Highlighted Year: Patsy Donovan, 1900

Outfielder, St. Louis Cardinals

Age:  35

1^st season with Cardinals

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’11” Weight: 175 

Prior to 1900:

A native of Ireland, Patrick “Patsy” Donovan immigrated to Lawrence, Massachusetts with his family at a young age. He completed elementary school and went to work in a cotton mill. A fine athlete, Donovan began playing baseball professionally with Lawrence’s team in the New England League in 1886. Moving along, the young outfielder played for Salem in 1887 where he batted .409 with 119 runs scored. A singles hitter with speed, Donovan played next in Canada with the London Tecumsehs of the International Association where his .359 batting average led the league. Following another, lesser season with London in 1889, he reached the National League with the Boston Beaneaters in 1890. Released in June he caught on with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms and finished the season with a combined .241 average and .290 on-base percentage in 60 games. Donovan spent 1891 in the rival American Association with Louisville and Washington, batting a combined .305 with a .358 OBP and 28 stolen bases. He started 1892 back in the NL with the Washington Senators but was dealt to Pittsburgh at midseason and finished at .278 with a .322 OBP, 26 extra-base hits, and 56 stolen bases. Appreciated for his quiet and dignified manner as well as his speed, hitting, and good work ethic, Donovan became a fixture in the Pittsburgh outfield. In 1893 he hit .317 with a .373 OBP and 46 stolen bases. Regularly a .300 hitter who was among the stolen base leaders, he was also a capable fielder. He hit for his best average with the Pirates in 1897 with a .322 mark, and his OBP was .360, ten points behind his 1896 mark and seventeen points behind his 1895 OBP. As usual the vast majority of his hits were singles with 25 extra-base hits in 1895, 28 in 1896, and 23 in 1897. His stolen base totals were 36, 48, and 34 respectively. He also became player/manager in 1897, with disappointing results. His production was similar in 1898 but following an 1899 season in which he was reinstated as manager during the season, he batted .291 with a .319 OBP, 19 extra-base hits, and 26 stolen bases and was sold to the Cardinals in the offseason by new manager Fred Clarke.

1900 Season Summary

Appeared in 126 games

RF – 124, Other – 2

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 550

At Bats – 503

Runs – 78

Hits – 159 [16]

Doubles – 11

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 0

RBI – 61

Bases on Balls – 38

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 15

Stolen Bases – 45 [1, tied with George Van Haltren]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .316 [13, tied with Jimmy Barrett & Roy Thomas]

OBP - .368 [17, tied with Fred Clarke]

Slugging Pct. - .342

Total Bases – 172

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 6

Sac Flies – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 203

Put Outs – 180

Assists – 13

Errors – 10

DP – 4

Pct. - .951

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The Cardinals went 65-75 to finish tied for fifth with the Chicago Orphans in the NL, 19 games behind the pennant-winning Brooklyn Superbas. The Cardinals were 42-50 in August when manager Patsy Tebeau was replaced by Louie Heilbroner, the club’s business manager, who finished out the lackluster season.

Aftermath of 1900:

Donovan was named player/manager of the Cardinals in 1901 and the club’s fortunes improved in achieving a fourth-place finish. He contributed by batting .303 with a .344 OBP as well as 28 stolen bases. In the field, he led all NL outfielders with 8 double plays in addition to his 19 assists. In the offseason, the Cardinals suffered major player losses to the American League, especially the new intracity rivals, the St. Louis Browns. This translated into a drop in the standings to sixth place although Donovan hit .315 with a .363 OBP and 34 stolen bases. As the Cardinals dropped further in 1903, player/manager Donovan, who was the club’s highest-paid player at $8800, continued to be a solid performer. In 1904 he was let go by the Cardinals and joined the Washington Senators in the AL. The Senators got off to a dreadful start and Donovan took over as manager. He played in 129 games and batted .229 in his last full season as a player. Taking a year off in 1905, Donovan returned to the NL as manager of the Brooklyn Superbas (later Dodgers) in 1906. He saw limited action as a player for the lowly club that year and batted once in 1907, which was his final major league appearance (although he managed the Superbas for one more year in 1908). For his major league career Donovan batted .301 with 2256 hits that included 208 doubles, 75 triples, and 16 home runs. He scored 1321 runs and compiled 738 RBIs, 518 stolen bases, and a .348 OBP. With the Cardinals he batted .314 with 612 hits, 61 doubles, 13 triples, 1 home run, 303 runs scored, 208 RBIs, 132 stolen bases, and a .360 OBP. Following his major league playing career, Donovan managed the Boston Red Sox after his firing by Brooklyn and posted winning records with an up-and-coming club. His record as a manager was 684-879, typically leading teams with limited resources and talent. He became a scout for the Red Sox following his replacement as manager and most famously recommended that the club purchase slugging minor league pitcher Babe Ruth’s contract “at any price”. He became a minor league manager and school coach for several years and scouted for the New York Yankees until retiring in 1950, three years before his death on Christmas Day of 1953 at age 88. With a reputation as an astute and principled person who aided the careers of many young players, he later earned a letter of praise from President George H.W. Bush, who he coached at Phillips Academy in Andover, Massachusetts.

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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. 

Highlighted Year: Jesse Tannehill, 1900

Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age:  26 (July 14)

4^th season with Pirates

Bats – Both, Throws – Left

Height: 5’8”    Weight: 150 

Prior to 1900:

A native of Dayton, Kentucky, Tannehill was the son of a Dayton-area baseball player of the 1860s. He first gained notice playing sandlot baseball in Cincinnati, across the Ohio River from Dayton, and he excelled with the Cincinnati Shamrocks. Signing with the NL’s Cincinnati Reds in 1894, he was unimpressive in five appearances, going 1-1 with a 7.14 ERA. With the Richmond Blue Birds of the Virginia State League in 1895, Tannehill was more successful with a 22-10 record and 2.45 ERA with 149 strikeouts over 272 innings. Again with Richmond in 1896 he posted a 27-14 tally with a 1.93 ERA. Drafted by the Pirates in 1897 his record was 9-9 with a 4.25 ERA and he was also utilized as a utility outfielder. Tannehill broke out in 1898 by going 25-13 with a 2.95 ERA, 34 complete games, and 93 strikeouts over 326.2 innings. A control pitcher featuring a slow curve, he followed up in 1899 by compiling a 24-14 tally with a 2.82 ERA, 33 complete games, and 65 strikeouts over 322 innings.

1900 Season Summary

Appeared in 34 games

P – 29, RF – 4

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 29

Games Started – 27 [20, tied with Doc Newton, Bill Bernhard & Kid Nichols]

Complete Games – 23 [20]

Wins – 20 [2, tied with four others]

Losses – 6

PCT - .769 [2]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 2 [10, tied with eleven others]

Innings Pitched – 234

Hits – 247

Runs – 108

Earned Runs – 75

Home Runs – 3

Bases on Balls – 43

Strikeouts – 50

ERA – 2.88 [6]

Hit Batters – 17 [8]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 0

Batting

PA – 120, AB – 110, R – 19, H – 37, 2B – 7, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 17, BB – 5, SO – 8, SB – 2, CS – N/A, AVG - .336, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 5, SF – N/A

Fielding (P)

Chances – 79

Put Outs – 9

Assists – 64

Errors – 6

DP – 0

Pct. - .924

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The Pirates went 79-60 to finish second in the NL, 4.5 games behind the pennant-winning Brooklyn Superbas. The pitching staff led the league in ERA (3.06), strikeouts (415), fewest hits allowed (1232), fewest runs allowed (612), and fewest walks allowed (295). With the addition of key players from the defunct Louisville franchise, the Pirates started slowly in April but caught fire in May and entered June at 20-16, in second place. June was a rougher month, featuring a season-high 7-game losing streak. They bounced between second and third through July and August, settling into second place to stay on August 7.

Aftermath of 1900:

The Pirates won the NL pennant in 1901 and Tannehill led the league with a 2.18 ERA and produced an 18-10 record while striking out 118 batters and walking only 36 over 252.1 innings. The Pittsburgh pitching staff was outstanding and the Pirates repeated as NL champs in 1902. Tannehill’s tally was 20-6 with a 1.95 ERA, 23 complete games, and 100 strikeouts with 25 bases on balls over 231 innings. During the season word got out that Tannehill was one of several Pirates who had been negotiating to join the American League the following year. The Pirates released him after the season and he signed with the New York Highlanders (now Yankees) for 1903. Hampered by a sore arm that he blamed on the windy weather at Hilltop Park, New York’s home venue, his record was a disappointing 15-15 in ’03 with a 3.27 ERA 22 complete games, and 106 strikeouts over 239.2 innings. His walk total remained low at 34, for an average of 1.3 per 9 innings. In the offseason the Highlanders traded him to the Boston Americans (now Red Sox) for RHP Tom Hughes. In 1904 Tannehill proved that critics of the trade who believed he was washed up were incorrect by producing a 21-11 tally with a 2.04 ERA, 30 complete games, 4 shutouts, and 116 strikeouts with just 33 walks over 281.2 innings. He also pitched a no-hitter against the Chicago White Sox in August while Hughes proved to be a bust with the Highlanders. In 1905 as Boston sagged in the standings, Tannehill was an impressive 22-9 with a 2.48 ERA, 27 complete games, 6 shutouts, and 113 strikeouts with 59 walks (2.0 per 9 innings). The Americans landed in the AL cellar in 1906 and Tannehill had the only winning record among the club’s pitchers, posting a 13-11 tally with a 3.16 ERA. Bothered by a sore arm in 1907, he pitched in only 18 games, totaling 131 innings, and went 6-7 with a 2.47 ERA. Once again blaming the weather for his problems, he was dealt to Washington early in the 1908 season. Injuries limited him to a 2-4 tally with a 3.76 ERA. After three appearances in 1909, the Senators sold his contract to Minneapolis of the American Association. After initially refusing to report to the minor league club, Tannehill instead played for local teams back home in Dayton, Kentucky. He reported to Minneapolis in 1910 and was 6-2 when released due to arm trouble. He joined the Cincinnati Reds in 1911 and was let go after one disastrous start, never again to pitch in the major leagues. He spent time with two teams in the Southern Association during the remainder of 1911. The good-hitting Tannehill attempted a minor league comeback as an outfielder in 1912, hit .285 for South Bend in 59 games prior to being released for sowing discord on the club. Following two more brief minor league stops, he retired in 1913.For his major league career, Tannehill compiled a 197-117 record with a 2.80 ERA, 264 complete games, 34 shutouts, 7 saves, and 944 strikeouts with 478 walks surrendered over 2759.1 innings, an average of 1.6 walks per 9 innings. With Pittsburgh he was 116-58 with a 2.75 ERA, 149 complete games, 17 shutouts, 5 saves, and 466 strikeouts with 243 walks issued over 1508 innings. A good hitting pitcher, he batted .255 with 55 doubles, 23 triples, and 5 home runs. He never appeared in the postseason. Following his playing career, Tannehill managed and umpired in the minors and served as a coach with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1920. He died at age 82 in 1956. His brother Lee was an infielder for the Chicago White Sox from 1903-1912.

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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 will also include Misc. players who don’t otherwise qualify but received MVP votes or were contributors to teams that reached the postseason. 

Highlighted Year: Charlie “Deacon” Phillippe, 1900

Pitcher, Pittsburgh Pirates

Age:  28 (May 23)

1^st season with Pirates

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 180 

Prior to 1900:

A native of Virginia, Charles Louis Phillippe (pronounced FIL-uh-pee) moved to the Dakota Territory with his family at age three and learned to play baseball in what is now South Dakota. He played semi-professional baseball there until 1896 when he joined a pro club in Mankato, Minnesota. Catching on with the Minneapolis Millers of the Western League in 1897, he posted a 7-12 record with a 3.42 ERA. In 1898 he improved to 22-18 with 37 complete games and 99 strikeouts over 363 innings pitched. Phillippe was drafted by the NL’s Louisville Colonels in 1899 and threw a no-hitter against the New York Giants in his seventh major league pitching appearance. He went on to a 21-17 record with a 3.17 ERA, 33 complete games, and 68 strikeouts over 321 innings pitched. With the contraction of the league to eight teams for 1900, Louisville was dropped and Phillippe joined the Pirates along with several of his teammates.

