YEAR IN REVIEW : 1912 National League

Off the field...

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.

In the American League...

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.

In the National League...

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.

Around the League...

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.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"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

1911 | 1912 Hitting Statistics League Leaders | 1913

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
1912 A.L. | N.L. Retirements | N.L. Rookies | Year-by-Year

1912 National League Pitcher Review

1911 | 1912 Pitching Statistics League Leaders | 1913

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
1912 A.L. | N.L. Retirements | N.L. Rookies | Year-by-Year

1912 National League Standings

Team Standings | 1912 World Series

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
National League Team Standings

1912 National League Team Review

Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard

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

1912 National League Team Review

Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard

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
baseball almanac flat baseball

baseball almanac fast facts

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?