 In 1901 , the newly created American League had attracted several of the top players in the competing National League to join its ranks . Rogers declined Lajoie 's request for an increase in salary and as a result , Lajoie jumped to the crosstown Philadelphia Athletics , owned by former Phillies ' part @-@ owner Benjamin Shibe and managed by Connie Mack . Frank Hough offered Lajoie the contract on behalf of Mack . " Hough offered me $ 24 @,@ 000 ( $ 682 @,@ 656 in current dollar terms ) for four years . You can bet I signed in a hurry " , Lajoie said . Lajoie was considered " the first superstar " to join the newly formed AL . He was also the first player whose yearly salary was for $ 4 @,@ 000 ( $ 113 @,@ 776 in current dollar terms ) . " The Phillies opened their season and drew 6 @,@ 000 fans . A week later , when we opened , there were 16 @,@ 000 in the stands . The American League was here to stay " , Lajoie later said . Lajoie 's batting average that year was .426 ( it was originally recorded at .405 , later changed to .422 before finally revised again to .426 ) . The batting average mark became the all @-@ time AL record after the number was revised . Previously , Ty Cobb and George Sisler had been credited with having the AL 's all @-@ time mark . That same year in a game against the Chicago White Sox ' Clark Griffith , Lajoie became the second Major Leaguer to be intentionally walked with the bases loaded in an 11 – 7 game after Abner Dalrymple in 1881 . For the 1901 season , Lajoie led the majors in doubles ( 48 ) , and led the majors in hits ( 232 ) , batting average ( .426 ) , runs ( 145 ) , on @-@ base ( .463 ) and slugging percentage ( <unk> ) , and total bases ( 350 ) . His 125 RBIs led the AL and his 14 home runs were a career @-@ best and his 48 doubles are a Philadelphia Athletics ' record . Mack said of Lajoie , " He plays so naturally and so easily it looks like lack of effort . " Author Robert Kelly writes : " The .422 batting average of Lajoie still stands as an AL record . To some degree , however , it is tainted . The 1901 season was the first for the AL and the level of competition was presumably evolving . Such questions , however , in no way cast doubt on the extraordinary batting ability of the second baseman . " 
