1901 Cleveland Blues season
Encyclopedia
The Cleveland Blues
season was a season in American baseball
. It was the franchise's first in the majors, being one of the original franchises of the American League
. The Blues finished seventh out of eight teams.
The Cleveland Spiders
were dissolved after winning only 20 games and losing 134 in the 1899 season
along with the Louisville Colonels
, Baltimore Orioles
, and the Washington Senators
, leaving the National League
with eight teams to begin the 1900 season. As a result, 1900 marked the first year since during which the city of Cleveland did not have a team affiliated with Major League Baseball
.
, president of the Western League, changed the league's name to the American League
in 1900, bringing aboard a new team in Cleveland, then known as the Cleveland Lake Shores, along with new Baltimore and Washington franchises, which would be created with or without the approval of the National League
. During this time, Cleveland had a minor league baseball team, known as the Bluebirds or Blues due to their all-blue uniforms, which finished their season with a 63-73 record and finished sixth.
and Nap Lajoie
, which led the National League to call them an "outlaw league" in November 1900. As the 1901 season came underway in April, and as the war between the two leagues erupted, the Cleveland franchise, now known as the Blues, began its first official season as a Major League Baseball team.
The Cleveland Blues played their first game of the season against the Chicago White Stockings
on April 24, 1901. This was the first games in the history of the American League; three other games scheduled that day were rained out. The starting lineup consisted of: Ollie Pickering
(RF
), Jack McCarthy
(LF
), Frank Genins
(CF
), Candy LaChance
(1B
), Bill Bradley (3B
), Erve Beck
(2B
), Bill Hallman (SS
), Bob Wood
(C
), and Bill Hoffer
(P
). Hoffer allowed seven runs in the first two innings and the Blues failed to recover, as they lost the game 8–2, earning the first loss in American League history. In the second game of the season, Beck hit the first home run
in American League history off pitcher John Skopec
, but the Blues lost again, 7–3.
On May 9, 1901, Earl Moore
threw the first no-hitter in the history of the franchise and the American League. The Blues lost to Chicago by a score of 4-2 despite allowing no hits.
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
season was a season in American baseball
Baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each. The aim is to score runs by hitting a thrown ball with a bat and touching a series of four bases arranged at the corners of a ninety-foot diamond...
. It was the franchise's first in the majors, being one of the original franchises of the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
. The Blues finished seventh out of eight teams.
1899: Major League Baseball leaves Cleveland
Cleveland Spiders
The Cleveland Spiders were a Major League Baseball team which played between 1887 and 1899 in Cleveland, Ohio. The team played at National League Park from 1889 to 1890 and at League Park from 1891 to 1899.- 1887-1891 :...
were dissolved after winning only 20 games and losing 134 in the 1899 season
1899 in baseball
-National League final standings:-Events:*May 15 - Willie Keeler, known as one of the smallest players and best bunters in baseball, drives the ball past startled left fielder Ed Delahanty of the Philadelphia Phillies for an inside-the-park grand slam and an 8–5 victory for the Brooklyn...
along with the Louisville Colonels
Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891, first as the Louisville Eclipse and later as the Louisville Colonels , the latter name derived from the historic Kentucky colonels...
, Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles (19th century)
The Baltimore Orioles were a 19th-century American Association and National League team from 1882 to 1899. The club, which featured numerous future Hall of Famers, finished in first place three consecutive years and won the Temple Cup championship in 1896 and 1897...
, and the Washington Senators
Washington Senators (1891-1899)
The Washington Senators were a 19th century baseball team. The team was also known as the Washington Statesmen and the Washington Nationals. The team played at Boundary Field....
, leaving the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
with eight teams to begin the 1900 season. As a result, 1900 marked the first year since during which the city of Cleveland did not have a team affiliated with Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
.
1900: A new franchise
Ban JohnsonBan Johnson
Byron Bancroft "Ban" Johnson , was an American executive in professional baseball who served as the founder and first president of the American League ....
, president of the Western League, changed the league's name to the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
in 1900, bringing aboard a new team in Cleveland, then known as the Cleveland Lake Shores, along with new Baltimore and Washington franchises, which would be created with or without the approval of the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. During this time, Cleveland had a minor league baseball team, known as the Bluebirds or Blues due to their all-blue uniforms, which finished their season with a 63-73 record and finished sixth.
1901: Major league once more
The American League became a major league before the 1901 season. As the American League made the jump to major league status, many players jumped ship, including Cy YoungCy Young
Denton True "Cy" Young was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. During his 22-year baseball career , he pitched for five different teams. Young was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937...
and Nap Lajoie
Nap Lajoie
Napoléon "Nap" Lajoie , also known as Larry Lajoie, was an American Major League Baseball second baseman. He was born in Woonsocket, Rhode Island...
, which led the National League to call them an "outlaw league" in November 1900. As the 1901 season came underway in April, and as the war between the two leagues erupted, the Cleveland franchise, now known as the Blues, began its first official season as a Major League Baseball team.
April
1901 Chicago White Stockings season
The Chicago White Stockings season was their first season as a major league team, and their second season in Chicago. It was also the inaugural season of American League as a major league....
on April 24, 1901. This was the first games in the history of the American League; three other games scheduled that day were rained out. The starting lineup consisted of: Ollie Pickering
Ollie Pickering
Oliver Daniel Pickering , was a professional baseball player and is noted as the first batter in American League History while playing for the Cleveland Blues in 1901. He went on that season to hit .309 and scored 102 runs for Cleveland. He played outfielder, primarily in center field, in the...
(RF
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
), Jack McCarthy
Jack McCarthy (baseball)
John Arthur McCarthy , is a former professional baseball player who played outfield in the Major Leagues from 1893-1907. He played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Indians, Chicago Cubs, and Brooklyn Dodgers...
(LF
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
), Frank Genins
Frank Genins
C. Frank Genins was a Major League Baseball utility player who played for three seasons. He played for the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Browns in 1892, the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1895, and the Cleveland Blues in 1901...
(CF
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
), Candy LaChance
Candy LaChance
George Joseph LaChance was a first baseman who played in Major League Baseball between 1893 and . LaChance was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed...
(1B
First baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
), Bill Bradley (3B
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
), Erve Beck
Erve Beck
Ervin Thomas Beck was a Major League Baseball second baseman who played for three seasons. He played for the Brooklyn Superbas in 1899, the Cleveland Blues in 1901, the Cincinnati Reds in 1902, and the Detroit Tigers in 1902....
(2B
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
), Bill Hallman (SS
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
), Bob Wood
Bob Wood (baseball)
Robert Lynn "Bob" Wood , was a Major League Baseball player who played seven seasons in the Major Leagues, three with the Cincinnati Reds , and two each with the Cleveland Blues/Bronchos and Detroit Tigers . Born in Thorn Hill, Ohio, Wood did not debut in the Major Leagues until he was 32 years old...
(C
Catcher
Catcher is a position for a baseball or softball player. When a batter takes his turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. This is a catcher's primary duty, but he is also called upon to master many other skills in order to...
), and Bill Hoffer
Bill Hoffer
William Leopold Hoffer was a professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of six seasons with the Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Blues. For his career, he compiled a 92-46 record in 161 appearances, with a 3.75 earned run average and 314 strikeouts...
(P
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
). Hoffer allowed seven runs in the first two innings and the Blues failed to recover, as they lost the game 8–2, earning the first loss in American League history. In the second game of the season, Beck hit the first home run
Home run
In baseball, a home run is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to reach home safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team in the process...
in American League history off pitcher John Skopec
John Skopec
John S. Skopec , was a pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1901-1903. He played for the Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers.-External links:...
, but the Blues lost again, 7–3.
May
Earl Moore
Earl Moore was born was a professional baseball player who had a 14-year career in Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
threw the first no-hitter in the history of the franchise and the American League. The Blues lost to Chicago by a score of 4-2 despite allowing no hits.
Roster
| 1901 Cleveland Blues | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders | Manager | ||||||
Key
| Statistic† | Indicates sole team leader in this category among batters (player must qualify by MLB rules to lead a category) |
| Statistic§ | Indicates sole team leader in this category among pitchers (player must qualify by MLB rules to lead a category) |
| * | Indicates that two or more players tied for the lead in the category |
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases| Pos | Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | Avg. | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 98 | 346 | 45 | 101 | 23 | 3 | .292 | 1 | 49 | 6 | |
| 1B | 133 | 548† | 81 | 166 | 22 | 9 | .303 | 1 | 75 | 11 | |
| 2B | 135 | 539 | 78 | 156 | 26 | 8 | .289 | 6† | 79† | 7 | |
| 3B | 133 | 516 | 95 | 151 | 28† | 13† | .293 | 1 | 55 | 15 | |
| SS | 93 | 329 | 33 | 70 | 11 | 3 | .213 | 0 | 38 | 3 | |
| LF | 86 | 343 | 60 | 110 | 14 | 7 | .321† | 0 | 32 | 9 | |
| CF | 137† | 547 | 102† | 169† | 25 | 6 | .309 | 0 | 40 | 36† | |
| RF | 92 | 375 | 54 | 106 | 14 | 5 | .286 | 0 | 39 | 13 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; 2B = Doubles; 3B = Triples; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases| Player | G | AB | R | H | 2B | 3B | Avg. | HR | RBI | SB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 45 | 170 | 21 | 60 | 5 | 5 | .353 | 1 | 24 | 15 | |
| 39 | 139 | 13 | 31 | 5 | 0 | .223 | 0 | 14 | 2 | |
| 37 | 121 | 13 | 17 | 3 | 1 | .140 | 0 | 6 | 2 | |
| 26 | 101 | 15 | 23 | 5 | 0 | .228 | 0 | 9 | 3 | |
| 19 | 75 | 4 | 17 | 2 | 2 | .227 | 0 | 10 | 0 | |
| 18 | 71 | 9 | 18 | 3 | 1 | .254 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| 18 | 69 | 4 | 16 | 2 | 0 | .232 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 5 | 19 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | .211 | 0 | 3 | 0 | |
| 5 | 18 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 1 | .167 | 0 | 2 | 0 | |
| 3 | 7 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | .143 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | .600 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 2 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | .500 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned Run Average; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | GS | IP | W | L | ERA | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33§ | 30* | 256.1§ | 11 | 22 | 3.86 | 160§ | 110§ | 104 | 99* | |
| 31 | 30* | 251.1 | 16§ | 14 | 2.90 | 129 | 81 | 107§ | 99* | |
| 20 | 19 | 157.2 | 7 | 11 | 3.77 | 109 | 66 | 57 | 48 | |
| 17 | 16 | 124.2 | 6 | 6 | 4.40 | 82 | 61 | 38 | 23 | |
| 12 | 12 | 100 | 4 | 8 | 6.21 | 94 | 69 | 31 | 18 | |
| 12 | 10 | 85.1 | 5 | 5 | 4.43 | 68 | 42 | 30 | 15 | |
| 6 | 6 | 48.1 | 1 | 5 | 4.84 | 42 | 26 | 30 | 12 | |
| 4 | 3 | 32 | 1 | 2 | 4.78 | 28 | 17 | 15 | 1 | |
| 1 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 5.63 | 13 | 5 | 6 | 0 |
Other pitchers
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned Run Average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | GS | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 10 | 99 | 3 | 8 | 3§ | 4.55 | 78 | 50 | 35 | 19 | |
| 2 | 1 | 11.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7.94 | 11 | 10 | 5 | 0 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned Run Average; IP = Innings pitched; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | SV | ERA | R | ER | BB | K |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5.14 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0.1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 |
League top five finishers
Ollie PickeringOllie Pickering
Oliver Daniel Pickering , was a professional baseball player and is noted as the first batter in American League History while playing for the Cleveland Blues in 1901. He went on that season to hit .309 and scored 102 runs for Cleveland. He played outfielder, primarily in center field, in the...
- #5 in AL in stolen bases (36)
- #5 in AL in singles (138)