THE YEAR IN REVIEW: 1903
BOB WICKER LEADS CARDINALS TO NL CROWN
The St Louis Cardinals rode the right arm of 25 year old Bob Wicker all the way to a World Series title in 1903. Wicker (30-12, 2.12) was named the National League's top pitcher in just his second season in the big leagues. Offensive help for St Louis came from Joe Kelley (.322,3,71), Bobby Wallace (.324,3,39) and Emmet Heidrick (.311,5,51).
For the second straight season the New York Giants finished second. Pitcher Christy Mathewson(23-4, 2.70) continued to shine but the offense struggled after veteran Wilbert Robinson (.388 in 70 games) went down with an injury. Topsy Hartsell (.344,9,75) of the Chicago Cubs was named the league's top hitter.
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National League W L Pct GB
St Louis(N) Cardinals 88 52 .629 -
New York(N) Giants 83 57 .593 5.0
Philadelphia(N) Phillies 73 67 .521 15.0
Chicago(N) Orphans 72 68 .514 16.0
Pittsburgh Pirates 65 75 .464 23.0
Cincinnati Reds 62 78 .443 26.0
Brooklyn Superbas 59 81 .421 29.0
Boston(N) Beaneaters 58 82 .414 30.0
Batting AVG
T. Hartsel CHN .344
D. Murphy PIT .340
J. Burkett BRO .326
B. Wallace SLN .324
J. Kelley SLN .322
Homeruns
S. Crawford CIN 20
D. Green CHN 9
T. Hartsel CHN 9
E. Flick NY1 8
H. Steinfeldt CIN 8
ERA
B. Wicker SLN 2.12
C. Mathewson NY1 2.20
B. Lawson NY1 2.24
J. St.Vrain CHN 2.31
I. Mir SLN 2.40
Wins
B. Wicker SLN 30-12
J. St.Vrain CHN 28-14
H. Felix PHI 26-13
C. Mathewson NY1 23-4
J. Chesbro PIT 21-15
PHILADELPHIA RISES TO TOP OF AMERICAN LEAGUE
Led by young pitchers Chief Bender (17-9, 2.26) and Weldon Henley (21-7, 2.12) the Philadelphia Athletics became the first team other than Boston to win an American League title. Veteran Nap Lajoie (.311,9,69) and a young phenom named Sal Azocar (.362,2,21) provided the offensive punch. Lajoie was named the League's Most Valuable Player while Azocar won the batting title.
Injuries and inconsistancy on the mound ended Boston's chances for a third straight title. Ace Rube Foster was lost for the year in July with a serious arm injury while William Malone was released after starting the season with an 8-16 record. Malone did sign with the Phillies but has likely lost too much to play for the big league club next season.
Code:
American League W L PCT GB
Philadelphia Athletics 80 60 .571 -
Boston Americans 73 67 .521 7.0
New York Yankees 72 68 .514 8.0
Chicago White Sox 70 70 .500 10.0
Washington Senators 70 70 .500 10.0
St Louis Browns 69 71 .493 11.0
Detroit Tigers 63 77 .450 17.0
Cleveland Blues 63 77 .450 17.0
Batting AVG
S. Azocar PHA .362
Z. Harvey CHA .333
F. Parent BOS .331
P. Dougherty BOS .312
N. Lajoie PHA .311
Homeruns
N. Lajoie PHA 9
H. Duffy SLA 7
B. Coughlin WS1 5
B. Freeman BOS 4
D. Walker WS1 4
ERA
R. Waddell CHA 1.81
W. Henley PHA 2.12
C. Bender PHA 2.26
M. O Neill WS1 2.32
R. Foster BOS 2.44
Wins
E. Poole BOS 23-14
M. O Neill WS1 23-15
T. Sparks SLA 22-18
W. Henley PHA 21-7
H. Howell NYA 18-18
1903 WORLD SERIES : St Louis Cardinals vs Philadelphia A's
GAME 1 - The hometown Cardinals rapped out 18 hits off of Philadelphia starter Highball Wilson en route to an 8-4 victory in the series opener. Joe Kelley and Dan McGann led the way for the Cards with 3 hits and 2 rbi's each. Emmet Heidrick also had 3 hits for St Louis.
GAME 2 - NL pitcher of the year Bob Wicker tossed a 3-hitter as St Louis took a 2-0 series lead with a 3-1 victory. A's starter Chief Bender held the Cards to 6 hits.
GAME 3 -At home, A's veteran Highball Wilson 4-hit the Cardinals in a 6-1 Philadelphia victory. Lave Cross and Nap Lajoie each had 2-run doubles to key the A's offense.
GAME 4 - An 11 inning thriller as Wicker and Bender hooked up in a classic duel. It was tied 2-2 when Bender left in the 9th inning and the Cards bats broke out in the 11th with 4 runs, 3 on a bases loaded double from Patsy Donovan. Final score was 6-2 St Louis.
GAME 5 - Pitching again was the story as Weldon Henley pitched a 7-hit shutout to help Philadelphia to a 1-0 victory. The winning run came on a Nap Lajoie two-out rbi double in the bottom of the 8th inning. The A's remain alive with the win but return to St Louis trailing 3 games to two.
GAME 6 - Chief Bender pitched 7 innings of no-hit ball and the A's built a 2-0 lead thanks to the first homerun in World Series history, a 2-run shot off the bat of Socks Seybold in the 4th inning. However, the wheels fell off for Bender and the A's in the 8th as St Louis scored 3 runs - all coming on a homerun from Joe Kelley. Philadelphia went quietly in the 9th and the Cardinals became the first National League team to win the World Series with a 3-2 victory in Game 6.
Bob Wicker, who allowed just 3 earned runs in 20 innings work and won both of his starts was named the Series MVP.
OTHER 1903 NOTES
MINOR LEAGUE BASEBALL - The Buffalo Bisons were crowned Minor League baseball champions after beating American Association champion Minneapolis in the Little World Series. The Bisons, who finished 5 games ahead of Montreal atop the International League,
1903 COLLEGE FOOTBALL RECAP
For the second straight season Army running back James Williams was named the top player in college football. In 12 games, the senior ran for 1617 yards and scored 17 touchdowns to help Army capture it's second National Championship in three years. Army beat reigning champion UCLA 59-31 in the Sugar Bowl to complete a 12-0 season. Over the past 3 seasons Army has compiled a 36-1 record.
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1903 FINAL COLLEGE FOOTBALL RANKINGS
1- Army 12-0
2- Arizona 12-1
3- Ohio State 11-1
4- Tennessee 11-2
5- Michigan 11-1
6- UCLA 10-2
7- Clemson 10-3
8- Mississippi 10-3
9- Maryland 10-3
10-Notre Dame 11-1
BOXING: 1903 HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE FIGHTS
Jack Johnson became the second man to reign as World Heavyweight Boxing Champion this century when he won an unanimous decision over Peter Jackson in February. Jackson opened a cut under the champs's right eye and dominated the rest of the way. While the judges had it a little closer, ringside expert mh2365 scored the bout 146-140 for Johnson.
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HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE HISTORY
WORLD HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION : Jack Johnson
DATE TITLE HOLDER RESULT OPPONENT
2/10/1903 Peter Jackson Lost by UD to Jack Johnson
6/2/1903 Jack Johnson KO5 Bill Farnam
10/2/1903 Jack Johnson UD Larry Foley
TOP HEAVYWEIGHT CONTENDERS AT THE END OF 1903
Champ - Jack Johnson 14-1 (8 ko's)
1. Dominic McCaffrey 7-4-3 (2)
2. John C. Heenan 10-2 (8)
3. James Jeffries 17-1 (16)
4. Jimmy Elliot 10-1-1 (5)
5. Tom Sharkey 12-4 (9)
1903 SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR
BOB WICKER - ST LOUIS CARDINALS
Wicker became the first pitcher this century to win 30 games as he was named the National League's top pitcher following a 30-12 campaign. His 2.12 era was best in the Senior Circuit and he capped off a stellar season by winning both of his starts in the postseason to help the Cardinals to their first World Series title.
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PREVIOUS SPORTSMAN OF THE YEAR AWARD WINNERS
1901 - Cory Kearny: Quarterback Army football team
1902 - Al Orth: Pitcher Philadelphia Phillies
1903 - Bob Wicker: Pitcher St Louis Cardinals