1901 Chicago White Stockings season
Encyclopedia
The Chicago White Stockings
season was their first season as a major league team, and their second season in Chicago. It was also the inaugural season of American League
as a major league.
The White Stockings had a very balanced lineup, which was led by outfielder
s Dummy Hoy
and Fielder Jones
, and scored the most runs in the AL. They relied primarily on speed, as Frank Isbell
, Sam Mertes
, and Jones finished 1-2-3 in stolen bases. The pitching staff was anchored by Clark Griffith
, who went 24-7 with a 2.67 ERA.
The White Stockings finished 83-53. They won the pennant by four games.
Clark Griffith
Dummy Hoy
Frank Isbell
Fielder Jones
Sam Mertes
Roy Patterson
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
season was their first season as a major league team, and their second season in Chicago. It was also the inaugural season of American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
as a major league.
The White Stockings had a very balanced lineup, which was led by outfielder
Outfielder
Outfielder is a generic term applied to each of the people playing in the three defensive positions in baseball farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder...
s Dummy Hoy
Dummy Hoy
William Ellsworth Hoy , nicknamed "Dummy," was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for several teams from 1888 to 1902, most notably the Cincinnati Reds and two Washington, D.C...
and Fielder Jones
Fielder Jones
Fielder Allison Jones was an American center fielder and manager in baseball. Born in Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania, his playing career began with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Superbas in 1896. In , he joined the Chicago White Stockings in the new American League, where he would finish his playing career...
, and scored the most runs in the AL. They relied primarily on speed, as Frank Isbell
Frank Isbell
William Frank Isbell was a Major League first baseman, second baseman, and outfielder in the 1910s. He played for the Chicago Cubs in 1898 briefly, where he had 37 hits in 159 at bats . With the Cubs, he pitched and played outfield more than anything else. Thirteen of his seventeen games pitched...
, Sam Mertes
Sam Mertes
Samuel Blair Mertes was a former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder over parts of 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Orphans, Chicago White Sox, New York Giants, and St. Louis Cardinals. He led the National League in RBIs in 1903 while playing for New York...
, and Jones finished 1-2-3 in stolen bases. The pitching staff was anchored by Clark Griffith
Clark Griffith
Clark Calvin Griffith , nicknamed "the Old Fox", was a Major League Baseball pitcher, manager and team owner.-Biography:...
, who went 24-7 with a 2.67 ERA.
The White Stockings finished 83-53. They won the pennant by four games.
Offseason
- In 19001900 in sports1900 in sports describes the year's events in world sport.-American football:College championship* College football national championship – Yale Bulldogs-Association football:England...
, the Western LeagueWestern League (defunct minor league)The Western League is a name given to several circuits in American minor league baseball. Its earliest progenitor, which existed from 1885 to 1899, was the predecessor of the American League...
changed its name to the American LeagueAmerican LeagueThe American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. It was still officially a minor leagueMinor league baseballMinor league baseball is a hierarchy of professional baseball leagues in the Americas that compete at levels below Major League Baseball and provide opportunities for player development. All of the minor leagues are operated as independent businesses...
, subject to the governing National Agreement and an underling of the National LeagueNational LeagueThe National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. The NL actually gave permission to the AL to put a team in ChicagoChicagoChicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and Comiskey moved his St. Paul club to Chicago's South SideNear South Side, ChicagoThe Near South Side is a community area of Chicago in Cook County, Illinois, United States. It is located just south of the downtown central business district, the Loop, which is itself a community area...
. After the season, the AL declined to renew its membership in the National Agreement, and the war was on. After acquiring a number of stars from the older league, including pitcher and manager Clark GriffithClark GriffithClark Calvin Griffith , nicknamed "the Old Fox", was a Major League Baseball pitcher, manager and team owner.-Biography:...
, the White Stockings also captured the AL's first major-league pennant the next year, in .
Regular season
- May 9, 1901: Earl MooreEarl MooreEarl Moore was born was a professional baseball player who had a 14-year career in Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
of the Cleveland Blues1901 Cleveland Blues seasonThe Cleveland Blues season was a season in American baseball. It was the franchise's first in the majors, being one of the original franchises of the American League...
threw the first no-hitter in the history of the American League against the White Stockings. Chicago beat the Blues by a score of 4-2 despite not having one hit.
Roster
| 1901 Chicago White Stockings | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders | Manager | ||||||
Game log
| 1901 White Stockings Game Log | |
|---|---|
Starters by position
Note: Pos = position; G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases| Pos | Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | Avg. | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 98 | 367 | 54 | 90 | 15 | 6 | .245 | 4 | 56 | 12 | |
| 1B | 137 | 556 | 93 | 143 | 15 | 8 | .257 | 3 | 70 | 52 | |
| 2B | 137 | 545 | 94 | 151 | 16 | 17 | .277 | 5 | 98 | 46 | |
| 3B | 120 | 473 | 77 | 147 | 23 | 13 | .309 | 3 | 89 | 31 | |
| SS | 107 | 415 | 62 | 104 | 9 | 12 | .251 | 2 | 47 | 12 | |
| LF | 132 | 473 | 83 | 130 | 21 | 9 | .275 | 4 | 59 | 33 | |
| CF | 132 | 527 | 112 | 155 | 28 | 11 | .294 | 2 | 60 | 27 | |
| RF | 133 | 521 | 120 | 162 | 16 | 3 | .311 | 2 | 65 | 38 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At Bats; R = Runs scored; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; AVG = Batting average; SB = Stolen bases| Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | Avg. | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 48 | 153 | 21 | 42 | 7 | 1 | .275 | 0 | 19 | 4 | |
| 42 | 148 | 20 | 39 | 5 | 0 | .264 | 0 | 21 | 11 | |
| 12 | 35 | 4 | 10 | 2 | 2 | .286 | 1 | 6 | 0 | |
| 5 | 20 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 0 | .350 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts| Player | G | GS | IP | W | L | ERA | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 35 | 312.1 | 20 | 16 | 3.37 | 62 | 127 | |
| 35 | 30 | 266.2 | 24 | 7 | 2.67 | 50 | 67 | |
| 27 | 25 | 208 | 11 | 10 | 2.81 | 53 | 59 | |
| 27 | 22 | 215.1 | 15 | 8 | 2.42 | 50 | 70 | |
| 9 | 9 | 68.1 | 6 | 3 | 3.16 | 45 | 24 | |
| 7 | 6 | 51.2 | 4 | 2 | 2.79 | 14 | 19 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | ∞ | 3 | 0 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts| Player | G | GS | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 9 | 92 | 3 | 6 | 1 | 3.62 | 59 | 37 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Walks allowed; K = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 | 1 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 | 0 | 0 |
Individual league top five finishes
Nixey CallahanNixey Callahan
James Joseph "Nixey" Callahan was an American pitcher and left fielder in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Colts/Orphans, and Chicago White Sox. 80px|thumb|left|He also managed the White Sox, as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates...
- #2 in AL in earned run average (2.42)
Clark Griffith
Clark Griffith
Clark Calvin Griffith , nicknamed "the Old Fox", was a Major League Baseball pitcher, manager and team owner.-Biography:...
- AL leader in shutouts (5)
- #3 in AL in wins (24)
- #4 in AL in earned run average (2.67)
Dummy Hoy
Dummy Hoy
William Ellsworth Hoy , nicknamed "Dummy," was an American center fielder in Major League Baseball who played for several teams from 1888 to 1902, most notably the Cincinnati Reds and two Washington, D.C...
- #4 in AL in runs scored (112)
- #4 in AL in on-base percentage (.407)
Frank Isbell
Frank Isbell
William Frank Isbell was a Major League first baseman, second baseman, and outfielder in the 1910s. He played for the Chicago Cubs in 1898 briefly, where he had 37 hits in 159 at bats . With the Cubs, he pitched and played outfield more than anything else. Thirteen of his seventeen games pitched...
- MLB leader in stolen bases (52)
Fielder Jones
Fielder Jones
Fielder Allison Jones was an American center fielder and manager in baseball. Born in Shinglehouse, Pennsylvania, his playing career began with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Superbas in 1896. In , he joined the Chicago White Stockings in the new American League, where he would finish his playing career...
- #2 in AL in runs scored (120)
- #2 in AL in on-base percentage (.412)
- #3 in AL in stolen bases (38)
- #4 in AL in runs batted in (98)
Sam Mertes
Sam Mertes
Samuel Blair Mertes was a former professional baseball player. He was an outfielder over parts of 10 seasons with the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Orphans, Chicago White Sox, New York Giants, and St. Louis Cardinals. He led the National League in RBIs in 1903 while playing for New York...
- #2 in AL in stolen bases (46)
Roy Patterson
Roy Patterson
Roy Lewis Patterson was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. Nicknamed "The Boy Wonder," he played for the Chicago White Sox from 1901 to 1907....
- #2 in AL in strikeouts (127)
- #3 in AL in shutouts (4)