October Highlights
Boston announced it would be changing the team’s name for the 1907 season. The club will now be known as the Red Sox. After back-to-back last-place finishes, the club’s management hopes the name change can help usher in a new era in Boston.
Milwaukee fired manager Frank McLaughlin after two seasons. McLaughlin led the Brewers to a 138-170 record over two seasons. Detroit parted company with manager Bill Armour after two seasons. The Tigers fought the Cleveland Naps to the wire in the AL West in 1905, but injuries helped lead to the team’s plummet to last place this season. In two years, Armour compiled a mark of 160-148. And the Newark Sailors will have a new manager next season, as well, as the team fired Al Schellhase after two seasons. Schellhase compiled a record of 136-172 with the Sailors.
In Buffalo, the park remained the same but the name will be changed for the 1907 season as Olympic Park will be rechristened Buffalo Baseball Park.
The Brewers hired veteran baseball man Oliver Brown, 58, to manage the team. Brown played for the old Brooklyn Atlantics in the National Association in the early 1870s and managed Binghamton in the New York State League last season.
Detroit filled its managerial opening by hiring McLaughlin, the former Milwaukee bench boss. Newark turned to Abe Wolstenholme, who had a three-game cup of coffee with the National League’s Philadelphia Quakers in 1883. Wolstenholme, who will be 46 on opening day, managed Grays Harbor in the Northwestern League last season.
A handful of players announced their retirements. Among them was 39-year-old righthander Cy Young. Young was 12-20 for the Pilgrims in 1905 but never made it to the hill last season. Catcher Jack O’Connor, 37, and shortstop Frank Scheibeck, 41, both retired as Highlanders. O’Connor hit .091 in 36 games last season. Scheibeck spent the entire season in the minors. Philadelphia third baseman Lave Cross, who hit just .131 in 83 games last year, called it quits as well. So, too, did Athletics outfielder Sam Thompson, 46, who came out of retirement to sign with Buffalo last winter. He hit .247 in 55 games with the Blues and Athletics. Bob Wood, 41, decided to retire after spending last year catching for the Tigers and Rebels. He hit .148 in 42 games.
The National League plucked a handful of players from the NABF’s ranks. Cleveland infielder “Harvard Eddie” Grant and New York catcher Fred Jacklitsch both signed with Philadelphia. Grant hit .325 in 32 games for the Federation Cup champion Nats while Jacklitsch batted .245 with 21 RBI in 46 contests. The New York Giants snagged Newark third baseman Jack Hannifan, who batted .188 with 28 RBI in 139 games with the Sailors. Brooklyn grabbed righthander Weldon Henley from the Naps. Henley was 3-4 with a 3.74 ERA last year in 12 games. He made three starting appearances.
The highest profile defector may have been Philadelphia righthander Andy Coakley, who went 34-31 in two seasons with the Athletics, including a 15-14 mark in 31 starts last year. Coakley was 0-3 in four postseason appearances for Philadelphia. He left for Cincinnati.
But there was plenty of talent coming through the NABF door, including outfielder Jimmy Barrett, who left the Tigers to sign with Cincinnati last season but returned to sign with Kansas City, where he will join Bob Ganley. Indianapolis inked Jimmy Archer, Jake Thielman and Bull Durham. Hughie Jennings and Jim Delahanty will join the Senators, while Ollie Pickering and Fred Burchell signed with Buffalo. Rube Vickers is heading to Boston, Jake Atz to the Athletics, Bill Hinchman to Detroit, Al Shaw to the White Sox, Cliff Blankenship to Baltimore and Owen Shannon to the Rebels.