User Tools

Site Tools


1901_news

Table of Contents

1901 News

January 1, 1901

News

The American League's Philadelphia entry had yet to procure a place to play ball and league president Ban Johnson attributed the problem solely to “red tape” and the “Philadelphia way of doing things” rather than to any effort by the National League's Phillies to block the move.


January 2, 1901

January 3, 1901

News

The American League's Philadelphia team was trying to lease grounds at 26th and Jefferson, the site of the old Athletics during the American Association days, but the city's Property Committee delayed a vote on the matter to give potential opponents more time to submit their arguments.


January 4, 1901

January 5, 1901

News

A bit in Sporting Life repeated a story attributed to the Milwaukee Sentinel that the American League's Philadelphia team was “backed by Milwaukee capital.”


January 6, 1901

January 7, 1901

January 8, 1901

January 9, 1901

News

All seven current American League teams, including Philadelphia, submitted 51 percent of their team's stock and rights to land for ballparks in trust to the league to prevent the possibility of defection during what was expected to be a costly battle with the National League for survival.


January 10, 1901

January 11, 1901

January 12, 1901

January 13, 1901

News

Connie Mack said he had talked to about 75 potential players so far about joining his team and that he expected to be able to form a roster from that group.

American League president Ban Johnson said that work would begin on a Philadelphia ballpark on the 17th, but didn't say at which site.


January 14, 1901

January 15, 1901

January 16, 1901

News

The Philadelphia city council considered, but made no decision about, the team's request to lease grounds for a ballpark at 26th and Jefferson. Representing the team at the meeting were sportswriters Frank Hough and Samuel Jones. One of the council members said that the terms of the lease—$1,000 per year for three years—were too low and a local land developer complained that a ballpark would reduce property values in the area and would increase vandalism, though several council members objected strongly to this assertion. Due to procedural reasons, the council could not vote on the measure at this meeting and planned to bring it up again in a week at their next meeting.


January 17, 1901

January 18, 1901

January 19, 1901

News

The team announced the hiring of Billy Sharsig as business manager. Sharsig had been a founding member of the Athletics team in the old American Association and had been their field manager for a few seasons in the late 1880s.


January 20, 1901

News

Connie Mack voiced his hope that the council would approve the team's lease of the grounds at 26th and Jefferson, but that the team had options three other sites: 29th and Columbia, 22nd and Lehigh, and 6th and Lehigh.


January 21, 1901

News

Though the team had yet to announce they had signed a lease on a site, Connie Mack said they were ready to receive bids from construction firms for the building of a grandstand. American League president Ban Johnson said he expected the team to complete an agreement within a week.


January 22, 1901

News

The team announced they would continue a local tradition and call themselves the Athletics. They also announced they had signed a ten-year lease on the grounds at 29th and Columbia for the construction of a ballpark.

The site was bounded by 29th Street on the east, 30th Street on the west, Columbia Street on the north, and Oxford Street on the south and enclosed a space 400 feet by 460 feet. The grandstand would be built by a firm headed by James Foster at an estimated cost of $35,000. Total capacity would be 12,000, with 4,000 in a single-tier grandstand behind the plate, and the remaining 8,000 to be divided between two sets of bleachers down each foul line. A separate one-story building was to be built for locker rooms and the completion of all structures was scheduled for April 1.


January 23, 1901

January 24, 1901

January 25, 1901

January 26, 1901

News

While attending league meetings in Chicago, Connie Mack said he had signed “many” players, but would not identify any of them.


January 27, 1901

January 28, 1901

News

At the organizational meeting in Chicago, the American League formally granted a Philadelphia franchise to the Athletics and Connie Mack was invested as team president.


January 29, 1901

News

Manager Connie Mack was named to the American League's rules committee along with Baltimore manager John McGraw and Chicago owner Charles Comiskey.

While the Inquirer reported a week ago that the team had decided to call themselves the “Athletics”, Mack said nothing had been decided and added that “so long as our team performs to suit the fans, I don't care what name they use to designate our team.”


January 30, 1901

January 31, 1901

February 1, 1901

February 2, 1901

February 3, 1901

February 4, 1901

February 5, 1901

February 6, 1901

News

The team signed left-handed pitcher Billy Milligan.


February 7, 1901

February 8, 1901

February 9, 1901

February 10, 1901

News

A story was making the rounds that Connie Mack had signed Phillies second baseman Nap Lajoie, though both Mack and Phillies owner John Rogers said it wasn't true.


February 11, 1901

February 12, 1901

News

The team signed catcher Doc Powers on or before this date.


February 13, 1901

News

One of the great mysteries around the new Athletics franchise was who was bankrolling the operation. Connie Mack wouldn't say who, but he did say the available capital was better than $100,000.

The fence around the new ballpark was complete and work had begun on the grandstand.


February 14, 1901

February 15, 1901

February 16, 1901

February 17, 1901

News

The effort to find out who was bankrolling the Athletics franchise turned up the name of Cleveland owner Charles Somers on the ballpark grounds lease and the grandstand construction contract. Rumor said Somers owned a piece of the Boston team, too, and the news reinforced jibes that the American League was guilty of “syndicalism.”


February 18, 1901

February 19, 1901

News

The team's ownership picture cleared somewhat by the election of Philadelphia sporting goods manufacturer Ben Shibe to the position of team president by the still- unidentified members of the board of directors. At the same meeting, the team officially named Connie Mack field manager and team treasurer.

Phillies manager Bill Shettsline accused Mack of trying to poach one of his best players, though according to Shettsline, the unnamed player told Mack that he was still under contract to the Phillies and wouldn't break the agreement. When asked about the matter, Mack said “he really cannot say which player Mr Shettsline refers to” as he had “talked with a number of his men.” Later reporting in Sporting Life suggested the player in question was center fielder Roy Thomas.


February 20, 1901

News

The team reported that they expected ballpark construction to be completed by March 15 and added that work would begin on the playing field by March 1, supervised by John Murphy, considered to be one of the best in the business.


February 21, 1901

February 22, 1901

February 23, 1901

February 24, 1901

February 25, 1901

February 26, 1901

February 27, 1901

February 28, 1901

News

After weeks of rumors and denials from the principals, it was generally reported around the country that the team had signed Phillies second baseman Nap Lajoie.


March 1, 1901

March 2, 1901

News

Manager Connie Mack was out West on what was assumed to be a recruitment tour, with right-handed pitcher Amos Rusie reputed to be on his list of potential talent.


March 3, 1901

March 4, 1901

News

Manager Connie Mack was in Cincinnati trying to scare up players for his new team, including left-handed pitchers Theodore Breitenstein and Jesse Tannehill, middle infielder Tommy Corcoran, and shortstop Bill Gleason. The team had yet to report any official signings.


March 5, 1901

Transactions

The team signed third baseman Lave Cross on or before this date.


March 6, 1901

News

Manager Connie Mack continued his recruitment trip in the Midwest and had reported signed seven players, with another seven on the hook. The team wouldn't confirm any of the names that had been rumored, though third baseman Lave Cross, who had played for Brooklyn and St. Louis in the National League last year did affirm his intention to sign with Mack.

Transactions

First baseman Pat Crisham and outfielder Socks Seybold were signed on or before this date.


March 7, 1901

News

Manager Connie Mack held forth on a number of topics, including player signings, the reserve clause, and the work of the league's rules committee.

Mack said he had signed 12 players, but declined to name any of them. He did, however, say that none of the following were on that list: right-handed pitcher Amos Rusie, left-handed pitcher Jesse Tannehill, catcher Ed McFarland, and outfielder Elmer Flick.

Regarding the reserve clause he said the National League “haven't a leg to stand on,” implying that the presence of the clause in a player's contract wouldn't dissuade him from signing NL players.

He said the American League would not be adopting any of the recent rule changes made by the National League, including the rule that foul balls in a 0- or 1-strike count would now be called strikes, calling it a “doggy” rule, and the new rule that batters would not automatically be awarded first base upon being hit by a pitch, saying it was an invitation to trouble.

The American League announced that each team would play a 140-game schedule and that the season would be a little longer than usual, given that the Eastern cities didn't allow play on Sundays.

The team signed outfielder Dave Fultz on or before this date.


March 8, 1901

News

The team signed catcher Harry Smith on or before this date.


March 9, 1901

News

The team, for the first time, offered confirmation of a player signing: outfielder Phil Geier. The Reds considered Geier to be “under reserve,” but he was in a dispute with the team over transportation costs and considered himself to be a free agent.


March 10, 1901

News

The Record reported that the team had signed outfielder Lefty Davis and pitcher Vic Willis, though these signings were unconfirmed by the team.

The team reported that the ballpark stands were to be “practically completed” within a week, with a seating capacity of 10,500. That figure included 3,500 seats in the covered grandstand, 4,000 in the bleachers along the left field line, and 3,000 in the bleachers along the right field line. Home plate would be in the southeast corner and the distance down the lines would be 354 to the left field corner and 290 feet to right.

Bad weather had prevented the grading and leveling of the playing surface, but according to the contractor, little work was needed as the field was within eight inches of being level already.

Manager Connie Mack said he expected to begin team workouts on April 1. The team's first exhibtion was scheduled for April 6 against Roxborough at their park on the northwest end of town and their first game in the new park would be against a “picked team” called Moss's Professionals on April 8.


