March 13, 1912 ... The Red Sox had two good workouts today.  In the morning they took an hour of fielding and batting practice.  In the afternoon there was a six inning game of the Regulars vs the “Yanigans”, with the regulars winning 8-6.  Heinie Wagner is still nursing his arm and Buck O’Brien is not taking chances with his. The scarcity of new men is noticeable with Dutch Leonard, Marty Krug, Bill Goodman, Hick Cady and Jimmy Shinn being the only players new to the Boston lineup. The Sox lineup is comprised almost entirely of returning veterans, the only real question mark in Jake Stahl’s starting roster lay with the middle infield. Heinie Wagner’s throwing arm had yet to be tested, and Steve Yerkes’ hold on the second sack was anything but secure. “If that second base problem were settled,” Stahl had said two days after his arrival in Hot Springs, “any worriment I might have over the chance for our team fighting it out with the Athletics would be ended. Just as soon as I know who is going to play that middle sack, we will get down to the real work.”

March 14, 1912 ... Today was a dreary day in the Ozark Mountains, and when breakfast was called, heavy rain had moved into the area.  The Sox had no chance to workout, so the men were given the day off.  Joe Wood was limping around and others were quite sore.  Some went to a skating rink to get some exercise, some went hiking, and Charley Hall and Buck O’Brien went target shooting.  The Philadelphia and Brooklyn players socialized and reminisced about old times with Red Sox veterans. 

March 15, 1912 ... Today was a fine day weather-wise and the Sox had a great workout.  Twenty seven men took several turns at bat with O’Brien, Cicotte and Bedient serving up the pitches.  All three looked good and should be able to let it really go when the weather turns warmer.  The players both hit and bunted.  The outfielders worked for an hour with Henriksen in center.  Both Lewis and Hooper threw the ball as if it was midseason.  Bill Carrigan cracked the ball to the infielders and then hit slowly to bring them in on the run.  Wagner’s arm appeared fine and Larry Gardner put up a classy time at third base. Thomas and Cady worked out at the plate and both threw well. After the regulars worked out the second stringers took the field with Hugh Bradley at first, Bill Goodman at second, Jimmy Shinn at short and Clyde Engel at third.  The second team was full of pepper and the Sox appear to be well fortified. 

March 16, 1912 ... 1000 people came to Majestic Park to see the Phillies tear apart the visiting Red Sox 12-2, primarily off Fred Anderson and Dutch Leonard.  The Red Sox showed nothing in the field and at the plate.  Hunt, twice tried out by the Red Sox held them to two hits in four innings and Brennan allowed only three hits in the last five innings.  The Phillies, who started ten days before the Red Sox were clearly the sharper team, with their regular lineup in the game.  Jake Stahl announced that his club would participate in no further exhibition games. “The playing of a game with another club gives a chance of a dozen men of the outside to work out,” he reasoned, “whereas in the ordinary club practice among his own men every one gets the opportunity to show.”  Tris Speaker showed up today and met with president McAleer to settle the question of his contract.

March 17, 1912 ... Les Nunamaker signed his contract today but Tris Speaker has not.  Speaker does not appear to be worried and plans to play.

March 19, 1912 ... The Red Sox regulars were vulnerable and the second string “Yannigans” led by Clyde Engle defeated them 8-6.  Until the ninth inning the regulars had a two run lead and were running smoothly.  Henriksen started with a single to left.  Jimmy Shinn hit one past Speaker for two bases scoring Henriksen and Engle singled to left scoring Shinn.  The fans were clearly behind the Yanigans when Hugh Bradley sent one over the centerfield fence giving the subs a two run lead.  Larry Pape nailed down the win giving the Yanigans a reason to throw their hats in the air and celebrate.  Wood, Cicotte, O’Brien, and Pape looked good today.  Ray Collins seemed to need a lot more work.  Veteran Jack Chesbro and Jack Powell worked out with the Red Sox in the morning.  President McAleer reported that he has a signed contract with Tris Speaker. After a private meeting with Speaker, the center fielder signed for a small increase over his previous year’s salary, but only a one-year deal.  Boston fans are happy with the new concept of buying boxes for the complete season at Fenway Park.