1900 Season Summary

Appeared in 38 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 38 [11, tied with Jack Powell]

Games Started – 33 [11]

Complete Games – 29 [8, tied with Noodles Hahn & Bert Jones]

Wins – 20 [2, tied with four others]

Losses – 13 [18, tied with six others]

PCT - .606 [4, tied with Bill Kennedy]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 1

Innings Pitched – 279 [12]

Hits – 274 [17]

Runs – 127

Earned Runs – 88

Home Runs – 7 [10, tied with five others]

Bases on Balls – 42

Strikeouts – 75 [13, tied with Bill Kennedy]

ERA – 2.84 [5]

Hit Batters – 7

Balks – 1 [4, tied with nine others]

Wild Pitches – 7 [11, tied with four others]

Batting

PA – 114, AB – 105, R – 7, H – 19, 2B – 3, 3B – 1, HR – 0, RBI – 7, BB – 1, SO – 16, SB – 0, CS – N/A, AVG - .181, GDP – N/A, HBP – 4, SH – 4, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 69

Put Outs – 9

Assists – 57

Errors – 3

DP – 1

Pct. - .957

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The Pirates went 79-60 to finish second in the NL, 4.5 games behind the pennant-winning Brooklyn Superbas. The pitching staff led the league in ERA (3.06), strikeouts (415), fewest hits allowed (1232), fewest runs allowed (612), and fewest walks allowed (295). With the addition of key players from the defunct Louisville franchise, including Phillippe, the Pirates started slowly in April but caught fire in May and entered June at 20-16, in second place. June was a rougher month, featuring a season-high 7-game losing streak. They bounced between second and third through July and August, settling into second place to stay on August 7.

Aftermath of 1900:

Phillippe, known as Charlie to his friends, quickly acquired the nickname “Deacon” due to his quiet nature, modesty, and clean living. Although not a clergyman he did direct a church choir during the offseason. Highly disciplined on the mound as well as in his life, he rarely issued walks while throwing his fastballs and curves with outstanding control. In 1901 the Pirates won the NL pennant and Phillippe posted a 22-12 tally with a 2.22 ERA, 30 complete games, and 103 strikeouts while accumulating 296 innings pitched and walking only 38 batters. Pittsburgh topped the NL again in 1902 by a whopping 27.5 games and among the club’s three 20-game winners, Phillippe contributed a 20-9 record with a 2.05 ERA, 29 complete games, 5 shutouts, 122 strikeouts, and just 26 walks in 272 innings pitched. He preferred to be matched against the opposing team’s best pitcher and would pitch out of turn to do so. The Pirates won a third straight pennant in 1903 and Phillippe went 25-9 with a 2.43 ERA, 31 complete games, 4 shutouts, and over 289.1 innings struck out 123 batters and walked 29. Matched against the AL’s Boston Americans (now Red Sox) in the first modern World Series, Phillippe won Game 1 while going head-to-head against Boston ace Cy Young. He won the third and fourth games while losing the last two in the best-of-nine Series won by Boston. He was 3-2 overall in the World Series with a 3.07 ERA and 22 strikeouts over 44 innings that included five complete games. Dealing with an illness in 1904, his record dropped to 10-10 with a 3.24 ERA and 166.2 innings pitched. The Pirates finished in fourth place. Bouncing back in 1905, Phillippe was 20-13 with a 2.19 ERA, 25 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 48 walks and 133 strikeouts in 279 innings pitched. He began to suffer from a sore arm in 1906 which limited him to 218.2 innings and he produced a 15-10 tally with a 2.47 ERA and 90 strikeouts. Seeing more action out of the bullpen in 1907, 9 of his 35 appearances came as a reliever and he remained effective, going 14-11 with a 2.61 ERA. Shoulder soreness and a broken finger limited Phillippe to only five appearances in 1908 but he returned in 1909 as a 37-year-old spot starter and reliever as the Pirates returned to the top of the NL. His record was 8-3 with a 2.32 ERA and he relieved twice in the World Series victory over Detroit. Primarily a reliever in 1910, he pitched in 31 games and went 14-2 with a 2.29 ERA. Along the way the .189 career hitter hit an inside-the-park grand slam. Ineffective in three appearances in 1911, he quit the Pirates but returned as player/manager of the Pittsburgh club in the independent United States League in 1912. He finished his baseball career in 1913 as player/manager of the Pittsburgh Filipinos of the Federal League. For his major league career Phillippe compiled a 189-109 record with a 2.59 ERA, 242 complete games, 27 shutouts, 12 saves, and 929 strikeouts in 2607 innings pitched. He walked only 363 batters to average just 1.25 walks per nine innings. With the Pirates he went 168-92 with 209 complete games, 25 shutouts, 11 saves, and 861 strikeouts over 2286 innings. He was a 20-game winner six times. Appearing in 7 World Series games, he went 3-2 with a 2.70 ERA, 5 complete games, and 24 strikeouts over 50 innings. After his playing career, Phillippe worked in a steel mill, ran a cigar store, scouted for the Pirates, and worked for the county parks department. He died in 1952 at age 79. In a 1969 vote, he was chosen as the greatest right-handed pitcher in Pittsburgh Pirates history.

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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: Red Donahue, 1901

Pitcher, Philadelphia Phillies

Age:  28

4^th season with Phillies

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 187 

Prior to 1901:

A Connecticut native, Francis L. Donahue was nicknamed “Red” for his hair color. He first gained attention as a pitcher/first baseman at Waterbury High School. He continued to play for amateur and semipro teams after high school. Playing for a semipro club in New Milford in 1892, Donahue was recommended to the New York Giants, who gave him an audition in 1893. Sent to Lowell of the minor New England League, he finished out the season with a 3-1 record and 1.70 ERA in 37 innings pitched. Moving on to Allentown of the Pennsylvania State League in 1894, he compiled a 17-8 tally. Pitching with Rochester of the Eastern League and Grand Rapids of the Western League in 1895, Donahue produced a combined record of 8-13 before joining the NL’s St. Louis Browns (now Cardinals) late in the season and losing his lone start. St. Louis was a poor team and went 40-90 in 1896, with Donahue compiling a 7-24 tally with a 5.80 ERA. With a cellar-dwelling 29-102 club in 1897, his record was 10-35 with a 6.13 ERA and he led the NL in complete games (38), hits surrendered (485), earned runs surrendered (237), and home runs given up (16). Traded to the Philadelphia Phillies as part of a multi-player deal, his performance improved in 1898 to 16-17 with a 3.55 ERA. He pitched a no-hitter against the Boston Beaneaters (now Atlanta Braves) along the way, which, according to newspaper reports at the time he featured his good curve and changeup. Never a hard thrower, Donahue’s curve was considered his best pitch and he developed good control. He was outstanding for the Phillies in 1899, producing a 21-8 tally with a 3.39 ERA and 27 complete games. 1900 was another solid year in which he was 15-10 with a 3.60 ERA for a third-place club.

1901 Season Summary

Appeared in 34 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 34 [18, tied with Togie Pittinger]

Games Started – 33 [12, tied with Al Orth & Togie Pittinger]

Complete Games – 33 [5, tied with Jack Powell, Vic Willis & Kid Nichols]

Wins – 20 [6, tied with four others]

Losses – 13 [17, tied with Jack Harper & Doc White]

PCT - .606 [11]

Saves – 1 [6, tied with four others]

Shutouts – 1 [15, tied with twelve others]

Innings Pitched – 295.1 [12]

Hits – 299 [12]

Runs – 111

Earned Runs – 85 [19]

Home Runs – 2

Bases on Balls – 59 [19]

Strikeouts – 88

ERA – 2.59 [7]

Hit Batters – 9

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 3

Midseason Snapshot: 12-6, ERA – 2.80, SO – 39 in 157.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 7 (in 9 IP) vs. NY Giants 8/10

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 4 (in 9 IP) vs. Bos. Beaneaters 7/24, (in 9 IP) at Cincinnati 10/2

Batting

PA – 120, AB – 113, R – 11, H – 11, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 2, BB – 4, SO – 25, SB – 0, CS – N/A, AVG - .097, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 3, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 85

Put Outs – 8

Assists – 73

Errors – 4

DP – 0

Pct. - .953

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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 1902 Donahue made the jump to the upstart American League and a new St. Louis Browns club (relocated from Milwaukee) that proved to be more competitive than the one he had been part of at the outset of his major league career. He had a good season with the second-place Browns, posting a 22-11 record with a 2.76 ERA and 33 complete games with 63 strikeouts in 316.1 innings pitched. In the offseason, the Browns signed Donahue’s brother, Tom, a catcher who had been a standout at Villanova University. His brother was released during spring training and the pitching Donahue got off to a poor start during the 1903 season. He was 8-7 in August when the Browns dealt him to Cleveland. He finished the season with a combined record of 15-16, although his ERA was a respectable 2.59. He went on to a fine season in 1904 in which he posted a 19-14 tally with a 2.40 ERA, 6 shutouts, and 127 strikeouts. Donahue was also known for his humor that included the baiting of gullible rookies. He had a disappointing season in 1905 in which he went 6-12 with a 3.40 ERA. Traded to the Detroit Tigers afterward, his 1906 tally was 13-14 with a 2.73 ERA. By this point the 34-year-old Donahue had bought a saloon-hotel in Philadelphia and retired to devote his energies to this new venture. It was rumored that the failure to be named player/manager of the Washington Senators led to his retirement. Rumors during the summer of 1907 that Donahue would return to Detroit to help the Tigers in their pennant run came to nothing and Donahue remained retired. For his major league career, he produced a 164-175 record with a 3.61 ERA, 312 complete games, 25 shutouts, and 787 strikeouts over the course of 2966.1 innings. Following a dreadful 17-60 start to his career, he went 147-115 the rest of the way. With the Phillies, he was 72-48 with a 3.26 ERA, 114 complete games, 8 shutouts, and 237 strikeouts in 1098.2 innings pitched. Donahue maintained a successful business until he died from the effects of tuberculosis at age 40 in 1913.

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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: Elmer Flick, 1900

Outfielder, Philadelphia Phillies

Age:  24

3^rd season with Phillies

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 168 

Prior to 1900:

A native of Bedford, Ohio, Flick was the son of a skilled mechanic and Civil War veteran. A fine natural athlete, he played several sports but preferred baseball and was a star hard-hitting catcher on the Bedford High School team. He joined the town team at age 15 and moved on to the Youngstown Puddlers of the Inter-State League in 1896. Shifted to the outfield, he made his own baseball bat which he used to good effect by batting .438. His play in the outfield was far less impressive. In 1897 he switched to the Dayton Old Soldiers, also of the Inter-State League. He performed better in left field and hit .386 while leading the league with 20 triples among his 183 hits that included 42 doubles and 10 home runs. He further scored 135 runs in 126 games and stole 25 bases. Signed by the Phillies in 1898, he started the season as an outfield reserve and then moved into the lineup due to an injury to right fielder Sam Thompson. Combining power with speed, the small and solidly built Flick batted .302 as a rookie with 16 doubles, 13 triples, 8 home runs, 81 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, and a .430 on-base percentage, which was helped by drawing 86 walks. In 1899 he hit .342 with 98 runs scored, 22 doubles, 11 triples, 2 home runs, 98 RBIs, 31 stolen bases, and a .407 OBP.

1900 Season Summary

Appeared in 138 games

RF – 138

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 623 [10]

At Bats – 545 [10, tied with Jimmy Barrett]

Runs – 106 [6, tied with Willie Keeler & Fielder Jones]

Hits – 200 [4]

Doubles – 32 [3, tied with Ed Delahanty]

Triples – 16 [4, tied with Chick Stahl]

Home Runs – 11 [2]

RBI – 110 [1]

Bases on Balls – 56 [11]

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 30 [18, tied with Harry Steinfeldt & Charlie Hickman]

Stolen Bases – 35 [9]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .367 [2]

OBP - .441 [4]

Slugging Pct. - .545 [2]

Total Bases – 297 [2]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 16 [5]

Sac Hits – 6

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading RBIs were +1 ahead of runner-up Ed Delahanty

Fielding

Chances – 279

Put Outs – 232

Assists – 23

Errors – 24

DP – 6

Pct. - .914

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The Phillies went 75-63 to finish third in the NL, 8 games behind the pennant-winning Brooklyn Superbas, while leading the league in hits (1439), RBIs (694), walks drawn (440), and total bases (1877). The Phillies started fast and were in first place from April 26 to June 18. A 21-26 June and July had them entering August in second but a 2-10 run in August dropped them into third to stay.

Aftermath of 1900:

Staying with the Phillies in 1901 while several teammates jumped to the new American League, Flick batted .333 with 112 runs scored, 32 doubles, 17 triples, 8 home runs, 88 RBIs, 30 stolen bases, a .399 OBP, and a .500 slugging percentage. Having become adept at playing a shallow right field in the Baker Bowl, with its short dimensions, he also co-led NL outfielders with 23 assists. Making the jump to the AL in 1902, Flick signed with the Philadelphia Athletics but spent only 11 games with them before being sold to Cleveland, seeking to avoid the legal problems of others who jumped from the Phillies to the A’s. Playing in 110 games with Cleveland, he hit .297 with 19 doubles, 11 triples (including a record three in one game), 2 home runs, 61 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, and a .371 OBP. The production was strong again in 1903 as Flick batted .296 with 23 doubles, 16 triples, 2 home runs, 51 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, and a .368 OBP. In 1904 he led the AL with 38 stolen bases while hitting .306 with 31 doubles, 17 triples, 6 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a .371 OBP. Flick won the AL batting title in 1905 with a .308 average that remained the lowest for an AL/NL batting champion until 1968. He also led the league in triples (18), slugging (.462), and was second in OBP (.383). In 1906 he led in plate appearances (707), at bats (624), runs scored (98), triples (22), and stolen bases (39). Modest and a team player, he was liked by teammates and opponents alike, and was a fan favorite. At some point around 1907, the Tigers offered to trade outfielder Ty Cobb to the Naps (as the Cleveland team was called at the time) even-up for Flick, which the Naps turned down. Flick was beginning to develop health problems by this point that would soon shorten his career. 1907 proved to be his last outstanding season as he batted .302 with a league-high 18 triples, and a .386 OBP. A gastrointestinal illness sidelined him for all but nine games in 1908. Having lost weight, his batting power and speed were diminished. He hit .255 in 66 games in 1909 and .265 in 24 appearances in 1910 before being released in July, which ended his playing career. For his major league career, Flick batted .313 with 1752 hits that included 268 doubles, 164 triples, and 48 home runs. He scored 950 runs and compiled 756 RBIs, 330 stolen bases, a .389 OBP, and a .445 slugging percentage. With the Phillies he batted .338 with 683 hits, 400 runs scored, 102 doubles, 57 triples, 29 home runs, 377 RBIs, 119 stolen bases, a .419 OBP, and a .487 slugging percentage. Flick was voted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1963. and died at the age of 94 in 1971. He was also inducted into the Greater Cleveland Sports Hall of Fame. A statue was erected in his honor in the town square of Bedford, Ohio.

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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: Bert Campaneris, 1968

Shortstop, Oakland Athletics

Age:  26

5^th season with Athletics

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’10” Weight: 160 

Prior to 1968:

A native of Pueblo Nuevo in Cuba, Dagoberto Campaneris played in a Cuban Little League at age 11, where he first demonstrated his speed and quickness and later played semipro ball as a catcher. His performance in the 1961 Pan-American Games led to his signing by the Kansas City Athletics, making him one of the last Cuban players to leave for the United States following Castro’s revolution. The ambidextrous Campaneris enthusiastically sought to play at every position but performed primarily in the outfield, first base, and shortstop with Daytona Beach of the Class D Florida State League in 1962 where he batted .290 with 15 doubles, 21 stolen bases, and a .391 on-base percentage. He finished the season with the Binghamton Triplets of the Class A Eastern League where he hit .364 in 13 games. Campaneris was sidelined by a sore arm for the first two months of the 1963 season and ended up appearing in 46 games, split between Binghamton and Lewiston of the Class A Northwest League, batting a combined .293 with a .365 OBP while playing primarily as a catcher and shortstop. He started 1964 with the Birmingham Barons of the Class AA Southern League and was batting .325 with a .389 OBP, 18 doubles, 11 triples, 6 home runs, 40 RBIs, and 25 stolen bases when he was called up to the A’s in July due to an injury to shortstop Wayne Causey. Campaneris homered twice in his first major league game on his way to hitting .257 with 14 doubles, 3 triples, 4 home runs, 22 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, and a .306 OBP in 67 games while playing at short, third base, and the outfield. In 1965, appearing primarily at shortstop, but also occasionally in the outfield, the exuberant “Campy” showed off his speed and daring on the basepaths, leading the AL with 51 stolen bases and 12 triples, to go along with hitting .270 with 23 doubles, 6 home runs, 67 runs scored, 42 RBIs, and a .326 OBP. In one September game, in which he was honored on “Campaneris Night” he played all nine positions, after which a shoulder injury suffered due to a home plate collision while catching in the ninth inning sidelined him for two weeks. Campaneris was installed full-time at shortstop in 1966 and teamed well with second baseman Dick Green. He also batted .267 with a league-leading 52 stolen bases, 29 doubles, 10 triples, 5 home runs, 82 runs scored, and a .302 OBP despite missing 20 games due to injuries. Campaneris again topped the league with 55 stolen bases in 1967 while his average slipped to .248 and his OBP to .297 although he led AL shortstops with 259 putouts. He also hit a record-tying three triples in a game against Cleveland. In the offseason, owner Charlie Finley made good on his desire to move the franchise out of Kansas City, relocating to Oakland.

1968 Season Summary

Appeared in 159 games

SS – 155, LF – 3, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 707 [1]

At Bats – 642 [1]

Runs – 87 [6]

Hits – 177 [1]

Doubles – 25 [11, tied with Sal Bando]

Triples – 9 [5]

Home Runs – 4

RBI – 38

Bases on Balls – 50

Int. BB – 2

Strikeouts – 69

Stolen Bases – 62 [1]

Caught Stealing – 22 [1]

Average - .276 [7]

OBP - .330 [17]

Slugging Pct. - .361

Total Bases – 232 [12]

GDP – 5

Hit by Pitches – 4

Sac Hits – 8 [11, tied with five others]

Sac Flies – 3

League-leading plate appearances were +12 ahead of runner-up Jim Fregosi

League-leading at bats were +7 ahead of runner-up Del Unser

League-leading hits were +10 ahead of runner-up Cesar Tovar

League-leading stolen bases were +22 ahead of runner-up Jose Cardenal

League-leading times caught stealing were +4 ahead of runners-up Jose Cardenal & Reggie Smith

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 11, 3B – 3, HR - 2, RBI - 17, SB – 26, AVG - .236, OBP - .299

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) at Washington 8/9

Longest hitting streak – 15 games

HR at home – 3

HR on road – 1

Most home runs, game – 1 on four occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 at Cleveland 8/4

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 1 (.000)

Fielding

Chances – 771

Put Outs – 279

Assists – 458

Errors – 34

DP – 86

Pct. - .956 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

11^th in AL MVP voting (39 points, 14% share)

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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:

Campaneris stole another 62 bases in 1969, which was not enough to lead the league again. He missed most of July due to a broken finger on his right hand and finished the season by batting .260 with a .302 OBP in 135 games. He bounced back in 1970 by hitting .279 with 28 doubles, a career-high 22 home runs, and a .321 OBP while regaining the AL stolen base crown with 42. He was again among the league leaders in putouts at shortstop (267) as well as double plays (92). Oakland won the AL West title in 1971 and Campaneris had a substandard year at the plate, batting .251 with a .287 OBP, 18 doubles, 4 triples, 5 home runs, and only 34 stolen bases. The A’s again topped the AL West in 1972 and went on to win the World Series. Campaneris batted .240 with a .278 OBP, 25 doubles, 8 home runs, 85 runs scored, and a league-leading 52 stolen bases. He also led AL shortstops with 795 chances and 283 putouts. In Game 2 of the ALCS vs. Detroit, Campaneris, who had been running the Tigers wild, was hit in the ankle by a pitch from RHP Lerrin LaGrow causing “Campy” to toss his bat at LaGrow, which led to a near brawl when Detroit manager Billy Martin charged out of the dugout toward him, necessitating three umpires to restrain him. Campaneris was fined and suspended from the remainder of the ALCS as a result, but not the World Series against Cincinnati where he hit only .179 but scored the go-ahead run in the decisive Game 7. Oakland repeated in 1973, and Campaneris hit .250 with a .308 OBP, 17 doubles, 6 triples, 4 home runs, 89 runs scored, 46 RBIs, and 34 stolen bases. He missed the first five games of the season due to being suspended for the bat-throwing incident involving LaGrow in the ALCS. His 228 putouts ranked fifth among AL shortstops and his 496 assists ranked third. In the ALCS against Baltimore, “Campy” hit .333 with two home runs and three stolen bases. In the World Series against the New York Mets, he stole another three bases and hit a two-run home run in the decisive Game 7 victory. The A’s made it three straight championships in 1974. Despite missing 15 games during a stretch from late July to mid-August due to a sprained ankle, he batted .290 with a .347 OBP, 18 doubles, 8 triples, 77 runs scored, and 34 stolen bases. He hit .353 and excelled defensively in the five-game World Series victory against the Los Angeles Dodgers. The A’s topped the AL West once again in 1975 only to fall to the Red Sox in the ALCS. “Campy” hit .265 with a .337 OBP and stole 24 bases. The club dropped to second in 1976 and the 34-year-old Campaneris batted .256 with a .331 OBP and 16 extra-base hits, although he still accounted for 52 RBIs and his stolen base total rebounded to 54 thanks to manager Chuck Tanner emphasizing the running game. With the team’s core either aging or departed, Campaneris joined the exodus as a highly sought free agent in the offseason. He signed with the Texas Rangers for five years and $750,000, a nice raise from his $72,000 salary in Oakland. In a tumultuous season, the Rangers finished a surprising second in the AL West and Campaneris provided veteran leadership as well as hitting .254 with a .314 OBP, 19 doubles, 7 triples, 5 home runs, 27 stolen bases (while being caught stealing a league-high 20 times), and an AL-leading 40 sacrifice hits. He was an All-Star for the last time. “Campy” was also second among AL shortstops in putouts (269) and third in assists (483). His performance dropped off considerably in 1978 to .186 with a .245 OBP, and he was benched in August. Campaneris found himself behind rookie Nelson Norman at shortstop in 1979 and was traded to the California Angels in May. Seeing less action and relegated to a utility role through 1981, after which he failed to catch on with Baltimore and spent a year in the Mexican League. Campaneris spent 1983 with the New York Yankees, performing well in a reserve role in which he batted .322 while appearing in 60 games. He was released by the Yankees following the season, thus ending his playing career. For his major league career Campaneris batted .259 with 2249 hits that included 313 doubles, 86 triples, and 79 home runs. He scored 1181 runs and compiled 646 RBIs, 649 stolen bases, and a .311 OBP. With the Athletics he batted .262 with 1882 hits, 983 runs scored, 270 doubles, 70 triples, 70 home runs, 566 stolen bases, and a .314 OBP. He led the AL in stolen bases six times. Appearing in 37 postseason games, he hit .243 with 3 homers, 11 RBIs, and 10 stolen bases. A six-time All-Star, he was inducted into the Athletics Hall of Fame in 2019. Following his playing career, he was a minor league bunting and baserunning coach for the Angels and later coached for the Astros and Giants. His legacy with the A’s was probably best summed up by Charlie Finley in 1980, who said “you can talk about Reggie Jackson, Catfish Hunter, and Sal Bando, all those great players, but it was Campy who made everything go.”

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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: Jim Finigan, 1955

Second Baseman/Third Baseman, Kansas City Athletics

Age:  27 (Aug. 19)

2^nd season with Athletics

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 175 

Prior to 1955:

A native of Quincy, Illinois, Finigan starred in football and basketball, in addition to baseball at Quincy Notre Dame High School. Following graduation in 1946 he attended St. Ambrose College (now University) on a baseball scholarship. Playing sandlot ball on the side, Finigan signed with the New York Yankees for $400 per month in 1948. He initially was assigned to Independence of the Class D Kansas-Oklahoma-Missouri League where he played second base and batted .309 with a .393 on-base percentage and 59 RBIs in 109 games before moving up to the Joplin Miners of the Class C Western Association for 18 games in which he hit .361. Spending all of 1949 with Joplin he batted .320 with 180 hits, 120 runs scored, 34 doubles, 19 triples, 7 home runs, 79 RBIs, 22 stolen bases,. and a .393 OBP. Promoted to the Norfolk Tars of the Class B Piedmont League in 1950, Finigan hit .260 with 22 extra-base hits, and a .321 OBP. Following the season, he enlisted in the Army where he played service baseball for Fort Leonard Wood. After missing two minor league seasons, Finigan played for Binghamton of the Class A Eastern League in 1953 where he batted .303 with 38 doubles, 8 triples, 13 home runs, 80 RBIs, and a .377 OBP while playing exclusively at third base. In the offseason he was traded to the Philadelphia Athletics as part of a ten-player deal. Expecting that he needed further development before moving up to the majors, Finigan surprisingly stuck with the A’s in 1954 thanks to a strong spring performance. Taking over as the club’s starting third baseman, he had a solid rookie season, gaining selection as an All-Star on his way to hitting .302 with 25 doubles, 6 triples, 7 home runs, 51 RBIs, and a .381 OBP. He also proved to be a solid performer at third base and placed second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. In the offseason, the Athletics were sold and moved to Kansas City.

1955 Season Summary

Appeared in 150 games

2B – 90, 3B – 59, PH – 2, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 615 [12, tied with Yogi Berra, Gil McDougald & Minnie Minoso]

At Bats – 545 [9]

Runs – 72

Hits – 139

Doubles – 30 [4, tied with Sammy White]

Triples – 7 [8, tied with six others]

Home Runs – 9

RBI – 68 [19, tied with Hector Lopez]

Bases on Balls – 61

Int. BB – 6 [10, tied with nine others]

Strikeouts – 49

Stolen Bases – 1

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .255

OBP - .333

Slugging Pct. - .385

Total Bases – 210

GDP – 18 [4, tied with Minnie Minoso]

Hit by Pitches – 3 [19, tied with sixteen others]

Sac Hits – 5

Sac Flies – 1

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 22, 3B – 6, HR - 9, RBI - 48, AVG - .286, OBP - .358

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Most hits, game – 3 on six occasions

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

HR at home – 5

HR on road – 4

Most home runs, game – 1 on nine occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Boston 4/26 – 11 innings

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 2 (.500)

Fielding (2B)

Chances – 476

Put Outs – 236

Assists – 228

Errors – 12

DP – 72

Pct. – .975 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star (Started for AL at 3B)

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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 they drew a healthy 1,393,054 fans to Municipal Stadium, which was over a million more than they drew in ’54. Following a solid first half, Finigan slumped badly at the plate after the All-Star break, apparently distracted by being moved to second base to make room for rookie third baseman Hector Lopez.

Aftermath of 1955:

Shifted back to third base in 1956, Finigan suffered a leg injury early in the season which sidelined him for a week. He missed more time due to a May illness and a sprained ankle in July. Shifted back to second base again, his hitting suffered and, limited to 91 games he ended up with a miserable .216 average with 11 extra base hits, 21 RBIs, and a .298 OBP. Vision problems that led to him wearing glasses for the remainder of his career also were an apparent contributor to his hitting problems. In the offseason he was traded to the Detroit Tigers, who anticipated that he would fill a need at third base. Overweight when he reported to spring training in 1957, Finigan suffered a hand injury that sidelined him briefly. He returned to action in April and took over the starting job at third base from 22-year-old Reno Bertoia. Lack of batting production caused him to be benched in favor of Bertoia and Finigan was used sparingly the rest of the way. Appearing in 64 games, Finigan batted .270 with a .357 OBP. In the offseason he was dealt to the newly relocated San Francisco Giants. Beaten out at third base by rookie Jim Davenport, Finigan appeared in only 23 games with the Giants in 1958 before being sent down to Phoenix of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League. He hit .285 in 60 games with Phoenix with a .336 OBP. In the offseason he was traded within the PCL to Vancouver and that team’s major league parent, the Baltimore Orioles, purchased his contract. Anticipated to be a reserve outfielder in 1959, a strong spring caused him to take over at third base while young Brooks Robinson, coming off a six-month military commitment, was sent down to the minors. Upon Robinson’s return to the Orioles in July, Finigan was sent to Vancouver. Released by the Orioles, he played three more minor league seasons before retiring, his once promising career having faded away. For his major league career, he batted .264 with 422 hits that included 74 doubles, 17 triples, and 19 home runs. He scored 195 runs and compiled 168 RBIs while drawing 190 walks for a .342 OBP. With the Athletics he batted .265 with 340 hits, 158 runs scored, 62 doubles, 15 triples, 18 home runs, 140 RBIs, 155 walks drawn, and a .344 OBP. The two-time All-Star had no postseason appearances. Finigan was an instructor at a baseball school in Florida for a time and managed an unaffiliated minor league team. He also obtained a college degree and coached at the high school and college levels. He died of a sudden heart attack at age 52 in 1981.  

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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: Eddie Plank, 1901

Pitcher, Philadelphia Athletics

Age:  26 (Aug. 31)

1^st season with Athletics

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’11” Weight: 175 

Prior to 1901:

A native and lifelong resident of Gettysburg, Pennsylvania (hence his nickname “Gettysburg Eddie”), Plank grew up on a family farm and played baseball with town teams from the age of 17. The young southpaw pitched with a cross-fire motion across his body that he referred to as a “slant ball”. This off-balance motion proved to be effective but also led to bouts of wildness. Enrolling at Gettysburg Academy at age 22, he came to the attention of Gettysburg College’s baseball coach Frank Foreman who recognized his potential. With Foreman’s guidance, Plank developed a curve and fastball that he threw effectively with excellent control. In 1900 he signed with a team in the Virginia League. The league quickly folded but thanks to Coach Foreman, he came to the attention of Connie Mack, who was the manager of the Athletics in the new American League. Plank joined the new club in May of 1901.

1901 Season Summary

Appeared in 33 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 33 [16]

Games Started – 32 [13]

Complete Games – 28 [11, tied with Bill Reidy & Earl Moore]

Wins – 17 [9, tied with Bill Bernhard]

Losses – 13 [18, tied with Roscoe Miller & Win Mercer]

PCT - .567 [12]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 1 [14, tied with fourteen others]

Innings Pitched – 260.2 [14]

Hits – 254 [18]

Runs – 133 [19, tied with Pink Hawley]

Earned Runs – 96 [16]

Home Runs – 3

Bases on Balls – 68 [14]

Strikeouts – 90 [10]

ERA – 3.31 [10]

Hit Batters – 7

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 13 [1, tied with Ned Garvin]

Midseason Snapshot: 8-6, ERA – 3.49, SO – 49 in 118.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 7 (in 9 IP) vs. Washington 7/4

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) vs. Milwaukee 6/13

Batting

PA – 111, AB – 99, R – 10, H – 18, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 3, BB – 5, SO – 13, SB – 0, CS – N/A, AVG - .182, GDP – N/A, HBP – 5, SH – 2, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 74

Put Outs – 6

Assists – 63

Errors – 5

DP – 2

Pct. - .932

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In their first year of existence in a new league, the Athletics went 74-62 to finish fourth in the AL, 9 games behind the pennant-winning Chicago White Sox. The pitching staff led the league in complete games (124). The A’s languished in fifth and sixth place throughout July and August until rising to fourth during an 18-10 September capped by an 11-2 finish. Plank quickly became a key component in the pitching staff, while second baseman Nap Lajoie’s outstanding hitting boosted the offense. Hampered by bad weather, they drew 206,329 fans to Columbia Park,28,608 less than the NL Phillies, who finished second in their league.

Aftermath of 1901:

The A’s won the AL pennant in 1902 and Plank contributed a 20-15 record and a 3.30 ERA with 107 strikeouts and a league-leading 18 hit batters due to his willingness to aggressively pitch inside, belying his deceptively slender build and slight appearance. Steady, quiet, and level-headed, Plank went on to a 23-16 tally in 1903 with 33 complete games, a 2.38 ERA, and 176 strikeouts while accumulating 336 innings and leading the league in games pitched (43) and starts (40). It was more of the same in 1904 as Plank went 26-17 with a 2.17 ERA, 37 complete games, 7 shutouts, and 201 strikeouts while working 357.1 innings. One of his shutouts came in a 13-inning 1-0 win when matched against Boston’s ace Cy Young in September. The A’s won the AL pennant in 1905 and “Gettysburg Eddie” contributed a 24-12 record with a 2.26 ERA, while topping the league with 41 starts and 35 complete games. The finesse pitcher recorded 210 strikeouts over the course of 346.2 innings. In the World Series against the NL’s New York Giants, Plank posted a 1.59 ERA while giving up three earned runs, but still ended up with an 0-2 tally against dominant New York pitching. A workhorse over most of the 1906 season, Plank developed a sore arm that almost totally sidelined him over the last 50 games. He still finished at 19-6 with a 2.25 ERA, 21 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 108 strikeouts over 211.2 innings. Plank returned to normal in 1907, appearing in 43 games and posting a 24-16 mark with 33 complete games, a league-leading 8 shutouts, and 183 strikeouts over 343.2 innings. Plank was known for his fidgeting on the mound and many rituals that would have run afoul of the modern pitch clock rules. He also rarely threw to first base with runners present, with the result of his being poor at holding rival base stealers at bay. With the Athletics dropping to sixth in 1908, Plank’s record fell to 14-16 although his ERA was still a healthy 2.17 and he recorded 135 strikeouts over the course of 244.2 innings. With the club once again a contender in 1909, Plank posted a 19-10 tally and a 1.76 ERA with 24 complete games, 3 shutouts, 265.1 innings, and 132 strikeouts. Steadily outstanding and regularly overshadowed by other star pitchers on the A’s, Plank went 16-10 for the pennant-winning club in 1910 with a 2.01 ERA, 22 complete games, and 123 strikeouts. A sore arm kept him out of the World Series triumph over the Chicago Cubs. The Athletics topped the AL again in 1911 and “Gettysburg Eddie” compiled a 23-8 record with a 2.10 ERA while co-leading the league with 6 shutouts among his 24 complete games. He picked up a World Series win against the New York Giants and lost another game when he came in to relieve in extra innings. The A’s were unable to win the pennant in 1912 although Plank had another outstanding season, going 26-6 with a 2.22 ERA and 5 shutouts among his 23 complete games. The Athletics were pennant-winners in 1913 with Plank contributing an 18-10 record with a 2.60 ERA, 7 shutouts, and 151 strikeouts over 242.2 innings. Once more facing the Giants in the World Series, Plank started Game 2 against New York’s star RHP Christy Mathewson. Each of the two starters threw nine shutout innings. Manager Mack allowed Plank to bat with the bases loaded in the bottom of the ninth and he hit into an inning-ending fielder’s choice. Plank gave up three runs in the tenth and Mathewson and the Giants came away winners. Plank and Mathewson again went head-to-head in Game 5, and this time “Gettysburg Eddie” came away the winner by a 3-1 score giving the A’s the decisive win of the Series. The A’s won another pennant in 1914 while Plank went 15-7 with a 2.87 ERA. The A’s were swept in the World Series in a major upset by the Boston Braves. Plank was a 1-0 loser in Game 2 to add a final tough-luck loss to his World Series record. Plank’s workload had significantly dropped off in his last few years with the Athletics, and with Mack aware that he and pitchers Chief Bender and Jack Coombs were in contact with agents for the new Federal League, all three were waived. The 39-year-old Plank signed with the St. Louis Terriers of the outlaw league in 1915 and posted a 21-11 record with a 2.08 ERA and 147 strikeouts. Following a 16-15 season with the Terriers in 1916, the Federal League folded and Plank followed owner Phil Ball to the St. Louis Browns. He produced a 5-6 tally for the Browns in 1917, which proved to be his final major league season. The New York Yankees traded for him and veteran second baseman Del Pratt in 1918. Plank chose to retire instead of pitch for the Yankees. He did see action in an industrial league organized by Bethlehem Steel in 1918. For his major league career, including his Federal League stint, Plank compiled a 326-194 record with a 2.35 ERA, eight 20-win seasons, 410 complete games, 69 shutouts, and 2246 strikeouts in 4495.2 innings pitched. With the Athletics he went 284-162 with a 2.39 ERA, 362 complete games, 59 shutouts, and 1985 strikeouts in 3860.2 innings pitched. Appearing in 7 World Series games, his record was 2-5 with a 1.32 ERA and 32 strikeouts over 54.2 innings. In retirement from baseball, among other things Plank was a tour guide at the Gettysburg battlefield. He died of the effects of a stroke at age 50 in 1926. Twenty years later he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame.

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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.