The 1915 major league baseball season began on April 10, 1915. The Federal League regular season ended on October 3, and saw the Chicago Whales winning the Federal League pennant. The regular season for the National League and American League ended on October 7, with the Philadelphia Phillies and Boston Red Sox as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 12th World Series on October 8 and ended with Game 5 on October 13. The Red Sox defeated the Phillies, four games to one, capturing their third championship in franchise history, since their previous in . Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the Boston Braves from the season. The World Series had again featured the cities of Boston and Philadelphia, though this time with their opposite-league counterparts.
The Indianapolis Hoosiers relocated to Newark, New Jersey as the Newark Peppers. The Buffalo Buffeds, Chicago Federals, and Cleveland Naps renamed as the Buffalo Blues, Chicago Whales, and Cleveland Indians, respectively.
The Federal League brought an antitrust lawsuit against the National and American Leagues prior to the 1915 season. The parties eventually reached a settlement and the Federal League disbanded after the season.
The major-league status of the Federal League was confirmed by the Special Baseball Records Committee (as convened by then-Commissioner of Baseball William Eckert) in 1969.
Schedule
The 1915 schedule consisted of 154 games for all teams in the American League, National League, and Federal League, each of which had eight teams. Each team was scheduled to play 22 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place for the season, and which lasted until the 140-game schedule of . Most teams played more than 154 games, due to tie games (called on account of darkness or weather) that had to be replayed; tie games are excluded from team standings, but the statistics of individual players are included in their season totals.
The Federal League had its Opening Day on April 10, featuring all eight teams. Opening Day for the American and National Leagues was on April 14, featuring the 16 teams of those two leagues, as had been scheduled the season prior. The Federal League had the final day of its regular season on October 3. The final day of the regular season for the National and American Leagues was October 7. The World Series took place between October 8 and October 13.
Rule change The National League established that player-managers would count against the player limit, so the bench manager would be unable to insert himself in any game during the season without forfeiting the right to carry one of the players on his roster. The penalty for violating the rule was forfeiture of the game.
Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park27,000Braves Field*40,000*Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park28,000Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioLeague Park21,414Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganNavin Field23,000New York YankeesNew York, New YorkBrush Stadium34,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park23,000St. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park18,000Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.National Park27,000Boston BravesBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park27,000Braves Field*40,000*Brooklyn RobinsNew York, New YorkEbbets Field30,000Chicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWest Side Park16,000Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioRedland Field20,696New York GiantsNew York, New YorkBrush Stadium34,000Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaNational League Park18,000Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field25,000St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriRobison Field21,000Baltimore TerrapinsBaltimore, MarylandTerrapin Park16,000Brooklyn Tip-TopsNew York, New YorkWashington Park18,800Buffalo BluesBuffalo, New YorkFederal League Park20,000Chicago WhalesChicago, IllinoisWeeghman Park15,000Kansas City PackersKansas City, MissouriGordon and Koppel Field12,000Newark PeppersNewark, New JerseyHarrison Park21,000Pittsburgh RebelsPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaExposition Park16,000St. Louis TerriersSt. Louis, MissouriHandlan's Park15,000
Standings
American League
National League
Federal League
Tie games 31 tie games (10 in AL, 13 in NL, 8 in FL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season.
American League Boston Red Sox, 4 Chicago White Sox, 1 Cleveland Indians, 2 Detroit Tigers, 2 New York Yankees, 2 Philadelphia Athletics, 2 St. Louis Browns, 5 Washington Senators, 2
National League Boston Braves, 5 Brooklyn Robins, 2 Chicago Cubs, 3 Cincinnati Reds, 6 New York Giants, 3 Philadelphia Phillies, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 St. Louis Cardinals, 4
Federal League Brooklyn Tip-Tops, 1 Buffalo Blues, 1 Chicago Whales, 3 Newark Peppers, 3 Pittsburgh Rebels, 3 St. Louis Terriers, 5
Postseason The postseason began on October 8 and ended on October 13 with the Boston Red Sox defeating the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1915 World Series in five games. The National and American Leagues refused a postseason against the Federal League.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBrooklyn Tip-TopsBill BradleyLee MageeChicago CubsHank O'DayRoger BresnahanChicago White SoxJimmy CallahanPants RowlandNew York YankeesRoger PeckinpaughBill DonovanPhiladelphia PhilliesRed DooinPat Moran In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBrooklyn Tip-TopsLee MageeJohn GanzelBuffalo BluesLarry SchlaflyWalter BlairWalter BlairHarry LordCleveland Indians Joe BirminghamLee Fohl Newark PeppersBill PhillipsBill McKechnie
League leaders Any team shown in indicates a previous team a player was on during the season.
