The following are the baseball events of the year 1908 throughout the world.
Champions
Awards and honors
Statistical Leaders
Major League Baseball final standings
American League final standings
National League final standings
Events
- June 30 - Cy Young pitches the third, and final, no-hitter of his career as the Boston Red Sox defeat the New York Highlanders, 8-0.
- July 4 - One batter away from a perfect game, New York Giants pitcher Hooks Wiltse hits George McQuillan with two outs in the ninth inning. Wiltse continues to pitch and tosses a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies. The Giants win, 1-0, in 10 innings.
- August 4 - In a game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Brooklyn Superbas only one baseball was used for the entire game. Brooklyn wins, 3-0.
- September 5 - Nap Rucker pitches a no-hitter as the Brooklyn Superbas defeat the Boston Doves, 6-0.
- September 18 - Cleveland Naps pitcher Bob Rhoads tosses a no-hitter against the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland wins, 2-1.
- September 20 - Frank Smith of the Chicago White Sox throws a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Athletics, the White Sox win, 1-0. It is the second no-hitter of Smith's career.
- September 23 - The Chicago Cubs and New York Giants, involved in a tight pennant race, (also involving the Pittsburgh Pirates) were tied in the bottom of the ninth inning at the Polo Grounds. The Giants had runners on first and third and two outs when Al Bridwell hit a single to center field, scoring Moose McCormick from third with the Giants’ apparent winning run, but the runner on first base, rookie Fred Merkle, thinking the game was over, went half way to second and then sprinted to the clubhouse after McCormick touched home plate. As fans swarmed the field, Cub infielder Johnny Evers retrieved the ball and touched second. Since there were 2 outs, a forceout was called at second base, ending the inning and the game. The game was declared a tie and would be made up at the end of the season if the Cubs and Giants were tied for first place. The incident became known as "The Merkle Boner".
- October 2 - In a game involving the Cleveland Naps and the Chicago White Sox, Ed Walsh struck out 15 Naps and walked one batter, pitching a complete game, but it was not enough as Addie Joss pitched a perfect game, as the Naps beat the White Sox, 1-0, during the heat of a pennant race. Cleveland center fielder Joe Birmingham scored the game's only run. Joss' perfect game is the second in the modern era and fourth all time. It is perhaps the finest pitching duel in baseball history.
- October 6 - The Detroit Tigers defeat the Chicago White Sox, 7-0, to win the American League pennant on the last day of the season.
- October 8 - The Chicago Cubs defeat the New York Giants, 4-2, in the make-up of "The Merkle Boner" game, giving the Cubs the National League pennant.
- October 14 - The Chicago Cubs defeat the Detroit Tigers, 2-0, in Game 5 of the World Series to win the series four games to one. It is the second consecutive World Championship for the Cubs and the second year in a row they have defeated the Tigers in the World Series. To date the Cubs have not won another World Series.
- October 24 - Take Me Out to the Ballgame is introduced by singer Billy Murray. The song writing team of Albert Von Tilzer (music) and Jack Norworth (lyrics) who created the immortal tune have never seen a game. Over the past 100 years, more than 400 musicians from every conceivable genre have recorded the song.
- November 22 - In the first game ever between a Japanese and an American professional team, the Reach All-Americans defeat Waseda University in Tokyo, 5 - 0.
Births
January-April
May-August
September-December
Deaths
- March 30 – Charlie Sweasy, 60, second baseman for 1869 Cincinnati Red Stockings. Played seven years in the National Association and the National League.
- May 14 – John O'Connell, 35, played in only the 1891 and 1902 season
- April 6 – Jim Brown, 47, pitcher and outfielder for two seasons, 1884 and 1886.
- April 10 – Mike Griffin, 43, center fielder for Baltimore and Brooklyn who batted .300 six times, scored 100 runs ten times; led league in runs and doubles once each
- April 20 – Henry Chadwick, 83, the "Father of Baseball," who through his writings, analysis of statistics and service in developing the sport's rules played a principal role in establishing baseball as the "national pastime"; devised the box score, developed scoring system which enabled recording of every play, authored the first rule book in 1858, and created statistics including batting average and earned run average; worked to revise sport's rules so as to balance offense and defense, and to increase mental demands as well as physical ones
- June 22 – Everett Mills, 63, first baseman for six seasons, 1871-1876.
- August 19 – Doc Bushong, 51, catcher for 13 seasons; 1875-1876, 1880-1890, played on 5 league championship teams.
- September 18 – Dickey Pearce, 72, shortstop (in the sport's earliest era) whose career spanned the years 1856 to 1877; introduced the bunt and pioneered defensive play at his position, later became an umpire
Bibliography
- Murphy, Cait (2007). Crazy '08: How a Cast of Cranks, Rogues, Boneheads, and Magnates Created the Greatest Year in Baseball History. Collins. ISBN 0-060-88937-3.
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This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)
