62 RBIs, and a .347 OBP while appearing in 61 games behind the plate and 36 in the outfield.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 119 games

LF – 81, PH – 20, C – 15, RF – 8

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 437

At Bats – 395

Runs – 62

Hits – 107

Doubles – 11

Triples – 0

Home Runs – 22 [16, tied with Jim Landis]

RBI – 61

Bases on Balls – 35

Int. BB – 4 [17, tied with eight others]

Strikeouts – 28

Stolen Bases – 2

Caught Stealing – 0

Average - .271

OBP - .330

Slugging Pct. - .466 [Non-qualifying]

Total Bases – 184

GDP – 7

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 5 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 6, HR - 11, RBI - 34, AVG - .279, OBP - .320, SLG –  .460

---

Most hits, game – 3 on five occasions

Longest hitting streak – 8 games

HR at home – 12

HR on road – 10

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 3 AB) at Chi. White Sox 6/2, (in 4 AB) vs. LA Angels 6/11

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 3 on five occasions

Pinch-hitting – 5 for 19 (.263) with 2 R, 1 HR & 5 RBI

Fielding (OF)

Chances – 170

Put Outs – 161

Assists – 7

Errors – 2

DP – 2

Pct. - .988

Postseason Batting: 4 G (World Series vs. Cincinnati)

PA – 16, AB – 11, R – 2, H – 3, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 3, BB – 5, IBB – 2, SO – 1, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .273, OBP - .500, SLG - .545, TB – 6, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

23rd in AL MVP voting (2 points - 1% share)

---

The Yankees, under new manager Ralph Houk, went 109-53 to win the AL pennant by 8 games over the Detroit Tigers, while leading the league in home runs (240), RBIs (781), slugging (.442), and total bases (2455). The Yankees surged to the pennant in a season dominated by the home run race between slugging outfielders Roger Maris and Mickey Mantle. Won World Series over the Cincinnati Reds, 4 games to 1. The Series was highlighted by New Yotk LHP Whitey Ford’s record string of 33 consecutive shutout innings pitched.

Aftermath of 1961:

Berra played two more seasons in 1962 and 1963, with dwindling production. For his career with the Yankees overall, Berra hit .285 with 2148 hits that included 321 doubles, 49 triples, and 358 home runs. He drove in 1430 runs and scored 1174, while only striking out 411 times. Thanks to the team’s success, Berra appeared in a record 75 World Series games and produced 71 hits in 259 at bats (also records) for a .274 average with 12 home runs and 39 RBIs. He excelled as a fielder after his rough start behind the plate and in one stretch of 148 games handled 950 chances without an error. Berra was an 18-time All-Star and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1972. After his initial retirement in 1963 he became manager of the Yankees in 1964 and was fired following their World Series loss to the St. Louis Cardinals. He was hired by the Mets as a player/coach in 1965 and played in just four games, hitting .222 in what proved to be his final year as a player. He remained a coach with the Mets until being elevated to manager in 1972 after the death of Gil Hodges during spring training. The Mets won the NL pennant in 1973 and Berra stayed on as manager until being relieved during the ’75 season, the club having produced an overall record of 292-296 under his guidance. He returned to the Yankees as a coach for several years until being elevated once again to manager in 1984. His tenure came to a bitter end 16 games into the 1985 season. Overall, in two stints with the Yankees Berra’s managerial record was 192-148. He returned to coaching with the Houston Astros through 1989 until finally retiring from baseball for good. An iconic and popular figure, Berra lived until 2015 when he died at age 90 after which he was posthumously awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Obama. The Yankees retired his #8 and further honored him with a plaque in Yankee Stadium’s Monument Park. His son Dale was a shortstop and third baseman in the major leagues from 1977 to ‘87, primarily with Pittsburgh.

---

Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Birdie Cree, 1911

Outfielder, New York Highlanders

Age: 28

3^rd season with Highlanders

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’6”    Weight: 150 

Prior to 1911:

A Pennsylvania native from a small town some 50 miles south of Pittsburgh, William F. Cree played football and baseball while pursuing a teaching degree at Southwestern State Normal School (now part of Pennsylvania Western University) in California, Pennsylvania. Graduating in 1903 he became a teacher prior to receiving a scholarship to Penn State in 1904. While playing baseball for a team in Washington, Pennsylvania during the summer prior to entering Penn State, Cree suffered an injury to his collarbone which was aggravated when he started football practice in the fall, which sidelined him for the season. Playing baseball for Penn State in 1905, he earned the nickname "Birdie”, likely due to his small size. Cree played semipro ball in the summer, using the name “Burde” as an alias. Continuing to earn money on the side during summers, he played for Burlington in the Northern independent League in 1906 and the Williamsport Millionaires of the Tri-State League in 1907 where he batted .297 with 35 stolen bases. Purchased by the Philadelphia Athletics following the season, he stayed with Williamsport in 1908, this time hitting .332 with 23 doubles, 14 triples, 3 home runs, and 26 stolen bases. Due to the club having an overabundance of shortstops, which had always been Cree’s position, he was shifted to the outfield. During the season he was sold by the Athletics to the Detroit Tigers, who traded him to the Highlanders. He appeared in 21 games with New York in 1908 and batted .269 with 2 triples, 4 RBIs, and a .345 on-base percentage. Appearing at all three outfield positions in 1909, Cree hit .262 with 11 extra-base hits, 27 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, and a .338 OBP. In 1910 his production improved to .287 with 19 doubles, 16 triples, 4 home runs, 73 RBIs, 28 stolen bases, a .353 OBP, and a .422 slugging percentage. Along the way, he was beaned and knocked out by a fastball from Washington’s star RHP Walter Johnson but returned to the lineup the following day with no lingering effects.

1911 Season Summary

Appeared in 137 games

LF – 121, CF – 8, RF – 4, SS – 4, 2B – 2, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 589

At Bats – 520 [20]

Runs – 90 [13]

Hits – 181 [8]

Doubles – 30 [10, tied with Jim Delahanty]

Triples – 22 [2]

Home Runs – 4 [8, tied with six others]

RBI – 88 [7]

Bases on Balls – 56 [16, tied with Jim Delahanty & Joe Jackson]

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 61 [13]

Stolen Bases – 48 [3]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .348 [5]

OBP - .415 [6]

Slugging Pct. - .513 [4]

Total Bases – 267 [5]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 9

Sac Flies – N/A

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 15, 3B – 14, HR – 2, RBI – 45, SB – 26, AVG - .339, OBP - .403, SLG – .503

---

Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Phila. A’s 5/27

Longest hitting streak – 16 games

HR at home – 2

HR on road – 2

Most home runs, game – 1 on four occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Washington 6/24

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 1 (1.000) with 1 2B & 2 RBI

Fielding

Chances – 274

Put Outs – 245

Assists – 19

Errors – 10

DP – 2

Pct. - .964

Awards & Honors:

6^th in AL MVP voting, tied with Tris Speaker, BosRS (16 points – 25% share)

---

The Highlanders went 76-76 to finish sixth in the AL, 44 games behind the pennant-winning Philadelphia Athletics while leading the league in triples (96, tied with Detroit). The Highlanders entered June at 18-21, having lost four straight games to the Athletics and Washington. A seven-game June winning streak pulled them up to third place, where they remained until July 8. The streaky club languished in fourth and stayed around .500 until they closed out the season with five straight losses. Cree was tried again at shortstop, with disappointing results, before settling into left field.

Aftermath of 1911:

Battling a bad cold that caused him to briefly be hospitalized at the start of the 1912 season, Cree performed well once he returned to action until a broken wrist finished him for the year. Limited to 50 games, he batted .332 with 11 doubles, 6 triples, 22 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, a .409 OBP, and a .453 slugging percentage. The Highlanders were rechristened the Yankees in 1913 and Cree, still affected by wrist soreness, hit .272 with 25 doubles, 6 triples, one home run (which was a grand slam), 63 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, and a .338 OBP. He had an exceptional year defensively and led all AL outfielders with a .988 fielding percentage. In 1914 he reported to spring training overweight and out of shape and the Yankees, unable to work out a trade, released him to the Baltimore Orioles of the International League. An offer of a three-year contract by Pittsburgh of the Federal League fell through but Cree batted .356 with a .406 OBP in 72 games for Baltimore although he was sold back to the Yankees in July. For the year with the Yankees he hit .309 in 77 games with 18 doubles,5 triples, 40 RBIs, and a .389 OBP. In 1915, he suffered a broken nose when hit by a ball during warmups and went on to a disappointing season in which he was limited to 74 games and batted .214 with 10 extra-base hits and a .353 OBP. Still overweight and with his performance deteriorating, Cree was released in 1916, thus ending his playing career. For his major league career, played entirely with the Highlanders/Yankees, Cree batted .292 with 761 hits that included 117 doubles, 62 triples, and 11 home runs. He scored 345 runs and compiled 332 RBIs, 132 stolen bases, and a .368 OBP. His performance in 1911 remained his best single season. Cree worked for a bank in Sunbury, Pennsylvania following his playing career and remained physically active while playing tennis and golf. He was also a fine billiards player and died in 1942 at age 60.

---

Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20), pitching wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10), or have been participants in the annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category will also include Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Russ Ford, 1910

Pitcher, New York Highlanders

Age:  27 (April 25)

1^st season with Highlanders

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 175 

Prior to 1910:

A native of the Canadian province of Manitoba, Ford moved with his family to Minnesota. After high school he played for several minor league teams. Following a season in the Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League in which he was with Springfield and Cedar Rapids, he broke out with an outstanding season for Cedar Rapids in 1906 in which he produced a 22-9 record. Moving on to the Atlanta Crackers of the Class A Southern Association in 1907 he compiled a 15-10 tally. Reliant on his spitball (a legal pitch at the time), in 1908 he began experimenting with a scuff ball, roughening the ball’s surface to cause it to dip oddly. Still with Atlanta he went 16-14 and was drafted by the Highlanders in 1909. Ford appeared in one game with New York in 1909 and pitched poorly, causing him to be sent to the Jersey City Skeeters of the Eastern League where he worked on his scuff pitch, concealing an emery board in his glove. His record for Jersey City was 13-13 with a 2.41 ERA and 189 strikeouts over 276 innings. He returned to the Highlanders in 1910 with far better results. 

1910 Season Summary

Appeared in 36 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 36 [10, tied with Eddie Cicotte & Cy Morgan]

Games Started – 33 [5]

Complete Games – 29 [4]

Wins – 26 [2]

Losses – 6

PCT - .813 [2]

Saves – 1 [9, tied with twenty-one others]

Shutouts – 8 [2, tied with Walter Johnson]

Innings Pitched – 299.2 [4]

Hits – 194 [17]

Runs – 69

Earned Runs – 55

Home Runs – 4 [9, tied with six others]

Bases on Balls – 70 [14, tied with Barney Pelty]

Strikeouts – 209 [4]

ERA – 1.65 [7]

Hit Batters – 8 [17, tied with six others]

Balks – 1 [2, tied with ten others]

Wild Pitches – 5 [18, tied with six others]

Midseason Snapshot: 11-4, ERA – N/A, SO - 89 in 147.2 IP

---

Most strikeouts, game – 11 (in 9 IP) vs. St. Louis Browns 7/19, (in 9 IP) vs. Cleveland 8/30

10+ strikeout games – 4

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 9 IP) vs. St. Louis Browns 7/19

Batting

PA – 112, AB – 96, R – 8, H – 20, 2B – 1, 3B – 5, HR – 0, RBI – 7, BB – 9, SO – 33, SB – 1, CS – N/A, AVG - .208, GDP – N/A, HBP – 1, SH – 6, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 89

Put Outs – 7

Assists – 75

Errors – 7

DP – 4

Pct. - .921

---

The Highlanders went 88-63 to finish second in the AL, 14.5 games behind the pennant-winning Philadelphia Athletics. The pitching staff led the league in saves (8) and fewest walks issued (364). Paced by Ford’s pitching, the Highlanders bounced between third and fourth place until mid-May, when they jumped into second. In first place from June 5 to 12 and then briefly on June 15, they were at 36-21 entering July. The club battled to stay in contention through August, and taking advantage of Detroit’s collapse, took over second place to stay on Sept. 27, although they remained well behind the Athletics.

Aftermath of 1910:

The Highlanders dropped in the standings in 1911, but Ford had another solid season as he posted a 22-11 record and 2.27 ERA with 26 complete games and 158 strikeouts over 281.1 innings. In addition to his spitter and scuff ball, he threw a fastball and knuckleball. Ford slumped in 1912 and went 13-21 with a 3.55 ERA, 30 complete games, and 112 strikeouts over 291.2 innings. He topped the American League in the negative categories of earned runs surrendered (115) and home runs surrendered (11). His ERA dropped to 2.66 in 1913 but his won-lost record was a mediocre 13-18 as he dealt with a sore arm. Jumping to the Federal League in 1914, Ford produced a 21-6 tally and 1.82 ERA for Buffalo. With the emery pitch banned by the Federal League in 1915, his record dropped to 5-9 and a 4.52 ERA prior to being released in late August. He pitched for two more years in the minors before his playing career came to an end. For his major league career, Ford produced a 100-71 record with a 2.59 ERA, 126 complete games, 15 shutouts, 8 saves, and 710 strikeouts over 1487.1 innings. With the Highlanders/Yankees his totals were 74-56 with a 2.54 ERA, 100 complete games, 10 shutouts, 2 saves, and 553 strikeouts over 1112.2 innings. He died in 1960 at age 76. Ford was inducted into the Canadian Baseball Hall of Fame in 1987. His brother Gene briefly pitched for the Detroit Tigers in 1905. Thanks to his mastery of the scuff ball, Ford was an outstanding pitcher with the Highlanders for a short time.

---

Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.