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1902
The defending AL champion Brewers moved to St. Louis over the winter and renamed themselves the Browns. Fans in Milwaukee were aghast at the move, but the team's owner insisted the move was for improved playing conditions for his team. The Browns moved into new Sportsman's Park, with a shorter 430-foot center field wall. Pitchers complaned about the 520-foot distance to the center field wall in Milwaukee's Lloyd Street Grounds that, as they claimed, caused an enormous amount of triples. Lloyd Street Grounds also featured a short 290-foot distance to the right field foul pole, which allowed far too many easy home runs. Sportsman's Park's right field fould pole was backed up to a more reasonable 335 feet.
The wiley Chicago Orphans, who arose from early season ashes to finish in 2nd Place last season, renamed themselves the Cubs. They felt that the previous name presented an image that was too downtrodden, and they wanted to present a more positive aura for the team and its fans.
The Cincinnati Reds moved into the Palace of the Fans, which sports a canyonesque right field. The center field wall is 445 feet from home plate, and the distance to the fight field foul pole is 450 feet.
Ancestors Added:
None for 1902.
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