March 20, 1912 ... The regulars avenged their loss yesterday to the “Yannigans’ by a score of 5-2.  The regulars and Heinie Wagner played a superb fielding game, and Jake Stahl smacked another home run.  The excellent early play of the new recruits, Jimmy Shinn, Marty Krug, Bill Goodman, and recent arrival Jack Lewis, made Yerkes’ hold on second base that much more precarious. The speedy Krug was making “a big hit with everyone” in the early going, and McAleer and Stahl were both visibly impressed by his steady work in the field against the Phillies. 

March 21, 1912 ... Rain postponed workouts for three days so most players took in movies, browsed novelty shops or played billiards, and a number of the boys followed the horse races at Charleston, South Carolina, laying down bets based on tips that Dr. Quirk doled out around the hotel. There were pool games and more target shoots, and one evening Joe Wood, Charley Hall, and Duffy Lewis took time out to sit in on Andrew Carnegie’s lectures on the American banking system (the steel magnate took note of the baseball men in the overflow audience, offering listeners a litany of schemes which, he insisted, would have them “batting .300 in the banking world”). Mostly, however, the team held up in their rooms dealing endless rounds of cards, doing their best to evade the staff’s relentless request to pawn goods off on them at every turn. Larry Gardner and Harry Hooper claim to be ready for the season.  Duffy Lewis who is newly married feels the responsibility placed on his life and plans on having his best year. The delay did not seem to bother Jake Stahl, who confirmed early on that the club would retain all four catchers for the summer, and Olaf Henriksen would stay on with the club to back up his veteran outfield. Clyde Engle was guaranteed his spot as a utility infielder, but so far as the rest of the middle infield was concerned anything was possible.   

TRIS SPEAKER

March 22, 1912 ... Tris Speaker reported in great shape and played in mid-season form right from the beginning.  Manager Stahl is looking for Speaker to have his best year ever.  Every new man in a Boston uniform looks like a high class ballplayer.  Unfortunately most won’t be able to show their true form before the beginning of the season.  Pitching remained a major concern. Joe Wood, Buck O’Brien, and Eddie Cicotte were secure, and Larry Pape, Fred Anderson, and Hugh Bedient had all been impressive for the Yanigans. Casey Hageman had done almost no work in the off-season and was still not in the best of shape, and to complicate matters he was now complaining of a sore shoulder. However, John I. Taylor had guaranteed him $5,000 for the season, so dumping the right-hander would be no easy task. Charley Hall and Ray Collins also complained of soreness, and with McAleer showering praise on Dutch Leonard almost daily, reporters wondered if the big southpaw from Vermont wasn’t “booked for emigration.”  Endless hot baths and hikes through the countryside had left his staff in the peak of condition, but without steady throwing in the last week of camp, Stahl feared that his hurlers would leave the Springs with nothing to show but lame arms. “A good week would be a Godsend to us,” he said. “We need all the sunshine we can get.”

March 24, 1912 ... After three days of rainy weather today was dry and cold with the promise of fine weather tomorrow.  After dinner manager Stahl took his troops for a long hike over the mountains.  Years ago, president McAleer decide that there was lttle money to be made in southern exhibition games, so his plan is to keep the Red Sox at Hot Springs and charge admission to all games between the Regulars and the Yanigans.

THE EASTMAN HOTEL

March 25, 1912 ... Bright sunny warm weather meant a full day of practice.  With the exception of Bill Carrigan who was laid up with a bad cold, the squad was all present for a full morning workout, followed by an afternoon nine inning game, with the Regulars beating the “Yannigans” 7-3.  Joe Wood and Eddie Cicotte both pitched for the regulars, and Buck O’Brien, Hugh Bedient and Larry Pape pitched fort the “Yanigans”.  Jake Stahl was 4-4 with three singles and a home run.  Steve Yerkes doubled and homered and Marty Krug got in a single with a homer.  Les Nunamaker and Hick Cady both have been stars behind the plate, and it has been noticed.

March 26, 1912 ... Today the players had a good half hour of fielding practice in the morning, then were out at the park for batting practice, giving the pitchers a good workout.  Pitchers Hugh Bedient and Jack Bushelman are under their playing weight and are not doing their best work as a result of the hot baths.  Bill Carrigan has also eliminated the bath house in order to gain back some strength.  Today he took a long walk under the warm sun.  In the afternoon, the boys got in a great game ending in a 6-6 tie after nine innings.  After two weeks of watching the combination of Heinie Wagner and Steve Yerkes at short and second, Stahl decided award Yerkes the starting job up the middle.  This was baseball night at the skating rink and trainer, Joe Quirk gave a great exhibition of fancy skating.  Heinie Wagner dropped his razor while shaving this morning and put a large gash in the palm of his hand. He was ordered to give the hand a rest for three or four days.

March 27, 1912 ... After the third inning of the game here today, a light drizzle started, but it did not keep the players from having a good workout with the Regulars beating the “Yanigans” 3-2.  All four pitchers worked as hard as they would at midseason and all looked great. Joe Wood worked the last four innings with pinpoint control and great speed.  Buck O’Brien gave up six hits in four innings and Dutch Leonard pitched the last three innings, giving up only three hits.  Bill Carrigan felt well enough to play and caught five innings.  Jake Stahl took the day off and Tris Speaker had the huge day with the bat going there for three.  Heinie Wagner got his running in and of course could not play. 

HOT SPRINGS' BATH HOUSES

March 28, 1912 ... A heavy rain kept the players from working out in the morning, but after it stopped it was all hands on deck for a 2PM workout.  Manager Hugh Duffy of the Milwaukee farm club was in town, and if President McAleer can get waivers on him, pitcher Fred Anderson will go back with him to Milwaukee.  Both McAleer and Jake Stahl had high praise for infielder Marty Krug and it appears he is sure to go north with the team.  The Red Sox outfield is considered the beat in baseball.  Young Olaf Henriksen will be groomed to be the fourth outfielder, with Clyde Engel always ready to fill in.  The pitching squad will consist of Joe Wood, Eddie Cicotte, Buck O’Brien and Charley Hall.  Larry Pape is saving his arm but if he does as well as last year, he will win many games.  Ray Collins has not shown much to date, but Boston fans know what he can do.  As far as the new pitchers are concerned, Casey Hageman has been complaining of a sore arm all spring, Hugh Bedient had a great season in the Eastern League last year, Jack Bushelman has the speed but is wild, and Dutch Leonard is clever but lacks experience. 

March 29, 1912 ... It was felt that Jimmy Shinn hasn’t played well and asked to be turned back over to the Sacramento club, where he played last year. The grounds at the ballpark were in poor shape from the rain, so the team just had light workouts, with the usual intersquad game abandoned.

CY YOUNG, JAKE STAHL, BILL CARRIGAN & MICHAEL McGREEVY

March 30, 1912 ... With ideal conditions at hand today, the squad had a brisk morning workout and the afternoon game.  The pitchers were sharp and the fielding crisp.  Heinie Wagner was back at shortsop and appears fine.  After the game, the players ran the half mile to a special car and taken to a private bath house for warm baths and a rubdown by trainer Joe Quirk.  Second baseman Jack Lewis and Bill Goodman, the young outfielder were sent to the St. Paul club of the American Association, and Dutch Leonard to Denver, bringing the squad down to their 25 man roster.

April 1, 1912 ... Yet another wet dreary day at Hot Springs, Arkansas.  About 2PM the rains let up and manager Stahl ordered his players to put on their uniforms and take a run over the mountains to get some exercise.  Some were throwing the ball around the , and others left for the run, but again it started to downpour and all activities were cancelled.  The exhibition games at Nashville and Dayton for Wednesday and Thursday have been called off and the team will stay put until Thursday afternoon.  The St. Paul farm team will play the Pittsburgh Pirates who are still here, and are scheduled to leave on Wednesday.  The Sox are scheduled to play the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday at their new ballpark, Redland Field.

April 2, 1912 ... The day was fair and cool but the condition of Majestic Park was unplayable, so president Barney Dreyfuss of the Pirates offered to let the Red Sox use their field.  The pitchers were encouraged to throw all their different pitches and the batters looked good.  The practice ended with a six inning game, until the Pirates showed up for their afternoon workout.  Both Joe Wood  and Buck O’Brien pitched in top form.  The Red Sox players are anxious to leave and start playing real games against other teams.  The exhibition game in Cincinnati was called off because of the poor playing conditions at the park and the flooding Ohio River.  

April 3, 1912 ... Knowing he stood to lose a small fortune, on Wednesday afternoon president McAleer braved the weather and, accompanied by his wife, left Hot Springs to scout possible alternative routes north. McRoy left a few hours later, bound for Boston.

April 4, 1912 ... After enjoying a farewell concert given by Buck O’Brien and Hugh Bradley on Thursday night, the team awoke to the hustle and bustle of bellboys scouring about, offering all assistance to aid the team for its scheduled departure to Memphis. The team enjoyed a light breakfast, then proceeded directly over to Majestic Park for one final two-hour morning workout. Then it was back to the Buckstaff for one final hot bath, to the Eastman for lunch, and down to the depot.  The fireman stoked the firebox with coal, and porters stashed suitcases, trunks, and crates into the baggage car. After some brief good-byes, the 25 players and four members of the press stepped aboard and at 1:30 sharp, the team was on its way.

April 5, 1912 ... The Red Sox arrived in Cincinnati and found out they had no place to use for practice.  The Cincinnati Reds left town to play against their Columbus farm club and were scheduled to arrive back later today.

REDLAND FIELD, CINCINNATI

April 6, 1912 ... The Red Sox pounded Cincinnati today by a 13-1 score at their new ballpark Redland Field.  Joe Wood was in perfect form, holding the Reds to just four hits.  Buck O’Brien followed and was equally effective.  The Sox were great in the field, especially Heinie Wagner at his new shortstop position.  Strategy backfired on the Reds in the seventh when Reds manager O’Day elected to pass Tris Speaker rather than have him get a fourth hit, to face Jake Stahl.  Jake hit a shot against the left field fence, sending in three runs.  In the next inning, Stahl knocked in two runs.  The day was ideal for baseball, but the ground was soft, making the hits of the Red Sox even more remarkable.  The new ballpark in Cincinnati is beautiful, costing $400,000 to build. The grandstand hold 12,000 people and the park is sold out for the Cincinnati opener against the Cubs.

April 7, 1912 ... The Red Sox had the tables turned on them by Cincinnati and lost 6 to 2 at Redland Field.  Not a hit was made of Hugh Bedient in his five innings pitched.  Eddie Cicotte was in trouble for most of his innings worked.  Duffy Lewis made a great playing, throwing out a player at the plate.  Offensively the Sox looked mediocre. The day was cold and therefore the crowd was small.  The Red Sox left for home after the game and will be due at South Station tomorrow evening at 8:30  Manager Stahl has decided to use his regular lineup against Harvard on Tuesday.  The Red Sox will play in Worcester the next day and go from there to New York on the evening train.

FENWAY PARK INTERIOR

April 8, 1912 ... The Red Sox will be home tonight and tomorrow will be given a tour of Fenway Park, before meeting Harvard in the afternoon. The new grounds are in great shape and better than a few weeks ago.  The diamond is smooth and firm and there are few soft places in the outfield.  Groundskeeper Jerome Kelly has done a splendid job, who removed the old turf from the Huntington Ave Grounds and replanted it at Fenway.  While all the seats have not yet been installed in the grandstand, there are enough to accommodate tomorrow’s crowd. The game will begin at 3:30 with Governor Foss and Mayor Fitzgerald on hand.

 

FENWAY PARK CONSTRUCTION

April 9, 1912 ... More than 3000 serious baseball fans shivered in the stands while snow flurries dance around them to watch the Red Sox beat the Harvard varsity 2-0 at Fenway Park.  It was no day for baseball, but rather than disappoint the crowd, Manager Stahl sent his players against the college boys.  The welcome was warm compared to the weather, but the ball game did not amount to a big deal.  Only four Harvard players reached first base and only one on a base hit.