March 11, 1901

March 12, 1901

March 13, 1901

March 14, 1901

News

Manager Connie Mack retured from a recruitment trip saying he had signed “ten or twelve good, fast players” and that there would be both stars and surprises on the list. He added that he had signed only players who wouldn't “'bullfrog' it back to the National League tomorrow.” Still, catcher Ed McFarland, who had reputedly signed with the Athletics was, in fact, “bullfrogging” it back to the Phillies after having second thoughts.

The team was reputed to have signed left-handed pitcher Win Kellum.


March 15, 1901

March 16, 1901

News

Sporting Life reprinted a story originally published in the Chicago Journal that included what purported to be 1901 salaries owed by the Athletics to several players. To wit: third baseman Lave Cross ($3,000), outfielder Elmer Flick ($3,000), second baseman Nap Lajoie ($3,500), catcher Ed McFarland ($2,800), left-handed pitcher Win Mercer ($3,000), and right-handed pitcher Vic Willis ($2,700). By the time of the reprint both Flick and McFarland had said they would be returning to the Phillies.

Catcher Harry Smith, a recent Athletics signee, was likely to be the subject of a lawsuit by the Pirates, who claimed they held his rights following a trade with Milwaukee. Athletics manager Connie Mack said it was nothing to do with him and that the Pirates should take up the matter with Milwaukee.

The team signed right-handed pitcher Chick Fraser. Fraser had played for the Phillies and presumably that team still believed had a reserve on him. According to some sources the signing was performed by American League president Ban Johnson, not the team.


March 17, 1901

March 18, 1901

News

The team reported that the new ballpark was “practically ready”, that the infield had been graded, and that the laying of sod would begin tomorrow.

After weeks of rumors, the team definitively announced the signing of third baseman Lave Cross. Following the news, manager Connie Mack said the team that would take the field in 1901 was largely in place.


March 19, 1901

March 20, 1901

News

American League representatives gathered in Philadelphia to work out a schedule and announced the league would start play April 24. While it had been an open secret for several weeks, the team officially acknowledged the signing of second baseman Nap Lajoie and named him team captain.


March 21, 1901

News

Phillies manager Bill Shettsline responded to news of Nap Lajoie's signing by the Athletics, saying his team would contest the matter “immediately.”

Outfielder Lefty Davis, who had reputedly signed a contract with Connie Mack earlier in the month said he would stay with Minneapolis, his old team.

The American League announced their complete schedule, though a least one conflict had already been spotted. The Athletics would open at home on April 24 against Washington and close on September 28 in Cleveland for a double header. Twenty-two of the 70 home dates coincided with Phillies home dates. Both Washington and Philadelphia were scheduled to play each other at home on July 3, a conflict that would have to be resolved in the coming days.


March 22, 1901

News

The team announced they had signed right-handed pitcher Bill Bernhard to a contract. Bernhard had played with the Phillies last year and that team considered him to still be under contract to them via the reserve clause.


March 23, 1901

News

The team still lacked a left fielder, but manager Connie Mack said he had two men in mind, though he would not identify them.

Bad weather was causing delays in work on the ballpark, but the bleachers and the roof over the grandstand had been finished, as were the wooden walls and brick facade of the exterior. However, the grandstand's folding seats were not yet installed and the outfield had yet to be graded.


March 24, 1901

News

The team announced that the total seating capacity of the ballpark had been increased to 13,000, with 4,000 in the grandstand and a combined 9,000 seats in the left field and right field bleachers.


March 25, 1901

March 26, 1901

News

The team, which was being called the “Athletics” more often in the press, announced their home uniform colors would be blue on white, with the letter “A” on the left breast, and their road uniforms would be blue on gray, with a similar insignia.

Phillies owner John Rogers said he was preparing paperwork to request an injunction from the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas to prevent Bill Bernhard, Chick Fraser, and Nap Lajoie from playing for the Athletics.

A rumor appeared in the press that the team was negotiating a contract with right-handed pitcher Christy Mathewson.

The team signed outfielders Fred Ketchum and Johnny Flournoy.


March 27, 1901

News

First baseman Pat Crisham reported to the team, making him the first player to do so.

Phillies owner John Rogers filed an injunction request with the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in the hope of preventing Bill Bernhard, Chick Fraser, and Nap Lajoie from playing for the Athletics. The request specifically argued that the players were still under reserve to the Phillies and that by signing with Connie Mack, they were in breach of their contracts.


March 28, 1901

News

The American League issued a revision of their 1901 schedule to resolve the conflict that had both the Athletics and Washington playing against each other at home on July 3. According to the new schedule, the teams would play in Philadelphia on July 3 and the game in Washington would be added as part of a double header on an as yet unspecified date in early August.


March 29, 1901

News

Team president Ben Shibe announced that uniforms would be provided free to players. This was in contrast to National League teams that billed players $30 for their playing togs.


March 30, 1901

News

Nap Lajoie filed a demurrer with the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas requesting that the court dismiss the injunction request filed by Phillies president John Rogers on the 27th. The request specified several grounds for demurrer, including that his contract for the 1900 season covered that season only, that the document had been signed by fewer than the requisite three “team managers,” and that, despite Rogers's assertion to the contrary, the services Lajoie provided to the Phillies could readily be provided by many other people.


March 31, 1901

News

Manager Connie Mack revealed that both right-handed pitcher Christy Mathewson and outfielder Lefty Davis had signed contracts two months ago to play for the Athletics and that they had each received monetary advances against those contracts. This while both players were stating their intention to return to their old teams.


April 1, 1901

News

The team officially gathered for the first time, for a quick introductory meeting. Among those attending were right-handed pitcher Bill Bernhard, left-handed pitcher Billy Milligan, catcher Doc Powers, first baseman Pat Crisham, second baseman Nap Lajoie, and outfielders Fred Ketchum and Dave Fultz.

Crisham left town almost immediately for his home in Altoona after learning that his daughter was serious ill.

Chick Fraser, Phil Geier, Socks Seybold and Christy Mathewson were expected to arrive tomorrow. Lave Cross, Harry Smith, and Vic Willis were expected to arrive later in the week.

The team signed outfielder Jack Hayden and left-handed pitcher Wiley Piatt.


April 2, 1901

News

First baseman/outfielder Socks Seybold reported to the team.


April 3, 1901

News

A storm blew threw town overnight forcing the team to cancel what would have been the team's first practice. Instead, the players gathered in the clubhouse and began to get to know one another.

The Inquirer reported that pitcher Vic Willis was reneging on his Athletics contract and was returning to Boston, his old team. Manager Connie Mack said he didn't believe the report until he actually heard it from Willis, pointing out that the team had given him a $450 advance on his 1901 salary.

The team announced an 11-day exhibition schedule, beginning with a road game against Roxborough on the 6th.


April 4, 1901

News

The field was too soft from recent rains for the team to practice.

Third baseman Lave Cross reported to the team.

Connie Mack received word, as reported yesterday in the Inquirer that pitcher Vic Willis was reneging on his Athletics contract. The team also learned that Christy Mathewson was backing out of his contract with the Athletics and had returned his $50 advance. Outfielder Lefty Davis was also breaking his contract but he had yet to return his advance.


April 5, 1901

News

The team finally held its first practice after rains had forced a two-day delay. Six hundred interested spectators attended. Outfielders Phil Geier, Fred Ketchum, and Dave Fultz were the standout performers of the day. First baseman Socks Seybold provided the day's sensation when two balls he hit into the stands injured spectators, one who was hit in the ear and another who was hit on the arm.


April 6, 1901

News

The team was to play their first ever exhibition today, against Roxborough, but it was rained out.


April 7, 1901

News

Pitcher Billy Milligan came down with the flu and was sent home to Buffalo to recuperate.


April 8, 1901

News

The weather finally cooperated enough for the team to play their first exhibition, an 8-1 win over a picked team called Moss's Professionals, managed by 16-year major league veteran Arlie Latham. Bill Bernhard started the contest, going three scorless innings, while giving up a single hit. Carson Hodge, a local pitcher in for a spring training tryout, went the next three innings and pitched well, but gave up the opposition's only run. Wiley Piatt closed out the game on the mound, striking out the side, and not allowing any baserunners. Outfielder Jack Hayden had four hits and 3 RBIs.

Catcher Joe Sugden, a Philadelphia native who was under contract with the White Stockings, was given permission to train with the Athletics during the spring and played the second half of the game in relief of Doc Powers.


April 9, 1901

News

The team beat the Carteret Athletic Association in an exhibtion game today, 23-5.

Bad weather had prevented the groundskeeping crew from installing sod in the outfield so the flychasers were playing on bare dirt.


April 10, 1901

News

Manager Connie Mack sent a pair of untried pitchers against Manayunk in an exhibition today and nearly paid the price as the Athletics just managed to win, 9-8. Howard Wilson, a non-roster invitee to spring training made the start and gave up four runs over four innings of work while striking out four. Another non-roster pitcher, Carson Hodge, making his third appearance of the spring, went the rest of the way.

The team's exhibition against Villanova, scheduled for the 13th, was canceled for unspecified reasons


April 11, 1901

News

With two out in the bottom of the 11th, Fred Ketchum hit a sacrifice fly, scoring Dave Fultz with the game-winning run in a 4-3 exhibition game win over Yale University.


April 12, 1901

News

April 13, 1901

News

The Athletics scored 15 runs in the first three innings and cruised to a 19-2 exhibition win over Banks Business College.

This was catcher Joe Sugden's last day with the A's before he left to join his White Stockings teammates in Chicago.

First baseman Pat Crisham was still at home in Altoona taking care of his sick daughter and had taken ill himself.


April 14, 1901

April 15, 1901

News

Today's scheduled exhibtion game against the New York Ironsides was rained out.


April 16, 1901

News

Under threatening skies, the rain held off long enough for the Athletics to beat Georgetown University, 13-6, in an exhibition contest at Columbia Park.

With Pat Crisham out indefinitely because of illness and Socks Seybold playing out of position at first base, the team signed former Washington Senators first baseman Charlie Carr.


April 17, 1901

News

The Athletics beat Wissahickon, 16-4, in an exhibition contest at Columbia Park. Roxborough right-hander Pete Loos started the game for the A's on a tryout basis and went all the way, giving up four unearned runs on eight hits and no walks, while striking out three. Charlie Carr made his debut at first base. To make room for Carr, Socks Seybold moved to left field, pushing Phil Geier to center and Fred Ketchum to the bench.

Pitcher Billy Milligan reported to the team, a few days later than expected


April 18, 1901

News

The Athletics beat the Atlantics, a local amateur side, 17-9 at Columbia Park. Needing a catcher to spell Doc Powers, the only backstop on the roster, manager Connie Mack gave Wissahickon catcher Theodore Schilsky a turn behind the plate.

New first baseman Charlie Carr missed today's game because of illness.

Pitcher Chick Fraser reported to the team.

The team's three chief officers, Connie Mack, Ben Shibe, and Frank Hough filed a statement with the Court of Common Pleas denying “they they are or ever have been co-partners, trading as the Philadelphia American League Base Ball Club.” In the statement, they added that they had never “persuaded” Nap Lajoie to sign a contract and that the Phillies had never given them “due notice” that Lajoie had an exclusive contract with them.


April 19, 1901

News

The Athletics beat a team of local former college players known, naturally enough, as the Ex-Collegians, 7-3, in an exhibition contest at Columbia Park. The Ex-Collegians showed up with only eight players so the A's loaned them newly-arrived pitcher Chick Fraser who played left field.

Catcher Doc Powers was out for a second consecutive game after having been struck in the eye by a ball, though whether it had been batted or thrown was not reported. Theodore Schilsky again took Powers' spot in the lineup.

Nap Lajoie, through his lawyer, made a court filing in advance of tomorrow's first hearing of the Phillies request for an injunction against his playing for the Athletics. The filing listed four assertions to the effect that Lajoie was not bound to the Phillies for the 1901 season, that the Phillies had breached one of the provisions of his 1900 contract, that the Phillies had not given him sufficient time to examine the 1900 contract before requiring him to sign it, and that the Athletics had neither “induced” nor “persuaded” him to sign with them.


April 20, 1901

April 21, 1901

News

The original exhibition schedule released by the team included a game against the West New York Field Club in Weehawken, New Jersey, but it likely didn't happen as there were no results reported.


April 22, 1901

News

There were reports that first baseman Pat Crisham's daughter had died today of an unspecified illness. He had been home since early this month to care for her.

Today's exhibition contest against North Philadelphia at Columbia Park had been canceled because of wet grounds.


April 23, 1901

News

Today's exhibition game against West Philadelphia at Columbia Park was canceled because of wet grounds.


April 24, 1901

News

The regular season opener against the Senators at Columbia Park was rained out.


April 25, 1901

It rained most of the day and the already once postponed season opener at Columbia Park against the Senators was put off again until tomorrow.


April 26, 1901

News

After two days of rain delays, the Athletics were finally able to open their regular season, but lost to the Senators, 5-1, at Columbia Park. Roughly 15,000 were in attendance—about 10,000 of whom paid their way in—and 3,000 more were turned away at the gate.

Chick Fraser had the honor of starting the first-ever Athletics game that counted, walking four and striking out five. Because April had been so rainy there was still no grass in the outfield. The A's scored their only run in the seventh when Socks Seybold drove in Nap Lajoie from third.


April 27, 1901

News

The Senators rapped out 19 hits and beat the Athletics 11-5.

Testimony resumed in the Phillies' request for an injunction against Nap Lajoie, Chick Fraser, and Bill Bernhard. Lajoie's lawyer emphasized the unfair nature of National League contracts, particularly the clause that allowed a team to dismiss a player after ten days notice, while not allowing the player similar severance options. The Phillies rebutted by saying the clause was necessary to dissuade a player from dogging it after having signed a fat contract. Both sides rested their case at the end of the day's arguments.


April 28, 1901

News

It was reported that American League president Ban Johnson had secured an agreement with former major league infielder and Cornell University baseball coach Hughie Jennings to join the Athletics in early June at the end of Cornell's season.

Dave Fultz was having a tough time at shortstop—not his natural position—and manager Connie Mack was reportedly after Cleveland's Danny Shay or Detroit's Harry Lochhead as a replacement that would allow Fultz to return to the outfield.


April 29, 1901

News

The Athletics won their first game today, beating Boston, 8-5, at Columbia Park.

Manager Connie Mack made a lineup change, sitting ineffective first baseman Charlie Carr and replacing him with Socks Seybold. Fred Ketchum took Seybold's place in left field.

The team acquired shortstop Harry Lochhead from Detroit on undisclosed terms. Lochhead was expected to be in the lineup tomorrow, with Dave Fultz going to left field and Ketchum returning to the bench.

The team released first baseman Charlie Carr on or around this date


April 30, 1901

News

Boston beat the Athletics, 8-6 in ten innings, at Columbia Park.

Shortstop Harry Lochhead made his A's debut in the contest but not a single ground ball went near him the entire game.


May 1, 1901

News

The Athletics took an easy one from Boston, 14-1, at Columbia Park.

Shortstop Harry Lochhead hurt a finger in pregame warmups and sat out the game. Dave Fultz took his place in the field, making three errors, and Fred Ketchum subbed for Fultz in left.


May 2, 1901

News

On a tough day for pitchers, Boston trounced the Athletics, 23-12, in the series finale at Columbia Park. A's starter Pete Loos, in his only regular season appearance with the team, didn't make it out of the second inning, giving up two runs on two hits in the first and walking the first four Boston batters in the second, on four pitches each.

Harry Lochhead missed his second straight game at shortstop with an injured finger. Dave Fultz again took his place with Fred Ketchum playing in left field.

First baseman Pat Crisham returned to the team after spending a month at home both caring for his sick daughter, who eventually died from her illness, and fighting off illness himself.

The Record reported that manager Connie Mack had failed to make a deal for Cleveland shortstop Danny Shay, but that Mack was “likely to sign one of the greatest pitchers in the country” from Pittsburgh. The paper didn't identify the pitcher.


May, 3, 1901

News

With the wind gusting in excess of 20 mph, the Athletics beat the Baltimore Orioles, 9-4, at Columbia Park.

Shortstop Harry Lochhead had recovered from his finger injury, but had now taken ill, meaning Dave Fultz was again taking his spot in the infield.


May 4, 1901

News

Fielding miscues gave the Baltimore Orioles the edge, helping them to an 11-7 win over the Athletics at Columbia Park.


May 5, 1901

May 6, 1901

News

The Athletics rallied from a three-run deficit with five runs in the seventh inning, then held on to beat the Orioles, 6-5, at Columbia Park.

Former Baltimore shortstop Hughie Jennings confirmed that he would report to the team and that he wanted to play at his old position


May 7, 1901

News

The Athletics lost to the Orioles, 14-10, at Columbia Park.

The team released outfielder Fred Ketchum and first baseman Pat Crisham. They also acquired left-handed pitcher Bock Baker from Cleveland and signed former Phillies catcher Morgan Murphy.


May 8, 1901

News

In their first road game of the season, the Athletics fell to Boston, 12-4, at the Huntington Avenue Grounds in Boston.

The Boston Globe reported of a “new feature in baseball…the megaphone man, who announced the change of players and other interesting facts the crowd were anxious to learn.”


May 9, 1901

News

In a game that featured much umpire baiting, the Athletics lost to Boston, 9-3, at the Huntington Avenue Grounds in Boston.

A’s second baseman Nap Lajoie was tossed in the top of the first by umpire Jack Haskell for the use of a “violent oath” when complaining about a close call at first base. Pitcher Wiley Piatt, who didn’t play, was fined five dollars for the ferocity of the abuse he hurled at Haskell from the bench. To adjust for Lajoie’s departure, manager Connie Mack moved center fielder Dave Fultz to second, first baseman Socks Seybold to center field, and Morgan Murphy made his A’s debut at first base.

Mack was rumored to be in pursuit of 23-year-old right-handed pitcher Ben Beville, who played last year for Butte in the Montana League and Oakland in the California League


May 10, 1901

News

The scheduled series finale in Boston was rained out.


May 11, 1901

News

With two outs in the bottom of the ninth, Athletics right fielder Jack Hayden nailed Orioles pinch-runner Chappie Snodgress with a perfect strike to the plate to preserve a 7-6 win in Baltimore.


May 12, 1901

May 13, 1901

News

The Orioles showed no mercy to pitcher Bock Baker, making his Athletics debut, winning a 14-5 decision in Baltimore. It was also Baker's only appearance with the team, and the last game of his major league career.

He was lifted after six innings in favor of Gettysburg-born left-hander Eddie Plank, who was also making his Athletics debut on a tryout basis

Manager Connie Mack injured a finger while warming up his new pitchers


May 14, 1901

News

For the second straight game, the Athletics made seven errors and paid the price, losing, 11-5, to the Orioles in Baltimore.

Mack was rumored to have signed shortstop Truck Eagan from San Francisco in the California League.

The team released pitcher Bock Baker, one day after his unimpressive outing in a 14-5 loss to the Orioles.


May 15, 1901

News

The Orioles took their third straight from the Athletics, winning 8-5 in Baltimore.

Two of manager Connie Mack's rumored signees were reported to have signed with other teams: pitcher Ben Beville awith Boston and shortstop Truck Eagan with Cleveland.

The team officially signed left-handed pitcher Eddie Plank following his satisfactory performance against the Orioles on the 13th.


May 16, 1901

News

The Athletics lost their fourth in a row and seven of their last eight, going down to the Senators in Washington, 12-5.


May 17, 1901

News

Down a run in the ninth, the Senators' Pop Foster tied it with an inside-the-park home run, then later in the inning, Bill Coughlin hit an outside-the-park single with two men on to give his team an 8-7 walkoff win over the Athletics in Washington. It was the team's fifth loss in a row and the eighth in their last nine games.

Back in Philadelphia, the Court of Common Pleas denied the Phillies' request for an injunction that would have prevented Nap Lajoie, Chick Fraser, and Bill Bernhard from playing for the Athletics. According to the court, the issued turned on the reserve clause, saying that giving the team control over a player in perpetuity or releasing them with just ten-days notice demonstrated a lack of “mutuality'' between the two parties and persuaded the judges to rule against the team. Only Lajoie was named in the ruling, but by prior agreement it was construed to be applicable to Bernhard and Fraser, too.


May, 18, 1901

News

The Athletics charged out to a 6-0 lead after two innings and broke a five-game losing streak by beating the Senators, 11-6, in Washington.


May 19, 1901

May 20, 1901

News

The Senators scored three runs in the ninth to beat the Athletics, 5-4, in the series finale in Washington.

The team signed six-year major league veteran first baseman Harry Davis.

Manager Connie Mack was rumored to be in pursuit of former Reds catcher Mike Kahoe.


May 21, 1901

May 22, 1901

News

The Athletics started their first-ever Western road trip with a ten-inning, 9-5, win over the White Stockings in Chicago. Rain delayed the start of the game and there were further showers in the third and sixth innings, but not enough to cause a stoppage of play.

Harry Davis made his A's debut at first base, going 1-for-4 with a double.

In Sporting Life, Francis Richter reported that manager Connie Mack was after three California League players: pitchers George Babbitt and Oscar Jones, and shortstop Harry Krug

The team released shortstop Harry Lochhead on or around this date


May 23, 1901

News

The Athletics mounted a four-run charge in the ninth, but that still left them two short in an 11-9 loss to the White Stockings in Chicago.


May 24, 1901

News

The weather in Chicago featured high winds and a temperature of 50 degrees and by mutual agreement between White Stockings owner Charles Comiskey and Athletics manager Connie Mack, today's game was postponed.


May 25, 1901

News

Frank Shugart singled with two outs in the bottom of the ninth to score Frank Isbell with the game-winner in the White Stockings' 6-5 win over the Athletics in Chicago.

Catcher Mike Kahoe, recently released by the Reds, signed with Chicago of the National League, ending manager Connie Mack's pursuit of him


May 26, 1901

News

In the team's first visit to Milwaukee, the Athletics lost to the Brewers, 6-5, in 11 innings. The loss dropped the A's into the American League cellar.


May 27, 1901

News

On a cold day in Milwaukee, Athletics pitcher Eddie Plank fired a three-hitter to beat the Brewers, 8-3.


May 28, 1901

News

Dave Fultz singled in the top of the ninth to score Lave Cross with the go-ahead run in a 4-3 Athletics win over the Brewers in Milwaukee.

Baltimore manager John McGraw tried to put a wrench the A's plan to acquire Hughie Jennings, saying he had “first call” on his old teammate and expected him to join the Orioles around June 12. American League president Ban Johnson disagreed, saying Jennings had ”[given] me his word to play with Connie Mack's aggregation.“

Francis Richter of Sporting Life said Mack was in pursuit of Beloit College pitcher Doc Adkins


May 29, 1901

News

Nap Lajoie doubled, tripled, and drove in three to lead the Athletics to an 8-4 win over the Brewers in Milwaukee.


May 30, 1901

News

The Athletics played their first double header of the season, a Decoration Day affair in Cleveland, and came away with a sweep. In the morning contest, the A's scored three runs on just four hits and a pair of Cleveland errors to win, 3-1. In the afternoon game, limited to eight innings by darkness, the A's led after three, 5-1, and coasted to an 8-2 win

The afternoon game featured a 15-minute rain delay in the seventh inning that was punctuated by a wild seat cushion throwing fracas that ended with stadium cops wading into the bleachers. There were only two police officers on the scene and one of them required assistance from Cleveland manager Jimmy McAleer to rescue him from the unruly crowd.


May 31, 1901

News

The Athletics jumped out to a 10-0 lead by the end of the top half of the second, but a late Cleveland charge nearly brought the game home and the A's just held on to win their sixth straight, 10-0, in Cleveland.

Catcher Harry Smith tried to report to the team, but he was still suffering from a recent illness and manager Connie Mack sent him home to convalesce until he was well enough to play ball.


June 1, 1901

News

In a game shortened to six innings by rain, the Athletics beat Cleveland, 6-2, for their seventh straight win. Cleveland was batting in the seventh, with men on second and third, when the rain began to fall and umpire Joe Cantillon called it a day a half-hour later.


June 2, 1901

News

The Athletics ran their winning streak to eight with an 11-8 win over the Tigers in their first visit to Detroit.


June 3, 1901

News

Eddie Plank got the best of Detroit's Roscoe Miller in a 2-1 win over the Tigers in Detroit. The victory extended the team's winning streak to nine games

Pitchers Bill Bernhard and Billy Milligan each went to their respective homes to attend to personal matters and would be away from the team for a while.


June 4, 1901

News

The Tigers ended the Athletics winning streak at nine with a 9-1 win in Detroit.


June 5, 1901

News

Detroit catcher Fritz Buelow's eighth inning home run was the deciding factor in the Tigers' 3-2 win over the Athletics in Detroit.


June 6, 1901

News

The team was traveling back to Philadelphia where they would again play the Tigers.

While they were en route, back in Philadelphia a team employee discovered the unconscious form of manager Connie Mack's brother Dennis McGillicuddy in the clubhouse, the apparent victim of foul play. He was taken to the hospital and diagnosed with a fractured skull, possibly caused by a baseball bat, and his life was thought to be in the balance. McGillicuddy, a ticket taker for the team, was said to have been in the company of a groundskeeper, Thomas Murphy, the previous evening. Murphy was wanted for questioning by the police, but he hadn't yet been found.


June 7, 1901

News

Rain forced the postponement of today’s game against the Tigers in Philadelphia.

After a twenty-four hour manhunt, police arrested groundskeeper Thomas Murphy in connection with the beating of Connie Mack’s brother Dennis McGillicuddy. Police suspected Murphy had knowledge of and had possibly committed the attack. McGillicuddy was still alive, but unable to speak, and doctors called his chances for survival “fair.”


June 8, 1901

News

Athletics starter Eddie Plank hurled a four-hitter to beat the Tigers, 6-1, at Columbia Park.

First the first time, the A’s played on a grass outfield in their home park. Prior to this, the outfield had just been raked dirt as rainy spring weather had prevented the laying of sod before the season started.


June 9, 1901

News

Rube Waddell, pitching for Chicago in the National League, said he no longer wanted to play for them and that he “had a mind to jump right away and go to the Philadelphia club of the American League”


June 10, 1901

News

Left fielder Jack Hayden muffed a ball in the tenth inning that opened the door for a Tigers rally in a 5-4 defeat of the Athletics.

American League president Ban Johnson responded to Chicago pitcher Rube Waddell’s statement that he wanted to jump to the A’s by saying there would “be a quick turn-down of such action” if an American League team tried to take a National League player who was under contract.


June 11, 1901

News

The teams did all their scoring in the first inning in the Tigers' 4-1 win over the Athletics at Columbia Park.

Lawyers for Chick Fraser and Bill Bernhard filed demurrers with the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas in a procedural maneuver that essentially capped off the dispute between the players and the Phillies over their contract status.


June 12, 1901

News

The Brewers ended a five-game losing streak by beating the Athletics, 6-5, at Columbia Park.

Nap Lajoie was managing the club on the field while Connie Mack was attending to matters regarding the assault on his brother, Dennis McGillicuddy.

Team attorneys submitted a petition to the Court of Common Pleas announcing their intention to incorporate as the “American Base Ball Club of Philadelphia.” The petition included the team's statement of purpose as “the organization, equipment, and maintenance of a club for the playing of base ball and other games in which a ball or balls are used, through the United States, and elsewhere, and the purchasing or leasing of a lot or lots of ground in the city of Philadelphia, state of Pennsylvania, with the appropriate improvements thereupon to be erected, upon which public exhibition of various games of ball and all other athletics games or sports may be had.”

Team ownership consisted of 500 shares divided among five people with a total capitalization of $50,000. The five shareholders were: George W. Jackson (200 shares), Benjamin F. Shibe (165), Cornelius McGillicuddy (125), William Y. C. Anderson (5), and John F. Hoffmeister (5).


June 13, 1901

News

Athletics starter Eddie Plank fired a two-hitter, with four walks, to beat the Brewers, 6-0, at Columbia Park.

Over recent days several players, especially third baseman Lave Cross, had complained that the ads on the center field fence were making it hard to pick up the ball out of the pitcher's hand. Manager Connie Mack directed that the ads be covered with green paint saying, “If the advertiser kicks, I will gladly fix him in order to win games” and added, “if the boys keep on hitting as well as they did today, I will have the fence painted a different color every day.”


June 14, 1901

News

For the second straight game, the Athletics shut out the Brewers, winning 7-0 at Columbia Park.

As Cornell's baseball season wound down, the Hughie Jennings matter was gaining more urgency. The Orioles said they planned to file a formal protest with the league promoting their claim that they had the American League rights to Jennings, not the A's.


June 15, 1901

News

Today's scheduled game against the Brewers at Columbia Park was rained out.

Infielder Hughie Jennings, the subject of a dispute between the Atheltics and the Baltimore Orioles, said he ”(didn't) know which team I will play with.“


June 16, 1901

News

Despite a number of appeals from Orioles team officials, American League president Ban Johnson ruled that the American League signing rights to infielder Hughie Jennings belonged to the Athletics.


June 17, 1901

News

With the help of a seven-run third inning, the Athletics put an end to Cleveland's five-game winning streak, 12-8, at Columbia Park.

Orioles manager John McGraw refused to accept American President Ban Johnson's ruling that the A's owned the signing rights to infielder Hughie Jennings and threatened legal action.


June 18, 1901

News

Cleveland's Erve Beck hit a three-run homer in the third and Athletics starter Eddie Plank had an uncharacteristically awful game in a 9-5 loss at Columbia Park.

American League president Ban Johnson persuaded Orioles president Sydney Frank to accept Johnson's ruling regarding infielder Hughie Jennings. Orioles team officials then said they would try to make a deal with the A's directly for the coveted player. Jennings, for his part, said he would be happy to play in either Philadelphia or Baltimore.


June 19, 1901

News

Clever base running in the sixth inning by Dave Fultz forced a Cleveland fielding mistake that allowed him to score the eventual winning run in a 4-3 win for the Athletics at Columbia Park.

The Hughie Jennings saga came to a head when Jennings appeared on the field in Baltimore and took infield practice with the Orioles prior to a game with the Brewers. Johnson sent a telegram instructing Brewers president Matt Killilea and umpire Jack Sheridan not to play the game if Jennings was on the field. Jennings said that Johnson had lied to him by telling him McGraw didn't want him.


June 20, 1901

News

Cleveland sent all nine men to the plate in the sixth inning, scoring three runs, then added three more over the next two innings to beat the Athletics, 6-4, at Columbia Park.

Orioles team secretary Harry Goldman made representations to A's manager Connie Mack, hoping to persuade him to allow the Orioles to sign Hughie Jennings and even offered a couple of unnamed players as compensation, but Mack refused.

Mack persuaded his old team, the Milwaukee Brewers, to release catcher Tom Leahy so Mack could sign him as Doc Powers' backup. The team released catcher Morgan Murphy to make room for him on the roster.


June 21, 1901

News

White Stockings starter Clark Griffith hurled a six-hitter to get a 6-0 whitewash of the Athletics and end their five-game losing streak.

Bringing an end to the squabbles between the A's and the Orioles, infielder Hughie Jennings signed with neither of them, instead agreeing to play for the National League's Phillies.


June 22, 1901

News

Several miscues by Athletics outfielders contributed to a 6-4 loss to the Chicago White Stockings at Columbia Park.

Dave Fultz and Phil Geier let a Fielder Jones blooper to right fall between them as a pair of runs scored in the sixth and Geier later charged a Billy Hoy line single to right a little too exuberantly and turned it into a two-run triple as the ball took a big hop over his head


June 23, 1901

June 24, 1901

News

Errors by Lave Cross, Doc Powers, and Joe Dolan allowed three runs to score in a disastrous 14-inning for the Athletics as they lost to the White Stockings, 7-5, at Columbia Park.

Connie Mack was back in the dugout managing the team for the first time since June 12. He had spent the time managing the affairs of his brother, Dennis, who was still recovering from a beating he suffered on the 6th, and Nap Lajoie had run the team on the field during his absence.


June 25, 1901

News

For the second time in five days, White Stockings hurler Clark Griffith blanked the Athletics with a 5-0 four-hitter.

Connie Mack's brother, Dennis McGillicuddy, was recovering slowly and was now thought to be out of serious danger. His alleged assailant, groundskeeper Thomas Murphy, was still being held in custody awaiting trial.


June 26, 1901

News

Ninth-inning errors by left fielder Jack Hayden and second baseman Nap Lajoie opened the door and Boileryard Clarke's two-out, two-run walkoff single capped a four-run frame giving the Senators a 5-4 win over the Athletics in Washington.

The Sporting Life's Francis Richter reported that Connie Mack was trying to sign Yale pitcher and first baseman Al Sharpe.


June 27, 1901

News

For the third straight game, Athletics starter Eddie Plank was hit hard, giving up five runs in the first in the course of a 9-5 loss to the Orioles in Baltimore. The loss was the seventh straight for the A's.

Tom Leahy made his catching debut for the A's, going 2-for-4 at the plate, but also giving up three stolen bases to the O's.


June 28, 1901

News

The Orioles bombed the Athletics for five runs in the eighth inning to take a 6-3 decision in Baltimore. The loss was the eighth in a row for the A's.


June 29, 1901

News

The Athletics tagged a pair of Orioles pitchers for 23 hits, but it wasn't enough as the Orioles came back from a five-run deficit to win their tenth straight, 15-13, in Baltimore.

George Leitner, a well-regarded amateur pitcher in the Baltimore area, made his major league debut and finished the game for the A's in Piatt's absence.


June 30, 1901

News

July 1, 1901

News

It was 103 degrees and miserably humid in Washington and with the Senators and Athletics tied 13-13 after nine innings, umpire Jack Sheridan said that was enough baseball and called it a tie.

A's starter Eddie Plank left the game in the second inning after a violent collision at the plate with Washington catcher Boileryard Clarke.

Manager Connie Mack tried out a local amateur shortstop, Charles White, before the game but White's fielding was “ragged” and Mack chose not to play him.

The team signed Augusta outfielder Matty McIntyre.


July 2, 1901

News

The Athletics ran their winless streak to ten (counting yesterday's tie) by losing, 10-6, to the Senators in Washington.

A's manager Connie Mack tried recently acquired catcher Tom Leahy in left field as a potential replacement for Jack Hayden, whose play had regressed recently.


July 3, 1901

News

The Athletics overcame an early three-run deficit to end their winless streak at ten by beating the Senators, 9-7, at Columbia Park.

The team released outfielder Jack Hayden and pitchers Billy Milligan and Wiley Piatt. The move left the A's with just three pitchers on staff: Bill Bernhard, Chick Fraser, and Eddie Plank.


July 4, 1901

News

Afternoon rain foreshortened the scheduled double header to a single contest, a 6-5 win for the Athletics over the Senators at Columbia Park.


July 5, 1901

News

The Athletics got just four hits off Baltimore starter Joe McGinnity and fell to the Orioles, 5-3, at Columbia Park.

The Record reported that Connie Mack had signed an obscure center fielder from the Chester Athletics named Campbell, but not much more information about him was available.

In a public statement, Phillies infielder Hughie Jennings complained that American League president Ban Johnson tried to railroad him toward signing with the Athletics rather than the Orioles and that the league treated him as if he had “nothing whatever to say in the matter.”


July 6, 1901

News

New outfielder Matty McIntyre hit a two-run double in the eighth that broke open a tie game on the way to an 8-5 win for the Athletics over the Orioles at Columbia Park.


July 7, 1901

July 8, 1901

News

John McGraw and Mike Donlin each drove in a pair during a four-run sixth inning that gave the Orioles an 8-7 win over the Athletics at Columbia Park.

The team signed right-handed pitcher John McPherson from the Marion, Indiana team of the Western Association.


July 9, 1901

News

The scheduled game between Boston and the Athletics in Boston was rained out.


July 10, 1901

News

Harry Davis and Lave Cross each hit safely five times and drove in six runs between them in a 13-6 win for the Athletics over Boston in Boston.


July 11, 1901

News

Boston starter George Winter ran his record to 7-0 with a rain-shortened 4-1 decision over the Athletics in Boston. The rain started in the third inning and only got worse as the game continued with umpire Tommy Connolly finally calling it after the top of the fifth to make it an official game.

Catcher Harry Smith made his A's debut after missing the first half of the season due to illness.


July 12, 1901

News

Pitcher John McPherson made his Athletics debut and lasted four innings in a 5-3 loss at the hands of Cy Young and Boston in Boston.


July 13, 1901

News

After playing three in Massachusetts, Boston and the Athletics shifted the scene to Columbia Park where the A's took a 6-1 decision in seven innings. The field was already pretty wet from previous storms and when the rain started falling in the bottom of the seventh umpire Tommy Connolly put an end to it.

Pitcher John McPherson was gone after yesterday's unsuccessful tryout in Boston. To replace him, the team signed left-hander Lewis "Snake" Wiltse from the Pirates.


July 14, 1901

July 15, 1901

News

Athletics starter Eddie Plank gave up seven hits and two walks in a 6-1 win over Boston at Columbia Park.

The team released catcher Tom Leahy.


July 16, 1901

News

Travel day: the team was headed to Milwaukee to start a 14-day road trip with additional stops in Chicago, Detroit, and Cleveland.


July 17, 1901

News

Athletics starter Chick Fraser held the Brewers to seven hits and won, 5-1, in Milwaukee.