American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Ty Cobb (DET) .369 OPS Ty Cobb (DET) .973 HR Braggo Roth (CLE/) 7 RBI Sam Crawford (DET)Bobby Veach (DET) 112 R Ty Cobb (DET) 144 H Ty Cobb (DET) 208 SB Ty Cobb (DET) 96
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Walter Johnson (WSH) 27 L Weldon Wyckoff (PHA) 22 ERA Smoky Joe Wood (BOS) 1.49 K Walter Johnson (WSH) 203 IP Walter Johnson (WSH) 336.2 SV Carl Mays (BOS) 7 WHIP Walter Johnson (WSH) 0.933
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Larry Doyle (NYG) .320 OPS Gavvy Cravath (PHI) .902 HR Gavvy Cravath (PHI) 24 RBI Gavvy Cravath (PHI) 115 R Gavvy Cravath (PHI) 89 H Larry Doyle (NYG) 189 SB Max Carey (PIT) 36
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Grover Alexander1 (PHI) 31 L Dick Rudolph (BSN)Pete Schneider (CIN) 19 ERA Grover Alexander1 (PHI) 1.22 K Grover Alexander1 (PHI) 241 IP Grover Alexander (PHI) 376.1 SV Tom Hughes (BSN) 9 WHIP Grover Alexander (PHI) 0.842 1 National League Triple Crown pitching winner
Federal League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Benny Kauff (BKF) .342 OPS Benny Kauff (BKF) .955 HR Hal Chase (BUF) 17 RBI Dutch Zwilling (CWH) 94 R Babe Borton (SLT) 97 H Jack Tobin (SLT) 184 SB Benny Kauff (BKF) 55
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W George McConnell (CWH) 25 L Jack Quinn (BAL) 22 ERA Earl Moseley (NWK) 1.91 K Dave Davenport (SLT) 229 IP Dave Davenport (SLT) 392.2 SV Hugh Bedient (BUF) 10 WHIP Dave Davenport (SLT) 0.991
Milestones Batters Cycles
Heinie Groh (CIN): Groh hit for his first cycle and sixth in franchise history, in game two of a doubleheader on July 5 against the Chicago Cubs.
Other batting accomplishments Ty Cobb (DET): Recorded his 500th career stolen base in the eighth inning against the Washington Senators on May 9. He became the 17th player to reach this mark. Honus Wagner (PIT): Recorded his 700th career stolen base in the fourth inning against the Chicago Cubs on August 17. He became the third player to reach this mark.
Pitchers No-hitters
Rube Marquard (BRO/): Marquard threw his first career no-hitter and sixth no-hitter in franchise history as a part of the New York Giants, by defeating the Brooklyn Robins 2–0 on April 15. Marquard walked two and struck out two. Frank Allen (PRB): Allen threw his first career no-hitter and first no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the St. Louis Terriers 2–0 on April 24. Allen walked four and struck out two. Claude Hendrix (CWH): Hendrix threw his first career no-hitter and first no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Pittsburgh Rebels 10–0 on May 15. Hendrix walked three and struck out three. Alex Main (KC): Main threw his first career no-hitter and first-no hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Buffalo Blues 5–0 on August 16. Main walked one and struck out seven. Jimmy Lavender (CHC): Lavender threw his first career no-hitter and sixth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the New York Giants 2–0 in game one of a doubleheader on August 31. Lavender walked one and struck out eight. Dave Davenport (SLT): Davenport threw his first career no-hitter and first no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Chicago Whales 3–0 in game one of a doubleheader on September 7. Davenport walked two and struck out three.
Other pitching accomplishments Eddie Plank (SLT): Became the ninth member of the 300-win club, defeating the Newark Peppers on September 11, winning 12–5.
Miscellaneous Brooklyn Tip-Tops / Buffalo Blues: Set a Major League record for most combined walks in a single game at 24, with the Brooklyn Tip-Tops walking 11 batters and the Buffalo Blues walking 13, on April 12 in a game that Brooklyn won 7–5.
Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceBoston Red Sox101 11.0%539,885 12.2%7,104Chicago White Sox93 32.9%539,461 15.0%6,829Detroit Tigers100 25.0%476,105 14.4%6,183Philadelphia Phillies90 21.6%449,898 224.9%5,920New York Giants69 -17.9%391,850 7.6%5,156Boston Braves83 -11.7%376,283 -1.7%4,824Brooklyn Robins80 6.7%297,766 142.7%3,818New York Yankees69 -1.4%256,035 -28.8%3,122St. Louis Cardinals72 -11.1%252,666 -1.3%3,119Pittsburgh Pirates73 5.8%225,743 61.7%2,858Cincinnati Reds71 18.3%218,878 117.2%2,771Chicago Cubs73 -6.4%217,058 7.2%2,819Washington Senators85 4.9%167,332 -31.4%2,092Cleveland Indians57 11.8%159,285 -14.4%2,069St. Louis Browns63 -11.3%150,358 -38.6%1,978Philadelphia Athletics43 -56.6%146,223 -57.8%1,976 Note: Attendance data for Federal League teams is unavailable.
Venues With the relocation of the Indianapolis Hoosiers from Indianapolis, Indiana to Newark, New Jersey as the Newark Peppers, they leave Federal League Park and move into Harrison Park.
The Boston Braves would play their last game at Fenway Park on July 26, having shared the park with the Boston Red Sox since the middle of , and opened Braves Field on August 18, playing their final 26 of 78 home games and where they would go on to play for 38 seasons through .
The Chicago Cubs would play their final game at West Side Park on October 3 against the St. Louis Cardinals, moving into the home of the Chicago Whales (who would fold before the season), Weeghman Park for the start of the 1916 season.
For games 3 and 4 of the World Series, the Boston Red Sox use the Boston Braves home of Braves Field due to its larger capacity over their home at Fenway Park (40,000 to 27,000). This was the first year in a row where a World Series winning Red Sox used Braves Field.
See also 1915 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths)
References
External links 1915 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference