Boston Americans Founding

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Lore & Background

In the streets of early 1900s Boston, a fierce competition erupted between two clubs. The Americans quickly drew fans away from the "Nationals" due to animosity toward NL owner Arthur Soden and more lucrative contracts for players like Cy Young and Jimmy Collins. Playing at Huntington Avenue Grounds, the team finished second and third in their first two seasons before capturing the pennant in 1903 and again in 1904. The 1903 victory came against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first modern World Series, a best-of-nine series won five games to three. Fans, known as Royal Rooters, aided the team with chants of "Tessie" while the pitching staff dominated.

In Their Own Story

The climax of the 1904 season unfolded at Hilltop Park against the New York Highlanders in a tight pennant race. New York needed to win both games of a final doubleheader to take the title. With Jack Chesbro, the Highlanders' 41-game winner on the mound, the score was tied 2–2 in the top of the ninth with a runner on third. A spitball got away from Chesbro, allowing Boston's Lou Criger to score the go-ahead run on one of history's most famous wild pitches. Although the Americans secured the pennant, the New York Giants had previously declined to play any postseason series, fearing they would give credibility to their New York rivals. The sharp public reaction to this snub led both leagues to make the World Series a permanent championship starting in 1905.

Reader's Guide

From 1901 through the early 1900s, the franchise was known as the Boston Americans. They played their home games at Huntington Avenue Grounds under manager Jimmy Collins, who was also the star third baseman. The roster featured elite talent including pitcher Cy Young and outfielders Chick Stahl, Buck Freeman, and Patsy Dougherty. After winning pennants in 1903 and 1904, the team's fortunes dipped, finishing last in the American League in 1906 with a 49–105 record. This era ended before the club was renamed the Red Sox and moved to Fenway Park, though new stars like Tris Speaker would soon help reverse their fortunes by 1909.

Did You Know?

• The Boston Americans won the first modern World Series in 1903, defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates five games to three.
• Fans known as the "Royal Rooters" helped the 1903 team win by chanting "Tessie" during games.
• In 1904, a famous wild pitch by Jack Chesbro allowed a pinch-runner for Lou Criger to score the winning run in a pennant-clinching game against New York.
• The National League champion New York Giants refused to play the 1904 World Series, leading leagues to make the series permanent starting in 1905.
• The Americans surpassed the older Boston Nationals in popularity by signing away star players and marketing more aggressively to Irish-American fans.