1902 Baltimore Orioles season

Season

Offseason

Knowing that placing a franchise in New York City was key to the success of the American League (AL), AL president Ban Johnson secretly met with principal owner John Mahon and player-manager John McGraw, who was also a part-owner, before the season about relocating to New York. However, the transfer did not occur when they could not find a suitable venue for the team.

In March, Mike Donlin went on a drinking binge in Baltimore, during which he was arrested for urinating in public and assaulting two chorus girls. The Orioles released Donlin when he was sentenced to six months in prison.

Notable players jumped to the Orioles from the rival National League (NL). In December 1901, Joe Kelley jumped from the Brooklyn Superbas. Later in the offseason, Jimmy Sheckard also jumped from Brooklyn. With these transactions, the Orioles were seen as a contender in the AL pennant going into the 1902 season.

Regular season

The Orioles drew over 10,000 fans on Opening Day.

Johnson openly feuded with McGraw. Many Orioles found themselves suspended by Johnson by midseason, including McGraw and Kelley. In early July, McGraw resigned from the team and signed with the New York Giants of the NL.

The franchise began to fall into significant debt by July. Kelley, son-in-law of part-owner John Mahon, reported that the team owed as much as $12,000 ($ in current dollar terms). Unable to afford that debt, Mahon purchased shares of the team from Kelley and McGraw. With this, Mahon became the majority shareholder, owning 201 of the team's 400 shares. On July 17, 1902, Mahon sold his interest in the Orioles to Andrew Freedman, principal owner of the Giants, and John T. Brush, principal owner of the Cincinnati Reds, also of the NL. The transaction was reported to have been in the range of $20,000 ($ in current dollar terms).

Though Kip Selbach and Jimmy Williams were both pressed to agree to relocate as well, they refused to leave Baltimore, saying they would honor their two-year contracts. McGinnity allegedly attempted to contact Johnson that night, offering to stay with the Orioles if he could receive Johnson's personal assurance that he was welcome to stay. McGinnity did not hear back from Johnson, who had left his phone off the hook that night to avoid being contacted, and joined his teammates with the Giants. On that day, the Orioles were forced to forfeit their game against the St. Louis Browns, as Baltimore lacked the minimum number of players required to compete.

Johnson used a league rule to join the Orioles' minority owners to seize control of the team. Now running the Orioles, Johnson sought to restock the team. He requested players from the other AL franchises to fill the Orioles' roster. Snake Wiltse was sent to the Orioles from the Philadelphia Athletics on July 19, but he struggled for the Orioles. The Orioles also received Lew Drill on loan from the Washington Senators, sold Charlie Shields to the St. Louis Browns and purchased Jack Thoney from the Cleveland Bronchos.

Season results

The Orioles finished the season with a 50–88 record, good for last place in the AL. For their final game at Oriole Park, the team drew only 138 fans. During the owners meetings in late 1902, the franchise was transferred to New York.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

References

References

1. {{Sabrbio. 3b51e847. Mike Donlin. Michael Betzold. November 9, 2013
2. [[Kip Selbach]] and [[Jim Jackson (baseball). Jim Jackson]] jumped from the [[New York Giants (NL). New York Giants]], [[Ernie Courtney]] jumped from the Boston Beaneaters, [[Tom Hughes (pitcher, born 1878)
3. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=YkleAAAAIBAJ&sjid=vGANAAAAIBAJ&pg=5216,39935&dq=robinson+orioles+mcgraw&hl=en Baltimore Morning Herald – Google News Archive Search]
4. Three players returned to the NL in April 1902. [[Jack Dunn (baseball). Jack Dunn]] and [[Steve Brodie (baseball). 08c48a23. Jimmy Sheckard. Don Jensen. November 9, 2013
5. (July 9, 1902). "M'graw Has Release". The Sun.
6. {{Sabrbio. 17b00755. Joe Kelley. Jimmy Keenan. March 24, 2012
7. {{Sabrbio. fae12278. Sport McAllister. Jimmy Keenan. November 9, 2013
8. (July 17, 1902). "LATEST BASEBALL DEAL; Freedman Practically Buys Baltimore American League Team. PLAYERS TO JOIN NEW YORKS Ban Johnson to Organize Another Club to Take Place of McGraw's Former Combination". The New York Times.
9. [https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=sEsbAAAAIBAJ&sjid=J0sEAAAAIBAJ&pg=3815,4313897&dq=joe-mcginnity+john-brush&hl=en The Pittsburgh Press – Google News Archive Search]
10. a7b8d996. Pop Dillon. Brian McKenna. November 9, 2013
11. {{Sabrbio. 5c48a44a. Snake Wiltse. Mike Piazzi. November 9, 2013