1902 Boston Americans season

The 1902 Boston Americans season was the second season for the professional baseball franchise that later became known as the Boston Red Sox. The Americans finished third in the American League with a record of 77 wins and 60 losses, games behind the Philadelphia Athletics. The team was managed by Jimmy Collins and played its home games at Huntington Avenue Grounds.

Offseason and Spring Training

The Americans bolstered their pitching by recruiting Bill Dinneen, who jumped from the Boston Beaneaters. Dinneen and Cy Young would become the "one-two" pitching combination for the Boston Americans.
Prior to the regular season, the team held spring training in Augusta, Georgia.

Transactions

November 21, 1901: The Americans make a trade with the Cleveland Blues, with catcher Osee Schrecongost sent to Cleveland in return for George LaChance.
December 16, 1901: It is reported that Jack Warner, catcher with the New York Giants, met with Jimmy Collins and signed a contract with the Boston Americans.
December 17, 1901: Charlie Hickman signs with the Boston Americans.
February 24, 1902: Outfielder Patsy Dougherty announces that he has signed to play for the Boston Americans.
March 15, 1902: Pitcher Bert Husting, who played for the Milwaukee Brewers in the 1901 season, signs a $2700 contract to play for the Boston Americans.

Regular season

April 19: The season opens with a 7–6 home win over the Baltimore Orioles.
June 28: A forfeit is declared in Boston's favor during a road game against the Orioles. With Boston leading, 9–4 in the eighth inning, umpire Tom Connolly called a Baltimore runner out for missing second base. The call was argued by Baltimore manager John McGraw, resulting in his ejection. After McGraw refused to leave the field, Connolly forfeited the game to Boston.
July 8: In their highest-scoring game of the year, Boston loses at home to the Philadelphia Athletics, 22–9.
July 9: The team's longest game of the season ends as a 4–2 loss in 15 innings to the visiting Athletics.
July 19: The team's longest losing streak of the season, six games between July 12 and 18, comes to an end with a victory over the visiting Chicago White Stockings.
July 29: The team's longest winning streak of the season, eight games between July 19 and 28, comes to an end with a loss to the visiting Detroit Tigers.
September 29: The season ends with a 9–5 road win over the Orioles. This was the last game the Orioles played at Oriole Park in Baltimore; in 1903, they relocated to New York City as the Highlanders, then in 1913 became known as the New York Yankees.

Transactions

June 2: Fred Mitchell loaned to the Philadelphia Athletics.
June 3: Charlie Hickman sold to the Cleveland Indians.
July 11: Pitcher Tom Hughes joins Boston from the Baltimore Orioles.
July 23: Manager Jimmy Collins signs pitcher Tully Sparks.

Statistical leaders

The offense was led by Buck Freeman, who hit 11 home runs and had 121 RBIs, and Patsy Dougherty with a.342 batting average. The pitching staff was led by Cy Young, who made 45 appearances and pitched 41 complete games with a 32–11 record and 2.15 ERA, while striking out 160 in innings.

Season standings

The team had one game end in a tie; August 18 vs. Detroit Tigers. Tie games are not counted in league standings, but player statistics during tie games are counted.

Opening Day lineup

Source:

Player stats

Batting

''Note: Pos=Position; GP=Games played; AB=At bats; R=Runs; H=Hits; 2B=Doubles; 3B=Triples; HR=Home runs; RBI=Runs batted in; BB=Walks; AVG=Batting average; OBP=On base percentage; SLG=Slugging percentage''

Other Batters

Note: Pos=Position; GP=Games played; AB=At bats; R=Runs; H=Hits; 2B=Doubles; 3B=Triples; HR=Home runs; RBI=Runs batted in; BB=Walks; AVG=Batting average; OBP=On base percentage; SLG=Slugging percentage

Pos	Player	GP	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	AVG	OBP	SLG	Reference
IF/OF	Harry Gleason	71	240	30	54	5	5	2	25	9	.225	.262	.313
C	Jack Warner	65	222	19	52	5	7	0	12	12	.234	.283	.320
LF	Charlie Hickman	28	108	13	32	5	2	3	16	3	.296	.339	.463
2B	Gary Wilson	3	11	1	2	0	0	0	1	1	.182	.250	.182

Pitchers

Note: GP=Games played; AB=At bats; R=Runs; H=Hits; 2B=Doubles; 3B=Triples; HR=Home runs; RBI=Runs batted in; BB=Walks; AVG=Batting average; OBP=On base percentage; SLG=Slugging percentage

Player	GP	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	AVG	OBP	SLG	Reference
Cy Young	45	148	17	34	4	1	1	12	5	.230	.255	.291
Bill Dinneen	44	141	13	18	3	0	0	9	11	.128	.201	.149
George Winter	20	61	5	10	0	0	0	1	3	.164	.203	.164
Tully Sparks	17	52	2	8	2	0	0	5	5	.154	.228	.192
Tom Hughes	12	31	7	11	1	0	0	3	2	.355	.394	.387
George Prentiss	7	16	1	5	0	0	0	2	0	.313	.313	.313
Doc Adkins	4	9	1	2	0	0	0	0	0	.222	.222	.222
Dave Williams	3	9	0	3	0	0	0	2	1	.333	.400	.333
Nick Altrock	3	8	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000
Pep Deininger	2	6	0	2	1	1	0	0	0	.333	.333	.833
Bert Husting	1	4	1	1	0	1	0	1	0	.250	.250	.750
Fred Mitchell	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	.000	.000	.000

Pitching

''Note: G=Games Played; GS=Games Started; IP=Innings Pitched; H=Hits; BB=Walks; R=Runs; ER=Earned Runs; SO=Strikeouts; W=Wins; L=Losses; SV=Saves; ERA=Earned Run Average''

Relief Pitchers

Note: G=Games Played; GS=Games Started; IP=Innings Pitched; H=Hits; BB=Walks; R=Runs; ER=Earned Runs; SO=Strikeouts; W=Wins; L=Losses; SV=Saves; ERA=Earned Run Average

Player	G	GS	IP	H	BB	R	ER	SO	W	L	SV	ERA	Reference
Dave Williams	3	0		22	11	18	11	7	0	0	0	5.30
Fred Mitchell	1	0	4	8	5	5	5	2	0	1	0	11.25