Highlighted Year: Johnny Kling, 1903

Catcher, Chicago Cubs

Age: 27

3^rd season with Orphans/Cubs

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 160 

Prior to 1903:

A native of Kansas City, Missouri, Kling was the son of a baker. From an early age he was assigned to deliver bread to his father’s customers using a horse-drawn wagon. He would tend to run late as he stopped to play informal baseball games in a corner lot along his route. By 1890, at age 14, he was pitching for a local amateur league team and moved up to the semipro Kansas City Schmelzers where the teenager pitched, played first base, and managed. A tryout with St. Louis in 1895 failed to land a contract offer due to Kling’s lack of size. He spent 1896 with the Houston Buffaloes of the Texas Association and in 1897 he spent time with Rockford of the Western Association who soon let him go as being too small. He returned to the Schmelzers, where he was converted into a catcher. An 1899 barnstorming trip with Kansas City of the Western League provided Kling with the opportunity to play for the St. Joseph Saints in 1900, also of the Western League. By season’s end he was playing for the Cubs (then called the Orphans). Splitting time at catcher with Mike Kahoe and Frank Chance in 1901, Kling appeared in 74 games and batted .273 with a .301 on-base percentage. With Chance’s becoming the starting first baseman in 1902, Kling took over the regular duties behind the plate. He had a fine season, hitting .289 with 19 doubles, 3 triples, 59 RBIs, 25 stolen bases, and a .333 OBP. Having established himself as an outstanding defensive catcher who was adept at handling pitchers, Kling continued to develop as an offensive contributor in 1903, a rarity for a catcher in that era.

1903 Season Summary

Appeared in 132 games

C – 132

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 525

At Bats – 491

Runs – 67

Hits – 146 [17]

Doubles – 29 [7, tied with Jimmy Sheckard & Jake Beckley]

Triples – 13 [8, tied with Jimmy Sebring]

Home Runs – 3 [15, tied with six others]

RBI – 68 [14, tied with Ginger Beaumont]

Bases on Balls – 22

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 38

Stolen Bases – 23

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .297

OBP - .330

Slugging Pct. - .428 [14]

Total Bases – 210 [11]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 9

Sac Flies – N/A

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 17, 3B – 6, HR - 3, RBI - 27, SB – 13, AVG - .288, OBP - .320, SLG - .424

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Most hits, game – 3 on ten occasions

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

Most HR, game – 1 (in 4 AB) at Cincinnati 4/29, (in 4 AB) at Brooklyn 5/12, (in 4 AB) vs. Bos. Beaneaters 6/8

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 2

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 on five occasions

Pinch-hitting – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 778

Put Outs – 565

Assists – 189

Errors – 24

Passed Balls – 9

DP – 13

Pct. – .969 

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The Cubs went 82-56 to finish third in the NL, 8 games behind the pennant-winning Pittsburgh Pirates. The up-and-coming Cubs started well and were in first place from May 15 until June 6. They remained in contention through June and were in second or third the rest of the way as the Pirates pulled away.

Aftermath of 1903:

Chattering constantly throughout games, Kling earned the nickname “Noisy”. He also did not drink and abstained from smoking and chewing tobacco. As the Cubs continued to develop into a winning club during 1904 and ’05, Kling remained a key contributor. 1906 was a pennant-winning season for the Cubs, who won 116 games in achieving NL dominance, and Kling did his part by batting .312 with 15 doubles, 8 triples, 2 home runs, 46 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, a .357 OBP, and a .420 slugging percentage in addition to excellent defense and leadership skills. The club lost the World Series to the crosstown White Sox but returned to the top of the NL in 1907. Kling hit .284 with 15 doubles, 8 triples, a home run, 43 RBIs, a .342 OBP, and a .386 slugging percentage. His .987 fielding percentage topped the league’s catchers. This time the Cubs won the World Series although Kling’s offensive contribution was limited to four hits, two runs, and an RBI. The Cubs won a third straight pennant, and repeated as World Series champs, in 1908. Kling batted .276 with 23 doubles, 5 triples, 4 home runs, 59 RBIs, a .315 OBP, and a .382 slugging percentage. He also was among the top defensive backstops. He hit .250 in the World Series triumph over Detroit. In the offseason he won the world pocket billiards championship and invested heavily in a billiards emporium in Kansas City. He requested a leave-of-absence from the Cubs while he sought to establish his new business and missed the 1909 season. Considered to be holding out, he was fined for being in violation of his contract when he sought to return in 1910. He proved to be rusty from his layoff and showed a decline in his catching skills although he batted .269 with a .354 OBP. The club returned to the top of the National League but lost the World Series to the Philadelphia Athletics. During the 1911 season he was traded to the Boston Braves and hit .212 for the year with a .295 OBP. He was player/manager of the Braves in 1912 and his eldest daughter became the team mascot, which proved to be of no help to the last-place club. Kling played in 81 games and batted .317 with a .356 OBP and .405 slugging percentage. Replaced as manager by George Stallings (who would yield better results), Kling was dealt to the Cincinnati Reds and finished his playing career in 1913. For his major league career, Kling batted .272 with 1154 hits that included 181 doubles, 61 triples, and 20 home runs. He scored 475 runs and compiled 514 RBIs, 124 stolen bases, a .319 OBP, and a .357 slugging percentage. With the Cubs he batted .272 with 397 runs scored, 963 hits, 156 doubles, 51 triples, 16 home runs, 438 RBIs, 119 stolen bases, a .317 OBP, and a .358 slugging percentage. Appearing in 21 World Series games, he hit .185 with 2 doubles and 4 RBIs. Well after his playing career, Kling bought the minor league Kansas City Blues and eliminated segregated seating at Muehlebach Field, the team’s ballpark. A private man who may have been Jewish (sources differ, although his wife later indicated that he had become a Lutheran), he was successful as a baseball player and businessman. He died in 1947 at age 71. His brother Bill had a brief major league pitching career.

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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: Frank Malzone, 1962

Third Baseman, Boston Red Sox

Age: 32

6^th season with Red Sox

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’10” Weight: 180 

Prior to 1962:

A native of the New York City borough of the Bronx, Malzone learned baseball from older siblings. Studying to be an electrician at Samuel Gompers High School, he played two seasons on the baseball team. Not heavily scouted, he was signed by the Red Sox in 1948 and sought to overcome the perception that he was not likely to reach the major leagues. Initially assigned to Milford of the Class D Eastern Shore League, the 18-year-old Malzone batted .304 with 32 doubles, 10 home runs, 77 RBIs, a .448 on-base percentage, and a .469 slugging percentage. Advancing to Oneonta of the Class C Canadian-American League in 1949, he hit .329 with 26 doubles, 26 triples, 5 home runs, 92 RBIs, a .413 OBP, and a .501 slugging percentage. Beyond his impressive batting, he had difficulties in the field and committed 43 errors at third base. Assigned to the Scranton Miners of the Class A Eastern League in 1950, Malzone suffered a badly broken leg while sliding into second base two games into the season and missed the remainder of the year while doctors warned him that there might not be a future for him playing baseball. Returning to Scranton in 1951 he performed well by hitting .283 with 28 doubles, one home run, 79 RBIs, and a .335 OBP. Drafted into the Army, he missed the next two seasons but played service baseball which helped him to hone his skills. Following his discharge in 1954 he played for the Louisville Colonels of the Class AAA American Association where he batted .270 with 24 doubles, 8 triples, 11 home runs, 63 RBIs, a .314 OBP, and a .401 slugging percentage. With Louisville again in 1955, Malzone hit .310 with 33 doubles, 7 triples, 9 home runs, 88 RBIs, a .352 OBP, and a .432 slugging percentage. He was a league All-Star and received a September call-up to the Red Sox where he appeared in six games and produced seven hits. Malzone started the 1956 season with Boston but distracted by the offseason death of his baby daughter, was only hitting .165 when he was sent to the San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League in June. With the Seals he batted .286 with 14 doubles, 6 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .339 OBP. Returning to the Red Sox in 1957, he put together an outstanding season, batting .292 with 31 doubles, 5 triples, 15 home runs, 103 RBIs, a .323 OBP, and a .427 slugging percentage. Once a suspect fielder, he had developed into a fine third baseman and led AL third sackers in putouts (151), assists (370), and fielding percentage (.954). He was an All-Star and received a Gold Glove but was ineligible for Rookie of the Year consideration, although he received one vote from a rebel scribe anyway. The quiet and modest Malzone got off to a slow start at the plate in 1958 but came on to finish at .295 with 30 doubles, 15 home runs, 87 RBIs, and a .333 OBP. Hitting behind slugger Ted Williams in the lineup, Malzone benefited from pitchers pitching around Williams in clutch situations. He was again a Gold Glove winner at third base. Proving himself to be a consistent performer in 1959, he batted .280 with 34 doubles, 19 home runs, 92 RBIs, a .323 OBP, and a .437 slugging percentage. He won another Gold Glove for his defensive performance. In 1960 his consecutive game playing streak ended at 475 games and, while still an All-Star, his hitting dropped off a bit to .271 with 30 doubles, 14 home runs, 79 RBIs, and a .313 OBP with a .398 slugging percentage. An ankle injury during the first week of the 1961 season sidelined Malzone for a few games and he went on to hit .266 with 21 doubles, 14 home runs, 87 RBIs, and a .314 OBP.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 156 games

3B – 156

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 663 [18]

At Bats – 619 [10, tied with Lenny Green]

Runs – 74

Hits – 175 [12]

Doubles – 20

Triples – 3

Home Runs – 21 [15, tied with Elston Howard, Willie Kirkland & Chuck Essegian]

RBI – 95 [10]

Bases on Balls – 35

Int. BB – 2

Strikeouts – 43

Stolen Bases – 0

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .283 [20]

OBP - .319

Slugging Pct. - .426

Total Bases – 264 [17]

GDP – 17 [9, tied with five others]

Hit by Pitches – 0

Sac Hits – 4

Sac Flies – 5 [20, tied with twelve others] 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 14, HR - 11, RBI - 51, AVG - .288, OBP - .323 

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. NY Yankees 5/16, (in 5 AB) at Minnesota 8/18

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

HR at home – 10

HR on road – 11

/Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) vs. Cleveland 6/9, (in 5 AB) at Minnesota 8/18

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. KC A’s 6/30, at Minnesota 8/18

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 483

Put Outs – 154

Assists – 313

Errors – 16

DP – 32

Pct. - .967

Awards & Honors:

31^st in AL MVP voting, tied with Norm Cash, Det. (3 points, 1% share

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The Red Sox went 76-84 to finish eighth in the AL, 19 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees while leading the league in doubles (257). In ninth place by May 20, the Red Sox struggled to play .500 ball during the season’s last two months to finish one place higher.

Aftermath of 1962:

Malzone got off to a hot start in 1963 and was batting .345 on July 1 before tailing off in the season’s second half, most notably due to a dreadful five-week slump, and finishing at .291 with 25 doubles, 15 home runs, 71 RBIs, and a .327 OBP. A steady player thus far both offensively and on defense, Malzone, while still one of the league’s better third basemen, showed signs of slowing down in 1964 as he hit .264 with 19 doubles, 13 home runs, 56 RBIs, and a .312 OBP. His playing time diminished in 1965 as young Dalton Jones was groomed as his replacement and in 106 games he batted .239 with 20 doubles, 3 home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .293 OBP in what proved to be his last year with Boston. Released in the offseason, he signed with the California Angels in 1966 where he appeared in 82 games, mostly as a pinch-hitter, and batted .206 in his last major league season. For his major league career, which was spent almost entirely with the Red Sox, Malzone batted .274 with 1486 hits that included 239 doubles, 21 triples, and 133 home runs. He scored 647 runs and produced 728 RBIs, a .315 OBP, and a .399 slugging percentage. An eight-time All-Star he received three Gold Gloves for his play at third base. He was inducted into the Red Sox Hall of Fame in 1995. Following his playing career, he became a scout and spring training instructor for the Red Sox. Malzone died in 2015 at age 85.    

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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: Ed Bressoud, 1962

Shortstop, Boston Red Sox

Age: 30 (May 2)

1^st season with Red Sox

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height:6’1”    Weight: 175 

Prior to 1962:

A Los Angeles native, Bressoud (pronounced Breh-SUE) was an All-City baseball player in high school and also played American Legion ball. He played semipro baseball while attending college to obtain a degree in Physical Education. Signed by the New York Giants in 1950, the young shortstop was assigned to Springfield of the Class D Ohio-Indiana League where he appeared in 70 games and batted .240 with 19 extra-base hits. In 1951 Bressoud advanced to Sioux City of the Class A Western League and hit .230 with 20 doubles, 5 home runs, 53 RBIs, and a .298 on-base-percentage. Returning to Sioux City in 1952 he batted .252 with 25 doubles, 4 triples, 5 home runs, 68 RBIs, and a .359 OBP. Defensively, Bressoud led the league’s shortstops in putouts (302), assists (487), and double plays (105). In the offseason he commenced a two-year stint in the Marines. While missing two seasons, he did play some military baseball. Resuming his career in 1955, Bressoud was assigned to the Minneapolis Millers of the Class AAA American Association where he batted .251 with 35 doubles, 19 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a .318 OBP. Back with Minneapolis in 1956, he hit .269 with 18 doubles, 3 home runs, 36 RBIs, and a .330 OBP. Along the way he was called up by the Giants following the June trade of veteran shortstop Alvin Dark to the St. Louis Cardinals. With Daryl Spencer seeing more of the action at shortstop and Bressoud’s batting average dropping to .227, he was returned to Minneapolis where he finished the season. Starting the 1957 season with Minneapolis, Bressoud was called up by the Giants in July and went on to hit .268 with 5 home runs, 10 RBIs, and a .299 OBP while seeing action at both shortstop and third base. The franchise moved to San Francisco in 1958, but Bressoud’s season was shadowed by a personal tragedy when his wife died from a brain tumor. Sent home to spend time with his family, he ended up appearing in only 66 games and batting .263 with a .331 OBP. Bressoud started the 1959 season in a backup role but took over as the starting shortstop at midseason due to the errant fielding of Andre Rodgers as the Giants fought the Dodgers and Braves in a tight pennant race. He helped to stabilize the infield defense while batting .251 with 17 doubles, 9 home runs, 26 RBIs, and a .311 OBP. His batting average dropped to .225 and his OBP to .290 in 1960 although he produced 19 doubles, 6 triples, 9 home runs, and 43 RBIs. Hindered by a leg injury in 1961, Bressoud was displaced at short by Jose Pagan. Limited to 59 games he hit 3 home runs with 11 RBIs and a .276 OBP. Exposed in the NL expansion draft in the offseason, he was selected by the Houston Colt .45s who dealt him to the Red Sox who appreciated his glove work and being a right-handed pull hitter with some power who could be a good fit at Fenway Park.

1962 Season Summary

Appeared in 153 games

SS – 153

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 657 [19]

At Bats – 599 [18]

Runs – 79

Hits – 166 [17, tied with Nellie Fox]

Doubles – 40 [3]

Triples – 9 [5, tied with Brooks Robinson]

Home Runs – 14

RBI – 68

Bases on Balls – 46

Int. BB – 4

Strikeouts – 118 [2]

Stolen Bases – 2

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .277

OBP - .329

Slugging Pct. - .444

Total Bases – 266 [15]

GDP – 14 [18, tied with six others]

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 7

Sac Flies – 3 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 18, 3B – 4, HR - 6, RBI - 37, AVG - .268, OBP - .314

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Most hits, game – 3 on ten occasions

Longest hitting streak – 14 games

HR at home – 7

HR on road – 7

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 3 AB) vs. KC A’s 6/30

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 3 on five occasions

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 801

Put Outs – 291

Assists – 482

Errors – 28

DP – 107

Pct. - .965

Awards & Honors:

26^th in AL MVP voting, tied with Whitey Ford NYY & Bob Rodgers LAA (6 points – 2% share)

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The Red Sox went 76-84 to finish eighth in the AL, 19 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees while leading the league in doubles (257). In ninth place by May 20, the Red Sox struggled to play .500 ball during the season’s last two months to finish one place higher.

Aftermath of 1962:

Bressoud continued to display power from the shortstop position in 1963 as he batted .260 with 23 doubles, 6 triples, 20 home runs, 60 RBIs, a .329 OBP, and a .451 slugging percentage. He was an All-Star for the only time in his career in 1964 as he started the season with a 20-game hitting streak on his way to batting .293 with 41 doubles, 15 home runs, 55 RBIs, a .372 OBP, and a .456 slugging percentage. Bressoud’s hitting dropped off in 1965 and he lost playing time to Rico Petrocelli, a young shortstop with power, and in 107 games he batted .226 with 8 home runs, 25 RBIs, and a .297 OBP. With the Red Sox committing to younger players, he was traded to the New York Mets for outfielder Joe Christopher. Expected to fill more of a utility role for the Mets, he saw the most action at shortstop, splitting time with veteran Roy McMillan and the up-and-coming Bud Harrelson, and he hit .225 with 15 doubles, 10 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .304 OBP. Prone to striking out, he began wearing glasses during the season, which proved helpful. Just prior to the 1967 season Bressoud was dealt once again, this time to the St. Louis Cardinals. He saw little action as a reserve infielder with the pennant-winning Cardinals and announced his retirement following the World Series victory over the Red Sox. For his major league career, Bressoud batted .252 with 925 hits that included 184 doubles, 40 triples, and 94 home runs. He scored 443 runs and compiled 365 RBIs, a .319 OBP, and a .401 slugging percentage. With the Red Sox he batted .270 and scored 255 runs with 115 doubles, 19 triples, 57 home runs, 208 RBIs, a .337 OBP, and a .435 slugging percentage. He appeared in two World Series games with St. Louis in 1967 and had no plate appearances. In addition to being a one-time All-Star Bressoud received MVP votes following two seasons, both with the Red Sox. After his playing career he was a scout and minor league manager in addition to a long teaching career. Bressoud died in 2023 at age 91.

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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: Cy Young, 1903

Pitcher, Boston Americans

Age: 36

3^rd season with Americans

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 210

Prior to 1903:

An Ohio native, Denton Young, known as “Dent” in his youth, quit school following the sixth grade to help on his father’s farm. Playing baseball in his spare time and showing skill as a pitcher, he organized a team in his hometown of Gilmore before playing semi-professionally. In 1890 he signed with Canton of the Tri-States League for $60 per month. He was given the nickname “Cy”, which may have been short for “Cyclone” or may have been a slang term for a rube from the country, and the 23-year-old went 15-15 for a last-place club while striking out 201 batters and issuing only 33 walks. Following a no-hitter in which he recorded 18 strikeouts, he joined the Cleveland Spiders of the National League, and winning over his new teammates who were initially put off by his hick-like appearance, compiled a 9-7 record with a 3.47 ERA and 39 strikeouts in 147.2 innings pitched. With excellent control of his fastball, curve, and changeup, he had a big year for the fifth-place Spiders in 1891, producing a 27-22 tally with a 2.85 ERA and 187 strikeouts while accumulating 423.2 innings that included 43 complete games. Cleveland rose to second place in 1892 and Young led the NL in wins with his 36-12 record, in ERA (1.93), and shutouts (9) while totaling 453 innings and 48 complete games. Adjusting to the increase in distance between batters and pitchers from 55 feet, 6 inches, to 60 feet, 6 inches in 1893, Young’s ERA rose to 3.36, but he still produced a 33-16 tally and struck out 102 batters over 422.2 innings. His 103 walks had him averaging a league-best 2.2 walks per 9 innings, a tribute to his outstanding control. With the Spiders dropping to sixth in 1894, Young had a rough season, which included seven losses in a row, on his way to a 26-21 mark with a 3.94 ERA and 108 strikeouts over 408.2 innings that included 44 complete games. He and the Spiders bounced back in 1895, with the club finishing second and qualifying for the postseason Temple Cup series while Young posted a 35-10 record with a 3.26 ERA, 36 complete games that included a league-leading 4 shutouts, and 121 strikeouts. He won another three games as Cleveland defeated the Baltimore Orioles in the Temple Cup series. In 1896 his tally was 28-15, which included a stretch where he went 14-4 following a slow start. He also had a 3.24 ERA, 42 complete games, and led the league with 5 shutouts and 140 strikeouts. He also wore a fielder’s glove while pitching for the first time. Well-liked and respected for his honesty and gentlemanly behavior, Young twice filled in as an umpire during the season. In 1897 he was a twenty-game winner for the seventh consecutive season, going 21-19 with a 3.78 ERA, including a no-hitter against Cincinnati, 35 complete games, and 335.2 innings pitched, although his strikeout total dropped to 88. He made it eight straight twenty-win seasons in 1898, with a 25-13 record, 2.53 ERA, 40 complete games, and 101 strikeouts over 377.2 innings. With the brothers who owned the Spiders having also acquired the NL’s St. Louis franchise (then called the Perfectos and renamed the Cardinals in 1900), Young, along with other Cleveland stars, was transferred to St. Louis in 1899. Young kept up his winning ways, posting a 26-16 tally with a 2.58 ERA, another 40 complete games, 4 shutouts, and 111 strikeouts while accumulating 369.1 innings. In 1900, the 33-year-old hurler produced a 20-18 mark with a 3.00 ERA, 32 complete games, 4 shutouts, and 115 strikeouts in 321.1 innings. By this point in his career, his great overhand fastball was losing some of its fire, and he began to rely more on breaking pitches and his excellent control. Not liking the hot summer weather in St. Louis or the NL’s $2400 salary cap, Young jumped to Boston of the new American League for $3000 in 1901, helping to provide immediate legitimacy to the new circuit. He did so impressively in 1901 by winning the pitching Triple Crown with a 33-10 record, 1.62 ERA, and 158 strikeouts over 371.1 innings. The durable and highly consistent Young followed up on his first American League season by producing a 32-11 record for Boston in 1902. Aside from again topping the league in wins, he led the AL in games pitched (45), games started (43), complete games (41), and innings pitched (384.2) while also logging a 2.15 ERA, 3 shutouts, and 160 strikeouts, while issuing only 53 walks.

1903 Season Summary

Appeared in 41 games

P – 40, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 40 [3, tied with Jack Chesbro & Patsy Flaherty]

Games Started – 35 [6, tied with Willie Sudhoff]

Complete Games – 34 [1, tied with Rube Waddell & Bill Donovan]

Wins – 28 [1]

Losses – 9

PCT - .757 [1]

Saves – 2 [1, tied with four others]

Shutouts – 7 [1]

Innings Pitched – 341.2 [1]

Hits – 294 [6, tied with Jack Powell]

Runs – 115 [15, tied with Chief Bender]

Earned Runs – 79 [16]

Home Runs – 6 [8, tied with Chief Bender, Bill Dinneen & Ed Siever]

Bases on Balls – 37

Strikeouts – 176 [3, tied with Eddie Plank]

ERA – 2.08 [2]

Hit Batters – 9 [9, tied with five others]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 5 [14, tied with eight others]

League-leading wins were +5 ahead of runner-up Eddie Plank

League-leading win percentage was +.016 ahead of runner-up Tom Hughes

League-leading shutouts were +1 ahead of runners-up Bill Dinneen & George Mullin

League-leading innings pitched were +5.2 ahead of runner-up Eddie Plank

Midseason Snapshot: 15-4, ERA – 2.00, SO – 97 in 175.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 9 (in 9 IP) vs. Detroit 7/18, (in 12 IP) vs. Phila. A’s 9/3

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) vs. Washington 5/30, (in 9 IP) vs. Washington 9/10

Batting

PA – 146, AB – 137, R – 21, H – 44, 2B – 6, 3B – 3, HR – 1, RBI – 14, BB – 4, SO – 20, SB – 2, CS – N/A, AVG - .321, GDP – N/A, HBP – 0, SH – 5, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances - 97

Put Outs – 6

Assists – 86

Errors – 5

DP – 4

Pct. – .948

Postseason Pitching: G – 4 (World Series vs. Pittsburgh)

GS – 3, CG – 3, Record – 2-1, PCT – .667, ERA – 1.85, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 34, H – 31, R – 13, ER – 7, HR – 1, BB – 4, SO – 17, HB – 1, BLK – 0, WP – 0

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The Americans (aka Pilgrims) went 91-47 to win the AL pennant by 14.5 games over the Philadelphia Athletics. The pitching staff led the league in ERA (2.57), shutouts (20, tied with the Cleveland Naps), saves (4, tied with the Chicago White Sox), and fewest runs allowed (505). Following a slow start in April, a strong May performance put the Americans into contention and they moved into first place to stay in June, propelled by outstanding hitting and pitching. They won the World Series over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 games to 3. With Boston down 3-games-to-1 in the best of 9 format, Young won Games 5 and 7 and RHP Bill Dinneen picked up wins in Game 6 and the decisive Game 8.

Aftermath of 1903:

Boston won the pennant again in 1904, while the 37-year-old Young went 26-16 with a 1.97 ERA and league-leading 10 shutouts that included a perfect game against the Philadelphia Athletics amidst a 24-inning hitless streak. He also closed out the season with three straight shutouts, which were much needed in a tight pennant race with the New York Highlanders (now Yankees). There was no opportunity for further World Series glory as the owner of the NL-champion New York Giants, John T. Brush, refused to allow his club to face the champions of a “minor league”. Boston dropped to fourth place in 1905 and Young’s record fell to 18-19, although his 1.82 ERA ranked third in the league and his 210 strikeouts tied for second while he compiled 320.2 innings. 1906 was another rough year for the Americans, and Young got off to a slow start on his way to a 13-21 tally with a 3.19 ERA and 140 strikeouts while pitching 287.2 innings that included 28 complete games. Young was acting as Boston’s temporary manager at the start of the 1907 season. On the mound, his record rebounded to 21-15 with a 1.99 ERA, 33 complete games, 343.1 innings, and 147 strikeouts. At age 41 in 1908, he had another excellent year, recording a 21-11 tally that included a no-hitter against the New York Highlanders, with a 1.26 ERA, and 155 strikeouts in 299 innings pitched. Praised for his clean living and outstanding work ethic, which included the offseason farm work that he credited for his longevity, he moved on from Boston in 1909, when he was traded to Cleveland. Returning to the city where he had begun his major league career at age 42, Young went 19-15 in ’09 with a 2.26 ERA, 30 complete games, 294.1 innings pitched, and 109 strikeouts. He won his 500^th game in 1910, a season in which he went 7-10 with a 2.53 ERA. In 1911 he was released in August with a record of 3-4 and a 3.88 ERA. Signed by the NL’s Boston Rustlers (former Beaneaters and future Braves) for his box office value, he made 11 starts and put together a 4-5 mark with a 3.71 ERA. He attempted to return to action in 1912, but a sore arm, complicated by difficulty in fielding his position as his girth increased, forced his retirement at age 45. For his long major league career, Young compiled a 511-315 record with a 2.63 ERA, 749 complete games, 7356 innings pitched, 76 shutouts, and 2803 strikeouts. His totals for wins, losses, complete games, and innings pitched remain as all-time records. Young’s total of 1217 walks issued averages out to 1.5 per nine innings, a very good rate. With Boston, Young’s record was 192-112 with a 2.00 ERA, 275 complete games, 38 shutouts, 2728.1 innings pitched, and 1341 strikeouts. Counting the 1892 Temple Cup series and 1903 World Series, he pitched in 7 postseason games and went 2-3 with a 2.36 ERA, 6 complete games, and 26 strikeouts in 61 innings pitched. Young compiled 16 twenty-win seasons that included five thirty-win seasons and had a winning percentage of .619. Following his retirement as a player, Young managed in the rival Federal League in 1913. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937 and died at the age of 88 in 1955. The next year, the annual award for the best pitcher in each league was named in his honor. A statue of Young was built on the site of the Huntington Avenue Grounds, the home venue of the Americans when Young pitched for them, which is now part of Northeastern University. 

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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: Bob Boyd, 1957

First Baseman, Baltimore Orioles

Age: 37

2^nd season with Orioles

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height:5’10”  Weight: 170 

Prior to 1957:

A native of New Albany, Mississippi, Boyd learned baseball from his father, who developed him into a first baseman due to his being left-handed. Following two years in the Quartermaster Corps he joined the Memphis Red Sox of the Negro American League for $175 per month in 1947 where he appeared in 21 official games and batted .261 with four extra-base hits, 10 RBIs, and a .323 on-base percentage. Selected to the Negro League East-West All-Star Games in 1947 and ’48, Boyd’s salary rose to $500 per month and he sold beer in the offseason as well for additional income. He signed with the Chicago White Sox in 1950 as the first black player to sign with that club, although his Negro League team tried to block the deal. The White Sox assigned him to Colorado Springs of the Class A Western League where he hit .373 with a .450 OBP. A smooth-swinging line-drive hitter with good speed and limited power, he advanced to Sacramento of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 1951 where he batted .342 with 32 doubles, 11 triples, 5 home runs, 64 RBIs, 41 stolen bases, a .393 OBP, and a .467 slugging percentage. Receiving a late call-up to the White Sox, he appeared in 12 games and produced 3 hits and 4 RBIs. Returning to the PCL with Seattle in 1952 he batted a solid .320 with 29 doubles, 18 triples, 3 home runs, 75 RBIs, 33 stolen bases, a .349 OBP, and a .435 slugging percentage. During the winter he played in Puerto Rico and won the league batting title and was nicknamed “El Ropo” (for his “frozen rope” line drives) which became “Rope” among English-speaking players. Still stuck in the minors in 1953 despite his good hitting, Boyd played for two Class AAA teams in 1953, Charleston of the American Association and Toronto of the International League, where he hit a combined .318 with 12 doubles, 10 triples, 5 home runs, 34 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, a .360 OBP, and a .465 slugging percentage. Having seen negligible action with the White Sox he was obtained by the St. Louis Cardinals, who assigned him to the Houston Buffaloes of the Class AA Texas League in 1954 where he continued to wield a productive bat, hitting .321 with 22 doubles, 7 home runs, 63 RBIs, a .369 OBP, and a .453 slugging percentage. Following another productive season with Houston in 1955, Boyd was drafted by the Orioles thanks to the recommendation of ex-White Sox manager Paul Richards who had become the GM and manager in Baltimore. Finally receiving a legitimate major league shot in 1956 he was limited to 70 games due to a broken arm that he suffered early in the season and batted .311 with 13 extra-base hits, 11 RBIs, and a .395 OBP.

1957 Season Summary

Appeared in 141 games

1B – 132, PH – 18, LF – 1, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 552 [18]

At Bats – 485 [17]

Runs – 73 [20]

Hits – 154 [12]

Doubles – 16

Triples – 8 [4, tied with Nellie Fox]

Home Runs – 4

RBI – 34

Bases on Balls – 55

Int. BB – 3

Strikeouts – 31

Stolen Bases – 2

Caught Stealing – 4

Average - .318 [4]

OBP - .388 [6, tied with Roy Sievers]

Slugging Pct. - .408

Total Bases – 198

GDP – 4

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 8 [12, tied with five others]

Sac Flies – 2 

Midseason snapshot: 3B – 4, HR - 3, RBI - 24, AVG - .337, OBP - .407

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 7 AB) vs. Cleveland 9/15 – 16 innings

Longest hitting streak – 8 games

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 3

Most home runs, game – 1 on four occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 at Washington 4/21 – 10 innings

Pinch-hitting – 4 for 15 (.267) with 1 3B, 4 RBI & 2 BB

Fielding

Chances – 1153

Put Outs – 1073

Assists – 70

Errors – 10

DP – 107

Pct. - .991

Awards & Honors:

16^th in AL MVP voting, tied with Bob Grim, NYY (9 points, 3% share)

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The Orioles went 76-76 to finish fifth in the AL, 21 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees while leading the league in fewest doubles (191), fewest home runs (87), lowest slugging percentage (.353), and fewest total bases (1856). The rebuilding Orioles benefited from improved pitching and defense which allowed them to rise from a 15-24 record at the end of May. Thanks to a 19-win June and a 30-23 August and September tally they scratched out a break-even season.

Aftermath of 1957:

Boyd followed up with another solid season in 1958, batting .309 with 21 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, 36 RBIs, and a .350 OBP. In 1959 his average dropped to .265 with 20 doubles, 2 home runs, 41 RBIs, and a .312 OBP. The arrival of power-hitting first baseman Jim Gentile in 1960 relegated Boyd to part-time duty, primarily as a pinch-hitter. Appearing in 71 games he hit .317 with a .364 OBP. Dealt to the Kansas City Athletics in the offseason, he backed up Norm Siebern, another first sacker with more punch until he was sold to the Milwaukee Braves in June. For the season he batted a combined .236 with a .247 OBP. Boyd played in the minors until retiring in 1963. For his major league career, including his time in the Negro American League, he batted .298 with 620 hits that included 91 doubles, 24 triples, and 21 home runs. He scored 276 runs and compiled 201 RBIs, a .355 OBP, and a .396 slugging percentage. With the Orioles he batted .301 with 210 runs scored, 484 hits, 7 doubles, 20 triples, 16 home runs, 131 RBIs, a .359 OBP, and a .399 slugging percentage. He saw no postseason action. Following the end of his playing career in organized baseball he continued to play semipro ball for a few years into his forties. Boyd also did some scouting for the Orioles and died in 2004 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: George Zuverink, 1956

Pitcher, Baltimore Orioles

Age: 32 (Aug. 20)

2^nd season with Orioles (1^st complete)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 195

Prior to 1956:

A native of Holland, Michigan, Zuverink grew up listening to Detroit Tigers game broadcasts and sought to become a pitcher. Tall and thin, he played basketball in high school and joined the baseball squad as a senior. Afterward he joined the Army during World War II and played service baseball where he further developed his pitching while serving in the Philippines. He signed with the St. Louis Cardinals following the end of his military commitment in 1946 and was assigned to Fresno of the Class C California League where he posted an 11-13 record and 4.41 ERA with 17 complete games, one shutout, and 110 strikeouts with 82 walks over 241 innings. Released by the Cardinals, in 1947 he pitched for his hometown semipro team, the Holland Flying Dutchmen and produced a 13-0 tally with 138 strikeouts and just 13 walks. In 1948 Zuverink joined a Cleveland Indians farm team in Spartanburg, South Carolina that was in the Class B Tri-State League. He produced an 18-12 record and 4.20 ERA in 45 appearances that included 17 complete games, 2 shutouts and 112 strikeouts with 100 walks over 251 innings. A natural side-arm pitcher, his best pitch was a sinker that was both tough on hitters and catchers. After spending the winter in the Panama Canal Zone League, Zuverink moved on to Oklahoma City of the Class AA Texas League in 1949. He compiled a 16-7 tally and 3.22 ERA with 11 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 112 strikeouts over 229 innings. Failing to land a spot in Cleveland’s strong pitching staff in 1950, he was sent to San Diego of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League where he produced a 20-14 record and 3.71 ERA with 15 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 116 strikeouts over 279 innings. Along the way he corrected a flaw in his delivery that tended to tip his pitches. Zuverink made the Cleveland staff as a reliever in 1951 and appeared in just 16 games, only once after July 15 as the club was in the midst of the AL pennant race. He had no decisions and finished with a 5.33 ERA. Starting the 1952 season with the Indians, Zuverink was soon sent down to Indianapolis of the Class AAA American Association where he went 12-11 with a 3.75 ERA. Back with Indianapolis in 1953, he improved to 13-8 with a 3.59 ERA. Frustrated in the Cleveland organization, Zuverink was sold to the Cincinnati Reds (or Redlegs at the time) where he started the 1954 season but was sold to the Detroit Tigers following two disappointing appearances. He started out in the Detroit bullpen, but with improved control joined the starting rotation and ended up with a 9-13 tally and 3.59 ERA, although he lost four of his last six decisions. Working out of the bullpen for the Tigers in 1955, Zuverink had a 0-5 record and 6.99 ERA when he was sold to the Orioles in July. His performance improved with the Orioles, where he was a reliever and occasional starter and in 28 appearances went 4-3 with 4 saves and a 2.19 ERA.  

1956 Season Summary

Appeared in 62 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 62 [1]

Games Started – 0

Games Finished – 40 [1]

Complete Games – 0

Wins – 7

Losses – 6

PCT - .538 [20, tied with Mel Parnell]

Saves – 16 [1]

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 97.1

Hits – 112

Runs – 52

Earned Runs – 45

Home Runs – 6

Bases on Balls – 34

Strikeouts – 33

ERA – 4.16 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 3

Balks – 1 [5, tied with twenty others]

Wild Pitches – 1 

League-leading games pitched were +8 ahead of runner-up Jack Crimian

League-leading games finished were +12 ahead of runners-up Ike Delock & Al Aber

League-leading saves were +5 ahead of runners-up Don Mossi & Tom Morgan

Midseason Snapshot: 4-5, ERA - 2.74, G – 36, SV – 15, SO – 28 in 69 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 3 (in 6 IP) vs. Washington 4/21

10+ strikeout games – 0

Batting

PA – 22, AB – 17, R – 0, H – 2, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 2, BB – 1, SO – 7, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .118, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 4, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 25

Put Outs – 8

Assists – 17

Errors – 0

DP – 2

Pct. - 1.000

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The Orioles went 69-85 to finish sixth in the AL, 28 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees. Under the guidance of second-year manager Paul Richards, the Orioles showed pitching improvement but still dropped quickly into the second division where they remained. 

Aftermath of 1956:

Having performed well out of the bullpen in 1956, Zuverink again was Baltimore’s top reliever in 1957, once again leading the league in pitching appearances (56) and games finished (37) although his saves total dropped to 9, which was best on the club if not in the AL. His record was 10-6 with a 2.48 ERA. Zuverink remained as a quality reliever in 1958, appearing in 45 games and producing a 2-2 tally with 7 saves and a 3.39 ERA. Shoulder stiffness in 1959 imited him to six games until he was sent down to Miami of the International League where he went 3-4 with a 2.95 ERA in 30 appearances. He was back in the Pacific Coast League in 1960 and retired after 9 appearances. For his major league career, Zuverink appeared in 265 games, 31 of them starts, and compiled a 32-36 record and 40 saves with a 3.54 ERA and 223 strikeouts over 642.1 innings. He was at his best with the Orioles where he pitched in 197 games and produced a 23-18 record with 36 saves, a 3.07 ERA, and 123 strikeouts over 378.1 innings. He never appeared in the postseason. He was inducted into the Grand Rapids Sports Hall of Fame in 2009 and died at age 90 in 2014.

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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: George Stone, 1905

Outfielder, St. Louis Browns

Age:  29 (Sept. 3)

1^st season with Browns

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 175 

Prior to 1905:

An Iowa native, Stone played amateur baseball locally until appearing with two teams in the Western League in 1902. He led the league with 198 hits and joined the American League’s Boston Americans in 1903. After striking out in his first two plate appearances he was farmed out to Milwaukee of the Western League and batted .298 with 15 doubles, 4 triples, and 4 home runs. Returning to Milwaukee, which was now a member of the American Association in 1904, Stone had an outstanding season, hitting .406 with 254 hits that included 36 doubles, 19 triples, and 7 home runs. Dealt to the Washington Senators in August in a transaction that fell through, he continued with Milwaukee but was reacquired by Boston. Refusing to report to the Americans, in the offseason he was dealt to the Browns for veteran outfielder Jesse Burkett and cash. He quickly received favorable comments in the press for his bunting ability and speed, that allowed him to be a capable outfielder as well as baserunner.   

1905 Season Summary

Appeared in 155 games

LF – 155

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 696 [1]

At Bats – 632 [1]

Runs – 76 [7]

Hits – 187 [1]

Doubles – 25 [13, tied with Bobby Wallace]

Triples – 13 [4, tied with Jesse Burkett]

Home Runs – 7 [2]

RBI – 52 [19, tied with John Anderson]

Bases on Balls – 44 [19, tied with Jiggs Donahue]

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 69 [8, tied with Elmer Flick & Hobe Ferris]

Stolen Bases – 26 [11, tied with Jimmy Callahan]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .296 [5, tied with Frank Isbell]

OBP - .347 [8]

Slugging Pct. - .410 [5]

Total Bases – 259 [1]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 5 [20, tied with ten others]

Sac Hits – 10

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading plate appearances were +6 ahead of runner-up Freddy Parent

League-leading at bats were +25 ahead of runner-up Harry Davis

League-leading hits were +14 ahead of runner-up Harry Davis

League-leading total bases were +3 ahead of runner-up Harry Davis

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 8, 3B – 8, HR - 3, RBI - 17, SB – 13, AVG - .288, OBP - .343, SLG – .397

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 6 AB) at NY Highlanders 8/3 – 11 innings

Longest hitting streak – 13 games

Most HR, game – 1 on seven occasions

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 6

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. NY Highlanders 5/17

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 307

Put Outs – 278

Assists – 15

Errors – 14

DP – 5

Pct. - .954 

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The Browns went 54-99 to finish eighth (last) in the AL, 40.5 games behind the pennant-winning Philadelphia Athletics while leading the league in fewest runs scored (509), fewest doubles (153), fewest triples (49), lowest slugging percentage (.289), and fewest total bases (1504). Despite Stone’s hitting, the Browns were offensively lacking in a mediocre year overall for AL batters. They were ensconced in seventh place by early May and never again rose higher than fifth the rest of the way, going 13-25 after September 1 to seal their last place fate.

Aftermath of 1905:

Utilizing an odd crouching stance, Stone won the AL batting championship in 1906, hitting .358 and leading the league in on-base percentage (.417), slugging percentage (.501), and total bases (291). He also accumulated 25 doubles, 20 triples, 6 home runs, 71 RBIs, and 35 stolen bases. He held out for $5000 in 1907, which cost him spring training. He went on to hit .320 with 13 doubles, 11 triples, 4 home runs, 59 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, and a .387 OBP. The soft-spoken Stone, who was nicknamed “Silent George” reportedly came down with malaria in 1908 and still went on to a respectable season, batting .281 with 21 doubles, 8 triples, 5 home runs, 31 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, and a .345 OBP. Limited to 83 games by an ankle injury in 1909, Stone hit .287 with 10 extra-base hits, only 8 stolen bases, and a .340 OBP. Now lacking speed and with arm trouble diminishing his throwing ability, he had a mediocre season in 1910, batting .256 with 17 doubles, 12 triples, and no home runs. He drove in 40 runs and had a .315 OBP in what proved to be his last major league season. Stone returned to Milwaukee of the American Association in 1911 and hit .282, but nagging injuries led to his retirement in 1912. For his major league career, spent almost entirely with the Browns, he batted .301 with 984 hits that included 106 doubles, 68 triples, and 23 home runs. He scored 426 runs and compiled 268 RBIs, 132 stolen bases, a .360 OBP, and a .396 slugging percentage. Following his playing career he became a banker in Nebraska and continued to pursue his hobbies of playing the violin and reading. Stone died in 1945 at the age of 68. 

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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.