1915 New York Yankees

Follow Us

1915 New York Yankees season: A brief summary

The 1915 New York Yankees season, marking the team’s 13th season and 15th in total, was a year of significant transition and challenge. Under new ownership and management, the Yankees endeavored to establish a stronger foothold in the American League, yet faced considerable obstacles along the way.

Managed by Bill Donovan, the team showed potential but struggled to maintain consistency. The Yankees finished the season with a 69–83 record, a clear indication of the challenges they faced on the field. This record placed them a significant 32½ games behind the American League champions, the Boston Red Sox, highlighting the gap the Yankees needed to bridge to become contenders.

Playing their home games at the Polo Grounds, a historic venue shared with the New York Giants, the Yankees had the advantage of a familiar and prominent stage. However, the team’s performance did not always rise to the grandeur of their surroundings. The season was marred by a lack of cohesion and a series of underwhelming performances, both from the pitching staff and the batting lineup.

Despite these struggles, the 1915 season was not without its highlights. Individual players showed flashes of brilliance, and there were moments where the team’s potential for future success was evident. The season also served as a learning experience for both the management and the players, laying the groundwork for the development and future achievements that the Yankees would eventually be known for.

In retrospect, the 1915 New York Yankees season can be seen as a period of growing pains. While the team’s record was disappointing, the experiences of that year contributed to the evolution of the franchise. The lessons learned during this transitional phase were crucial in shaping the future of the Yankees, leading them toward becoming one of the most successful and iconic teams in baseball history.

An unprecedented day on the mound: Bruno Haas’ record-setting 16 walks against the Yankees on June 23, 1915

The game on June 23, 1915, between the New York Yankees and the Philadelphia Athletics is notable in baseball history, primarily for the remarkable, albeit dubious, record set by Athletics pitcher Bruno Haas. In this match, Haas astonishingly walked 16 Yankees hitters, setting an American League record for the most walks issued in a single game.

This game was a clear display of Haas’ struggles with control on the mound. Walking 16 batters in a single game is an indicator of significant difficulties in pitching accuracy and consistency. It’s important to understand that issuing so many walks not only reflects the pitcher’s challenges but also dramatically affects the pace and dynamics of the game. For the Yankees, these walks presented numerous opportunities to advance runners and score runs without the need for hits.

Bruno Haas’ record is a unique one in the annals of baseball. While walks are a common part of the game, and every pitcher experiences off days, issuing 16 walks in a game is exceptionally rare. This feat is indicative of a particularly rough performance, one where a pitcher is unable to find the strike zone with consistency.

The game would have been frustrating for Haas and the Athletics, but it was also likely frustrating for the Yankees’ hitters. While walks are advantageous, batters typically prefer to hit and play a more active role in the game. A game with so many walks can be unusually slow-paced and lacking in the usual rhythm of baseball.

This extraordinary event in baseball history is a reminder of the unpredictable and sometimes erratic nature of the sport. It underscores how a single player’s performance, in this case, a struggling pitcher, can significantly impact the game’s outcome and etch an unusual record in the sports annals. Bruno Haas’ record from the game on June 23, 1915, stands as a testament to this unpredictability and the varied challenges athletes face in their careers.

Postseason result

(Did not qualify – Eliminated in Regular Season)

1915 New York Yankees roster

1915 New York Yankees player additions, transactions, and trades

February 1915:

• February 4: Purchased Hugh High and Wally Pipp from the Detroit Tigers.

March 1915:

• March 3: Paddy Baumann received from Providence (International) in an unknown transaction. (Date given is approximate. Exact date is uncertain.)

April 1915:

• April: Purchased Dazzy Vance from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
• April 7: Purchased Ensign Cottrell from the Boston Braves.

June 1915:

• June 28: Purchased Bob Shawkey from the Philadelphia Athletics for $3,000.

July 1915:

• July 14: Ensign Cottrell player rights sold to Richmond (International).
• July 20: Purchased Ed Barney from Jersey City (International).
• Purchased Gene Layden from Columbia (South Atlantic).
• July 23: Purchased Elmer Miller from the St. Louis Cardinals.
• Purchased Roxy Walters from Waco (Texas).
• July 30: Purchased Walt Alexander from Kansas City (American Association).

August 1915:

• August: Purchased George Mogridge from Minneapolis (American Association).
• August 17: Purchased Tim Hendryx from New Orleans (Southern Association).
• Released Jack Warhop.
• August 19: Ed Barney selected by the Pittsburgh Pirates off waivers.

September 1915

• September 15: Drafted Jim Brown from Topeka (Western Association) in the 1915 rule 5 draft.
• Drafted Urban Shocker from Guelph (Canadian) in the 1915 rule 5 draft.

1915 New York Yankees player debuts

• Ed Barney – 07-22-1915 – 25 years old
• Neal Brady – 09-25-1915 – 18 years old
• Gene Layden – 07-29-1915 – 21 years old
• Cliff Markle – 09-18-1915 – 21 years old
• Allen Russell – 09-13-1915 – 22 years old
• Skeeter Shelton – 08-25-1915 – 27 years old
• Dan Tipple – 09-18-1915 – 25 years old
• Roxy Walters – 09-16-1915 – 22 years old

1915 New York Yankees team stats (batting)

1915 New York Yankees team stats (pitching)

1915 New York Yankees record vs. opponents/ Team splits

1915 New York Yankees monthly Record

How do you rate the 1915 New York Yankees?

Follow Us