1903 New York Yankees (Highlanders)

The final standing	4th in AL (Did not qualify for World Series)
Regular season record	72-62 (.537)
Post-season record	(Not played)
AL rank	4th
World Series record and opponent	(Not played)
Manager	Clark Griffith
Captain	Clark Griffith
Top batter	Home runs: Herm McFarland (5), John Ganzel, Jimmy Williams (3) BA: Willie Keeler (.313), Kid Elberfeld (.287), John Ganzel (.277) Runs: Willie Keeler (95), Wid Conroy (74), John Ganzel (62) RBI: Jimmy Williams (82), John Ganzel (71), Wid Conroy, Kid Elberfeld, Herm McFarland (45)
Top pitcher/ (W-L, ERA)	Jack Chesbro: 21-15, 2.77 Clark Griffith: 14-11, 2.70
Attendance record	211,808 (7th of 8)

1903 New York Yankees season: A brief summary

The 1903 season of the New York Yankees (Highlanders), later known as the New York Yankees, marked a significant debut in American League baseball, setting the foundation for what would become one of the most storied franchises in the sport. Managed by Clark Griffith and playing at Hilltop Park, the Highlanders finished their inaugural season with a respectable 4th place standing in the American League, sporting a 72–62 record. 

The team’s creation was part of a strategic move to establish a strong American League presence in New York City, directly challenging the National League’s New York Giants. The nickname “Highlanders” played off the team’s elevated home field location and was also a nod to military prestige, linking the team with the valor associated with the Gordon Highlanders. However, the local press’s more enduring contribution would be the nickname “Yankees,” a term that resonated with American identity and would become synonymous with the franchise.

During the offseason leading into 1903, notable player movements such as Jack O’Connor’s transition from the Pittsburgh Pirates highlighted the team’s efforts to build a competitive roster. On the field, the Highlanders demonstrated promising talent and competitive spirit, laying the groundwork for the development of a passionate fanbase.

The 1903 New York Yankees season is not just a historical footnote but a pivotal chapter in the establishment of a team that would grow to become a central figure in baseball lore. The Highlanders’ debut performance set the stage for the evolution of a team identity that would deeply influence the cultural and sporting landscape of New York and the broader baseball world. Their journey from the Hilltop to becoming the Yankees encapsulates a transformative era in baseball, reflecting broader themes of ambition, rivalry, and the quest for sporting excellence in the early 20th century.

Postseason result

(Did not qualify – Eliminated in regular season)

1903 New York Yankees roster

Name	Age	B	T	Ht	Wt	DoB	Yrs	G	GS	WAR
Merle Adkins	30	R	R	5′ 10″	220	Aug 5, 1872	2	2	1	-0.4
Monte Beville	28	L	R	5′ 11″	180	Feb 24, 1875	1st	83	68	-0.7
Elmer Bliss	28	L	R	6′ 0″	180	Mar 9, 1875	1st	1	0	0.4
Jack Chesbro HOF	29	R	R	5′ 9″	180	Jun 5, 1874	5	40	36	4.9
Wid Conroy	26	R	R	5′ 9″	158	Apr 5, 1877	3	126	126	3
Ernie Courtney	28	L	R	5′ 8″	168	Jan 20, 1875	2	25	22	1.1
Lefty Davis	28	L	L	5′ 10″	170	Feb 4, 1875	3	104	98	-0.7
John Deering	25	R	R	6′ 0″	180	Jun 25, 1878	1st	9	7	0.2
Kid Elberfeld	28	R	R	5′ 7″	158	Apr 13, 1875	5	90	90	2.6
Dave Fultz	28	R	R	5′ 11″	170	May 29, 1875	5	79	78	-0.1
John Ganzel	29	R	R	6′ 0″	195	Apr 7, 1874	4	129	129	3.4
Paddy Greene	28	R	R	5′ 8″	150	Mar 20, 1875	2	4	3	0.2
Clark Griffith HOF	33	R	R	5′ 6″	156	Nov 20, 1869	12	25	24	3.7
Fred Holmes	24	R	R	5′ 7″	145	Jul 1, 1878	1st	1	0	0
Harry Howell	26	R	R	5′ 9″		Nov 14, 1876	6	40	25	1.2
Tim Jordan	24	L	L	6′ 1″	170	Feb 14, 1879	2	2	2	-0.2
Willie Keeler HOF	31	L	L	5′ 4″	140	Mar 3, 1872	12	132	132	2.1
Herman Long	37	L	R	5′ 8″	160	Apr 13, 1866	15	22	22	-0.6
Pat McCauley	33		R	5′ 10″	156	Jun 10, 1870	3	6	6	-0.5
Herm McFarland	33	L	R	5′ 6″	150	Mar 11, 1870	5	103	101	1.4
Jack O’Connor	37	R	R	5′ 10″	170	Jun 2, 1866	17	64	63	-0.6
Ambrose Puttmann	22		L	6′ 4″	185	Sep 9, 1880	1st	3	2	0.2
Eddie Quick	21		R	5′ 11″		Dec 27, 1881	1st	1	1	-0.3
Jesse Tannehill	28	B	L	5′ 8″	150	Jul 14, 1874	8	40	35	1.9
Jimmy Williams	26	R	R	5′ 9″	175	Dec 20, 1876	5	132	132	4.4
Lewis Wiltse	31	R	L			Dec 5, 1871	3	4	3	-0.2
Barney Wolfe	27	R	R	6′ 1″		Jun 10, 1876	1st	20	16	0.9
Jack Zalusky	24	R	R	5′ 11″	172	Jun 22, 1879	1st	7	2	0

1903 New York Yankees player additions, transactions, and trades

Before the 1903 Season:

• Willie Keeler joined the Highlanders, coming over from the Brooklyn Superbas.
• Clark Griffith was received from the Chicago White Sox in an unspecified transaction.

March 1903:

• Purchased Dave Fultz from the Philadelphia Athletics.

June 10, 1903:

• Traded Ernie Courtney and Herman Long to the Detroit Tigers in exchange for Kid Elberfeld.

July 16, 1903:

• Traded Paddy Greene to the Detroit Tigers and received John Deering in return.

September 1903:

• Drafted Ambrose Puttmann from Helena (Pacific Coast League) in the 1903 rule 5 draft.
• Drafted Eddie Quick from Salt Lake City (Pacific Coast League) in the 1903 rule 5 draft.

October 6, 1903:

• Traded Jack O’Connor to the St. Louis Browns and acquired John Anderson in return.

1903 New York Yankees player debuts

• Monte Beville – 04-24-1903 – 28 years old
• Elmer Bliss – 09-28-1903 – 28 years old
• Fred Holmes – 08-23-1903 – 25 years old
• Ambrose Puttmann – 09-04-1903 – 22 years old
• Eddie Quick – 09-28-1903 – 21 years old
• Barney Wolfe – 04-24-1903 – 27 years old
• Jack Zalusky – 09-02-1903 – 24 years old

1903 New York Yankees team stats (batting)

Pos	Name	Age	G	PA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	SB	BB	SO	BA
C	Monte Beville	28	82	287	258	23	50	14	1	0	29	4	16	26	0.194
1B	John Ganzel	29	129	533	476	62	132	25	7	3	71	9	30	38	0.277
2B	Jimmy Williams	26	132	556	502	60	134	30	12	3	82	9	39	54	0.267
SS	Kid Elberfeld	28	90	392	349	49	100	18	5	0	45	16	22	12	0.287
3B	Wid Conroy	26	126	548	503	74	137	23	12	1	45	33	32	36	0.272
OF	Herm McFarland	33	103	423	362	41	88	16	9	5	45	13	46	52	0.243
OF	Willie Keeler	31	132	584	512	95	160	14	7	0	32	24	32	12	0.313
OF	Lefty Davis	28	104	436	372	54	88	10	0	0	25	11	43	31	0.237
OF	Dave Fultz	28	79	335	295	39	66	12	1	0	25	29	25	21	0.224
C	Jack O’Connor	37	64	225	212	13	43	4	1	0	12	4	8	21	0.203
SS	Ernie Courtney	28	25	92	79	7	21	3	3	1	8	1	7	8	0.266
SS	Herman Long	37	22	88	80	6	15	3	0	0	8	3	2	14	0.188
C	Pat McCauley	33	6	19	19	0	1	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	0.053
UT	Jack Zalusky	24	7	17	16	2	5	0	0	0	1	0	1	5	0.313
IF	Paddy Greene	28	4	13	13	1	4	1	0	0	0	0	0	4	0.308
1B	Tim Jordan	24	2	8	8	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0.125
1B	Fred Holmes	24	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
P	Jack Chesbro	29	40	130	124	8	23	4	0	2	9	0	2	29	0.185
P	Jesse Tannehill	28	40	122	111	18	26	6	2	1	13	1	8	22	0.234
P	Harry Howell	26	40	115	106	14	23	3	2	1	12	1	5	24	0.217
P	Clark Griffith	33	25	86	69	5	11	4	0	1	7	1	11	13	0.159
P	Barney Wolfe	27	20	56	53	4	4	1	0	0	1	0	2	21	0.075
P	John Deering	25	9	23	23	1	1	0	0	0	2	1	0	12	0.043
P	Lewis Wiltse	31	4	9	9	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	0.222
P	Ambrose Puttmann	22	3	7	7	1	1	1	0	0	1	0	0	1	0.143
P	Elmer Bliss	28	1	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	0
P	Merle Adkins	30	2	3	3	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
P	Eddie Quick	21	1	1	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0
	Team Totals	29.1	136	5112	4565	579	1136	193	62	18	474	160	332	461	0.249
	Rank in 8 AL teams				8	4	6	4	7	4		3	1	1	5
	Non-Pitcher Totals	29.2	136	4557	4056	528	1045	173	58	13	429	156	304	337	0.258
	Pitcher Totals	28.4	136	555	509	51	91	20	4	5	45	4	28	124	0.179

1903 New York Yankees team stats (pitching)

Pos	Name	Age	W	L	W-L%	ERA	G	GS	GF	CG	SHO	SV	IP	H	R	ER
SP	Jack Chesbro	29	21	15	0.583	2.77	40	36	4	33	1	0	324.2	300	140	100
SP	Jesse Tannehill	28	15	15	0.5	3.27	32	31	1	22	2	0	239.2	258	123	87
SP	Clark Griffith	33	14	11	0.56	2.7	25	24	1	22	2	0	213	201	92	64
SP	Harry Howell	26	9	6	0.6	3.53	25	15	10	13	0	0	155.2	140	79	61
SP	Barney Wolfe	27	6	9	0.4	2.97	20	16	4	12	1	0	148.1	143	66	49
	John Deering	25	4	3	0.571	3.75	9	7	1	6	1	0	60	59	33	25
	Lewis Wiltse	31	0	3	0	5.4	4	3	1	2	0	1	25	35	17	15
	Ambrose Puttmann	22	2	0	1	0.95	3	2	1	1	0	0	19	16	9	2
	Merle Adkins	30	0	0		7.71	2	1	1	0	0	1	7	10	8	6
	Elmer Bliss	28	1	0	1	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	7	4	1	0
	Eddie Quick	21	0	0		9	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	5	5	2
	Team Totals	28.6	72	62	0.537	3.08	136	136	25	111	7	2	1201.1	1171	573	411
	Rank in 8 AL teams		4	6		7				8	7	5	7	5	5	6

1903 New York Yankees record vs. opponents/ Team splits

Opponent (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
Boston Americans (20)	7	13	0.350
Chicago White Sox (19)	11	7	0.611
Cleveland Blues (20)	6	14	0.300
Detroit Tigers (19)	9	10	0.474
Philadelphia Athletics (19)	10	8	0.556
St. Louis Browns (20)	15	5	0.750
Washington Senators (19)	14	5	0.737

1903 New York Yankees monthly record

Month (Games)	Won	Lost	WP
April (8)	4	4	0.500
May (25)	11	14	0.440
June (21)	10	10	0.500
July (27)	15	12	0.556
August (25)	13	12	0.520
September (30)	19	10	0.655

How do you rate the 1903 New York Yankees?