The 1895 major league baseball season began on April 18, 1895. The regular season ended on September 30, with the Baltimore Orioles as the pennant winner of the National League and the Cleveland Spiders as runner-up. The postseason began with Game 1 of the second Temple Cup on October 2 and ended with Game 5 on October 8. The Spiders defeated the Orioles, four games to one, capturing their first Temple Cup.

Schedule

The 1895 schedule consisted of 132 games for the twelve teams of the National League. Each team was scheduled to play 12 games against the other eleven teams in the league. This continued the format put in place since and would be used until .

Opening Day took place on April 18 featuring ten teams. The final day of the season was on September 30, featuring six teams. The Temple Cup took place between October 2 and October 8.

Rule changes The 1895 season saw the following rule changes: A held foul tip is now classified as a strike. The size of baseball bats were regulated to be at most 2¾ inches in diameter (an increase from 2½) and no longer than 42 inches. The infield fly rule is adopted, which is enforced when: A fly ball is hit in the infield. There is a force play at third base. The infield fly rule shall be called by the umpire if they judge that the fly ball can be caught with ordinary effort. The pitcher's plate was enlarged from 12 inches by 4 inches, to 24 inches by 6 inches. Aside from catcher and first basemen's mitts and the size of gloves for all other position players were limited to 10 ounces and no more than 14 inches in circumference. Each incident of a player using indecent, obscene, or abusive language on the field resulted in a fine between $25 and $100 (equivalent to $ and $ in ), and that the money would be forwarded to Secretary Nicholas Young within five days or the player would be suspended until the fine was paid. A rule requiring umpires to "enforce the playing rules as written" was adopted, imposing a $25 fine on the respective umpire for the first such failure in a game, and doubling that to $50 for a second failure (equivalent to $ and $ in , respectively).

Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandUnion Park6,500Boston BeaneatersBoston, MassachusettsSouth End Grounds6,600Brooklyn GroomsBrooklyn, New YorkEastern Park12,000Chicago ColtsChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park13,000Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioLeague Park (Cincinnati)9,000Cleveland SpidersCleveland, OhioLeague Park (Cleveland)9,000Louisville ColonelsLouisville, KentuckyEclipse Park6,400New York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds16,000Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaNational League Park18,000Pittsburgh PiratesAllegheny, PennsylvaniaExposition Park6,500St. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriNew Sportsman's Park14,500Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Boundary Field6,500

Standings National League

Tie games 16 tie games, which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again), occurred throughout the season. Baltimore Orioles, 2 Boston Beaneaters, 2 Brooklyn Grooms, 3 Chicago Colts, 3 Cincinnati Reds, 2 Cleveland Spiders, 2 Louisville Colonels, 2 New York Giants, 1 Philadelphia Phillies, 2 Pittsburgh Pirates, 3 St. Louis Browns, 5 Washington Senators, 5

Postseason Bracket

*Denotes walk-off

Managerial changes Off-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerCincinnati RedsCharles ComiskeyBuck EwingLouisville ColonelsBilly BarnieJohn McCloskeyNew York GiantsJohn WardGeorge DavisSt. Louis BrownsGeorge MillerAl Buckenberger

In-season TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerNew York GiantsGeorge DavisJack DoyleJack DoyleHarvey WatkinsSt. Louis BrownsAl BuckenbergerChris von der AheChris von der AheJoe QuinnJoe QuinnLou Phelan

League leaders National League

+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Jesse Burkett (CLE) .405 OPS Ed Delahanty (PHI) 1.117 HR Sam Thompson (PHI) 18 RBI Sam Thompson (PHI) 165 R Billy Hamilton (PHI) 166 H Jesse Burkett (CLE) 225 SB Billy Hamilton (PHI) 97

+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Cy Young (CLE) 35 L Theodore Breitenstein (STL) 30 ERA Al Maul (WAS) 2.45 K Amos Rusie (NYG) 201 IP Pink Hawley (PIT) 444.1 SV Ernie Beam (PHI)Tom Parrott (CIN) 3 WHIP Cy Young (CLE) 1.185

Milestones Batters Cycles

Tommy Dowd (STL): Dowd hit for his first cycle and third in franchise history, on August 16 against the Louisville Colonels. Ed Cartwright (WAS): Cartwright hit for his first cycle and second in franchise history, in game one of a doubleheader on September 30 against the Boston Beaneaters.

Other batting accomplishments Arlie Latham (CIN): Recorded his 700th career stolen base, becoming the first player to reach this mark. It is unknown what day this stolen base occurred. Billy Hamilton (PHI): Recorded his 600th career stolen base, becoming the second player to reach this mark. It is unknown what day this stolen base occurred. Tom Brown (WAS/): Recorded his 600th career stolen base, becoming the third player to reach this mark. It is unknown what day this stolen base occurred.

Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendancePhiladelphia Phillies78 9.9%474,971 34.6%6,506Chicago Colts72 26.3%382,300 60.0%5,706Baltimore Orioles87−2.2%293,000−10.7%4,373Cincinnati Reds66 20.0%281,000 77.8%4,323Boston Beaneaters71−14.5%242,000 58.4%3,559New York Giants66 −25.0%240,000−38.0%3,582Brooklyn Grooms71 1.4%230,000 7.5%3,433Pittsburgh Pirates719.2%188,000 18.2%2,806St. Louis Browns39 −30.4%170,000 9.7%2,500Washington Senators43−4.4%153,00022.4%2,217Cleveland Spiders8423.5%143,00074.4%2,306Louisville Colonels35−2.8%92,00022.7%1,559

See also 1895 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths)

References

External links 1895 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference