1940 Major League Baseball season

February 2024 1940 1940 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 16 – September 29, 1940World Series: October 2–8, 1940 154 16 (8 per league) Regular season AL: Hank Greenberg (DET)NL: Frank McCormick (CIN) Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award AL Detroit Tigers Cleveland Indians NL Cincinnati Reds Brooklyn Dodgers World Series 1940 World Series Cincinnati Reds Detroit Tigers List of MLB seasons MLB 1939 Major League Baseball season 1939 1941 Major League Baseball season 1941 The 1940 major league baseball season began on April 16, 1940. The regular season ended on September 29, with the Cincinnati Reds and Detroit Tigers as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 37th World Series on October 2 and ended with Game 7 on October 8. The Reds defeated the Tigers, four games to three, capturing their second championship in franchise history, since their previous in 1919. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the New York Yankees from the 1939 season. The eighth All-Star Game was held on July 9 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, Missouri, hosted by the St. Louis Cardinals. The National League won, 4–0. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1940 schedule consisted of 154 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had eight teams. Each team was scheduled to play 22 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place since the 1904 season (except for 1919) and would be used until 1961 in the American League and 1962 in the National League. Opening Day, April 16, featured all sixteen teams, the first since the 1936 season. The final day of the regular season was on September 29, which also saw all sixteen teams play, the first since the 1938 season. This was the first time since 1934 that all sixteen teams played their first and last games on the same days. The World Series took place between October 2 and October 8. Rule changes The 1940 season saw the following rule changes: The scoring sacrifice fly, exempting a batter from a time at bat when a runner scored after the putout on a fly ball, was eliminated after being reimplemented the previous season, given that sacrifices nearly doubled. The sacrifice fly would be reimplemented in 1954.Schwartz John The Sacrifice Fly Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-sacrifice-fly/ 2024-05-28 en-USLong Jason C. 1939 Winter Meetings: Tie Goes To The Commissioner Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1939-winter-meetings-the-tie-goes-to-the-commissioner/ 2025-05-20 en-US When a run scores as result of a batter hitting into a double play, he is no longer awarded a run batted in. In the American League, a rule attempting to curb the four-consecutive World Series winning New York Yankees was implemented, limiting any defending champion team from trading with other American League teams, except through waivers. A champion team could purchase a player outright only when the other seven teams waived such transaction.1939-12-08 American League Bars Champion's Trades With Rival Clubs Except on Waiver https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/12/08/93969258.html?pageNumber=38 subscription 2025-05-29 The New York Times en 0362-4331 https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1939/12/08/93969258.pdf The rule would eventually be repealed following the 1941 season.2008-10-10 Regulating the Yankees: Baseball and Antitrust in 1939 Marquette University Law School Faculty Blog https://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2011/01/regulating-the-yankees-baseball-and-antitrust-in-1939/ 2025-05-29 en-US Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1940 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1940-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enAmerican League American LeagueBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,817Joe CroninChicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park50,000Jimmy DykesCleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium78,811Ossie VittLeague Park*22,500*Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000Del BakerNew York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium71,699Joe McCarthy managerPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000Connie MackSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Fred HaneyWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium32,000Bucky HarrisNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston BeesBoston, MassachusettsNational League Park45,000Casey StengelBrooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field35,000Leo DurocherChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field38,000Gabby HartnettCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field29,401Bill McKechnieNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds56,000Bill TerryPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000Doc ProthroPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field33,537Frankie FrischSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Ray BladesMike González catcherBilly Southworth Standings start American League Detroit Tigers break National League Cincinnati Reds end Tie games 8 tie games (3 in AL, 5 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season. start American League Chicago White Sox, 1 Cleveland Indians, 1 Detroit Tigers, 1 New York Yankees, 1 St. Louis Browns, 2 break National League Brooklyn Dodgers, 3 Cincinnati Reds, 2 Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 St. Louis Cardinals, 3 end Postseason The postseason began on October 2 and ended on October 8 with the Cincinnati Reds defeating the Detroit Tigers in the 1940 World Series in seven games. Bracket World Series AL Detroit Tigers 3 NL Cincinnati Reds 4 Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerPhiladelphia Athletics Earle Mack Connie MackPittsburgh Pirates Pie Traynor Frankie Frisch In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerSt. Louis Cardinals Ray Blades Mike González Mike González Billy Southworth League leaders American League start + Hitting leaders1940 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1940-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal AVG Joe DiMaggio (NYY) .352 OPS Hank Greenberg (DET) 1.103 HR Hank Greenberg (DET) 41 RBI Hank Greenberg (DET) 150 R Ted Williams (BOS) 134 H Doc Cramer (BOS)Barney McCosky (DET)Rip Radcliff (SLB) 200 SB George Case (WSH) 35 break + Pitching leaders1940 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1940-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal W Bob Feller1 (CLE) 27 L George Caster (PHA)Dutch Leonard (WSH) 19 ERA Bob Feller1 (CLE) 2.61 K Bob Feller1 (CLE) 261 IP Bob Feller (CLE) 320.1 SV Al Benton (DET) 17 WHIP Bob Feller (CLE) 1.133 1 American League Triple Crown pitching winner end National League start + Hitting leaders1940 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1940-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal AVG Debs Garms (PIT) .355 OPS Johnny Mize (STL) 1.039 HR Johnny Mize (STL) 43 RBI Johnny Mize (STL) 137 R Arky Vaughan (PIT) 113 H Stan Hack (CHC)Frank McCormick (CIN) 191 SB Lonny Frey (CIN) 22 break + Pitching leaders1940 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1940-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal W Bucky Walters (CIN) 22 L Hugh Mulcahy (PHI) 22 ERA Bucky Walters (CIN) 2.48 K Kirby Higbe (PHI) 137 IP Bucky Walters (CIN) 305.0 SV Joe Beggs (CIN)Jumbo Brown (NYG)Mace Brown (PIT) 7 WHIP Bucky Walters (CIN) 1.092 end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Harry Craft (CIN): Craft hit for his first cycle and seventh in franchise history, on June 8 against the Brooklyn Dodgers.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B06080CIN1940.htm Cincinnati Reds 23, Brooklyn Dodgers 2 1940-06-08 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125054/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B06080CIN1940.htm live Harry Danning (NYG): Danning hit for his first cycle and 12th in franchise history, on June 15 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B06150NY11940.htm New York Giants 12, Pittsburgh Pirates 1 1940-06-15 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125055/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B06150NY11940.htm live Johnny Mize (STL): Mize hit for his first cycle and ninth in franchise history, in game one of a doubleheader on July 13 against the New York Giants.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B07131SLN1940.htm St. Louis Cardinals 7, New York Giants 6 (1) 1940-07-13 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125056/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B07131SLN1940.htm live Buddy Rosar (NYY): Rosar hit for his first cycle and ninth in franchise history, on July 19 against the Cleveland Indians.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B07190NYA1940.htm New York Yankees 15, Cleveland Indians 6 1940-07-19 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125057/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B07190NYA1940.htm live Joe Cronin (BOS): Cronin hit for his second cycle and seventh in franchise history, on August 2 against the Detroit Tigers.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B08020DET1940.htm Boston Red Sox 12, Detroit Tigers 9 1940-08-02 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125058/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B08020DET1940.htm live Joe Gordon (NYY): Gordon hit for his first cycle and 10th in franchise history, on September 8 against the Boston Red Sox.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B09080BOS1940.htm New York Yankees 9, Boston Red Sox 4 1940-09-08 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125102/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1940/B09080BOS1940.htm live Other batting accomplishments Jimmie Foxx (BOS): Became the second player in Major League history to hit 500 home runs in the sixth inning in game one of a doubleheader against the Philadelphia Athletics on September 24.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/foxxji01.shtml Jimmie Foxx Statistics and History Baseball Reference 2010-07-15 2009-04-12 https://web.archive.org/web/20090412052533/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/foxxji01.shtml liveJimmie Foxx Career Home Runs https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=foxxji01&t=b 2026-03-24 Baseball Reference en Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Bob Feller (CLE): