In 1901, Charles Comiskey and Ban Johnson launched a brazen challenge to the National League’s supremacy. This book covers the American League’s origins in the Western League, the decisions and planning that laid the groundwork for the American League, and in detail, the 1901 season that established the AL as a new major league.

Warren N. Wilbert, a veteran baseball historian and SABR member, is the author of numerous books about baseball. He lives in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

Warren N. Wilbert
Format: softcover (6 x 9)
Pages: 240
Bibliographic Info: 73 photos, charts, appendices, notes, bibliography, index
Copyright Date: 2007
pISBN: 978-0-7864-3013-0
Imprint: McFarland

Acknowledgments      vi

Preface      1

Introduction      3

1. Baseball in the Hinterlands      5

2. Not Minor but Not Yet Major      17

3. A New Major League Readies for Debut      40

4. The American League: Season Openers      60

5. A Pennant Race Is Underway      83

6. In the Heat of July, 1901      123

7. The Turn of the Century and the American League Race      140

8. The First American League Champion: Chicago Bests Boston      158

9. The Junior Circuit: Major League in 1901?      179

10. Toward 1902 … and Later      185

11. The American League’s Best in 1901      194

APPENDICES

A. Napoleon Lajoie, Breach of Contract and the Great Baseball War      199

B. 1901: The Best in Each League      203

C. The 1901 American League All-Rookie Team      205

D. Hall of Famers Active in the American League’s Inaugural Season      206

E. Best Hitters and Pitchers in the 1901 American League      214

Chapter Notes      217

Bibliography      221

Index      225

“Wilbert skillfully documents how it happened…Wilbert outlines the decisions and planning that laid the groundwork and, in detail, the 1901 season that established the American League as a new league”—Sports Collectors Digest.