American journalist and publisher, William Randolph Hearst began to acquire his media empire that would eventually include eighteen newspapers and nine magazines within two decades. A flamboyant and highly controversial figure, Hearst was nonetheless an extremely competent newspaperman who quickly became one of the wealthiest men in the world. His castle at San Simeon, California, won fame for its immense art collections and is still considered one of the largest houses in the United States. The property was later presented to the state as a museum after Hearst's death.
While playing the Boston Red Sox in their opener at New York's Hilltop Park, the New York Highlanders debuted their "soon-to-be" trademark pinstripes.
One of baseball's original cathedrals, Boston's Fenway Park, (built at a cost of $350,000) was formally dedicated as the visiting White Sox beat the Red pair 5-2 before a capacity crowd.
On August 11th, Joe Jackson of the Cleveland Indians became only the second American League player ever to steal home twice in a single game. Jackson first stole home in the first, then went on to thieve second, third and home in the seventh.
Crosley Field, the home field of the Cincinnati Reds until June 24, 1970, opened its doors to fans on May 18, 1912. Originally called Redland Field (the name changed in 1933), 20,000 fans witnessed the first game in ballpark history, a 4-3 win over the New York Giants, who started Christy Mathewson that historic day.
The St. Louis Cardinals also ended the New York Giants consecutive winning streak at fourteen after a 5-1 effort on May 31st. The Giants incredible start of 43-11 remained the best of the century and stood unmatched until 1939 when the New York Yankees tied the mark.
In response to the demand for an alternative way to statistically rate pitchers, the National League elected to officially score the Earned Run Average for the first time. Jeff Tesreau of the New York Giants went on to lead the new category with a 1.96 ERA.
In an effort to eliminate the possibility of home team's ball boys influencing which ones are used for each team's turn at bat, the National League installed small boxes near home plate to supply the umpires directly.
In New York, the Giants and Highlanders met at the Polo Grounds to play an unscheduled charity game to raise money for the survivors of the Titanic (which had sunk three days earlier, April 14th). The Giants prevailed 11-2.
As a gag, Western Union telegraph operator Lou Proctor entered his name as a pinch hitter into the St. Louis Browns — Boston Red Sox box score (with no hits in one at bat). Initially, the forgery was not noticed and appeared both as a published box score in The Sporting News and in the first editions of The Baseball Encyclopedia.
"Call it Ebbets Field Charlie (Ebbets). You put yourself into hock to build it and it's your monument." - Comment at groundbreaking ceremony on March 4, 1912
1912 National League Player Review |
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Statistic | Name(s) | Team(s) | # | Top 25 |
Base on Balls | Jimmy Sheckard | Chicago | 122 | Top 25 |
Batting Average | Heinie Zimmerman | Chicago | .372 | Top 25 |
Doubles | Heinie Zimmerman | Chicago | 41 | Top 25 |
Hits | Heinie Zimmerman | Chicago | 207 | Top 25 |
Home Runs | Heinie Zimmerman | Chicago | 14 | Top 25 |
On Base Percentage | Johnny Evers | Chicago | .431 | Top 25 |
RBI | Honus Wagner | Pittsburgh | 102 | Top 25 |
Runs | Bob Bescher | Cincinnati | 120 | Top 25 |
Slugging Average | Heinie Zimmerman | Chicago | .571 | Top 25 |
Stolen Bases | Bob Bescher | Cincinnati | 67 | Top 25 |
Total Bases | Heinie Zimmerman | Chicago | 318 | Top 25 |
Triples | Chief Wilson | Pittsburgh | 36 | Top 25 |
Statistic | Name(s) | Team(s) | # | Top 25 |
1912 A.L. | N.L. Retirements | N.L. Rookies | Year-by-Year |
1912 National League Pitcher Review |
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Statistic | Name(s) | Team(s) | # | Top 25 |
Complete Games | Larry Cheney | Chicago | 28 | Top 25 |
ERA | Jeff Tesreau | New York | 1.96 | Top 25 |
Games | Rube Benton | Cincinnati | 50 | Top 25 |
Saves | Slim Sallee | St. Louis | 6 | Top 25 |
Shutouts | Marty O'Toole | Pittsburgh | 6 | Top 25 |
Nap Rucker | Brooklyn | |||
Strikeouts | Grover Alexander | Philadelphia | 195 | Top 25 |
Winning Percentage | Claude Hendrix | Pittsburgh | .727 | Top 25 |
Wins | Larry Cheney | Chicago | 26 | Top 25 |
Rube Marquard | New York | |||
Statistic | Name(s) | Team(s) | # | Top 25 |
1912 A.L. | N.L. Retirements | N.L. Rookies | Year-by-Year |
1912 National League StandingsTeam Standings | 1912 World Series |
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Team | Roster | W | L | WP | GB |
New York Giants | 103 | 48 | .682 | 0 |
Pittsburgh Pirates | 93 | 58 | .616 | 10 |
Chicago Cubs | 91 | 59 | .607 | 11½ |
Cincinnati Reds | 75 | 78 | .490 | 29 |
Philadelphia Phillies | 73 | 79 | .480 | 30½ |
St. Louis Cardinals | 63 | 90 | .412 | 41 |
Brooklyn Superbas | 58 | 95 | .379 | 46 |
Boston Braves | 52 | 101 | .340 | 52 |
Team | Roster | W | L | WP | GB |
National League Team Standings |
1912 National League Team ReviewHitting Statistics League Leaderboard |
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Statistic | Team | # |
Base on Balls | Chicago | 560 |
Batting Average | New York | .286 |
Doubles | Chicago | 245 |
Hits | Pittsburgh | 1,493 |
Home Runs | New York | 47 |
On Base Percentage | New York | .360 |
Runs | New York | 823 |
Slugging Average | Pittsburgh | .398 |
Stolen Bases | New York | 319 |
Triples | Pittsburgh | 129 |
Statistic | Team | # |
1912 National League Team ReviewPitching Statistics League Leaderboard |
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Statistic | Team | # |
Complete Games | Pittsburgh | 94 |
ERA | New York | 2.59 |
Fewest Hits Allowed | Pittsburgh | 1,268 |
Fewest Home Runs Allowed | Cincinnati | 28 |
Pittsburgh | ||
Fewest Walks Allowed | New York | 338 |
Saves | New York | 16 |
Shutouts | Pittsburgh | 18 |
Strikeouts | Pittsburgh | 664 |
Statistic | Team | # |
On April 12, 1912, the legendary / future Hall of Fame Chicago Cubs infield trio Tinker-to-Evers-to-Chance played in their final regular season game together.
Christy Mathewson, on June 13, 1912, became the seventh Major League pitcher in baseball history to hurl his way onto the 300 Wins Club when he defeated the Cubs 3-2.
Did you know that when Rube Marquard of the Giants lost to the Cubs 7-2 on July 8, 1912, it ended his record-tying streak of consecutive wins by a pitcher at nineteen?