The 1903 Boston Americans season was the third season for the professional baseball franchise that later became known as the Boston Red Sox. The Americans finished first in the American League (AL) with a record of 91 wins and 47 losses, games ahead of the Philadelphia Athletics. Boston went on to participate in the first World Series held between the AL and National League (NL) champions. The Americans won the 1903 World Series in eight games over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The team was managed by Jimmy Collins and played its home games at Huntington Avenue Grounds.
Offseason and Spring Training
Transactions
October 6, 1902: It is reported that George Stone will play for the Boston Americans. October 28, 1902: John McGraw, manager of the New York Giants, announces that Jack Warner of the Boston Americans had signed to play for the Giants. This decision came after weeks of speculation as to the future of Jack Warner. In an interview printed on September 25, 1902, Jimmy Collins stated that he had signed Warner to a two-year contract with the Americans the previous month. On October 13, 1902, Jimmy Collins had gone to New York after hearing reports that Warner had jumped to the New York Giants. March 18, 1903: Catcher Charles "Duke" Farrell announces that that he has accepted an offer to play for the Boston Americans.
Regular season
Prior to the regular season, the team held spring training in Macon, Georgia. Cy Young was a coach for the Mercer University baseball team, also based in Macon. April 20: The season opens with a home doubleheader against the Philadelphia Athletics, with Boston winning the first game, 9–4, and Philadelphia the second, 10–7. May 12: After a slow start to the season, the team has a winning record for the first time, at 10–9, with a 10–5 win over the Cleveland Naps at League Park in Cleveland. June 1: With a 20–15 record, Boston moves into first place in the AL, a half-game ahead of the St. Louis Browns. June 9: The team's longest winning streak of the season, 11 games between May 28 and June 8, comes to an end with a loss to the visiting Detroit Tigers. June 16: With a 28–18 record, Boston falls a game behind Philadelphia in the AL standings. June 21: Buck Freeman is the first player in franchise history to hit for the cycle, in a road win at Cleveland. June 23: With a 33–20 record, Boston regains the AL lead, which they will not relinquish through the end of the season. June 30: Nick Altrock starts and pitches eight innings in a 10–3 road loss to the Chicago White Sox; these are the only innings in the entire season not pitched by members of the five-man rotation, led by Cy Young. July 29: Patsy Dougherty hits for the cycle against the visiting New York Highlanders. It is also Boston's highest scoring game of the year, a 15–14 loss. September 28: The season ends with a home doubleheader against the Browns, with Boston winning both games; 8–7 and 6–0.
The team's longest losing streak was three games, which occurred twice; April 20–23 and September 22–23. The team's longest game was 12 innings, which occurred three times.
Transactions
May 4, 1903: It is reported that the Boston Americans had acquired University of Illinois Athlete Jake Stahl, who agrees to join the team after receiving his diploma in June. Stahl would make his debut with the Americans on June 6. July 2: Nick Altrock is sold to the White Sox; he starts against Boston on July 8, a 6–1 win by the Americans.
Statistical leaders
The offense was led by Buck Freeman, who hit 13 home runs and had 104 RBIs, and Patsy Dougherty with a .331 batting average. It was Freeman's third consecutive season with at least 100 RBIs. The pitching staff was led by Cy Young, who made 40 appearances (35 starts) and pitched 34 complete games with a 28–9 record and 2.08 ERA, while striking out 176 in innings. The team had two other 20-game winners; Bill Dinneen (21–13) and Tom Hughes (20–7).
Season standings
The team had three games end in a tie; July 31 at Washington, August 29 at Washington, and September 25 vs. Detroit. Tie games are not counted in league standings, but player statistics during tie games are counted.
Record vs. opponents
Opening Day lineup
Source:
Roster
Player stats
Batting
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Starters by position
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
Pitching
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts