The National Bureau of the Census was established and later became part of the Department of Commerce, a federal executive department that was charged with promoting U.S. economic development and technological advancement. Among its tasks was the taking of censuses, promotion of American business at home and abroad, establishing standard weights and measures, and issuing patents and registering trademarks.
The Milwaukee Brewers moved before the 1902 season started and became the St. Louis Browns, where they would play until 1953. In 1954, the franchise moved and became the modern-day Baltimore Orioles.
In July, the Baltimore Orioles were forced to forfeit a game to St. Louis and their team to the league. With only five players available for the line-up, the American League's front office borrowed back-up players from several other teams and maintained the franchise for the remainder of the season.
The Cincinnati Reds thrashed the Philadelphia Phillies 24-2 on May 13, 1902, with each of the nine starters collecting 2-or-more hits.
Pittsburgh Pirate Honus Wagner committed "Grand Larceny" after stealing second, third and home during the second game of an August 13th doubleheader against the Boston Braves. Amazingly, it wasn't the first time as Wagner had originally accomplished the feat in 1899.
The 1902 Major League Baseball season began on April 17, and concluded on October 5. Each team played the other seven teams in their league twenty times, for a 140-game season.
Former editor of the Louisville Commercial, Harry Pulliam was elected as the President of the National League. His reputation for honesty and businesslike approach to baseball helped forge a peace between the American and National Leagues that resulted in the "National Agreement" that governed baseball through 1920. In February of 1909 Pulliam began showing signs of mental illness and eventually suffered a nervous breakdown. Later that year he committed suicide by shooting himself in his room at the New York Athletic Club.
"A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice." - Ban Johnson
1902 American League Player Review |
||||
Statistic | Name(s) | Team(s) | # | Top 25 |
Base on Balls | Topsy Hartsel | Philadelphia | 87 | Top 25 |
Batting Average | Ed Delahanty | Washington | .376 | Top 25 |
Doubles | Harry Davis | Philadelphia | 43 | Top 25 |
Ed Delahanty | Washington | |||
Hits | Charlie Hickman | Boston | 193 | Top 25 |
Cleveland | ||||
Home Runs | Socks Seybold | Philadelphia | 16 | Top 25 |
On Base Percentage | Ed Delahanty | Washington | .453 | Top 25 |
RBI | Buck Freeman | Boston | 121 | Top 25 |
Runs | Dave Fultz | Philadelphia | 109 | Top 25 |
Topsy Hartsel | ||||
Slugging Average | Ed Delahanty | Washington | .590 | Top 25 |
Stolen Bases | Topsy Hartsel | Philadelphia | 47 | Top 25 |
Total Bases | Charlie Hickman | Boston | 288 | Top 25 |
Cleveland | ||||
Triples | Jimmy Williams | Baltimore | 21 | Top 25 |
Statistic | Name(s) | Team(s) | # | Top 25 |
1902 A.L. History | 1902 N.L. History | Year-by-Year History |
1902 American League Pitcher Review |
||||
Statistic | Name(s) | Team(s) | # | Top 25 |
Complete Games | Cy Young | Boston | 41 | Top 25 |
ERA | Ed Siever | Detroit | 1.91 | Top 25 |
Games | Cy Young | Boston | 45 | Top 25 |
Saves | Jack Powell | St. Louis | 2 | Top 25 |
Shutouts | Addie Joss | Cleveland | 5 | Top 25 |
Strikeouts | Rube Waddell | Philadelphia | 210 | Top 25 |
Winning Percentage | Bill Bernhard | Philadelphia | .783 | Top 25 |
Cleveland | ||||
Wins | Cy Young | Boston | 32 | Top 25 |
Statistic | Name(s) | Team(s) | # | Top 25 |
1902 A.L. History | 1902 N.L. History | Year-by-Year History |
1902 American LeagueTeam Standings |
||||
Team | Roster | W | L | WP | GB |
Philadelphia Athletics | 83 | 53 | .610 | 0 |
St. Louis Browns | 78 | 58 | .574 | 5 |
Boston Americans | 77 | 60 | .562 | 6½ |
Chicago White Sox | 74 | 60 | .552 | 8 |
Cleveland Blues | 69 | 67 | .507 | 14 |
Washington Senators | 61 | 75 | .449 | 22 |
Detroit Tigers | 52 | 83 | .385 | 30½ |
Baltimore Orioles | 50 | 88 | .362 | 34 |
Team | Roster | W | L | WP | GB |
1902 American League Team Standings |
1902 American League Team ReviewHitting Statistics League Leaderboard |
||
Statistic | Team | # |
Base on Balls | Baltimore | 417 |
Batting Average | Cleveland | .289 |
Doubles | Washington | 261 |
Hits | Cleveland | 1,401 |
Home Runs | Washington | 47 |
On Base Percentage | Baltimore | .342 |
Runs | Philadelphia | 775 |
Slugging Average | Washington | .395 |
Stolen Bases | Chicago | 265 |
Triples | Baltimore | 107 |
Statistic | Team | # |
1902 American League Team ReviewPitching Statistics League Leaderboard |
||
Statistic | Team | # |
Complete Games | Washington | 130 |
ERA | Boston | 3.02 |
Fewest Hits Allowed | Cleveland | 1,199 |
Fewest Home Runs Allowed | Detroit | 20 |
Fewest Walks Allowed | Washington | 312 |
Saves | Cleveland | 3 |
Detroit | ||
Shutouts | Cleveland | 16 |
Strikeouts | Philadelphia | 455 |
Statistic | Team | # |
Future hall of famer Addie Joss of Cleveland made his Major League debut on April 26, 1902, and one-hit the St. Louis Browns.
Did you know that the Cleveland Blues, on June 30, 1902, became the first American League team to hit three consecutive home runs during the same inning? The history-making players were Nap Lajoie, Piano Legs Hickman and Bill Bradley.
On August 25, 1902, the American League announced a team would play in New York City by 1903. On December 9, 1902, property was purchased and the New York Highlanders were nearly on the field.