Highlighted Year: Nap Lajoie, 1901

Second Baseman, Philadelphia Athletics

Age:  27 (Sept. 5)

1^st season with Athletics

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 195 

Prior to 1901:

A Rhode Island native, Napoleon Lajoie (pronounced LAJ-way) was the son of a French-Canadian immigrant (and he thus was said to prefer the French pronunciation of his name as Lah-ZHWA). Due to his father’s early death, Lajoie had to drop out of school to go to work in a textile mill in 1885. Becoming interested in baseball, by 1894 he was playing semi-pro ball in the Woonsocket area while working part-time for an auctioneer. He later became a teamster while playing baseball on the side and became known locally as “the Slugging Cabby”. In 1896 he joined the Fall River Indians of the New England League where he played center field and batted .429 with 15 home runs before his contract was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies for $1500. Converted to first base by the Phillies he appeared in 39 games and batted .326 with 12 doubles, 7 triples, 4 home runs, 42 RBIs, 7 stolen bases, a .330 on-base percentage, and a .543 slugging percentage. In his first full major league season in 1897 Lajoie led the NL in slugging percentage (.569) and total bases (310) while hitting .361 with 197 hits, 107 runs scored, 40 doubles, 23 triples, 9 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and a .392 OBP. In 1898 he was shifted to second base where the graceful fielder excelled defensively and led the league’s second sackers with 442 putouts. He also led the NL in doubles (43) and RBIs (127) while batting .324 with 197 hits, 113 runs scored, 11 triples, 6 home runs, 25 stolen bases, a .354 OBP, and a .461 slugging percentage. With a smooth swing that allowed him to hit to all fields with decent power while rarely striking out, Lajoie continued his development in 1899, although an injury limited him to 77 games in which he hit .378 with 19 doubles, 9 triples, 6 home runs, 70 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, a .419 OBP, and a .554 slugging percentage. In 1900 he was sidelined for five weeks as the result of a broken thumb suffered during a fight with teammate Elmer Flick. In 102 games he batted .337 with 33 doubles, 12 triples, 7 home runs, 92 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, a .362 OBP, and a .510 slugging percentage. Incensed upon learning that he was being paid $400 less than teammate Ed Delahanty (despite the preseason assurances by Phillies owner John Rogers that they would be paid the same), Lajoie jumped to the American League in 1901, signing with the Athletics. While the Phillies went to court to stop the deal, Lajoie played for the A’s in 1901 while the case made its way through the court system.

1901 Season Summary

Appeared in 131 games

2B – 119, SS – 12, SS – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 582

At Bats – 544 [16]

Runs – 145 [1]

Hits – 232 [1]

Doubles – 48 [1]

Triples – 14 [8, tied with Socks Seybold]

Home Runs – 14 [1]

RBI – 125 [1]

Bases on Balls – 24

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 9

Stolen Bases – 27 [16, tied with Billy Hoy]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .426 [1]

OBP - .463 [1]

Slugging Pct. - .643 [1]

Total Bases – 350 [1]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 13 [3]

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading runs scored were +25 ahead of runner-up Fielder Jones

League-leading hits were +42 ahead of runner-up John Anderson

League-leading doubles were +2 ahead of runner-up John Anderson

League-leading home runs were +2 ahead of runner-up Buck Freeman

League-leading RBIs were +11 ahead of runner-up Buck Freeman

League-leading batting average was +.086 ahead of runner-up Mike Donlin

League-leading OBP was +.051 ahead of runner-up Fielder Jones

League-leading slugging percentage was +.123 ahead of runner-up Buck Freeman

League-leading total bases were +71 ahead of runner-up Jimmy Collins

Midseason snapshot: 2B –24, 3B – 8,  HR - 5, RBI – 59, AVG – .421, OBP - .459, SLG - .624

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

Longest hitting streak – 17 games

HR at home – 5

HR on road – 9

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 5 AB) at Washington 8/9, (in 3 AB) at Washington 8/10

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 6 at Washington 7/1, at Cleveland 7/30

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding (2B)

Chances – 808

Put Outs – 395

Assists – 381

Errors – 32

DP – 60

Pct. – .960

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In their first year of existence in a new league, the Athletics went 74-62 to finish fourth in the AL, 9 games behind the pennant-winning Chicago White Sox while leading the league in hits (1409), doubles (239), RBIs (665), and total bases (1927). The A’s languished in fifth and sixth place throughout July and August until rising to fourth during an 18-10 September capped by an 11-2 finish. RHP Eddie Plank quickly became a key component in the pitching staff, while Lajoie’s outstanding hitting boosted the offense. Hampered by bad weather, they drew 206,329 fans to Columbia Park,28,608 less than the NL Phillies, who finished second in their league.

