Addie Joss Benefit Game

The Addie Joss Benefit Game was an exhibition baseball game played between the Cleveland Naps of the American League and an all-star team from the league's other teams at League Park in Cleveland, Ohio, on July 24, 1911. The game was planned as a benefit for the family of Addie Joss, a pitcher for the Naps who died in April. The all-stars defeated the Naps, 5–3, and the game raised $12,914 for the Joss family ($ in current dollar terms).
Following Joss's death, Cleveland's management announced their plans to put on a benefit for his widow and two young children. Star players from other teams volunteered to form an all-star team to play against the Naps. Paid attendance was 15,272, and many players and team owners contributed money to the Joss family as well. The benefit game preceded the creation of the Major League Baseball All-Star Game, which raises money for the players' pension fund.
Background.
Addie Joss, the ace pitcher for the Cleveland Naps of the American League, experienced fainting spells while training for the 1911 season. He died of tubercular meningitis on April 14, at his home in Toledo, Ohio, leaving behind his wife and two young children. 
Joss's funeral took place on April 17 in Toledo, and his teammates insisted on attending. They declared their intention to strike if their game that day against the Detroit Tigers was not postponed. Though American League president Ban Johnson initially did not agree, he cancelled the game. Several Tigers players attended the funeral as well.
Organization.
Charles Sommers, the owner of the Naps, began to plan an "Addie Joss Day" to benefit his family. Naps management announced a benefit game would be held for Joss's family at League Park in Cleveland on July 24, which was a mutual off day for all teams in the American League. It was hoped that each team would contribute some players to play against the Naps. All proceeds were to go to Joss's widow. As no other day on the calendar would suffice, the game would not be rescheduled if rain necessitated its cancellation.
Ernest Barnard, vice president of the Naps, and the sports editors of the "Cleveland News" and "Cleveland Plain Dealer" formed a committee charged with organizing the event, including selecting players for the all-star team. Jimmy McAleer, the manager of the Washington Senators, volunteered to manage the all-star team. Star players, including Walter Johnson and Ty Cobb, quickly volunteered to participate. Each team sent at least one player, with the exception of the Chicago White Sox, whose travel schedule prohibited them from participating. Newspapers listed Chicago's Ed Walsh among the all-stars. In total, nine players from the game were later inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame: Cy Young and Nap Lajoie for Cleveland, Johnson, Cobb, Eddie Collins, Tris Speaker, Sam Crawford, Home Run Baker, and Bobby Wallace for the all-stars. Shoeless Joe Jackson, another Hall of Fame-caliber player, played for Cleveland.
Barnard and the committee also sought donations. Cobb donated $100 anonymously, but Barnard convinced him to publicize the donation to help secure more. Sommers also donated $100, as did the owners of the White Sox, Tigers, and Red Sox. The Athletics donated $200, and Athletics' manager Connie Mack donated another $25. The owner of St. Louis sent a check for $50. The Dayton minor league baseball team contributed $10. Young spent $25 on box seats, despite playing in the game. There were no expenses, as all players and park employees participated in the event for no compensation.
The game.
The gates to League Park opened at 1pm on July 24, and paid attendance was 15,272. According to reporters, the day had a festive atmosphere. J.P. Garvey of the "Plain Dealer" wrote that "there was no mourning, save that the flag hung at half mast from the pole in center field. No drab coloring decorated the big grand stand." Germany Schaefer, who had the reputation of a comedian, entertained the crowd during pre-game warmups and served as a public address announcer during the game. Cobb did not have a Tigers uniform, so he wore a Cleveland uniform for the game.
Game summary.
Game play.
Tris Speaker led off the game for the all-stars with a single and scored on a triple by Eddie Collins. The all-stars scored a second run when Ty Cobb hit a single to drive Collins home. The all-stars scored again in the second inning on a sacrifice fly by Smoky Joe Wood that scored Hal Chase. Cleveland scored their first run in the bottom of the second inning when George Stovall singled and Joe Birmingham hit a double, scoring Stovall.
Speaker and Wood exited the game during the third inning to catch a train to Boston. Clyde Milan entered the game as the center fielder, and Johnson took over as the all-star's pitcher. Art Griggs batted for Young as a pinch hitter in the third inning, and George Kahler entered the game as Cleveland's pitcher in the fourth inning. Kahler allowed singles to Baker and Crawford, and Chase hit a sacrifice fly that scored Baker in the fourth inning. Nap Lajoie and Ted Easterly entered the game for Cleveland in the top of the fifth inning, replacing Stovall at first base and Syd Smith at catcher, respectively. Lajoie, the namesake of the Naps and their former manager, took over for Stovall as the Naps manager for the remainder of the game.
In the sixth inning, Hank Butcher replaced Jackson in right field for Cleveland, and Russ Ford and Paddy Livingston replaced Johnson and Gabby Street as the all-star's battery. Fred Blanding relieved Kahler for the Naps in the seventh inning; Milan hit a double and scored on a single by Collins that inning. Blanding began the eighth inning with a single, and scored after a triple by Ivy Olson, who scored on a sacrifice by Butcher. The game concluded with the all-stars defeating the Naps, 5–3.
Linescore and box score.
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Legacy.
The game raised $12,914 for Joss's widow ($ in current dollar terms); the sum was more than double Joss's annual salary. Joss's death inspired his Cleveland teammates to discuss forming a benefit association for players.
The first official Major League Baseball All-Star Game did not take place until 1933, based on Arch Ward's idea to pair it with the 1933 World's Fair. Money earned through the All-Star Game is contributed to player pensions.