Champions

Temple Cup The Temple Cup was a cup awarded to the winner of an annual best-of-seven postseason championship series for American professional baseball from 1894 to 1897. Competing teams were exclusively from the National League, which had been founded in ...

Baltimore Orioles The Baltimore Orioles (also known as the O's) are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East Division. As one of the America ...

over

Boston Beaneaters Boston is the capital and most populous city in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in the United States. The city serves as the cultural and financial center of New England, a region of the Northeastern United States. It has an area of and a ...

(4–1) *

National League National League often refers to: *National League (baseball), one of the two baseball leagues constituting Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada *National League (division), the fifth division of the English football (soccer) system ...

: Boston Beaneaters

Statistical leaders

National League final standings

Notable seasons

*Baltimore Orioles right fielder

Willie Keeler William Henry Keeler (March 3, 1872 – January 1, 1923), nicknamed "Wee Willie" because of his small stature, was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1892 to 1910, primarily for the Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn ...

led the NL in batting average (.424) and hits (239). He was second in the NL in total bases (304), slugging percentage (.539), adjusted OPS+ (164), and runs scored (145). He was third in the NL in on-base percentage (.464). *Boston Beaneaters pitcher

Kid Nichols Charles Augustus "Kid" Nichols (September 14, 1869 – April 11, 1953) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher who played for the Boston Beaneaters, St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Phillies from 1890 to 1906. A switch hitter w ...

had a win–loss record of 31–11 and led the NL in innings pitched (368), wins (31), and adjusted ERA+ (168). He was second in the NL in earned run average (2.64). He was fifth in the NL in strikeouts (127).

Events

*February 28 – The

St. Louis Browns The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the Milwaukee Brewers. A charter member of the American League (AL), the Brewers moved to St. Louis, Missouri, after the 1901 season, where they ...

acquired

Duke Esper Charles H. "Duke" Esper (July 28, 1867 – August 31, 1910) was an American professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1890 to 1898. Esper played for the Philadelphia Athletics, Pittsburgh Pirates, Philadelphia Phil ...

off waivers from the Baltimore Orioles. *May 22 – The New York Giants released

Jake Beckley Jacob Peter Beckley (August 4, 1867 – June 25, 1918), nicknamed "Eagle Eye", was an American professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys, Pittsburgh Burghers, Pittsburgh Pirates, New ...

. *June 1 – The

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. The Phillies compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East Division. Since 2004, the team's home stadium has ...

traded

Kid Carsey Wilfred "Kid" Carsey (October 22, 1870 – March 29, 1960), was an American professional baseball player who was a pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1891 to 1901. He played for the Washington Statesmen, Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Cardinals ...

and Mike Grady to the St. Louis Browns for Ed McFarland. *June 3 – The Washington Senators purchased the contract of Tommy Tucker from Boston. *June 11 –

Chippy McGarr James B. "Chippy" McGarr (May 10, 1863 – June 6, 1904) was an American professional baseball third baseman who played in Major League Baseball from 1884 to 1896. He played for the Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies, Philadelphia Athletics, St. L ...

is released by the

Cleveland Spiders The Cleveland Spiders were an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. The team competed at the major league level from 1887 to 1899, first for two seasons as a member of the now-defunct American Association (AA), followe ...

. *June 24 – Dick Harley of the

collects six hits in one game against the

Pittsburgh Pirates The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central ...

. *June 29 – The

Chicago Colts The following is a franchise history of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball, a charter member of the National League who started play in the National Association of Base Ball Players in 1870 as the Chicago White Stockings, before joining t ...

defeat the

Louisville Colonels The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that played in the American Association (AA) throughout that league's ten-year existence from 1882 until 1891. They were known as the Louisville Eclipse from 1882 to 1884, and as th ...

36–7, which remains the record for the most runs by one team in a game as of 2025. *July 18 –

Cap Anson Adrian Constantine Anson (April 17, 1852 – April 14, 1922), nicknamed "Cap" (for "Captain"), "Pop", and "Baby" (early in his career) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) first baseman. Including his time in the National Association ...

of the

collects his 3,000th career hit with a single off of

pitcher George Blackburn. *September 18 –

Cy Young Denton True "Cy" Young (March 29, 1867 – November 4, 1955) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) pitcher. Born in Gilmore, Ohio, he worked on his family's farm as a youth before starting his professional baseball career. Young entered t ...

pitches the first

no-hitter In baseball, a no-hitter or no-hit game is a game in which a team does not record a hit (baseball), hit through conventional methods. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in ...

of his career as the

defeat the

Cincinnati Reds The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. The Reds compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (baseball), National League (NL) National League Central, Central Divisi ...

, 6–0, in the first game of a doubleheader.

Births

January

*January 1 – Monty Swartz *January 3 – Pete Turgeon *January 5 – Art Delaney *January 6 ** Buck Crouse **

By Speece Byron Franklin Speece (January 6, 1897 – September 29, 1974), was a Major League Baseball player. He was married to Helen Grace (née' Whittinghill) Speece; they had two children (Byron Jr. and Wilma Irene). MLB career He was a pitcher from ...

*January 7 – Topper Rigney *January 9 – Dave Keefe *January 15 – Joe Genewich *January 24 – George Ellison *January 29 – Pat Patterson

February

*February 9 – Adrian Lynch *February 11 **

Red Miller Robert "Red" Miller (October 31, 1927 – September 27, 2017) was an American professional football coach. He served as the head coach for the Denver Broncos of the National Football League (NFL) from 1977 to 1980. In his first year as Denver' ...

** Joe Shannon ** Red Shannon *February 14 – Earl Smith *February 15 ** Art Johnson ** Chuck Wolfe *February 16 **

Paul Castner Paul Henry Castner (February 16, 1897 – March 3, 1986) was a professional baseball pitcher. Castner played for the Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team as a fullback from 1919 to 1922, under Knute Rockne. He also played on the hockey and b ...

Alex Ferguson Sir Alexander Chapman Ferguson (born 31 December 1941) is a Scottish former professional football manager and player, best known for managing Manchester United from 1986 to 2013. He is widely regarded as the greatest manager of all time and ...

*February 17 – Ike Boone *February 18 – Huck Betts *February 25 – Bob Vines

March

*March 1 – Howie Jones *March 4 **

Neal Brady Cornelius Joseph Brady (March 4, 1897 – June 19, 1947) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Brady played for the New York Yankees in and and the Cincinnati Reds in . In 24 career games, he had a 2–3 record, with a 4.20 ERA. He batted and t ...

Lefty O'Doul Francis Joseph "Lefty" O'Doul (March 4, 1897 – December 7, 1969) was an American professional baseball player and manager. Though he spent eleven seasons in Major League Baseball, most notably for the New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillie ...

*March 5 **

Virgil Barnes Virgil Jennings Barnes (March 5, 1897 – July 24, 1958) was an American professional baseball player who was a pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1919 to 1928. He played for the New York Giants from 1919 to 1928, and also played for the Boston B ...

Lu Blue Luzerne Atwell "Lu" Blue (March 5, 1897 – July 28, 1958) was an American professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, and Brooklyn Dodgers between 19 ...

*March 6 – Cliff Brady *March 9 – Joe Dawson *March 10 – Russ Ennis *March 13 – Lew Malone *March 14 – Bruce Hitt *March 19 – Elmer Bowman *March 21 **

Gus Ketchum Augustus Franklin Ketchum (March 21, 1897 – September 6, 1980) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in six games for the 1922 Philadelphia Athletics of Major League Baseball (MLB). Listed at and , he threw and batted right ...

Bill Lamar William Harmong Lamar '' ood Time Bill' (March 21, 1897 – May 24, 1970) was a left fielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1917 through 1927 for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Brooklyn Robins, and Philadelphia Athletics. Listed ...

*March 27 **

Joe Lucey Joseph Earl Lucey cootch(March 27, 1897 – July 30, 1980) was a pitcher / shortstop in Major League Baseball. Listed at , 168 lb., Lucey batted and threw right-handed. He was born in Holyoke, Massachusetts. Lucey entered the majors in 19 ...

Effa Manley Effa Louise Manley (née Brooks; March 27, 1897 – April 16, 1981) was an American sports executive. She co-owned the Newark Eagles baseball franchise in the Negro leagues with her husband Abe Manley from 1935 to 1948. Throughout that time, s ...

*March 30 – Ed Sicking

April

*April 4 – Ray Miner *April 8 – Dick Attreau *April 10 ** Joe Price **

Ross Youngs Ross Middlebrook "Pep" Youngs (April 10, 1897 – October 22, 1927) was an American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Pep", he played ten seasons in Major League Baseball for the New York Giants (NL), New York Giants from 1917 through 19 ...

*April 15 – Walt Lynch *April 20 –

Lou Vedder Louis Edward Vedder (April 20, 1897 – March 9, 1990) was an American professional baseball and football player. He appeared in one game in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers during the 1920 season as a relief pitcher. Listed at 5' 10" ...

*April 26 –

Epp Sell Lester Elwood "Epp" Sell (April 26, 1897 – February 19, 1961) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals.Walt Walsh

May

*May 3 – Ray Shepardson *May 12 –

Joe Dugan Joseph Anthony Dugan (May 12, 1897 – July 7, 1982), was an American professional baseball player. Nicknamed "Jumping Joe", he was considered one of the best defensive third basemen of his era. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop ...

*May 13 – Hugh Canavan *May 17 –

Harry Riconda Henry Paul Riconda (March 17, 1897 – November 15, 1958) was a professional baseball player who played third base from 1923 to 1930. Baseball career Prior to the 1923 Major League Baseball season, Riconda was purchased by the Philadelphia At ...

*May 20 –

Wilcy Moore William Wilcy "Cy" Moore (May 20, 1897 – March 29, 1963) was an American professional baseball right-handed pitcher over parts of six seasons (1927–1933) with the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. He led the American League in ERA as a r ...

*May 30 – Wally Kimmick

June

*June 6 – Ray Pierce *June 12 –

Guy Lacy Osceola Guy Lacy (June 12, 1897 – November 19, 1953) was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the 1926 Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardi ...

*June 13 – George Foss *June 15 –

Cy Twombly Edwin Parker "Cy" Twombly Jr. (; April 25, 1928July 5, 2011) was an American Painting, painter, Sculpture, sculptor, and photographer. Twombly influenced artists such as Anselm Kiefer, Francesco Clemente, Julian Schnabel, and Jean-Michel Bas ...

*June 17 – Bill Hubbell *June 22 – Bill Mizeur *June 25 –

Camp Skinner Elisha Harrison "Camp" Skinner (June 25, 1897 – August 4, 1944) was a professional baseball outfielder. He was a reserve player and pinch hitter for the 1922 New York Yankees and 1923 Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). Listed at ...

*June 29 – Grady Adkins

July

*July 3 ** Chet Nichols Sr. ** Heinie Sand *July 5 – Tom Miller *July 9 –

Glenn Myatt Glenn Calvin Myatt (July 9, 1897 – August 9, 1969) was an American professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1920 to 1935 for the Philadelphia Athletics (1920–1921), Cleveland Indians (1922–1935), New York ...

*July 12 – Hod Fenner *July 16 –

Hi Bell Herman S. "Hi" Bell (July 16, 1897 – June 7, 1949) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the St. Louis Cardinals and New York Giants. For his career, he compiled a 32–34 record in 221 a ...

*July 18 ** Hank Hulvey ** Pat Murray **

Ed Sherling Edward Creech Sherling (July 18, 1897 – November 16, 1965) was a Major League Baseball pinch hitter and pinch runner who played in with the Philadelphia Athletics. He batted left and threw right-handed. He attended college at Auburn Univers ...

*July 22 – Ed Gerner *July 23 ** Hod Ford ** Cy Fried *July 26 – Chick Bowen *July 27 –

Biz Mackey James Raleigh "Biz" Mackey (July 27, 1897 – September 22, 1965) was an American catcher and manager (baseball), manager in Negro league baseball. He played for the Indianapolis ABCs, New York Lincoln Giants, Hilldale Daisies, Philadelphia Roy ...

*July 29 – Jim Hamby

August

*August 8 ** Charlie Eckert **

Ken Holloway Kenneth Eugene Holloway (August 8, 1897 – September 25, 1968) was an American baseball pitcher. A native of Barwick, Georgia, he played college baseball at the University of Georgia. He then played 11 years in professional baseball as a right- ...

*August 10 – Frank Welch *August 16 – Bob Fothergill *August 17 **Joe Bradshaw (baseball), Joe Bradshaw **Ed Lennon *August 18 – Mandy Brooks *August 22 – Bob Clark (pitcher), Bob Clark *August 24 **Al Bool **Frank Pratt (baseball), Frank Pratt *August 29 – John Quinn (umpire), John Quinn *August 31 – William Bell (baseball), William Bell

September

*September 13 – Eddie Rommel *September 17 **Joe Green (baseball, born 1897), Joe Green **Earl Webb *September 19 – Astyanax Douglass *September 23 – Walt Irwin *September 25 – Walter Anderson (baseball), Walter Anderson *September 27 – Chick Gagnon *September 30 **Eddie Kenna **Mike Kircher

October

*October 7 – Bill Jackman *October 9 – Harry Biemiller *October 13 – Elliot Bigelow *October 14 – Vance McIlree *October 15 **Dinty Gearin **Sam Gray (baseball), Sam Gray *October 16 – Garland Buckeye *October 18 – Sumpter Clarke *October 19 – Tom Lovelace *October 20 **Tom Connelly **Jigger Statz *October 22 – Myles Thomas *October 26 **Skipper Friday **George Winn *October 29 – Ty Pickup *October 30 – Kettle Wirts *October 31 – Tony Rego

November

*November 4 **Ted Menze **Dolly Stark (umpire), Dolly Stark *November 5 – Jack Ogden *November 9 **Johnny Gooch **Harvey Hendrick *November 17 **Davey Claire **Rube Lutzke *November 20 – Larry Benton *November 21 – Andy High *November 23 **Bubber Jonnard **Claude Jonnard **Freddy Leach **Beans Reardon *November 26 – Bill Warwick (baseball), Bill Warwick *November 30 **Win Ballou **Dud Branom

December

*December 10 **Jocko Conlon **Tim Griesenbeck *December 11 – Slim Harriss *December 14 – Syl Simon *December 16 – Fred Wigington *December 18 – Lance Richbourg *December 19 – Mike Herrera (baseball), Mike Herrera *December 20 – Snooks Dowd *December 21 **Hal Haid **Pete Scott *December 22 – Harvey Freeman (baseball), Harvey Freeman *December 23 – Nemo Gaines *December 25 – Allen Elliott *December 27 – Jackie Tavener

Deaths

*February 5 – Charles Radbourn, Old Hoss Radbourn, 42, Hall of Fame pitcher who won over 300 games including a record 60 for the 1884 Providence Grays, leading the National League in wins, strikeouts, winning percentage and games twice each and in shutouts, innings and ERA once each; completing 489 out of 503 starts, pitching three shutouts in the 1884 World Championship Series, while holding single-season records for games pitched with 76 in 1883, going 27–12 for the 1890 Players' League champions. *February 8 – Fleury Sullivan, 35, pitcher. *March 5 – Dave Foutz, 40, first baseman/outfielder/pitcher who played from 1884 through 1896 for the St. Louis Browns and the Brooklyn Bridegrooms/Grooms, a three-time .300 hitter and manager for the Brooklyn teams between 1893 and 1896 for a .690 career winning percentage, while pitching 41 wins for the 1886 champion Browns. *March 10 – Wes Blogg, 42, catcher. *March 21 – Andy Allison, 49, first baseman. *March 22 – Dave Anderson (pitcher), Dave Anderson, 28, pitcher. *March 25 – Bill Quarles, 28, pitcher. *April 13 – Charlie Yingling, 31, shortstop. *July 10 – Kid Baldwin, 32, catcher. *August 1 – Jake Seymour, 43, who played for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys of the American Association in the 1882 season. *August 4 – John Gilroy (baseball), John Gilroy, 27, pitcher. *August 9 – Jack Scheible, 31, pitcher. *August 19 – Jim McKeever (baseball), Jim McKeever, 36, catcher. *August 22 – Tricky Nichols, 47, pitcher who posted a 28–73 record and a 3.06 ERA in 106 games for six different teams between 1875 and 1882. *August 27 – Sam Moran (baseball), Sam Moran, 26, pitcher. *October 9 – Milo Lockwood, 39, outfielder and pitcher. *October 19 – O. P. Caylor, 47, one of the founders of the American Association. *November 2 – Joe Sullivan (shortstop), Joe Sullivan, 27, shortstop. *November 15 – Charlie Smith (infielder), Charlie Smith, 56, infielder who appeared in 14 games for the 1871 New York Mutuals. *November 19 – Frank McGinn (baseball), Frank McGinn, 28, infielder. *December 20 – William Brown (baseball), William Brown, 31, catcher.

References

1897 National League team stats at Baseball Reference
{{DEFAULTSORT:1897 In Baseball