Aftermath of 1901:

Prior to the 1902 season the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that Lajoie could not play in the state for any other team than the Phillies. While he played in one game for the A’s at the start of the 1902 season, A’s president and manager Connie Mack arranged for his transfer to Cleveland in order to keep him in the American League, although he was forced to sit out any games played in Philadelphia. He again won the AL batting championship (.378) while also hitting 35 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, and producing 65 RBIs, a .419 OBP, and a .565 slugging percentage. The peace agreement between the NL and AL in the offseason ended any claim the Phillies had on Lajoie. To great popular demand the club began to be called the Naps in honor of its star player. He won the 1903 league batting title by batting .344. He also topped the league in slugging (.518). In addition, he produced 41 doubles, 11 triples, 7 home runs, 93 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, and a .379 OBP. In 1904 he topped the circuit in batting (.376), OBP (.413), slugging (.546), hits (208), doubles (49), RBIs (102), and total bases (302). Lajoie, also commonly referred to as Larry, missed some games in 1904 due to being suspended after an altercation with an umpire. He would miss more games in 1905 after a spike wound in one leg led to blood poisoning from the blue dye in his sock which nearly led to amputation. His leg recovered, and limited to 65 games, he hit .329 with a .377 OBP and .418 slugging percentage. By this point Lajoie was the player/manager of the Naps, a position that would have a negative effect on his batting production over time, although in 1906 he led the AL in hits (214) and doubles (48) while batting .355 with a .392 OBP and .465 slugging percentage. His manner of hand signaling pitches to his outfielders from behind his back was easily discernible to opponents and he lacked the ability to instruct his players in aspects of the game that came easily to him (a commonality with great players who became managers). With a talented club he was unable to win the AL pennant as manager, although Cleveland was typically competitive. In 1907 he hit .301 with a .347 OBP and .395 slugging percentage and in 1908, a season in which the Naps closely contended for the pennant, he hit only .289 with a .352 OBP and .375 slugging percentage. During the 1909 season Lajoie resigned as manager as the club dropped to sixth place. Lajoie the player hit .324 with 33 doubles, 7 triples, a home run, 47 RBIs, a .378 OBP, and a .431 slugging percentage. He returned to top batting form in 1910, a season in which he became embroiled in controversy. Battling Detroit’s Ty Cobb for the AL batting championship late in the season, and with a new Chalmers auto to be awarded to the winner, Lajoie and the Naps played a double-header against the St. Louis Browns on the season’s last day and Lajoie trailing Cobb. St. Louis manager Jack O’Connor, not wanting Cobb to win, ordered his third baseman to play deep which allowed Lajoie to beat out seven straight bunts down the third base line for hits. He also hit a triple and one more bunt was ruled a sacrifice. Despite the effort to assist Lajoie, Cobb was awarded the batting title by the closest of margins although later research showed that Cobb was erroneously credited with two additional base hits. In 1981, following the discovery of the error, Commissioner Kuhn refused to retroactively award Lajoie the 1910 AL batting title even though the adjusted figures put him in front of Cobb, .383 to .382. Chalmers chose to award cars to both players, and although Lajoie initially resisted accepting the vehicle, his wife insisted and he received the car. In 1911 a tendon injury limited Lajoie to 90 games and he hit .365 with a .420 OBP. He stayed with Cleveland through 1914 when his average dropped to .258 due to declining eyesight. Sold to the Athletics, he played two last seasons in 1915 and ’16 as his production continued to drop. For his major league career, Lajoie batted .338 with 3243 hits that included 657 doubles, 163 triples, and 82 home runs. He scored 1504 runs and compiled 1599 RBIs, 380 stolen bases, a .380 OBP, and a .466 slugging percentage. Lajoie never appeared in the postseason. He was a minor league player/manager for a time and commissioner of the Ohio-Pennsylvania League. His record as a major league manager was 377-309. Lajoie was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937. He died in 1959 at age 84.

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

Highlighted Year: Eddie Plank, 1901

Pitcher, Philadelphia Athletics

Age:  26 (Aug. 31)

1^st season with Athletics

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’11” Weight: 175 

Prior to 1901:

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

1901 Season Summary

Appeared in 33 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 33 [16]

Games Started – 32 [13]

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

Wins – 17 [9, tied with Bill Bernhard]

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

PCT - .567 [12]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 1 [14, tied with fourteen others]

Innings Pitched – 260.2 [14]

Hits – 254 [18]

Runs – 133 [19, tied with Pink Hawley]

Earned Runs – 96 [16]

Home Runs – 3

Bases on Balls – 68 [14]

Strikeouts – 90 [10]

ERA – 3.31 [10]

Hit Batters – 7

Balks – 0

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

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

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

10+ strikeout games – 0

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

Batting

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

Fielding

Chances – 74

Put Outs – 6

Assists – 63

Errors – 5

DP – 2

Pct. - .932

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

Aftermath of 1901:

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

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