Highlighted Year: Nap Lajoie, 1903

Second Baseman, Cleveland Naps

Age:  29 (Sept. 5)

2^nd season with Blues/Naps (first complete)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 195 

Prior to 1903:

A Rhode Island native, Napoleon Lajoie (pronounced LAJ-way) was the son of a French-Canadian immigrant (and he thus was said to prefer the French pronunciation of his name as Lah-ZHWA). Due to his father’s early death, Lajoie had to drop out of school to go to work in a textile mill in 1885. Becoming interested in baseball, by 1894 he was playing semi-pro ball in the Woonsocket area while working part-time for an auctioneer. He later became a teamster while playing baseball on the side and became known locally as “the Slugging Cabby”. In 1896 he joined the Fall River Indians of the New England League where he played center field and batted .429 with 15 home runs before his contract was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies for $1500. Converted to first base by the Phillies he appeared in 39 games and batted .326 with 12 doubles, 7 triples, 4 home runs, 42 RBIs, 7 stolen bases, a .330 on-base percentage, and a .543 slugging percentage. In his first full major league season in 1897 Lajoie led the NL in slugging percentage (.569) and total bases (310) while hitting .361 with 197 hits, 107 runs scored, 40 doubles, 23 triples, 9 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and a .392 OBP. In 1898 he was shifted to second base where the graceful fielder excelled defensively and led the league’s second sackers with 442 putouts. He also led the NL in doubles (43) and RBIs (127) while batting .324 with 197 hits, 113 runs scored, 11 triples, 6 home runs, 25 stolen bases, a .354 OBP, and a .461 slugging percentage. With a smooth swing that allowed him to hit to all fields with decent power while rarely striking out, Lajoie continued his development in 1899, although an injury limited him to 77 games in which he hit .378 with 19 doubles, 9 triples, 6 home runs, 70 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, a .419 OBP, and a .554 slugging percentage. In 1900 he was sidelined for five weeks as the result of a broken thumb suffered during a fight with teammate Elmer Flick. In 102 games he batted .337 with 33 doubles, 12 triples, 7 home runs, 92 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, a .362 OBP, and a .510 slugging percentage. Incensed upon learning that he was being paid $400 less than teammate Ed Delahanty (despite the preseason assurances by Phillies owner John Rogers that they would be paid the same), Lajoie jumped to the American League in 1901, signing with the Philadelphia Athletics. While the Phillies went to court to stop the deal, Lajoie played for the A’s in 1901 while the case made its way through the court system. He had an outstanding season as he won the batting Triple Crown by hitting .426 with 14 home runs and 125 RBIs. He also topped the new circuit in hits (232), runs scored (145), doubles (48), OBP (.463), slugging percentage (.643), and total bases (350). Prior to the 1902 season the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that Lajoie could not play in the state for any other team than the Phillies. While he played in one game for the A’s at the start of the 1902 season, A’s president and manager Connie Mack arranged for his transfer to Cleveland in order to keep him in the American League, although he was forced to sit out any games played in Philadelphia. He again won the AL batting championship (.378) while also hitting 35 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, and producing 65 RBIs, a .419 OBP, and a .565 slugging percentage. The peace agreement between the NL and AL in the offseason ended any claim the Phillies had on Lajoie. To great popular demand the club began to be called the Napoleons (shortened to Naps) in honor of its star player.

1903 Season Summary

Appeared in 125 games

2B – 122, 1B – 1, 3B – 1, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 525

At Bats – 485

Runs – 90 [7]

Hits – 167 [6]

Doubles – 41 [2]

Triples – 11 [15, tied with Charlie Hickman, Danny Murphy & Charlie Carr]

Home Runs – 7 [5, tied with Jimmy Ryan]

RBI – 93 [3]

Bases on Balls – 24

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 26

Stolen Bases – 21 [19, tied with Bill Bradley & Fielder Jones]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .344 [1]

OBP - .379 [3, tied with Billy Lush]

Slugging Pct. - .518 [1]

Total Bases – 251 [4]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 13

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading batting average was +.009 ahead of runner-up Sam Crawford

League-leading slugging percentage was +.022 ahead of runners-up Bill Bradley & Buck Freeman

Midseason snapshot: 2B –20, 3B – 4,  HR - 1, RBI – 34, AVG – .340, OBP - .367, SLG - .488

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Phila. A’s 7/2, (in 4 AB) vs. St. Louis Browns 7/23, (in 5 AB) vs. NY Highlanders 8/15

Longest hitting streak – 14 games

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 6

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 3 AB) at Washington 9/23

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 5 at Washington 9/24

Pinch-hitting – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 804

Put Outs – 366

Assists – 402

Errors – 36

DP – 61

Pct. – .955

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The Naps (renamed for Lajoie) went 77-63 to finish third in the AL, 15 games behind the pennant-winning Boston Americans while leading the league in doubles (231), and batting strikeouts (588). The Naps entered June at 17-15 in the tightly bunched AL and continued to play well through the summer although they couldn’t keep pace with Boston and finished a distant third.

Aftermath of 1903:

In 1904 Lajoie topped the circuit in batting (.376), OBP (.413), slugging (.546), hits (208), doubles (49), RBIs (102), and total bases (302). Lajoie, also commonly referred to as Larry, missed some games in 1904 due to being suspended after an altercation with an umpire. He would miss more games in 1905 after a spike wound in one leg led to blood poisoning from the blue dye in his sock which nearly led to amputation. His leg recovered, and limited to 65 games, he hit .329 with a .377 OBP and .418 slugging percentage. By this point Lajoie was the player/manager of the Naps, a position that would have a negative effect on his batting production over time, although in 1906 he led the AL in hits (214) and doubles (48) while batting .355 with a .392 OBP and .465 slugging percentage. His manner of hand signaling pitches to his outfielders from behind his back was easily discernible to opponents and he lacked the ability to instruct his players in aspects of the game that came easily to him (a commonality with other great players who became managers). With a talented club he was unable to win the AL pennant as manager, although Cleveland was typically competitive. In 1907 he hit .301 with a .347 OBP and .395 slugging percentage and in 1908, a season in which the Naps closely contended for the pennant, he hit only .289 with a .352 OBP and .375 slugging percentage. During the 1909 season Lajoie resigned as manager as the club dropped to sixth place. Lajoie the player hit .324 with 33 doubles, 7 triples, a home run, 47 RBIs, a .378 OBP, and a .431 slugging percentage. He returned to top batting form in 1910, a season in which he became embroiled in controversy. Battling Detroit’s Ty Cobb for the AL batting championship late in the season, and with a new Chalmers auto to be awarded to the winner, Lajoie and the Naps played a double-header against the St. Louis Browns on the season’s last day and Lajoie trailing Cobb. St. Louis manager Jack O’Connor, not wanting Cobb to win, ordered his third baseman to play deep which allowed Lajoie to beat out seven straight bunts down the third base line for hits. He also hit a triple and one more bunt was ruled a sacrifice. Despite the effort to assist Lajoie, Cobb was awarded the batting title by the closest of margins although later research showed that Cobb was erroneously credited with two additional base hits. In 1981, following the discovery of the error, Commissioner Kuhn refused to retroactively award Lajoie the 1910 AL batting title even though the adjusted figures put him in front of Cobb, .383 to .382. Chalmers chose to award cars to both players, and although Lajoie initially resisted accepting the vehicle, his wife insisted and he received the car. In 1911 a tendon injury limited Lajoie to 90 games and he hit .365 with a .420 OBP. He stayed with Cleveland through 1914 when his average dropped to .258 due to declining eyesight. Sold to the Philadelphia Athletics, he played two last seasons in 1915 and ’16 as his production continued to drop. For his major league career, Lajoie batted .338 with 3243 hits that included 657 doubles, 163 triples, and 82 home runs. He scored 1504 runs and compiled 1599 RBIs, 380 stolen bases, a .380 OBP, and a .466 slugging percentage. With Cleveland the totals were a .339 batting average with 865 runs scored, 2047 hits, 424 doubles, 78 triples, 33 home runs, 919 RBIs, 240 stolen bases, a .389 OBP, and a .452 slugging percentage. Lajoie never appeared in the postseason. He was a minor league player/manager for a time and commissioner of the Ohio-Pennsylvania League. His record as a major league manager was 377-309. Lajoie was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937. He died in 1959 at age 84.

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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: Ken Hunt, 1961

Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds

Age: 22

1^st season with Reds

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 200 

Prior to 1961:

A native of Ogden, Utah, Hunt was born into one of the Mormon families that originally migrated to the state. Tall and athletic by the time he reached high school, Hunt achieved all-state recognition in basketball as well as baseball. As a pitcher he hurled two no-hitters, one in which he struck out 21 batters. Receiving a scholarship to Brigham Young University, he signed with the Reds in 1958, receiving a reported bonus of $35,000. Assigned to Visalia of the Class C California League where he experienced problems with his control on the way to a 2-5 record and 9.00 ERA while issuing 75 walks in addition to 34 strikeouts over 54 innings. He also hit 7 batters and unleashed 13 wild pitches. Returning to Visalia in 1959, the newly married Hunt showed some progress while producing a 4-14 tally and 6.66 ERA. The hard-throwing 20-year-old struck out 160 batters while walking 185 over 150 innings. In addition to 16 wild pitches he again hit 7 batters. Moving along to Columbia of the Class A South Atlantic (or Sally) League in 1960 he showed tremendous improvement in compiling a 16-6 record and 2.86 ERA and a league-leading 221 strikeouts while reducing his walks to 134 over 211 innings. Not expected to make the Reds entering spring training in 1961, he pitched his way onto the pitching staff with a fine Grapefruit League performance which featured his fastball with plenty of motion and an effective curve.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 29 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 29

Games Started – 22

Complete Games – 4

Wins – 9

Losses – 10

PCT - .474

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 136.1

Hits – 130

Runs – 70

Earned Runs – 60

Home Runs – 13

Bases on Balls – 66 [16]

Strikeouts – 75 

ERA – 3.96 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 6 [5, tied with six others]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 5 

Midseason Snapshot: 9-4, ERA - 3.35, SO – 60 in 102 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 7 (in 9 IP) at San Francisco 5/29

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 7 IP) at Philadelphia 6/16

Batting

PA – 44, AB – 39, R – 0, H – 7, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 3, BB – 2, SO – 19, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .179, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 3, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 34

Put Outs – 10

Assists – 19

Errors – 5

DP – 2

Pct. - .853

Postseason Pitching: G – 1 (World Series vs. NY Yankees)

GS – 0, CG – 0, GF – 1, Record – 0-0, PCT – .000, ERA – 0.00, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 1, H – 0, R – 0, ER – 0, HR – 0, BB – 1, SO – 1, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie Pitcher of the Year: Sporting News

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The Reds went 93-61 to win the NL pennant by 4 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers. The pitching staff led the league in shutouts (12), saves (40), fewest hits allowed (1300), and fewest runs allowed (653). The lightly regarded Reds were paced by their formidable hitting and decent starting pitching that featured righthanders Joey Jay and Bob Purkey, and LHP Jim O’Toole, supported by relievers Jim Brosnan and Bill Henry. They put together a 54-30 first half and remained strong down the stretch to hold off the Dodgers and nail down the first Cincinnati pennant since 1940. Lost World Series to the New York Yankees, 4 games to 1. Hunt was impressive during the season’s first half until shoulder soreness set in. He didn’t win a game after July 7 and lost six straight decisions, including his final start on Sept. 4. Utilized in relief thereafter he made one appearance from the bullpen in the World Series.

Aftermath of 1961:

Following the season, Hunt enlisted in the Ohio Air National Guard. He reported late to spring training in 1962 amid higher expectations than the previous year but pitched poorly in seven spring appearances. Sent down to San Diego of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League, he split time between San Diego and Macon of the Sally League, producing a combined record of 2-8 with a 7.67 ERA and 34 strikeouts with 80 walks over 61 innings. 1963 was pretty much a repeat performance, splitting time between San Diego and Macon and compiling a combined tally of 7-9 with a 4.50 ERA and 56 strikeouts with 89 walks over 88 innings. Hunt lasted two more seasons in the minor leagues before retiring in 1965, having never regained the form that brought him some success with the Reds in 1961, his only major league season. He blamed changes in his delivery as a result of blisters and shoulder problems with his demise as a pitcher. After baseball he taught English while coaching the baseball and basketball teams at Morgan High School in Utah. He died at age 69 in 2008.

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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: Gene Freese, 1961

Third Baseman, Cincinnati Reds

Age: 27

1^st season with Reds

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 175 

Prior to 1961:

A native of Wheeling, West Virginia, Freese excelled as an athlete in high school and at West Liberty State College (now West Liberty University) despite his small stature (he was nicknamed “he Microbe” at that time). Signed by the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1953 he spent most of his first minor league season with Brunswick of the Class D Georgia-Florida League where he played second base and shortstop and batted .309 with 28 doubles, 7 triples, 9 home runs, 89 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, a .374 on-base percentage, and a .459 slugging percentage. He also began to fill out physically at age 19. Promoted to the New Orleans Pelicans of the Class AA Southern Association in 1954, Freese had an outstanding season, hitting .332 with 30 doubles, 6 triples, 16 home runs, 98 RBIs, a .376 OBP, and a .496 slugging percentage. Defensively he appeared exclusively at second base while his older brother George played at third. The Freese brothers joined the Pirates in 1955, but George only appeared in 51 games before returning to the minors. Gene primarily appeared at third base and also saw significant action at second. In a late May game against the Phillies that went into extra innings, Freese reached first base in the tenth inning with another Pirate on third. A hit to the outfield scored the batter from third but Freese failed to run to second base, instead trotting back to the dugout. The Philadelphia shortstop waved fo center fielder Richie Ashburn to throw him the ball after which he stepped on second base. The umpires declared a force out at second due to Freese’s failure to tag second base before departing the field and the Pittsburgh run was nullified. The Phillies went on to win in the eleventh inning and the newspaper accounts compared Freese’s error to the famous “Merkle’s boner” play in 1908 which proved to have a decisive effect on the pennant race when Giants rookie Fred Merkle also failed to touch second base in similar circumstances. The Pirates were far from being contenders at this, or any other, part of the 1955 season, but the misplay by Freese became a long-remembered highlight (or lowlight) from his career. For his rookie season he batted .253 with 21 doubles, 8 triples, 14 home runs, 44 RBIs, and a .310 OBP. Freese started the 1956 season with the Pirates but in June was sent down to the Hollywood Stars of the Pacific Coast League where, over the course of 68 games, he hit .274 with 10 doubles, 11 home runs, 36 RBIs, and a .321 OBP. Receiving a September call-up to the Pirates, for the major league portion of his season he ended up playing in 65 games and batted .208 with 3 home runs, 14 RBIs, and a .273 OBP. He also picked up the long-lasting nickname of “Augie” following an altercation with umpire Augie Donatelli prior to being sent down to Hollywood. Freese was Pittsburgh’s primary third baseman in 1957 while splitting time with Gene Baker and Frank Thomas. He hit .283 with 18 doubles, 6 home runs, 31 RBIs, and a .319 OBP. Little used by the Pirates during the early part of the 1958 season, Freese was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals in June for utility infielder Dick Schofield and cash. Appearing in 62 games for the Cardinals, mostly at shortstop, second base, and as a pinch-hitter because durable star Ken Boyer was firmly installed at third base, Freese batted .257 with 11 doubles, 6 home runs, 16 RBIs, and a .294 OBP. At season’s end he was dealt again, this time to the Philadelphia Phillies for infielder Solly Hemus, who was named as manager of the Cardinals for 1959. Not playing regularly for the Phillies at third base in 1959 until June, Freese batted .268 with 23 home runs, 70 RBIs, a .343 OBP, and a .500 slugging percentage. He particularly excelled as a pinch-hitter, in which role he hit .350 in 20 at bats with 5 homers, 13 RBIs, a .364 OBP, and a 1.150 slugging percentage. In the offseason Freese was traded once again, this time to the Chicago White Sox for up-and-coming outfielder Johnny Callison. As the starting third baseman for the White Sox in 1960, he hit .273 with 32 doubles, 6 triples, 17 home runs, 79 RBIs, a .312 OBP, and a .481 slugging percentage. He also performed well defensively. Once again Freese was dealt in the offseason, returning to the National League with the Reds for pitchers Cal McLish and Juan Pizarro.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 152 games

3B – 151, 2B – 1, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 606 [16]

At Bats – 575 [11]

Runs – 78 [16]

Hits – 159 [15]

Doubles – 27 [12, tied with Gordy Coleman & Don Hoak]

Triples – 2

Home Runs – 26 [11, tied with Gordy Coleman]

RBI – 87 [13, tied with Gordy Coleman & Vada Pinson]

Bases on Balls – 27

Int. BB – 5

Strikeouts – 78 [14, tied with Frank Thomas]

Stolen Bases – 8 [16, tied with Bill White, Jose Pagan & Jim Gilliam]

Caught Stealing – 2

Average - .277

OBP - .307

Slugging Pct. - .466 [19]

Total Bases – 268 [14]

GDP – 17 [9]

Hit by Pitches – 0

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – 3 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 18, HR - 18, RBI - 60, AVG - .296, OBP - .328, SLG - .533

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Philadelphia 6/18

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 3 AB) at LA Dodgers 5/31, (in 4 AB) at LA Dodgers 8/16, (in 3 AB) vs. Pittsburgh 9/19

HR at home – 13

HR on road – 13

Multi-HR games – 3

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Mil. Braves 6/8, at St. Louis 6/11, at LA Dodgers 8/16, vs. Pittsburgh 9/19

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 1 (.000)

Fielding

Chances – 397

Put Outs – 123

Assists – 254

Errors – 20

DP - 23

Pct. - .950 

Postseason Batting: 5 G (World Series vs. NY Yankees)

PA – 19, AB – 16, R – 0, H – 1, 2B – 1,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 3, IBB – 2, SO – 4, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .063, OBP - .211, SLG - .125, TB – 2, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

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The Reds went 93-61 to win the NL pennant by 4 games over the Los Angeles Dodgers, while leading the league in doubles (247). The lightly regarded Reds were paced by their formidable hitting, which included Freese, and decent starting pitching that featured righthanders Joey Jay and Bob Purkey, and LHP Jim O’Toole, supported by relievers Jim Brosnan and Bill Henry. They put together a 54-30 first half and remained strong down the stretch to hold off the Dodgers and nail down the first Cincinnati pennant since 1940. Lost World Series to the New York Yankees, 4 games to 1.

Aftermath of 1961:

 A broken ankle suffered during spring training effectively finished Freese for the 1962 season as he appeared in only 18 games. Hitting poorly during the early going in 1963, Freese was sent down to San Diego of the Pacific Coast League in May (much to his displeasure) where he batted .281 in 54 games with 12 home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .346 OBP. Returning to the Reds in July he hit .244 for the year in Cincinnati with 6 home runs, 26 RBIs, and a .303 OBP. In the offseason he found himself on the move once again, returning to the Pirates for cash. Primarily a backup to young third baseman Bob Bailey in 1964, Freese appeared in 99 games and batted a mere .225 with 13 doubles, 9 home runs, 40 RBIs, and a .269 OBP. Little used by the Pirates in 1965 he was sold to the Chicago White Sox in August to provide a right-handed bat off the bench and also to act as a prod to underperforming third baseman Pete Ward. In his return to the White Sox he appeared in 17 games and hit .281 with a .368 OBP. His combined season totals were .268 with a home run, 12 RBIs, and a .339 OBP. With his major league career drawing to a close, Freese divided 1966 between the White Sox and Houston Astros with unimpressive results. Released by Houston in the offseason, he played two more seasons in the minors prior to retiring in 1968. For his major league career, Freese batted .254 with 877 hits that included 161 doubles, 28 triples, and 115 home runs. He scored 429 runs and compiled 432 RBIs, a .305 OBP, and a .418 slugging percentage. With the Reds he batted .261 and scored 100 runs with 37 doubles, 3 triples, 32 home runs, 114 RBIs, a .303 OBP, and a .428 slugging percentage. The 1961 World Series marked his only postseason action. A journeyman player who was at his best for the pennant-winning 1961 Reds, following baseball Freese was involved in business in New Orleans that included operating a sports tavern. He was inducted into the New Orleans Sports Hall of Fame in 1988 and died at age 79 in 2013. His brother George, who was a minor league and briefly major league teammate, had a 17-year minor league playing career with only brier stops in the majors.

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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: Noodles Hahn, 1902

Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds

Age: 23 (April 29)

4^th season with Reds

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 160 

Prior to 1902:

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Hahn picked up his nickname “Noodles” in his youth as a result of his mother’s chicken noodle soup, which he either repeatedly expressed a particular liking for, brought to his father for lunch each day at a nearby piano factory, or delivered to a poor neighbor. Whatever the reason, the nickname stuck. At age 16 he joined a Southern Association team that moved from Chattanooga to Mobile during the 1895 season. Staying on with Mobile in 1896, he produced a 7-4 record with a 1.44 ERA and 74 strikeouts in 112.2 innings pitched. In 1897 he joined Detroit of the Western Association and went 17-16 with a 2.82 ERA, 31 complete games, and 144 strikeouts over 313 innings. Splitting 1898 between Detroit and St. Paul he had a mediocre season, going 12-20 with 28 complete games and 144 strikeouts in 266 innings. Recommended to the Reds by St. Paul owner Charles Comiskey, he pitched well in spring training and made the club. With an effective, if not overpowering, fastball and good control, he put together a 23-8 record in 1899 while leading the NL with 145 strikeouts and posting a 2.68 ERA. Hahn ran into difficulty coming to terms on a contract with the Reds for 1900 but settled and produced a 16-20 record for the 62-77 Reds along with a 3.27 ERA and again led the NL in strikeouts with 132. Along the way he pitched a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies, one of the league’s best-hitting teams. Hahn was again successful in 1901, producing a 22-19 tally for the last-place Reds, along with a 2.71 ERA and 239 strikeouts, once again a league-leading total that included a then-record 16 in a game against the Boston Beaneaters (now Atlanta Braves). He also topped the NL with 41 complete games and 375.1 innings pitched.

1902 Season Summary

Appeared in 37 games

P – 36, 1B – 1, CF – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 36 [5, tied with Roy Evans, Mike O’Neill & Doc White]

Games Started – 36 [4]

Complete Games – 35 [3]

Wins – 23 [4, tied with Jack Taylor]

Losses – 12 [19, tied with Bob Wicker]

PCT - .657 [8]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 6 [5]

Innings Pitched – 321 [4]

Hits – 282 [6, tied with Bill Duggleby]

Runs – 97 [19]

Earned Runs – 63 [20, tied with Clarence Currie]

Home Runs – 2 [13, tied with eleven others]

Bases on Balls – 58 [17, tied with John Malarkey]

Strikeouts – 142 [6]

ERA – 1.77 [2]

Hit Batters – 6

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 6 [10, tied with four others]

Midseason Snapshot: 7-9, ERA - 1.64, SO – 66 in 148 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 8 (in 9 IP) vs. Bos. Beaneaters 8/16

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 4 (in 9 IP) vs. Brooklyn 5/25, (in 9 IP) vs. Pittsburgh 7/13

Batting

PA – 130, AB – 119, R – 10, H – 22, 2B – 3, 3B – 3, HR – 0, RBI – 9, BB – 10, SO – 31, SB – 2, CS – N/A, AVG - .185, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 1, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 92

Put Outs – 14

Assists – 69

Errors – 9

DP – 1

Pct. - .902

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The Reds went 70-70 to finish fourth in the NL, 33.5 games behind the pennant-winning Pittsburgh Pirates. The Reds started off slowly and were in the NL cellar at 13-22 by the end of May. After rising to sixth in June they posted winning records in July, August, and September and were 69-68 entering their last three games in October in which they went 1-2 at Pittsburgh to break even for the year.

Aftermath of 1902:

Resisting an offer to jump to the rival American League, Hahn signed a $4200 contract to stay with the Reds, making him the team’s highest-paid player. He was 22-12 in 1903 with a 2.52 ERA, 34 complete games, and 127 strikeouts. Showing signs of slippage in 1904, he posted a 16-18 tally with a still outstanding 2.06 ERA, 33 complete games among his 297.2 innings, and 98 strikeouts. A sore arm that diminished his fastball limited Hahn to 77 innings and a 5-3 mark with a 2.81 ERA in 1905, and the Reds released him in August. After pitching semiprofessionally for the remainder of ’05, he caught on with the AL’s New York Highlanders in 1906. He appeared in just six games before requesting his release and deciding to end his major league career. For that career, he compiled a 130-94 record with a 2.55 ERA, 212 complete games, 25 shutouts, and 917 strikeouts over 2029.1 innings. Nearly all of his production came with the Reds. Having attended Cincinnati Veterinary College during his playing days, he became a veterinary inspector for the US government in Cincinnati for over 30 years. He appeared semiprofessionally on the side for a time and also regularly pitched batting practice for the Reds at Crosley Field until he was well into his 60s. He also had a reputation as a skillful pianist. Moving to North Carolina after retiring from his government job, he died at age 80 in 1960.

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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: Turk Lown, 1959

Pitcher, Chicago White Sox

 Age: 35 (May 30)

2^nd season with White Sox (first complete)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 180 

Prior to 1959:

A native of the New York City borough of Brooklyn, Omar Joseph Lown (rhymes with town) acquired his life-long nickname of “Turk” due to his liking for turkey as a youngster. A standout baseball and basketball player at Franklin K. Lane High School, he played in the amateur Queens Alliance League from 1940 as a catcher and outfielder. With his strong throwing arm, two years later he had a trial as a pitcher and struck out 17 batters in his first outing. He then signed with the Brooklyn Dodgers following a tryout and was assigned to the Valdosta Trojans of the Class D Georgia-Florida League in 1942 where he led the league with 204 strikeouts while posting an 18-8 record. Joining the Army during World War II he saw action and was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge during his three-year stint. Returning to baseball in 1946, Lown pitched for Newport News of the Class B Piedmont League where he was 2-5 in nine appearances before his season ended due to arm problems that required surgery. In 1947 he returned to action with Pueblo of the Class B Western League where he produced a 13-7 tally and 4.50 ERA with 14 complete games and 129 strikeouts over 190 innings. Tending to struggle with his control, he also walked 133 batters. Back with Pueblo in 1948, his record was 17-6 with a 4.08 ERA, 17 complete games, and 161 strikeouts with 112 walks over 192 innings. Starting off poorly with the Montreal Royals of the Class AAA International League in 1949 (1-7, 3.97 ERA, 48 strikeouts and 54 walks over 68 innings), he was demoted to Fort Worth of the Class AA Texas League where he produced an 8-1 tally that included his only career no-hitter, a 2.96 ERA, and 55 strikeouts over 76 innings. He also walked 54 batters, including 9 in his no-hit performance. Returning to Montreal in 1950 he compiled a 13-9 record and 3.49 ERA with 104 strikeouts and 122 walks over 209 innings. With a repertoire of pitches that included a good fastball, knuckleball, changeup, and slow eephus pitch, he was viewed as a solid prospect and was drafted away from the Dodgers by the Chicago Cubs. Joining the Cubs in 1951, Lown appeared in 31 games (18 of them starts) and struggled to a 4-9 tally and 5.46 ERA with 39 strikeouts and 90 walks over 127 innings. The Cubs were a fifth-place club in 1952 and while Lown’s record was only 4-11, he showed some improvement with a 4.37 ERA and 73 strikeouts over 156.2 innings, albeit while issuing 93 walks. Utilized primarily out of the bullpen in 1953, he appeared in 49 games (with 12 starts) and went 8-7 with a 5.16 ERA and 76 strikeouts with 84 walks over 148.1 innings. Off to a dreadful start in 1954, Lown was sent down to Los Angeles of the Pacific Coast League where he relieved in 30 games and produced a 5-3 record and 2.47 ERA with 52 strikeouts and 46 walks over 73 innings. Having turned his career around as a relief pitcher, he returned to Los Angeles in 1955 and led the PCL in games pitched (61) and saves (19) while compiling a 12-5 record, 2.13 ERA, and 96 strikeouts over 114 innings. With improved control his walks totaled 49. He added a slider to his repertoire which proved to be effective and aided in giving him better control. A highly determined and unselfish team player, Lown returned to the Cubs in 1956 and appeared in 61 games in which his record was 9-8 with 13 saves, a 3.58 ERA, and 74 strikeouts over 110.2 innings. In 1957 he led the NL in pitching appearances (67) and games finished (47) while registering 12 saves, a 5-7 tally, a 3.77 ERA, and 51 strikeouts over 93 innings. A month into the 1958 season Lown was on the move as he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds for another reliever, RHP Hersh Freeman. Following 11 appearances with Cincinnati that yielded disappointing results he was purchased by the White Sox in June and went 3-3 with 8 saves and a 3.98 ERA in 27 games pitched. Overall, with three teams he appeared in 42 games and posted a 3-5 record with 8 saves and a 4.31 ERA. Lown entered 1959 as a key short-relieving component in the bullpen for the White Sox.

1959 Season Summary

Appeared in 60 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 60 [2]

Games Started – 0

Games Finished – 37 (1, tied with Gerry Staley)

Complete Games – 0

Wins – 9

Losses – 2

PCT - .818 [Non-qualifying]

Saves – 15 [1, tied with Gerry Staley]

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 93.1

Hits – 73

Runs – 32

Earned Runs – 30

Home Runs – 12

Bases on Balls – 42

Strikeouts – 63

ERA – 2.89 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 2

Balks – 1 [4, tied with twenty-eight others]

Wild Pitches – 1

Midseason Snapshot: G – 32, 5-2, SV – 7, ERA - 3.24, SO – 27 in 41.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 5 (in 2 IP) at Washington 9/10

10+ strikeout games – 0

Batting

PA – 13, AB – 12, R – 1, H – 3, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 1, SO – 3, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .250, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 24

Put Outs – 2

Assists – 21

Errors – 1

DP – 0

Pct. - .958

Postseason Pitching: G – 3 (World Series vs. LA Dodgers)

GS – 0, CG – 0, Record – 0-0, PCT – .000, ERA – 0.00, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 3.1, H – 2, R – 0, ER – 0, HR – 0, BB – 1, SO – 3, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0 

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The White Sox went 94-60 to win the AL pennant by 5 games over the Cleveland Indians, their first pennant in 40 years.The pitching staff led the league in ERA (3.29), saves (37), and fewest runs allowed (588). The White Sox moved into first place for good on July 28 but still had to fend off the Indians, solidifying their lead with a late-August four-game sweep of Cleveland. The short-relieving tandem of Lown and Gerry Staley was a key component in the club’s success. Lost World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 games to 2.

Aftermath of 1959:

The White Sox contended again in 1960 but came up short in third place. Lown’s workload out of the bullpen dropped to 45 games and he posted a 2-3 record and 5 saves with a 3.88 ERA and 39 strikeouts over 67.1 innings. In 1961 he pitched in 59 games and produced a 7-5 tally and 11 saves with a 2.76 ERA and 50 strikeouts over 101 innings. In a 1962 season in which he turned 38, Lown was still an effective reliever, appearing in 42 games and producing a 4-2 record and 3.04 ERA with 40 strikeouts over 56.1 innings. Released by the White Sox after the season he was with the Reds for spring training in 1963 before deciding to retire. For a major league career where he went from being a mediocre starting pitcher to an effective reliever, Lown appeared in 504 games, 49 of them starts, and compiled a 55-61 record with 73 saves, a 4.12 ERA, and 574 strikeouts over 1032 innings. With the White Sox, where he was exclusively a relief pitcher, he appeared in 233 games and had a 25-15 record, 45 saves, a 3.19 ERA, and 232 strikeouts over 358.2 innings. The 1959 World Series marked his only postseason action. Following his playing career he became a postal carrier. He died in 2016 at age 92.   

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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: Sherm Lollar, 1959

Catcher, Chicago White Sox

Age: 35 (Aug. 23)

8^th season with White Sox

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 185 

Prior to 1959:

An Arkansas native, John Sherman Lollar grew up in Fayetteville where his father operated a grocery store until his death when Lollar was eight. His mother sold the grocery store and Lollar took on added responsibilities at home caring for his younger siblings while his mother worked at a VA nursing home. Always interested in baseball, he became batboy for the local minor league team at age 12. Following high school he played baseball with a Chamber of Commerce-affiliated team in Pittsburg, Kansas, while working at a store and studying at Pittsburg State Teachers College (now Pittsburg State University). He went on to play semipro ball with the Baxter Spring Miners before signing with the Baltimore Orioles of the International League in 1943. The 18-year-old backstop batted a mere .118 in 42 plate appearances. Returning to Baltimore in 1944 his batting production improved to .250 with 14 doubles, 15 home runs, 72 RBIs, a .394 on-base percentage, and a .416 slugging percentage. He followed up with an outstanding season for Baltimore in 1945 in which he hit .364 with 27 doubles, 34 home runs, 111 RBIs, a .483 OBP, and a .659 slugging percentage. He was honored as the International League’s Most Valuable Player. As the Orioles were affiliated with the Cleveland Indians, he was sold to Cleveland in 1946. Stuck behind veteran catchers Jim Hegan and Frankie Hayes, Lollar saw little action with the Indians and requested to be returned to Baltimore so he could get playing time. Back with Baltimore his average dropped to .234, but he hit 20 home runs in 67 games and had a .356 OBP and .532 slugging percentage. In the offseason he was traded to the New York Yankees as part of a five-player deal. Jammed up by a glut of catchers in New York, Lollar spent most of the 1947 season back in the International League, this time with the Newark Bears. He hit .280 with 16 home runs, 64 RBIs, a .376 OBP, and a .468 slugging percentage. Quiet and low-key (often described as solemn), Lollar was a workmanlike and effective player. Although he appeared in only 11 games for the Yankees in 1947, he did see action in the World Series against the Brooklyn Dodgers and generated three hits and scored three runs. Hindered by a hand injury in 1948, he saw action in only 22 games in 1948 while backing up Yogi Berra and was traded to the St. Louis Browns in the offseason. Splitting time behind the plate with Les Moss in 1949, Lollar batted .261 with 9 doubles, 8 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .340 OBP. In 1950 he was an All-Star for the first time as he hit .280 with 22 doubles, 13 home runs, 65 RBIs, a .391 OBP, and a .449 slugging percentage. He appeared in 98 games in 1951 and batted .252 with 21 doubles, 8 home runs, 44 RBIs, and a .350 OBP and, much sought after by the Red Sox and White Sox in the offseason, the White Sox obtained him as a key part of an eight-player deal. With a new club and pay increase to $12,000 in 1952, although hindered by a slow start, he hit .240 with 15 doubles, 13 home runs, 50 RBIs, and a .354 OBP while providing solid play behind the plate. Having been directed by manager Paul Richards, an ex-catcher, to improve his agility behind the plate, Lollar developed a style of catching with his left knee on the ground. He also improved his throwing and, accused of being lackadaisical, became more animated. He also became a better handler of pitchers, which would become one of his key strengths over time. In 1953 his production improved to .287 with 19 doubles, 8 home runs, 54 RBIs, and a .388 OBP. Defensively, he ranked third among AL catchers in assists (51) and percentage of baserunners caught stealing (55.6). An All-Star in 1954, Lollar batted .244 with 13 doubles, 7 home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .334 OBP. His defense behind the plate made up for any offensive shortcomings, which included his lack of running speed (Matt Batts and Carl Sawatski caught in a combined 75 games in comparison to Lollar’s 93). Catching in 136 games in 1955, he hit .261 with 16 home runs, 61 RBIs, a .374 OBP, and a .408 slugging percentage. In addition to being an All-Star for the second straight year, he placed eleventh in league MVP voting. Behind the plate in 132 games in 1956, Lollar batted .293 with 28 doubles, 11 home runs, 75 RBIs, a .383 OBP, and a .438 slugging percentage. He was an All-Star once again and placed sixteenth in league MVP balloting. In 1957 he didn’t commit an error in the field until September on his way to leading AL backstops with a .993 fielding percentage and receiving a Gold Glove, although he missed 41 games at midseason due to a wrist fracture. At the plate he ended up hitting .256 with 11 home runs, 70 RBIs, and a .342 OBP. Lollar continued to excel in 1958, batting .273 with 16 doubles, 20 home runs, 84 RBIs, a .367 OBP, and a .454 slugging percentage, while winning another Gold Glove for his defensive excellence.  

1959 Season Summary

Appeared in 140 games

C – 122, 1B – 24, PH – 6

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 576

At Bats – 505

Runs – 63

Hits – 134

Doubles – 22 [18, tied with Gene Woodling & Bob Cerv]

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 22 [11, tied with Hector Lopez]

RBI – 84 [12]

Bases on Balls – 55 [17]

Int. BB – 6 [7, tied with eight others]

Strikeouts – 49

Stolen Bases – 4

Caught Stealing – 3 [19, tied with eleven others]

Average - .265

OBP - .345 [17]

Slugging Pct. - .451 [18]

Total Bases – 228 [17]

GDP – 27 [1]

Hit by Pitches – 9 [3]

Sac Hits – 2

Sac Flies – 5 [11, tied with seven others]

League-leading times grounded into DPs was +5 ahead of runner-up Bob Allison

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 14, HR – 12, RBI – 49, AVG – .273, OBP - .345, SLG – .469

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Detroit 8/13

Longest hitting streak – 9 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at Detroit 4/11, (in 4 AB) at KC A’s 8/14

HR at home – 11

HR on road – 11

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 4 at KC A’s 8/14, vs. Detroit 9/2

Pinch-hitting – 3 for 5 (.600) with 1 2B & 1 BB

Fielding (C )

Chances – 679

Put Outs – 623

Assists – 51

Errors – 5

Passed Balls – 4

DP – 14

Pct. - .993

Postseason Batting: 6 G (World Series vs. LA Dodgers)

PA – 24, AB – 22, R – 3, H – 5, 2B – 0,3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 5, BB – 1, IBB – 0, SO – 3, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .227, OBP - .250, SLG -.364, TB – 8, GDP – 2, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 1

Awards & Honors:

Gold Glove

All-Star

9^th in AL MVP voting (44 points – 13% share)

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The White Sox went 94-60 to win the AL pennant by 5 games over the Cleveland Indians, their first pennant in 40 years while leading the league in triples (46), stolen bases (113), and fewest batting strikeouts (634). The “Go-go Sox”, benefiting from their emphasis on pitching, speed, and defense, of which Lollar played a significant role, moved into first place for good on July 28 but still had to fend off the Indians, solidifying their lead with a late-August four-game sweep of Cleveland. Lost World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers, 4 games to 2.

Aftermath of 1959:

While he was an All-Star one last time in 1960, Lollar began to show signs of decline as he batted .252 with 23 doubles, 7 home runs, 46 RBIs, and a .326 OBP. Briefly sidelined by a leg injury, he remained a good handler of pitchers and led AL backstops with a .995 fielding percentage. Still the league’s top fielding catcher in 1961 in terms of his .998 fielding percentage, Lollar, who turned 37 during the season, hit a solid .282 with only 10 doubles, 7 home runs, 41 RBIs, and a .360 OBP. Splitting time with Camilo Carreon in 1962 Lollar hit .268 with 14 extra-base hits, 26 RBIs, and a .369 OBP. He was released following a 1963 season in which he saw little action, thus ending his playing career. For his major league playing career Lollar batted .264 with 1415 hits that included 244 doubles, 14 triples, and 155 home runs. He scored 623 runs and compiled 808 RBIs, a .357 OBP, and a .402 slugging percentage. With the White Sox he batted .265 with 485 runs scored, 1122 hits, 186 doubles, 9 triples, 124 home runs, 631 RBIs, a .358 OBP, and a .402 slugging percentage. The defensive standout was charged with only 62 errors for a lifetime .992 fielding percentage. Lollar led the AL in fielding percentage five times, and three times in double plays. His passed ball total of 53 gave him a rate of 5.5 per 162 games, an exceptionally low figure. Lollar appeared in eight World Series games with the Yankees and White Sox and batted .308 with one home run and 6 RBIs. He was a nine-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove recipient. Following his playing career he was a coach for the Baltimore Orioles and minor league manager with the Oakland Athletics. He operated a bowling alley prior to his death from cancer in 1977 at age 53.

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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: Doc White, 1906

Pitcher, Chicago White Sox

Age: 27 (April 9)

4^th season with White Sox

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 150 

Prior to 1906:

A native of Washington, DC, G. Harris White was the son of a prominent businessman and began studying at Georgetown University in 1897 where he joined the baseball team as a pitcher and outfielder. In an 1899 game against Holy Cross, he struck out the first nine batters he faced. While working toward a degree in dentistry, White played semi-pro ball in 1900. With his performance catching the interest of the Philadelphia Phillies, he signed in 1901 and as a rookie that year posted a 14-13 record and 3.19 ERA with 22 complete games and 132 strikeouts over 236.2 innings. In the offseason he completed his studies and received a degree in dentistry in 1902. That season he had a good performance with the  seventh-place Phillies, going 16-20 with a 2.53 ERA, 34 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 185 strikeouts over 306 innings. After opening his dental office in Washington in the offseason, White became the subject of a bidding war between American League teams. He was awarded to the White Sox in 1903, following the peace agreement between the NL and AL. His 1903 record was 17-16 with a 2.13 ERA, 29 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 114 strikeouts over 300 innings pitched. His willingness to throw inside to hitters led to 14 hit batters Respected for his education he soon earned the nickname “Doc” due to his off-field profession. His best pitch proved to be a “drop ball” (sinker) that broke sharply downward as it crossed the plate which supplemented his good fastball and overall effective control. The White Sox contended in 1904 and White contributed what was then a record with five consecutive shutouts on his way to a 16-12 tally and 1.78 ERA with 23 complete games, 7 shutouts, and 115 strikeouts over 228 innings. Intelligent and articulate, he became a favorite subject for interviewers. He was outstanding again in 1905 as he produced a 17-13 record, 1.76 ERA, 25 complete games, 4 shutouts, and 120 strikeouts over 260.1 innings.

1906 Season Summary

Appeared in 29 games

P – 28, CF – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 28

Games Started – 24

Complete Games – 20

Wins – 18 [11]

Losses – 6

PCT - .750 [2]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 7 [4, tied with four others]

Innings Pitched – 219.1

Hits – 160

Runs – 47

Earned Runs – 37

Home Runs – 2

Bases on Balls – 38

Strikeouts – 95

ERA – 1.52 [1]

Hit Batters – 5

Balks – 1 [1, tied with ten others]

Wild Pitches – 5 [13, tied with twelve others]

League-leading ERA was -0.07 lower than runner-up Barney Pelty

Midseason Snapshot: 8-3, ERA – N/A, SO - 44 in 98.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 9 (in 9 IP) vs. Phila. A’s 6/5

10+ strikeout games – 2

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 9 IP) vs. Phila. A’s 6/5, (in 9 IP) vs. St. Louis Browns 7/3, (in 7 IP) at NY Highlanders 7/16

Batting

PA – 88, AB – 65, R – 11, H – 12, 2B – 1, 3B – 1, HR – 0, RBI – 3, BB – 13, SO – 10, SB – 3, CS – N/A, AVG - .185, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 7, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 102

Put Outs – 17

Assists – 77

Errors – 8

DP – 1

Pct. - .922

Postseason Pitching: G – 3 (World Series vs. Chicago Cubs)

GS – 2, CG – 1, Record – 1-1, PCT – .500, ERA – 1.80, SV – 1, ShO – 0, IP – 15, H – 12, R – 7, ER – 3, HR – 0, BB – 7, SO – 4, HB – 1, BLK – 0, WP – 0 

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The White Sox went 93-58 to win the AL pennant by 3 games over the New York Highlanders. The pitching staff led the league in shutouts (32), fewest runs allowed (460), and fewest walks issued (255). The “Hitless Wonders”, relying on pitching and defense while lacking offensive punch, proved masterful at manufacturing runs by playing “small ball”. In fourth place in early August, they put together a 19-game winning streak to move into first and stayed at or near the top until taking over first place to stay on Sept. 25. Won World Series over the Chicago Cubs, 4 games to 2. White was hindered by illness and a tired arm late in the season. In the World Series upset of the cross-town Cubs, he lasted only three innings in a Game 2 loss but relieved effectively to save Game 5 and started and went the distance in winning the decisive Game 6.

Aftermath of 1906:

In 1907 White tied for the league lead in wins with his 27-13 record and had a 2.26 ERA with 24 complete games, 6 shutouts, and 141 strikeouts over 291 innings while walking only 38 batters to average 1.2 walks per nine innings. With the White Sox involved in a tight pennant race in 1908, White produced an 18-13 tally and 2.55 ERA with 24 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 126 strikeouts over 296 innings. He appeared in only 24 games in 1909 as he began to show signs of wear from his heavy workload. He remained effective as he posted an 11-9 record and 1.72 ERA. His effectiveness began to diminish thereafter and, although he stayed with the White Sox until 1913, he produced only one more winning tally. He left the major leagues after pitching in only 19 games in 1913, although he played in the Pacific Coast League in 1914 and ’15. For his major league career, White produced a 189-156 record with a 2.39 ERA, 262 complete games, 45 shutouts, and 1384 strikeouts over 3041 innings. With the White Sox he went 159-123 with a 2.30 ERA, 206 complete games, 42 shutouts, and 1067 strikeouts over 2498.1 innings. His only postseason appearances came in the 1906 World Series with the White Sox. His record for consecutive shutouts lasted until 1968. Active in his church, he played the piano and directed the choir. He later toured while performing spirituals and popular songs of the time. White also collaborated with writer Ring Lardner, composing music for song lyrics Lardner wrote. White also became a minor league manager and coached baseball and taught physical education at his former high school in Washington. He was a college pitching coach until retiring at age 70 in 1949. A devoted gardener, he won prizes for his roses in local competitions. White died in 1969 at age 89, several months after sending a congratulatory telegram to Dodgers RHP Don Drysdale, who broke his record for consecutive shutouts.

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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.