President Theodore Roosevelt held the "White House Conservation Conference", which later led to the establishment of the National Conservation Commission. The main purpose of the Commission was to implement new regulations for conserving the earth's natural resources by protecting its capacity for self-renewal. Particularly complex were the problems of nonrenewable energy resources such as oil and coal and other minerals that are still in great demand today.
On April 14 th , Boston played their first game under the new nickname, the "Red Sox" and christened it with a 3-1 win over the Washington Senators at the Huntington Avenue Baseball Grounds.
The Detroit Tigers set a unique Major League record on June 7 th after turning a triple play against the Boston Red Sox for the second day in a row.
The Washington Senators set an unwanted American League record after losing twenty-nine games by shutouts.
In March, Honus Wagner announced his retirement from the Pittsburgh Pirates at the age of thirty-four. Despite the intention, he went on to play in one-hundred fifty-one games (more than in any of the past ten years) and led the league in hitting (for the sixth time), hits, total bases, doubles, triples, RBIs, and stolen bases.
On May 23 rd , New York Giants third baseman Art Devlin tied a Major League record by handling thirteen total chances during a 6-2 loss to the St. Louis Cardinals.
Despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary (after a two-year investigation by the Mills Committee) National League president A.G. Mills declared that Abner Doubleday had indeed, invented the sport of baseball at Cooperstown, New York in 1839.
Henry Chadwick, a leading reporter, commentator, scorer, and promoter of the game, died in Brooklyn at the tender age of eighty-five. Chadwick was known as "The Father of Baseball" and is credited with developing the initial scoring and statistical systems for the game.
Singing sensation Billy Murray hit the charts with "Take Me Out to the Ball Game".
Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard
Base on Balls
Philadelphia
93
Batting Average
Detroit
.324
Doubles
Detroit
36
Hits
Detroit
188
Home Runs
Detroit
7
On Base Percentage
Boston
.394
RBI
Detroit
108
Runs
Detroit
105
Slugging Average
Detroit
.475
Stolen Bases
Chicago
47
Total Bases
Detroit
276
Triples
Detroit
20
Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard
Complete Games
Chicago
42
ERA
Cleveland
1.16
Games
Chicago
66
Saves
Chicago
6
Shutouts
Chicago
11
Strikeouts
Chicago
269
Winning Percentage
Chicago
.727
Wins
Chicago
40
1908 American League Team Standings |
||||
Team [Click for roster] | Wins | Losses | WP | GB |
90 | 63 | .588 | 0 | |
90 | 64 | .584 | ½ | |
88 | 64 | .579 | 1½ | |
83 | 69 | .546 | 6½ | |
75 | 79 | .487 | 15½ | |
68 | 85 | .444 | 22 | |
67 | 85 | .441 | 22½ | |
51 | 103 | .331 | 39½ |
Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard
Base on Balls
Chicago
463
Batting Average
Detroit
.263
Doubles
Detroit
199
Hits
Detroit
1,347
Home Runs
Philadelphia
21
On Base Percentage
Detroit
.312
Runs
Detroit
647
Slugging Average
Detroit
.347
Stolen Bases
New York
231
Triples
Boston
88
Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard
Complete Games
Detroit
119
ERA
Cleveland
2.02
Fewest Hits Allowed
St. Louis
1,151
Fewest Home Runs Allowed
St. Louis
7
Fewest Walks Allowed
Chicago
284
Saves
Chicago
10
Shutouts
Chicago
23
Philadelphia
Strikeouts
Philadelphia
741
On June 30, 1908, Cy Young tossed his third career no-hitter . He was the oldest pitcher, forty-one at the time, to hurl a gem until Nolan Ryan beat the record on June 11, 1990. That was Ryan's sixth no-hitter and he was forty-three. On May 1, 1991, Ryan pitched his seventh and final no-hitter at the record setting age of forty-four.
On October 2, 1908 , Addie Joss sat down twenty-seven consecutive batters during the second American League perfect game . Do you remember which American League pitcher tossed the first gem?
On October 5, 1908, Ed Walsh of the White Sox won his season leading fortieth game. This victory tightened the pennant race between Detroit, Cleveland, and Chicago - bringing it down to the final day.