YEAR IN REVIEW : 1902 American League

Off the field...

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.

In the American League...

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.

In the National League...

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.

Around the League...

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.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"A good umpire is the umpire you don't even notice." - Ban Johnson

1902 American League Player Review

1901 | 1902 Hitting Statistics League Leaders | 1903

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
1902 A.L. History | 1902 N.L. History | Year-by-Year History

1902 American League Pitcher Review

1901 | 1902 Pitching Statistics League Leaders | 1903

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
1902 A.L. History | 1902 N.L. History | Year-by-Year History

1902 American League

Team Standings

Philadelphia Athletics 83 53 .610 0
St. Louis Browns 78 58 .574 5
Boston Americans 77 60 .562
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
1902 American League Team Standings

1902 American League Team Review

Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard

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

1902 American League Team Review

Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard

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
baseball almanac flat baseball

baseball almanac fast facts

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.