Season in review
Despite a big year for individual honors the defending world champion Phillies were unable to hold off the well balanced Pittsburgh nine in the NL, falling to 4th as the Pirates led by SS Honus Wagner (.333-4-87) and the fleet footed Ginger Beaumont (.345-2-72) in CF put the pennant in the bag with a strong stretch run that also boasted of five pitchers in double figure wins led by Rube Waddell (20-9, 3.11) and Jesse Tannehill (19-11, 3.40). The Cubs rebounded from a 6th place finish in 1901 to make it close led by Ned Garvin (22-11, 3.06) and the fiery play of Frank Chance (.298-2-59) at 1B and young 3B Bill Bradley (.328-0-91)
The AL race was a scintillating affair between Boston, Baltimore and Cleveland that required a one game playoff to decide the pennant winner. Baltimore forced the playoff beating Boston 5-1 on the last day of the season, but the Americans won an anti-climatic playoff game, coming back from a 2-0 1st inning hole to route the Orioles 10-2 as RF Charlie Hemphill went 3 for 5 and drove in 3 runs. George Winter (21-13, 2.09) won the playoff and led a pitching staff that also included Nick Altrock (19-10, 2.01). Hemphill (.343-7-71) set the table for the Bostonians, while Hobe Ferris (.280-7-97) cleaned it up. The Orioles showed that they are a force to be reckoned with in the future as rumors swirl of a move to New York, with AL MVP Stubs Corchoran (.379-6.92) leading a potent offense that also featured Steve Brodie (.304) and Mathurin Hawkins (.313). Rookie Rob Neilsen (14-3) had the league’s best ERA and Cy Crooks (21-8, 2.42) established himself as staff ace.
The World Series was never in doubt as the NL backed up its boasts of superiority routing Boston ace George Winter on 2 days rest in game one 7-2, then completing the sweep by pasting the Americans 15-1, 12-3 and 5-2 as George Winter lost his 2nd series game to Deacon Phillippe who topped off an injury plague year (11-8, 3.23) of only 22 starts with the trophy clinching win.
Notable Achievements
• Cy Crooks held opponents to a .183 average on the season.
• Finn O’Connell had a strong first half earning a spot as an All-Star reserve with 553,272 votes, but finished the season as a reliever.
• Mathurin Hawkins was selected to the All-Star team for a 2nd straight season as a reserve with 566,679 votes.
• Stubs Corchoran was the man of the year in 1902 winning the AL MVP, the AL batting title (.379) and leading the league in hits (220), Ops (.949) and OBP (.438) while being elected to start his 2nd straight All-Star game garnering 691,528 votes.
• Rookie Rob Neilsen led the AL in ERA at 1.62
• Rookie Jace Hunter started all 140 games at 3B for Baltimore.
Transactions
• Stubs Corchoran filed for free agency October 31st. (Baltimore will fight to keep him)
• Rob Neilsen signed a 4 year extension with Baltimore at $151 per year on October 31st.
• Jace Hunter filed for free agency October 31st. (Likely to resign with the O’s)
• Al Mighty called up from the minors by Baltimore on May 28th and filed for free agency on October 31st.
• 1B Deacon Palmer signed a 4 year extension with Baltimore at $79 per year on October 31st.
Injuries
• Cy Crooks suffered a moderate Hamstring injury on April 29th going on the 15 day DL
• Rob Neilsen spent 2 stints on the 15 day DL injuring his shoulder on June 8th and again on August 20th.
Set to debut in 1903
None