The 1901 Boston Americans season was the first season for the professional baseball franchise that later became known as the Boston Red Sox, and the first season of play for the American League (AL). It resulted in the Americans finishing second in the AL with a record of 79 wins and 57 losses, four games behind the Chicago White Stockings. The team was managed by Jimmy Collins and played its home games at Huntington Avenue Grounds.

Off-Season

On February 11, Jimmy Collins, third baseman for the National League Boston Beaneaters became the first player under contract for the Boston Americans after being offered a contract of $4000 with the added ability to sign subsequent players to contracts. Collins was joined on March 4 by the outfielder Chick Stahl, who was also from the Beaneaters. Defecting with Stahl and Collins was the outfielder Buck Freeman. Yet perhaps the most important signing was that of the 34 year old St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Cy Young, who accepted a contract worth $3500 from the Boston Americans. Vital to the signing of Cy Young from the Cardinals was the signing of Cy Young's catcher in St. Louis, Lou Criger; the value that Young gave to Criger and that Criger gave to Young was so strong, that it is unlikely that Young would have signed for the Americans if Criger had not done so.

Transactions

Regular season

Prior to the regular season, the team held spring training in Charlottesville, Virginia. The total attendance for the Red Sox was 289,448, the second most in the American League (behind the White Sox' 354,350) and more than the crosstown Boston Beaneaters' 146,502.

Transactions and Signings

Statistical leaders

The offense was led by Buck Freeman, who hit 12 home runs and had 114 RBIs while recording a .339 batting average. The pitching staff was led by Cy Young, who made 43 appearances (41 starts) and pitched 38 complete games with a 33–10 record and 1.62 ERA, while striking out 158 in 371 1/3 innings.

Season Log

Season Standings

The team had two games end in a tie; August 31 at Detroit Tigers and September 12 at Washington Senators. Tied games are not counted in league standings, but player statistics during tied games are counted.

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day lineup

Source:

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; OBP = On base percentage; SLG = Slugging percentage''

Other batters

''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; OBP = On base percentage; SLG = Slugging percentage''

Pitchers

''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = Runs; H = Hits; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; Avg. = Batting average; OBP = On base percentage; SLG = Slugging percentage''

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts