The mighty New York Giants, under the leadership of John J. McGraw, easily won the pennant this year. It was the Giants' first pennant of the century; they would be New York's dominant for the next twenty years. The Giants had the best hitting and pitching in the league, but they gave up a chance to win the World Series. The two leagues were still squabbling at this time, and the NL was still feeling humiliated after losing the inaugural World Series in 1903. McGraw announced that his team would not play "inferior" competition, and refused to participate in the Series.
        The World Series was resumed in 1905, and the Giants won. Only once more this century would the Series be cancelled, by the player strike in 1994.

         The two best pitchers in the league were both Giants, and they were both big winners. Joe "Iron Man" McGinnity had his best year, and was the best pitcher in the league. McGinnity pitched for only ten years in the big leagues; he won 246 games in his career, and lost only 142. McGinnity threw underhand, and is legendary for his durability, especially his willingness to pitch both ends of a doubleheader. McGinnity was 28 years old when he started his career in 1899; ten years later, the Giants released him. But though his days as a big leaguer were over, McGinnity would continue to be a workhorse in the minor leagues, pitching until he was 54 years old.
        Meanwhile, Christy Mathewson had emerged as the best young pitcher in the game. Only 24 years old, Matty won 30 games for the second straight season. As great as he was, he still had better seasons ahead. He had yet to lead the NL in wins, which he would do four times; he had yet to win an ERA title, something he would do five times. He had yet to pitch in the World Series, something he would do often. He had yet to develop the incredible control that he would have in later years. Mathewson had won 63 games over two seasons - but his legend was jut beginning.
        The rest of the league is a mixed bag. Jack Harper pitched for eight years, and had only one good season. "Tornado Jake" Weimer was also outstanding, in his second season; he was already 31 years old, and would drop out of the league after two more good seasons. Jack Taylor also pitched well in his first season with the Cardinals.
     This was the last good year in the career of Kid Nichols. Nichols and Cy Young were both rookies in 1890; though Cy eventually had an award named after him, Nichols was as great a pitcher as Young. Nichols averaged 30 wins a year his first nine years in the majors. Though Nichols did not last as long as Young did, he managed to win 361 games in his career, a pretty fair total for anyone.
        At this time, Nichols had not pitched in the majors since 1901; I do not know whether he retired, or went to the minors to pitch. Whatever the reason, he came back from his two-year exile and proved that he could still throw the ball. Nichols pitched a couple more years before retiring for good.