Highlighted Year: Bill Bradley, 1903

Third Baseman, Cleveland Naps

Age: 25

3^rd season with Blues/Broncos/Naps

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 185 

Prior to 1903:

A Cleveland native, Bradley played pickup baseball in his youth. After his schooling, he worked for a stove company and played semipro ball on the side. In 1897 he went to Iowa and joined Burlington of the Western Association for 18 games in September. In 1898 he caught on with the Auburn Maroons of the New York State League where he played shortstop and first base. Shifting to third base in 1899, Bradley batted .312 with 25 stolen bases in 88 games. The team moved to Troy, New York at the end of July, and Bradley was sold to the Chicago Orphans (now Cubs) in August. Following an error-filled trial at shortstop with his new club, he was moved back to third base. He ended up hitting .310 in 35 games for the Orphans and, receiving a raise to $300 a month for 1900, he became the regular third baseman and batted .282 with 21 doubles, 8 triples, 5 home runs, 49 RBIs, a .330 on-base percentage, and a .399 slugging percentage. Jumping to the new American League with Cleveland in 1901 for $3500, he hit .293 with 28 doubles, 13 triples, a home run, 55 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, a .336 OBP, and a .403 slugging percentage. In the field, he topped AL third basemen with a .930 fielding percentage and 25 double plays while ranking third in put outs (192), which included a record seven in one game, and assists (298). A good hitter with some power and defensive skill, Bradley appeared to be very much a player on the rise. In 1902 he batted .340 with 39 doubles, 12 triples, 11 home runs, 77 RBIs, a .375 OBP, and a .515 slugging percentage. Prior to the 1903 season, Bradley rejected an offer from the New York Giants to return to the NL and was again a solid contributor for Cleveland.

1903 Season Summary

Appeared in 136 games

3B – 136

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 587 [12]

At Bats – 536 [11]

Runs – 101 [2]

Hits – 168 [5]

Doubles – 36 [4]

Triples – 22 [2]

Home Runs – 6 [7, tied with Harry Davis & Danny Green]

RBI – 68 [13]

Bases on Balls – 25

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 69 [3, tied with Barry McCormick]

Stolen Bases – 21 [19, tied with Fielder Jones & Nap Lajoie]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .313 [5, tied with Willie Keeler]

OBP - .348 [14, tied with Fielder Jones]

Slugging Pct. - .496 [2, tied with Buck Freeman]

Total Bases – 266 [3]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 23 [8]

Sac Flies – N/A

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 14, 3B – 6, HR - 2, RBI - 29, SB – 12, AVG - .290, OBP - .322, SLG – .416

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) at Washington 6/9, (in 5 AB) at Washington 9/24

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

Most HR, game – 1 on six occasions

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 5

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 at Washington 6/9, vs. St. Louis Browns 8/26

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 487

Put Outs – 151

Assists – 299

Errors – 37

DP – 18

Pct. – .924

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The Naps (renamed for star second baseman Nap 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 (or Napoleons) 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. Among Bradley’s 22 triples were three in one game against the St. Louis Browns.

Aftermath of 1903:

The graceful Bradley was notably excellent at fielding bunts and had an outstanding throwing arm. An aggressive baserunner as well as an adept hitter and fielder, he had another fine season in 1904, batting .300 with 32 doubles, 8 triples, 6 home runs, and 83 RBIs, along with a .334 OBP and .409 slugging percentage. He led AL third basemen with a .955 fielding percentage and placed third in assists (308). A stomach ailment led to an off year in 1905 in which he hit .268 with 34 doubles and 6 triples, although no home runs and his RBI total dropped to 51 and his OBP to .321. He remained effective in the field, again topping AL third basemen in fielding percentage (.945) as well as put outs (190) and DPs (17). Bradley missed half of the 1906 season with a broken wrist and hit .275 in 82 games. Afflicted by a bout with typhoid fever in 1907, Bradley’s hitting dropped off to a .223 average and a .286 OBP but he set a league record with 46 sacrifice hits, which he eclipsed in 1908 when he accumulated 60. Despite his lessened batting production, he remained a capable fielder. His average fell to .186 in 1909 and .196 in 1910, at the point he was released in August. In 1911 he became player/manager with Toronto in the Eastern League and hit .294 with 13 triples and 8 home runs. With the team shifting to the International League in 1912, Bradley guided the club to a pennant while also batting .292 with 17 triples. Following one more season with Toronto, he next joined the Brooklyn Tip Tops of the upstart Federal League in 1914, acting as manager and making a handful of pinch-hitting appearances. Bradley stayed with the Federal League in 1915, playing for the Kansas City Packers. While still capable at third base, he hit only .187 in 66 games. He managed in 1916 with Erie of the Inter-State League, his playing days now over. For his major league career, Bradley batted .271 with 1471 hits that included 275 doubles, 84 triples, and 34 home runs. He scored 754 runs and compiled 552 RBIs, 181 stolen bases, a .317 OBP, and a .371 slugging percentage. With Cleveland he batted .272 with 1265 hits, 649 runs scored, 238 doubles, 74 triples, 27 home runs, 473 RBIs, 157 stolen bases, a .317 OBP, and a .373 slugging percentage. In 1928 he became a highly-regarded scout for Cleveland until his death in 1954 at age 76, three years before he was inducted into the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) Hall of Fame.

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

Highlighted Year: Harry Bay, 1903

Outfielder, Cleveland Naps

Age:  25

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

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’8”    Weight: 138 

Prior to 1903:

An Illinois native, Bay grew up playing sandlot baseball in Peoria prior to demonstrating all-around athletic ability at Peoria High School. Following high school he joined a baseball team that barnstormed through the Midwest. In 1898 he signed with the Peoria Blackbirds of the Western Association where, in 20 games, he batted a mere .167 but stole 13 bases in demonstrating his great speed. After playing in the Western Association and New York State League, he spent 1900 with Detroit in the not-yet-major American League. His hitting remained unimpressive but he broke through in 1901 in 61 games with Indianapolis of the Western Association where he batted .304 with 24 stolen bases and performed ably in the outfield. By midseason he joined the Cincinnati Reds where he played in right and center field and in 41 games hit .210 with a .275 on-base percentage. Released by the Reds early during the 1902 season, he signed with Cleveland, which had injury problems in the outfield. He earned the starting job in center field and hit .290 with 10 doubles, 5 triples, 22 stolen bases, and a .343 OBP. Nicknamed “Deerfoot” for his speed, he put together a 26-game hitting streak and led all AL center fielders with a .973 fielding percentage. Bay entered 1903 as Cleveland’s regular leadoff hitter and center fielder.

1903 Season Summary

Appeared in 140 games

CF – 114, LF – 26

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 637 [2]

At Bats – 579 [2]

Runs – 94 [5]

Hits – 169 [4]

Doubles – 15

Triples – 12 [10, tied with four others]

Home Runs – 1

RBI – 35

Bases on Balls – 29

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 44

Stolen Bases – 45 [1]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .292 [17, tied with Jimmy Callahan & Lave Cross]

OBP - .329 [19, tied with Jimmy Collins]

Slugging Pct. - .364

Total Bases – 211 [13]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 25 [4, tied with Ollie Pickering & Sam Crawford]

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading stolen bases were +5 ahead of runner-up Ollie Pickering

Midseason snapshot: 3B – 5, HR - 1, RBI – 19, SB – 16, AVG - .287, OBP – .316

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) at St. Louis Browns 5/4, (in 4 AB) at Bos. Americans 9/18

Longest hitting streak – 17 games

Most HR, game – 1 (in 5 AB) at Washington 6/8

HR at home – 0

HR on road – 1

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. Bos. Americans 8/17, at Washington 9/25

Pinch-hitting – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 322

Put Outs – 293

Assists – 13

Errors – 16

DP – 3

Pct. - .950 

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The Naps (renamed for star second baseman Nap 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 (or Napoleons) 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:

Clocked at 3.5 seconds from home to first base, Bay earned recognition as the fastest player in the American League. In 1904 his batting production dropped to .241 with 12 doubles, 9 triples, 3 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 69 runs scored, although he again led the league with 38 stolen bases despite being hindered by a leg injury. In one July game against the Boston Americans (now Red Sox), he set a record with 12 putouts in a twelve-inning game. Off the field he earned recognition for his cornet playing. Bay rebounded in 1905 to bat .301 with 18 doubles, 10 triples, 22 RBIs, 90 runs scored, 36 stolen bases (which tied him for fifth in the AL), and a .349 OBP. He also suffered a knee injury that hindered him for the rest of his career. Limited to 68 games in 1906, Bay dropped to 17 stolen bases while hitting .275 with a .337 OBP. 1907 saw a further drop in his playing time and production and his major league playing career came to an end early in the 1908 season. For his major league career, “Deerfoot” batted .273 with 722 hits that included 65 doubles, 42 triples, and 5 home runs. He scored 413 runs and compiled 141 RBIs, 169 stolen bases, and a .328 OBP. With Cleveland he batted .277 with 64 doubles, 40 triples, 4 home runs, 137 RBIs, 165 stolen bases, and a .330 OBP. Bay played minor league baseball for Nashville of the Southern Association from 1908 through 1911 and then went on to be a player/manager with five minor league clubs through 1917. Returning home to Peoria he was secretary and switchboard operator for the city’s fire department. He also continued with his musical interest. Bay died in 1952 at age 74.

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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: Gordy Coleman, 1961

First Baseman, Cincinnati Reds

Age: 27 (July 5)

2^nd season with Reds

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 215 

Prior to 1961:

A native of Rockville, Maryland, Coleman was a four-sport star athlete at Richard Montgomery High School, excelling in football, basketball, and track in addition to baseball. Receiving a football scholarship to Duke University, he played football and baseball as a freshman and he signed with the Cleveland Indians in 1953. Assigned to Reading of the Class A Eastern League, he batted .200 in 13 games and was dropped to the Spartanburg Peaches of the Class B Tri-State League in 1954. Coleman hit .318 in 1954 with 35 doubles, 9 triples, 13 home runs, 100 RBIs, a .368 on-base percentage, and a .484 slugging percentage. Assigned to Keokuk of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League in 1955, he batted .349 with 24 doubles, 16 home runs, 77 RBIs, a .386 OBP, and a .539 slugging percentage. He finished the year with a brief stint in Class AAA with Indianapolis of the American Association. Placed with the Mobile Bears of the Class AA Southern Association in 1956, he was shifted from the outfield to first base and hit .317 with 25 doubles, 8 triples, 27 home runs, 118 RBIs, a .359 OBP, and a .516 slugging percentage. Coleman then joined the Army for the next two years, missing the 1957 and ’58 seasons. Upon returning to baseball in 1959, he was again with Mobile where he won the Southern Association Triple Crown by batting .353 with 30 home runs and 110 RBIs. Receiving a late call-up to Cleveland, he appeared in six games and had 8 hits and 2 runs in 15 at bats for a .533 average and .563 OBP. In the offseason he was traded to the Reds who assigned him to the Seattle Rainiers of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 1960, where he was hitting .324 with 22 doubles, 9 triples, 10 home runs, 60 RBIs, with a .381 OBP, and a .514 slugging percentage when he was called up to the Reds at midseason. Taking over as the starting first baseman, he hit .271 in 66 games with 10 doubles, 6 home runs, 32 RBIs, and a .308 OBP. He further established himself as an able fielder.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 150 games

1B – 150, PH – 8

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 578

At Bats – 520 [20]

Runs – 63

Hits – 149

Doubles – 27 [12, tied with Gene Freese & Don Hoak]

Triples – 4

Home Runs – 26 [11, tied with Gene Freese]

RBI – 87 [13, tied with Gene Freese & Vada Pinson]

Bases on Balls – 45

Int. BB – 11 [6, tied with Billy Williams & Orlando Cepeda]

Strikeouts – 67

Stolen Bases – 1

Caught Stealing – 3

Average - .287 [13]

OBP - .341

Slugging Pct. - .504 [13, tied with Vada Pinson]

Total Bases – 262 [15]

GDP – 9

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 4

Sac Flies – 7 [6, tied with four others]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 22, HR - 18, RBI - 55, AVG - .302, OBP - .350, SLG - .571

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 6 AB) at Mil. Braves 7/2 – 13 innings

Longest hitting streak – 9 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 5 AB) at Philadelphia 6/17, (in 4 AB) at Chi. Cubs 6/28, (in 4 AB) vs. San Francisco 9/23

HR at home – 12

HR on road – 14

Multi-HR games – 3

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. San Francisco 9/23

Pinch-hitting – 4 for 7 (.571) with 3 R & 1 RBI

Fielding

Chances – 1294

Put Outs – 1162

Assists – 121

Errors – 11

DP - 93

Pct. - .991

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

PA – 20, AB – 20, R – 2, H – 5, 2B – 0,3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 2, BB – 0, IBB – 0, SO – 1, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .250, OBP - .250, SLG - .400, TB – 8, 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 Coleman, 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 and Coleman homered in Game 2 to spark a 6-2 win, Cincinnati’s only victory.

Aftermath of 1961:

Coleman followed up with another solid season in 1962, batting .277 with 28 home runs, 86 RBIs, a .331 OBP, and a .485 slugging percentage. He again ranked among the league's better fielding first basemen. Overweight and bothered by injuries and a major slump in 1963, his production dropped to .247 with 20 doubles, 14 home runs, 59 RBIs, a .303 OBP, and a .427 slugging percentage. Utilized in a backup and pinch-hitting role in 1964 as Deron Johnson became the regular first baseman, Coleman appeared in only 89 games and hit .242 with 6 doubles, 5 home runs, 27 RBIs, and a .291 OBP. Platooning at first base with rookie Tony Perez in 1965, he saw more action and his production improved to .302 with 19 doubles, 14 home runs, 57 RBIs, a .348 OBP, and a .489 slugging percentage. Platooning again in 1966, Coleman batted .360 as a pinch-hitter and overall hit .251 with 5 home runs, 37 RBIs, and a .299 OBP. Little used by the Reds in 1967, he was sent down to the Buffalo Bisons of the Class AAA International League, where he hit poorly and finished the season, and his career, with Spokane of the Pacific Coast League. For his major league career, which was played entirely with the Reds, Coleman batted .273 with 650 hits that included 102 doubles, 11 triples, and 98 home runs. He scored 282 runs and compiled 387 RBIs, a .324 OBP, and a .448 slugging percentage. As a pinch-hitter he hit .350 in 120 at bats with 4 doubles, 3 home runs, 32 RBIs, a .416 OBP, and a .475 slugging percentage. The 1961 World Series marked his only postseason action. Following his playing career, he made numerous public relations appearances for the Reds and became a television commentator for the club’s games while remaining active in the Cincinnati community until his death from a heart attack at age 59 in 1994. He was inducted into the Reds Hall of Fame in 1972. In 2009 his high school named its new baseball venue Gordy Coleman Field. Three years later he was posthumously inducted into the school’s Athletic Hall of Fame.

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

Highlighted Year: Sam Crawford, 1902

Outfielder, Cincinnati Reds

Age:  22 (April 18)

4^th season with Reds

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1902:

A native of Wahoo, Nebraska (hence his nickname “Wahoo Sam”), Crawford ended his formal schooling in fifth grade to apprentice as a barber. He also demonstrated baseball skill early on while playing sandlot ball. After joining a touring team he played for the local Killian Brothers club. In 1898 he played semipro ball while barbering in two small towns in Nebraska. Recommended to the Canadian League team in Chatham, Ontario in 1899, Crawford batted .370 in 43 games before moving on to Columbus and Grand Rapids in the Western League and hit .328 with 13 triples and 5 home runs in 60 games. The Reds purchased his contract and the 19-year-old outfielder appeared in 31 games and batted .307 with 11 extra-base hits, 20 RBIs, a .318 on-base percentage, and a .465 slugging percentage. In his first full major league season in 1900 he hit .260 with 15 doubles, 15 triples, 7 home runs, 59 RBIs, 14 stolen bases, a .314 OBP, and a .429 slugging percentage. Solidly built and strong, he quickly developed into a highly regarded power hitter within the context of the times. In 1901 with a last-place club he led the league with 16 home runs while batting .330 with 20 doubles, 16 triples, 104 RBIs, a .378 OBP, and a .524 slugging percentage.

1902 Season Summary

Appeared in 140 games

RF – 134, LF – 7

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 611 [5]

At Bats – 555 [4]

Runs – 92 [5]

Hits – 185 [3]

Doubles – 18 [19, tied with Fred Tenney & Tommy Corcoran]

Triples – 22 [1, tied with Tommy Leach]

Home Runs – 3 [5, tied with seven others]

RBI – 78 [3]

Bases on Balls – 47 [8]

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 40

Stolen Bases – 16

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .333 [2, tied with Willie Keeler]

OBP - .386 [6, tied with Jimmy Slagle]

Slugging Pct. - .461 [2]

Total Bases – 256 [1]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 6

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading total bases were +9 ahead of runner-up Honus Wagner

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 10, 3B – 10, HR – 0, RBI – 38, AVG - .326, OBP - .376, SLG – .435

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. St. Louis Cardinals 6/22, (in 5 AB) at Chi. Cubs 7/27, (in 5 AB) vs. Brooklyn 8/20, (in 5 AB) vs. St. Louis Cardinals 8/29

Longest hitting streak – 18 games

HR at home – 0

HR on road – 3

Most home runs, game – 1 (in 4 AB) at St. Louis Cardinals 7/20, (in 5 AB) at St. Louis Cardinals 7/21, (in 4 AB) at NY Giants 9/5

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 on eight occasions

Fielding

Chances – 249

Put Outs – 208

Assists – 24

Errors – 17

DP – 5

Pct. - .932

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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:

In 1903 Crawford jumped to the Detroit Tigers of the American League and led the AL with 25 triples to go along with 23 doubles, 4 home runs, 89 RBIs, 18 stolen bases, a .335 average, a .366 OBP, and a .489 slugging percentage. He performed well defensively as he split his time between right and left field, although his lack of speed hindered his ability to cover much ground. His production dropped in 1904, but he regained his consistency in making contact in 1905 as he hit .297 with 6 home runs, 75 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, a .357 OBP, and a .430 slugging percentage. The arrival of Ty Cobb in 1906 brought a player who would take over in center field and overshadow right fielder Crawford over the next decade. In contrast to Cobb’s brashness and aggressiveness, “Wahoo Sam” was highly respected for his integrity and gentlemanly disposition. Despite his lack of formal education, he came also to be known as well-read and articulate. And he remained an outstanding hitter in 1906 batting .295 with 25 doubles, 16 triples, 2 home runs, 66 RBIs, 24 stolen bases, and a .341 OBP. The Tigers won the AL pennant in 1907 and Crawford contributed by leading the league with 102 runs scored while hitting .323 with 34 doubles, 17 triples, 4 home runs, 81 RBIs, a .366 OBP, and a .460 slugging percentage. In the World Series loss to the Chicago Cubs he hit .238. The Tigers repeated as AL champs in 1908 and Crawford again scored 102 runs while batting .311 with 33 doubles, 16 triples, a league-leading 7 home runs, a .355 OBP, and a .457 slugging percentage. Detroit again lost to the Cubs in the World Series, and again Crawford hit .238. The Tigers topped the AL again in 1909 and Crawford led the circuit with 35 doubles while batting .314 with 14 triples, 6 home runs, 97 RBIs, 30 stolen bases, a .366 OBP, and a .452 slugging percentage. The club fell to Pittsburgh in the World Series although Crawford contributed a home run and 4 RBIs. The Tigers dropped to third in 1910 although “Wahoo Sam” led the league in triples (19) and RBIs (120) while hitting .289 with 26 doubles, 5 home runs, a .332 OBP, and a .423 slugging percentage. His production remained solid in 1911 as he batted .378 with 36 doubles, 14 triples, 7 home runs, 115 RBIs, 37 stolen bases, a .438 OBP, and a .526 slugging percentage. He tied for fourteenth in AL Chalmers Award voting for league MVP, well behind his teammate, Cobb, who won the award. In 1912 the durable and consistent Crawford hit .325 with 30 doubles, 21 triples, 4 home runs, 109 RBIs, 42 stolen bases, a .373 OBP, and a .470 slugging percentage for the sixth-place Tigers. He again tied for fourteenth in AL MVP balloting. “Wahoo Sam” topped the AL in triples (23) and total bases (298) in 1913 while batting .317 with 32 doubles, 9 home runs, 83 RBIs, a .371 OBP, and a .489 slugging percentage. Detroit again finished in sixth and for the third straight year, Crawford tied for fourteenth in league Chalmers Award balloting. He rose to second in 1914 after topping the AL in triples (26) and RBIs (104) while hitting .314 with 22 doubles, 8 home runs, a .388 OBP, and a .483 slugging percentage. After a decent 1916 season, Crawford’s performance dropped off drastically at age 37 in 1917, after which he was released by the Tigers, which ended his major league career. He went on to play four seasons with the Los Angeles Angels of the Pacific Coast League, topping that circuit with 239 hits in 1919 and 21 triples in 1920. For his major league career he batted .309 with 2961 hits that included 458 doubles, 309 triples, and 97 home runs. Crawford scored 1391 runs and compiled 1523 RBIs, 367 stolen bases, a .362 OBP, and a .452 slugging percentage. With the Reds he batted .312 with 276 runs scored, 495 hits, 56 doubles, 60 triples, 27 home runs, 261 RBIs, 49 stolen bases, a .361 OBP, and a .474 slugging percentage. His overall career total of 309 triples remains the NL/AL record. He led either the NL or AL in triples six times, and the AL in RBIs on three occasions. Appearing in 17 World Series games, he hit .243 with 5 doubles, one home run, and 8 RBIs. While Crawford and Cobb had an uneasy relationship, Cobb speculated that his long-time teammate would have had 40-home run seasons during the era of the livelier ball. Following his playing career Crawford was a successful head baseball coach at USC and also worked as a Pacific Coast League umpire. Quiet and reclusive in retirement, he explained in his laconic way to an interviewer why he didn’t have a phone by saying “I never was for telephones. Just don’t like them, that’s all. Anybody wants to talk to you, they can come to see you. I do have a television…but I never turn it on. I’d rather read a book.” Crawford was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1957, 11 years before his death in 1968 at age 88.

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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 “Noodles” Hahn, 1901

Pitcher, Cincinnati Reds

 Age: 22 (April 29)

3^rd season with Reds

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 160 

Prior to 1901:

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.

1901 Season Summary

Appeared in 42 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 42 [4]

Games Started – 42 [2]

Complete Games – 41 [1]

Wins – 22 [3, tied with Deacon Phillippe]

Losses – 19 [3, tied with Jack Powell & Jack Taylor]

PCT - .537 [17]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 2 [10, tied with four others]

Innings Pitched – 375.1 [1]

Hits – 370 [2]

Runs – 159 [6, tied with Doc Newton]

Earned Runs – 113 [6]

Home Runs – 12 [2]

Bases on Balls – 69 [14]

Strikeouts – 239 [1]

ERA – 2.71 [8]

Hit Batters – 9

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 10 [4, tied with Bill Donovan & Bill Dinneen]

League-leading complete games were +4 ahead of runner-up Luther Taylor

League-leading innings pitched were +22 ahead of runner-up Luther Taylor

League-leading strikeouts were +13 ahead of runner-up Bill Donovan

Midseason Snapshot: 13-8, ERA - 2.53, SO – 137 in 192 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 16 (in 9 IP) at Boston Beaneaters 5/22

10+ strikeout games – 3

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) vs. Brooklyn 7/14

Batting

PA – 155, AB – 141, R – 9, H – 24, 2B – 3, 3B – 2, HR – 0, RBI – 7, BB – 8, SO – 57, SB – 0, CS – N/A, AVG - .170, GDP – N/A, HBP – 1, SH – 4, SF – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 105

Put Outs – 14

Assists – 85

Errors – 6

DP – 4

Pct. - .943

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The Reds went 52-87 to finish eighth (last) in the NL, 38 games behind the pennant-winning Pittsburgh Pirates. The pitching staff finished last in ERA (4.17) and led the league in most hits allowed (1469), most runs allowed (818), and most home runs allowed (51). The rebuilding Reds started well and were 16-12 by the end of May. Tied for first on June 8 they promptly went on a 10-game losing streak that knocked them down to seventh where they remained until a 9-27 finish sealed their fate and put them in the NL cellar for the first time in club history. Other than Hahn, the club suffered from poor pitching. Hahn and slugging outfielder Sam Crawford were the club’s stalwarts.

Aftermath of 1901:

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. Cincinnati improved to 70-70 in 1902 and Hahn contributed a 23-12 record with a 1.77 ERA, 35 complete games, 6 shutouts, 321 innings pitched, and 142 strikeouts. 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 semi-professionally 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: Jim Landis, 1959

Outfielder, Chicago White Sox

Age:  25

3^rd season with White Sox

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 180 

Prior to 1959:

A California native, Landis played third base at Richmond High School. After playing briefly at Contra Costa College, he was signed by the White Sox for $2500. Initially a third baseman and outfielder with Wisconsin Rapids of the Class D Wisconsin State League in ’52, the 18-year-old batted .274 with 9 doubles, 4 triples, 4 home runs, 54 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, and a .381 on-base percentage. Advancing to the Colorado Springs Sky Sox of the Class A Western League in 1953, he played exclusively in the outfield and hit .313 with 23 doubles, 14 home runs, 68 RBIs, 10 stolen bases, a .391 OBP, and a .467 slugging percentage. Landis spent 1954 and ’55 in the Army. Returning to Colorado Springs in 1956 he was speedily moved up to Memphis of the Class AA Southern Association where he batted .257 with 13 extra-base hits, 30 RBIs, 12 stolen bases, and a .358 OBP. Landis spent much of 1957 with Indianapolis of the Class AAA American Association and was called up to the White Sox, where he appeared in 96 games and excelled in right and center fields defensively, but batted only .212 with a .329 OBP. Fast and sure-handed with an excellent throwing arm in the field, Landis took over as the starting center fielder in 1958 and his hitting improved to .277 with 23 doubles, 7 triples, 15 home runs, 64 RBIs, a .351 OBP, and a .434 slugging percentage. On the speed-oriented club he stole 19 bases, which ranked third in the American League. The stage was set for bigger things in 1959.

1959 Season Summary

Appeared in 149 games

CF – 148, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 623 [13]

At Bats – 515 [18]

Runs – 78 [18]

Hits – 140 [19]

Doubles – 26 [10, tied with Hector Lopez]

Triples – 7 [3, tied with Harvey Kuenn, Tony Kubek & Roger Maris]

Home Runs – 5

RBI – 60

Bases on Balls – 78 [8, tied with Gene Woodling]

Int. BB – 5 [16, tied with six others]

Strikeouts – 68 [16]

Stolen Bases – 20 [3, tied with Jackie Jensen]

Caught Stealing – 9 [4]

Average - .272

OBP - .370 [10]

Slugging Pct. - .379

Total Bases – 195

GDP – 5

Hit by Pitches – 8 [4]

Sac Hits – 13 [1, tied with Tony Kubek & Al Pilarcik]

Sac Flies – 9 [4]

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 11, 3B – 2, HR – 4, RBI – 28, SB – 10, AVG – .246, OBP - .351

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) at KC A’s 7/4

Longest hitting streak – 8 games

Most HR, game – 1 on five occasions

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 4

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. Cleveland 7/9, at Detroit 8/13

Pinch-running – 1 R

Fielding

Chances – 433

Put Outs – 420

Assists – 10

Errors – 3

DP – 2

Pct. - .993

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

PA – 26, AB – 24, R – 6, H – 7, 2B – 0,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 1, BB – 1, IBB – 0, SO – 7, SB – 1, CS – 0, AVG - .292, OBP - .346, SLG -.292, TB – 7, GDP – 0, HBP – 1, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

7^th in AL MVP voting (66 points – 20% 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 Landis 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:

The White Sox dropped to third in 1960 and Landis had a 19-point drop in his batting average to .253 with 25 doubles, 6 triples, 10 home runs, 49 RBIs, 23 stolen bases, and a solid .365 OBP. He remained stellar in the field and received his first Gold Glove. His offensive production improved in 1961 to .283 with 18 doubles, 8 triples, 22 home runs, 85 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, a .362 OBP, and a .470 slugging percentage. Still one of the better center fielders, he was awarded another Gold Glove. In 1962 he also received All-Star recognition while batting a mere .228 with 21 doubles, 6 triples, 15 home runs, 61 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, a .337 OBP, and a .375 slugging percentage. Once again, he was a Gold Glove recipient. A Gold Glove winner again in 1963, injuries and slumps held his batting production to .225 with 6 triples, 13 home runs, 45 RBIs, a .316 OBP, and a .369 slugging percentage. The White Sox closely contended in 1964 but Landis hit only .208 with 18 RBIs and a .305 OBP. He received his fifth, and last consecutive Gold Glove as his defense didn’t suffer. In the offseason, he was a party in a three-team trade that landed him with the Kansas City Athletics. His batting improved negligibly in 1965 to .239 with 15 doubles, 3 home runs, 36 RBIs, and a .346 OBP. Traded again in the offseason, this time Landis was sent to the Cleveland Indians, for catcher Phil Roof. Cleveland wanted his speed in the outfield, and he was utilized primarily in a backup role, appearing in 85 games and hitting .222 with a .317 OBP. Obtained by the Houston Astros to be a utility outfielder in 1967, Landis was dealt to the Detroit Tigers at the end of June where he filled in for injured right fielder Al Kaline until let go in August. He was signed by the Boston Red Sox where he lasted a week until being released. In what proved to be his last major league season, Landis played in 80 games with three clubs and batted .237 with a .329 OBP. He retired following the season. For his major league career, Landis batted .247 with 1061 hits that included 169 doubles, 50 triples, and 93 home runs. He scored 625 runs and compiled 467 RBIs, 139 stolen bases, a .344 OBP, and a .375 slugging percentage. With the White Sox he batted .250 with 532 runs scored, 892 hits, 138 doubles, 47 triples, 83 home runs, 398 RBIs, 127 stolen bases, a .346 OBP, and a .385 slugging percentage. The 1959 World Series marked his only postseason action. A two-time All-Star, he was awarded five Gold Gloves for his exceptional play in center field. In 2000, he was voted onto the White Sox All-Century team which consisted of 27 players. One of his sons played minor league baseball in the San Francisco Giants system without reaching the majors. Another son became a sports agent. Landis died in 2017 at age 83.

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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 Walsh, 1906

Pitcher, Chicago White Sox

Age: 25 (May 19)

3^rd season with White Sox

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 193 

Prior to 1906:

A native of Plains, Pennsylvania, Walsh was the son of an Irish immigrant father and Welsh mother and attended parochial school up to age 12 at which point he went to work for the Lackawanna Coal Company. After briefly attending Fordham University at age 18, he returned to Pennsylvania and began pitching for a company baseball team in 1901. In 1902 he signed with the Meriden Silverites of the Connecticut State League. Walsh posted a 16-5 record and a 2.32 ERA before joining Wilkes-Barre of the Pennsylvania State League, where he finished the season. Returning to Meriden in 1903, he went 11-10 with a 2.14 ERA before moving on to the Newark Sailors of the Eastern League, where his record was 9-5 with a 2.31 ERA the rest of the way. Following the season, Walsh’s contract was purchased by the White Sox for 1904 at a cost of $750. Tall, which resulted in his nickname of “Big Ed”, walsh relied on a fastball and curve, although he was taught by his roommate Elmer Stricklett how to throw a spitball, a legal pitch at the time, which he did not use during his first two seasons with the White Sox. As a spot starter and reliever in 1904, his record was 6-3 with a 2.60 ERA and 57 strikeouts over 110.2 innings. In 1905 he produced an 8-3 tally and 2.17 ERA with 71 strikeouts over 136.2 innings. Walsh began to use the spitball regularly in 1906, having finally mastered the difficult pitch.

1906 Season Summary

Appeared in 42 games

P – 41, PH – 2

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 41 [6]

Games Started – 31 [13, tied with Addie Joss]

Complete Games – 24 [16, tied with Jack Chesbro & Chief Bender]

Wins – 17 [12]

Losses – 13

PCT - .567 [14]

Saves – 2 [3, tied with seven others]

Shutouts – 10 [1]

Innings Pitched – 278.1 [12]

Hits – 215 [20, tied with Fred Glade & George Winter]

Runs – 83

Earned Runs – 58

Home Runs – 1

Bases on Balls – 58 [19]

Strikeouts – 171 [3]

ERA – 1.88 [7]

Hit Batters – 7

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 11 [2, tied with George Mullin & Harry Eells]

League-leading shutouts were +1 ahead of runner-up Addie Joss

Midseason Snapshot: 4-6, ERA – N/A, SO - 53 in 111.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 12 (in 11 IP) vs. Phila. A’s 9/17

10+ strikeout games – 2

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 1 (in 9 IP) vs. Cleveland 5/6, (in 9 IP) vs. Bos. Americans 8/3

Batting

PA – 107, AB – 99, R – 12, H – 14, 2B – 3, 3B – 2, HR – 0, RBI – 4, BB – 3, SO – 28, SB – 0, CS – N/A, AVG - .141, GDP – N/A, HBP – 1, SH – 3, SF – N/A 

Fielding

Chances – 144

Put Outs – 30

Assists – 108

Errors – 6

DP – 2

Pct. - .958

Postseason Pitching: G – 2 (World Series vs. Chi. Cubs)

GS – 2, CG – 1, Record – 2-0, PCT – 1.000, ERA – 0.60, SV – 0, ShO – 1, IP – 15, H – 7, R – 6, ER – 1, HR – 0, BB – 6, SO – 17, HB – 1, BLK – 0, WP – 2 

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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. An 8-6 Game 5 win by Walsh (who gave up all 6 runs, only one of which was earned thanks to an uncharacteristic four errors behind him) put the White Sox in position to seal the upset of the Cubs in the only all-Chicago World Series to date.

Aftermath of 1906:

Strong, fiercely competitive, and extremely self-confident, Walsh began to throw hard on a regular basis in 1907, rather than easing up to conserve his strength. It paid off as he produced a 24-18 record and league-best 1.60 ERA with 206 strikeouts over a league leading 422.1 innings. He also topped the American League in games pitched (56), complete games (37), and saves (4). In 1908 the White Sox were in a hot pennant race and “Big Ed” put together a record of 40-15. In addition to leading the league in wins, he topped the circuit in games pitched (66), complete games (42), shutouts (11), saves (6), innings pitched (464), and strikeouts (269). Whether throwing the spitball or a different pitch, Walsh always brought the ball to his mouth prior to each delivery. In throwing his spitball, he only applied moisture to an area about the size of a square inch (he was later critical of pitchers who applied too much moisture to the ball in throwing the spitter), and he threw the ball with great force which produced a pitch that behaved much like a modern split-fingered fastball. Late in the 1908 season, with the pennant on the line, Walsh pitched five complete games and relieved twice in a nine-day period totaling 51.2 innings and he lost a four-hitter against Cleveland in which opposing pitcher Addie Joss threw a perfect game and Walsh gave up only one unearned run. The White Sox finished third by only 1.5 games despite Walsh’s heroics. Feeling the effects of his prodigious workload, Walsh appeared in only 31 games in 1909 and produced a 15-11 tally and 1.41 ERA with 127 strikeouts over 230.1 innings. In 1910 the White Sox dropped to sixth place and Walsh led the AL with a 1.27 ERA and in losses due to an 18-20 record. He topped the circuit in games pitched (45) and completed 33 of his starts while compiling 258 strikeouts over 369.2 innings pitched. Although his ERA rose to 2.22 in 1911, his record improved to 27-18 and he again led the league in games pitched (56), innings pitched (368.2), strikeouts (255), and due to his numerous relief appearances between starts, also in games finished (19) and saves (4). He finished second in league MVP voting. Walsh remained a workhorse in 1912, posting a 27-17 tally and 2.15 ERA while leading the AL in games pitched (62), games started (41), games finished (20), saves (10), and innings pitched (393). He also accumulated 254 strikeouts. Again, “Big Ed” placed second in league MVP balloting. The years of carrying a heavy load began to take its toll in 1913 as he appeared in only 16 games (14 of them starts) and finished with an 8-3 record and 2.58 ERA. He pitched sparingly for the White Sox until released after the 1916 season. He signed with the Boston Braves in 1917 but pitched in only four games, thus wrapping up his major league career, although he later appeared with minor league and semipro teams. For his major league career, Walsh posted a 195-126 record (195-125 with the White Sox) with a record low 1.82 ERA. He pitched in 430 games (426 with the White Sox) with 250 complete games, 57 shutouts, 35 saves, and 1736 strikeouts over 2964.1 innings. He led the American League in games pitched five times and in innings pitched four times. Walsh’s appearances in the 1906 World Series marked his only postseason performances. “Big Ed” was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1946. Following his playing career, Walsh served as a coach for the White Sox and at Notre Dame, where his son, also named Ed, pitched prior to joining the White Sox for parts of four seasons. Financially wiped out by the Great Depression, he conducted a baseball school for six years under the auspices of the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Walsh died of cancer in 1959 at age 78.   

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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.