July 18, 1901

News

Brewers starter Pink Hawley bested the Athletics' Bill Bernhard in 2-1 pitcher's duel in Milwaukee.


July 19, 1901

News

Two Milwaukee errors in the sixth led to two Athletics runs and a disputed call in the ninth led to another as the A's took one from the Brewers, 3-1, in Milwaukee.

Connie Mack signed McSherrystown infielder Bob McKinney.


July 20, 1901

News

The Athletics jumped on White Stockings starter and A's nemesis Clark Griffith for a pair of runs in the first, then held the Sox at arm's length the rest of the way to win, 8-6, in Chicago.


July 21, 1901

News

The White Stockings broke open a close game with a four-run eighth inning and beat the Athletics, 9-4, in Chicago.


July 22, 1901

News

Dave Fultz doubled to drive in Harry Smith with the go-ahead run in the Athletics' 12-inning 2-1 win over the White Stockings in Chicago.


July 23, 1901

News

Snake Wiltse made his Athletics debut, but his two-out walk issued to Billy Hoy in the second opened the door to a six-run frame as the White Stockings beat the A's, 10-6, in Chicago. The game was a make-up affair replacing a contest on May 24 canceled because of cold weather.

Harry Smith started at catcher for the A's, but in the second inning, while trying to score from second, he collided with his Chicago counterpart, Joe Sugden, at the plate and had to leave the game. Doc Powers took his place in the lineup.

Second baseman Nap Lajoie suffered a hand injury in the eighth inning when Hoy spiked him on an attempted steal of second and left the game. Bob McKinney finished the game at second.


July 24, 1901

News

The Athletics scored six in the third to chase Detroit starter Jack Cronin and coasted from there to a 12-5 win over the Tigers in Detroit.

Second baseman Nap Lajoie was back in the lineup after suffering a finger injury late in yesterday's game


July 25, 1901

News

Down 4-2 to the Tigers in the top of the ninth in Detroit, Harry Davis drove in Eddie Plank to close the margin to one, but two batters later Nap Lajoie grounded out to end the threat and the game with a 4-3 Athletics loss.


July 26, 1901

News

The scheduled game between the Athletics and the Tigers was cancelled because of wet grounds.


July 27, 1901

News

Cleveland scored three runs with two outs in the first inning and stayed out in front the rest of the way in a 4-3 win over the Athletics in Cleveland.


July 28, 1901

July 29, 1901

News

The game scheduled between Cleveland and the Athletics was rained out.


July 30, 1901

News

Nap Lajoie hit for the cycle, including a seventh-inning grand slam to left, and led the Athletics to an 11-5 win over Cleveland in Cleveland.

The Inquirer reported that the team had signed former Pirates shortstop Bones Ely, while the Times said Ely had rejected Connie Mack's offer, and the Record said Ely had reneged on a deal with Mack after agreeing to it and had signed with another, unnamed, team.


July 31, 1901

News

In their first home game following a two-week road trip, the Athletics rallied from four runs down with seven runs in the eighth inning to beat Boston, 13-10, at Columbia Park. With the win, the A's moved up to fifth place in the American League


August 1, 1901

News

Nap Lajoie hit a two-run double in the seventh, then scored on a Matty McIntyre base hit to cement the Athletics' 8-6 win over Boston at Columbia Park.

After some drama in the press about whether he was or wasn't joining the A's, shortstop Bones Ely did in fact affirm that he would accept Connie Mack's offer and would report to the team on the 3rd.


August 2, 1901

News

Athletics starter Bill Bernhard absorbed all the damage, giving up 22 hits, in a 16-0 loss at the hands of Boston at Columbia Park.

Business manager Billy Sharsig attended the game, but left early due to a “heat attack.” He had left a game several days ago for the same reason.

Third baseman Lave Cross had suffered what was described as a “severely strained ankle” on the 27th against Cleveland but had played through it until now. Cross left today's game in the seventh because of the ankle problem and was replaced by Bob McKinney.


August 3, 1901

News

The Athletics batted around in the third inning, scoring six runs, and took an easy one from Boston, 7-4, at Columbia Park. Bones Ely made his A's debut at shortstop, going 3-for-4 at the plate, and making a sensation catch and double play on Charlie Hemphill's screaming line drive.

Catcher Harry Smith was out with an attack of appendicitis and doctors were mulling over the possibility of surgery.

Ely's arrival rendered infielder Bob McKinney superfluous so the team released him.


August 4, 1901

August 5, 1901

News

The Athletics and the Senators played the first of three consecutive double headers between the teams today at Columbia Park with the A's taking both games.

The teams added a game to make up for the season-opening rainout on April 24.


August 6, 1901

News

Today's scheduled double header between the Athletics and the Senators was rained out.


August 7, 1901

News

The Athletics and the Senators split a double header at Columbia Park. Socks Seybold had the key hit, a two-run sixth-inning homer, as the A's took the morning contest, 4-1. Washington's Pop Foster returned the favor with a three-run blast in the first inning of the afternoon game and the Senators took it, 7-4.

Business manager Billy Sharsig had left a couple of games in previous days due to what was thought to be heat-related illness and, according to the Times, he was “still a sick man.”


August 8, 1901

News

On a tough day for pitchers, the Athletics took both ends of a double header from the Senators at Columbia Park. In the early game, the A's jumped out to a 6-0 lead by the fifth inning and stayed out in front the rest of the way to notch an 11-6 win. The A's chased Washington starter Bill Carrick with nine runs in the first two innings in the late game and won, 14-7

Catcher Harry Smith continued to be out with appendicitis and Connie Mack was reportedly looking at University of Pennsylvania backstop Frank Flavell to back up Doc Powers.


August 9, 1901

News

The Athletics and the Senators traveled to Washington where they continued their series of double headers. Socks Seybold, Harry Davis, and Lave Cross each homered in the first contest to lead the A's to a 5-4 win. Nap Lajoie hit two longballs of his own in the afternoon game as the A's swept the twinbill with a 9-4 win.


August 10, 1901

News

For the fifth time in the last six days, the Athletics and Senators contested a double header. The first of today's games, played in Washington, went to the Senators, 9-4, but for the second time in consecutive games, Nap Lajoie hit a pair of home runs for the A's. A's starter Snake Wiltse had a whale of a game in the afternoon tilt, firing a four-hitter, while rapping out two doubles and two triples, in a 13-0 walkover.

With catcher Harry Smith still out, manager Connie Mack signed William Diggins off the Chester Athletics as an emergency backup for the duration of the Boston series.


August 11, 1901

August 12, 1901

News

Under lowering skies, the Athletics split a double header with Boston in Boston. In the opener, Boston starter George Winter hurled a seven-hitter to win, 6-0. In the afternoon contest, A's starter Eddie Plank held Boston hitless into the seventh inning and cruised to a 7-1 win.


August 13, 1901

News

Playing their first single header since August 3, the Athletics fell to Boston, 4-3, in 13 innings.


August 14, 1901

News

The Athletics and Boston closed out their season series with a double header in Boston. Chick Fraser pitched a four-hitter in game one and the A's took it easily, 9-0. Boston scored a pair of runs in each of the third and fifth innings and that was enough to win, 4-2.

In the sixth inning of the second game, Boston starter George Winter pitched one high and tight to his counterpart, Eddie Plank, beaning him. Plank went down immediately, and though he never lost consciousness, it took him a while to get to his feet and leave the field.


August 15, 1901

News

Down 4-0, the Brewers tied the game in the fifth, but Athletics third baseman Lave Cross singled to score Snake Wiltse with the go-ahead run and the A's added an insurance tally in the eighth to win, 6-4, at Columbia Park.


August 16, 1901

News

The Athletics pounded Brewers starter Tully Sparks for seven runs off ten hits in the first two innings and breezed to a 10-2 win at Columbia Park.

Pitcher Eddie Plank, the victim of a beaning by Boston's George Winter on the 14th was “confined to bed” and recuperating.


August 17, 1901

News

The Athletics swept a double header from the Brewers at Columbia Park. In the first game, Socks Seybold hit a three-run homer in the sixth to boost the A's to a 8-5 win. In the afternoon contest, a pair of Milwaukee errors and a Harry Davis two-run double in the fifth were key factors in the Athletics' 6-4 victory.


August 18, 1901

August 19, 1901

News

Rain in Philadelphia forced the postponement of the scheduled series opener against Cleveland.

The Record reported that pitcher Eddie Plank had sustained a concussion when he was beaned in the game against Boston on the 14th and was expected to be out two more weeks.


August 20, 1901

News

Just 720 fans, the lowest home attendance figure of the seaspon for the Athletics, watched their team lose to Cleveland, 7-3.

Socks Seybold sat out the game with what was variously described as either a badly-bruised leg muscle or persistent leg cramps.

Third baseman Lave Cross injured either an ankle or a knee during the game.


August 21, 1901

News

The Athletics took both ends of a double header from Cleveland. In the first game, new catcher Farmer Steelman (see below) hit a walk-off two-run double in the ninth to give the A's an 8-7 win. In the second game, the A's sent all nine men to the plate in the sixth, scoring five, to take it, 7-3.

Connie Mack signed Morris “Farmer” Steelman to back up Doc Powers while Harry Smith was out with appendicitis. Steelman had been in a contract dispute with Brooklyn manager Ned Hanlon and had declared himself a free agent, a declaration Mack was more than happy to honor.

Socks Seybold was back in right field after sitting out yesterday's game with an injured leg. Third baseman Lave Cross sat out today's contest after sustaining a twisted knee or sprained ankle (reporter's choice) in yesterday's game.


August 22, 1901

News

Athletics starter Bill Bernhard kept the Tigers hitless through six innings and Doc Powers drove in Matty McIntyre for the game's only run in a 1-0 victory for the A's at Columbia Park.


August 23, 1901

News

Nap Lajoie hit a two-run homer in the third that gave the Athletics a lead on the way to a 7-2 win over the Tigers at Columbia Park. The win moved the A's into a fourth-place tie with the Tigers in the American League standings.


August 24, 1901

News

A scheduled double header with the Tigers was rained out.

American League president Ban Johnson ruled that catcher Farmer Steelman was ineligible to continue to play with the Athletics. While Steelman had been in a dispute with Brooklyn and their manager Ned Hanlon, he was also still under contract with Hartford in the Eastern League, thus Johnson's decision.


August 25, 1901

August 26, 1901

News

The Athletics committed eight errors in an 11-4 loss to the White Stockings at Columbia Park.

Third baseman Lave Cross was still out with a knee injury and now second baseman Nap Lajoie was forced to the bench with an “incipient abscess” of the knee as the result of a spike wound that hadn't yet healed properly.

Pitcher Eddie Plank, who had been absent since a beaning on the 14th was back in uniform and was thought to be able to get back on the mound by the end of the month.


August 27, 1901

News

Harry Davis had four hits and the Athletics scratched out a couple of runs in the seventh to take a game from the White Stockings, 7-5, at Columbia Park.

The team signed Chester Athletics utility man Bob Lindemann to help shore up their tattered infield.


August 28, 1901

News

Chicago pitcher Roy Patterson made his second start in three days, hurling a six-hitter to beat the Athletics, 3-0, at Columbia Park. New acquisition Bob Lindemann made his A's debut, playing in right field.

Catcher Farmer Steelman returned to the team after having bought out his contract from Hartford in the Eastern League.


August 29, 1901

News

It was a travel day for the Athletics as they made their way out of town for a Western road trip. On their way to Milwaukee, the team stopped off in Buffalo to visit the Pan-American Exposition.


August 30, 1901

News

With the game tied in the tenth, Milwaukee catcher Jiggs Donahue failed to cover the plate in the aftermath of Harry Davis's high chopper allowing Snake Wiltse and Dave Fultz to score the go-ahead runs in the Athletics' 3-1 win over the Brewers.

Second baseman Nap Lajoie, recovering from a spike wound to the knee, had accompanied the team on the road trip but was still expected to be out of the lineup for the next few days.


August 31, 1901

News

Brewers starter Tully Sparks fired a three-hit gem to beat the Athletics, 3-1, in Milwaukee.


September 1, 1901

News

Eddie Plank and Nap Lajoie returned to the lineup after having missed time because of injuries, but it wasn't enough as Brewers starter Bert Husting handcuffed the Athletics to get a 2-1 win in Milwaukee.

With Lajoie's return, the team released utility man Bob Lindemann.


September 2, 1901

News

The Athletics split a pair in a double header with the White Stockings in Chicago. Chicago's Roy Patterson bested A's starter Bill Bernhard in the first game, 2-0. Former A's pitcher Wiley Piatt faced his old team in the second, but the A's scored four runs in the ninth to take the lead and held off a Chicago rally in the bottom half to win, 10-9.

The Inquirer reported that Connie Mack had signed two players, former Chicago National League catcher Tim Donahue and a semi-pro infielder named Arthur Bourgeois, though neither signing was enthusiastically corroborated by other sources


September 3, 1901

News

Matty McIntyre hit a three-run double in the first and Chick Fraser held the White Stockings to just five hits in a 3-2 win for the Athletics in Chicago.

Catcher Tim Donahue, signed yesterday and expected to be on the field today, decided not to join the team. A seven-year major league veteran, Donahue had left the National League's Chicago club to buy a stake in and manage a team in Colorado Springs, but at least once source said he hadn't come up with the money and was persona non grata in Colorado, hence his desire to hook up with the A's. However, after a day to think it over, Donahue decided to go to Colorado Springs after all


September 4, 1901

News

The Tigers battered Athletics starter Eddie Plank for 15 hits in a 9-1 win in Detroit.


September 5, 1901

News

The Athletics took a double header from the Tigers in Detroit. In the first game, the A's scored five in the fifth and three more in the sixth to win, 11-9. In the second, Detroit catcher Al Shaw's misplay of a throw home allowed two A's to score, opening the floodgates for a 9-2 victory.

A's catcher Doc Powers hurt himself sliding in the fifth inning of the opener and had to leave the game.


September 6, 1901

News

By the third inning of today's game between the Athletics and Tigers in Detroit, news filtered into the ballpark of the shooting of President William McKinley in Buffalo. After the top half of the sixth inning, umpire Joe Cantillon, with the agreement of both teams' managers and captains, called an end to the game with the Tigers winning, 8-3.

The A's had put together a three-run rally in the sixth to get back into it, but given the circumstances, neither manager Connie Mack nor captain Nap Lajoie had any objection to the umpire's decision.


September 7, 1901

News

In the gathering darkness in Cleveland, Socks Seybold hit a three-run, ninth-inning homer to give the Athletics a 7-4 win.


September 8, 1901

September 9, 1901

News

Cleveland starter Pete Dowling held the Athletics to five hits in a 4-1 win in Cleveland.

A's first baseman Harry Davis sat out the game with a leg injury.


September 10, 1901

News

The Athletics closed out their last Western road trip of the season by splitting a double header with Cleveland. Cleveland starter Earl Moore pitched a seven-hitter and his team scored five in the eighth inning to win, 7-0, in the first game. Socks Seybold homered and Chick Fraser held Cleveland to six hits in the afternoon contest to give the A's a 4-1 win.


September 11, 1901

News

The Athletics were due to play in Baltimore today, but their train from Celveland was delayed by a wreck on the tracks and they didn't get to town until after 5, by which time it was too late to start.


September 12, 1901

News

The Athletics and the Orioles split a double header in Baltimore. The A's were up a run going into the bottom of the ninth of the opener, but Bill Keister singled home Jimmy Williams to tie it and Wilbert Robinson later singled to score Keister with the walk-off in a 4-3 win. With the score tied in the top of the ninth in the afternoon game, Bill Bernhard scored Bones Ely on a sacrifice fly to give the A's a 5-4 win. “Iron Man” Joe McGinnity pitched both games for the Orioles.


September 13, 1901

News

The Orioles jumped out to a 7-1 lead after three innings then held off a late charge by the Athletics to win, 9-8, in Baltimore. It was the last road game of the season for the A's.


September 14, 1901

News

The Athletics returned to Columbia Park after a two-week road trip and and swept a double header from the Orioles.

The day began with news that President William McKinley had died as a result of gunshot wounds suffered earlier in the month. Both leagues made plans to observe the solemn event, but today's games were played as scheduled.

The A's took the first game, 7-2, with the aid of a four-hit day from Nap Lajoie. Down 2-1 in the bottom of the ninth of the second game, Harry Davis singled to score Joe Dolan with the tying run, then Lajoie tripled to bring Davis home and give the A's a 3-2 win

Shortstop Bones Ely was forced to miss both games with a stiff neck.

In the second game, A's starter Eddie Plank fell ill sometime during the second inning and had to be replaced by Bill Bernhard.

With third baseman Lave Cross still out with a leg injury, Joe Dolan was playing in his stead, leaving Connie Mack with no one to replace Ely. Fortunately for the A's, former Phillies third baseman Billy Lauder was on hand to visit his friend Dave Fultz and agreed to fill in for the day.


September 15, 1901

September 16, 1901

News

The Athletics scored seven runs in the seventh and Eddie Plank fired a five-hitter to beat the Orioles, 10-2, at Columbia Park.

The Record reported that Lave Cross would miss the rest of the season with his leg injury. Shortstop Bones Ely was still out, too, and Billy Lauder, who had subbed for him on an emergency basis on the 14th was no longer available. To compensate, Connie Mack put Joe Dolan on third, Nap Lajoie at short, Dave Fultz at second, and Farmer Steelman in right.


September 17, 1901

News

The Athletics and the Tigers were supposed to play a double header at Columbia Park, but rain forced the cancellation of the second game and the A's came away with a 4-1 victory in the first. The Tigers loaded the bases in the seventh with no outs, but A's starter Snake Wiltse got out of the jam without giving up a run. The game was delayed twice when the steady drizzle turned into a downpour.

The Detroit Free Press reported that the team had signed third baseman Billy Lauder to a contract for the 1902 season, but no mention of the deal had been made in the Philadelphia press.


September 18, 1901

News

Rain washed away a scheduled double header between the Athletics and the Tigers. The Times reported a rumor that third baseman Lave Cross was retiring from baseball because of his injured leg.


September 19, 1901

News

President William McKinley was laid to rest today and both leagues postponed their games to pay their respects.


September 20, 1901

News

It was miserably cold at Columbia Park and the Athletics played listlessly in an 8-3 defeat at the hands of the White Stockings.


September 21, 1901

News

Farmer Steelman and Doc Powers each drove in a pair of sixth-inning runs and the Athletics cruised to a 10-4 win over the White Stockings at Columbia Park.

The Record reported that Connie Mack had signed Toronto outfielder George Browne as a fill-in for the rest of the season


September 22, 1901

News

Connie Mack was lobbying the league to bring the Tigers to town for a double header on the 26th. The A's were two and a half games back of the Tigers for third place and the teams had had four of their games rained out. The scheme, which would also involve disruption of the Brewers' and Senators' schedules, was thought to have little chance of approval.


September 23, 1901

News

Center fielder Socks Seybold tracked down and caught a long Frank Shugart fly ball that looked sure to score the two men on base and tie the game to preserve a 5-3 win for the Athletics over the White Stockings at Columbia Park.

The Record reported that Bones Ely and Lave Cross would miss the rest of the season because of injury and had already returned to their respective homes for the off-season

Outfielder George Browne signed with the Phillies, despite a report on the 21st that he had joined the A's.


September 24, 1901

News

Nap Lajoie homered, doubled, then hit a ninth-inning single to score Snake Wiltse with the game-winner in the Athletics' 5-4 victory over the Brewers at Columbia Park.


September 25, 1901

News

The Athletics blasted Milwaukee starter Bert Husting for six hits and five runs in the first inning and never looked back on the way to a 6-4 win over the Brewers at Columbia Park. The win moved the A's to within a game of third-place Detroit.


September 26, 1901

News

Sloppy Athletics defense and wildness from pitcher Eddie Plank, along with 14 Milwaukee hits, led to a 10-3 win for the Brewers at Columbia Park.

The Brewers were slated to relocate to St Louis in 1902 making this the last time the team would visit Philadelphia in this guise.


September 27, 1901

News

Nap Lajoie went yard for the 14th time this season and the Athletics tagged Cleveland starter Jack Bracken for 16 hits on the way to a 14-6 win at Columbia Park. The win put the A's a game back of the Tigers with just one day left on the schedule.

Both the Tigers and the A's were scheduled to play double headers to close it out.


September 28, 1901

News

The Athletics did their part in a quest for third place by sweeping a double header from Cleveland at Columbia Park. In the opener, Socks Seybold socked a two-run triple in the sixth inning to give the A's the lead for good in a 12-9 win.

The afternoon game was cut short to six innings by darkness. The A's scored three runs in the first with the help of a walk and two Cleveland errors and won 3-1.

In Baltimore, the Tigers beat the Orioles in the first game of their schedule double header then saw the second game get rained out to clinch third place. The A's finished the season with a record of 74-62 and finished in fourth place in the American League, a half-game behind Detroit.


September 29, 1901

September 30, 1901

News

The barnstorming version of the Athletics, consisting mostly of players from the A's and Brewers played the Cuban X-Giants, one of the top Black professional clubs in the country to an 11-inning, 4-4, tie at Columbia Park.

John Rogers, owner of the Phillies gave notice to Nap Lajoie, Chick Fraser, and Bill Bernhard that he had renewed the option on their contracts for the 1902 season in anticipation of the courts again taking up his argument that they had broken their contracts to play with the A's.


October 1, 1901

News

The barnstorming version of the Athletics beat Penn Park, 15-4, in an exhibition at York, Pennsylvania.


October 2, 1901

News

The barnstorming version of the Athletics beat Wolf Park, 9-1, in an exhibition at Chambersburg, Pennsylvania.


October 3, 1901

October 4, 1901

October 5, 1901

October 6, 1901

October 7, 1901

October 8, 1901

October 9, 1901

October 10, 1901

October 11, 1901

October 12, 1901

October 13, 1901

October 14, 1901

October 15, 1901

October 16, 1901

October 17, 1901

October 18, 1901

October 19, 1901

October 20, 1901

News

The Times reported that the Athletics had signed three members of the Phillies: right fielder Elmer Flick, pitcher Bill Duggleby, and shortstop Monte Cross.


October 21, 1901

News

The American League released its official batting statistics and awarded the hitting crown to Nap Lajoie and his .422 batting average, a full 70 points better than his closest competitor, Baltimore's John McGraw at .352.


October 22, 1901

News

The Record reported the team's expected 1902 roster: pitchers Eddie Plank, Chick Fraser, Bill Bernhard, Snake Wiltse, and Bill Duggleby, catchers Doc Powers and Farmer Steelman, infielders Harry Davis, Nap Lajoie, Lave Cross, and Monte Cross, and outfielders Elmer Flick, Topsy Hartsel, Dave Fultz, Socks Seybold, and Matty McIntyre.

The report also said the team planned to add a catcher at some point. It also said the team had turned a profit in 1901, though it didn't specify the amount.


October 23, 1901

October 24, 1901

October 25, 1901

October 26, 1901

October 27, 1901

October 28, 1901

News

Shortstop Bones Ely asserted that his contract with the Athletics had expired and that he was a free agent available to negotiate with any American League team.


October 29, 1901

October 30, 1901

October 31, 1901

November 1, 1901

November 2, 1901

November 3, 1901

November 4, 1901

News

According to Sporting Life, Bob Pender, manager of the Southern League's Selma contingent, reported that Nap Lajoie, while on a barnstorming tour in Texas, had offered a Beaumont bar owner $6,000 for the purchase of his establishment and that if the offer was taken, Lajoie would retire from baseball.


November 5, 1901

November 6, 1901

November 7, 1901

November 8, 1901

November 9, 1901

News

The Sporting Life reported that, despite stories that outfielder Willie Keeler had signed with the Athletics, he was staying with Brooklyn in the National League.


November 10, 1901

November 11, 1901

November 12, 1901

November 13, 1901

November 14, 1901

November 15, 1901

November 16, 1901

News

Sporting Life reported that Connie Mack was trying to acquire left-handed pitcher Rube Waddell. They also reported that Mack was interested in right-handed pitcher George Engel, who had gone 28-11 this past season with Portland in the Pacific Northwest League.


November 17, 1901

November 18, 1901

November 19, 1901

November 20, 1901

November 21, 1901

November 22, 1901

November 23, 1901

News

The Sporting Life reported that Brooklyn of the National League was trying to sign outfielder Dave Fultz away from the Athletics.


November 24, 1901

November 25, 1901

November 26, 1901

November 27, 1901

November 28, 1901

November 29, 1901

November 30, 1901

News

The Sporting Life reported that the Athletics had signed third baseman Clyde "Rabbit" Robinson, who was with Kansas City of the Western League last season.

Despite receiving an offer from Brooklyn, outfielder Dave Fultz said he planned to stay with the Athletics for the 1902 campaign.

Coincidentally, Fultz had suffered a sprained ankle and twisted knee while participating in a game of (American) football for the Philadelphia pros against the Homestead team in Pittsburgh. Fultz said he was “done with football for good” and was expected to be ready to go for spring training in April.


December 1, 1901

News

Prior to leaving town for the American League meetings in Chicago, manager Connie Mack confirmed the team's roster as reported in the Record a little over a week earlier, with one addition.

The roster: pitchers Chick Fraser, Bill Bernhard, Eddie Plank, Snake Wiltse, and Bill Duggleby, catchers Doc Powers and Farmer Steelman, first baseman Harry Davis, second baseman Nap Lajoie, third baseman Lave Cross, shortstop Monte Cross, utility infielder Clyde Robinson (the only addition to the earlier report), and outfielders Topsy Hartsel, Dave Fultz, Elmer Flick, Matty McIntyre, and Socks Seybold.


December 2, 1901

December 3, 1901

December 4, 1901

News

The Inquirer reported that Connie Mack had tried to acquire Milwaukee/St Louis right-handed pitcher Bill Reidy, but couldn't close the deal.


December 5, 1901

December 6, 1901

December 7, 1901

December 8, 1901

December 9, 1901

News

According to the official league statistics published today in the Inquirer, the only Athletics player to lead the league in fielding percentage at his position was second baseman Nap Lajoie with a .963 mark, nine points ahead of the second-place finisher, Washington's Joe Quinn.


December 10, 1901

Transactions

Francis Richter of Sporting Life reported that shortstop Joe Dolan had signed with Omaha in the American Association, marking the end of his Athletics tenure. He also said that the Athletics and Orioles were each negotiating with Phillies outfielder Roy Thomas.


December 11, 1901

December 12, 1901

News

The Times published a report that said the National League's New York Giants had signed Athletics outfielder Matty McIntyre and added that a Giants team official had “denied all knowledge” of the signing.


December 13, 1901

December 14, 1901

December 15, 1901

December 16, 1901

December 17, 1901

December 18, 1901

December 19, 1901

News

Two trains, one of which was transporting members of Nap Lajoie's barnstorming team, collided near San Ardo, California (roughly halfway between Salinas and San Luis Obispo), killing two railway employees. None of the baseball players involved were injured. Athletics players other than Lajoie who were aboard were pitchers Chick Fraser and Bill Bernhard and first baseman Harry Davis.


December 20, 1901

December 21, 1901

Per Sporting Life, outfielder Roy Thomas was re-signed by the Phillies to a two-year deal after being courted by both the Athletics and Orioles.


December 22, 1901

December 23, 1901

News

Francis Richter in Sporting Life reported that infielder Clyde Robinson, who had signed with the Athletics in late November and had taken a $100 advanced, had previously signed a personal contract with George Tebeau, the owner of the Kansas City franchise in the American Association. Richter further said that Robinson had accepted a $75 dollar advance from Tebeau and that American League president Ban Johnson would void the deal with the Athletics.


December 24, 1901

December 25, 1901

December 26, 1901

December 27, 1901

December 28, 1901

December 29, 1901

December 30, 1901

December 31, 1901

1901_news.txt · Last modified: 2025/05/01 19:12 by ehaight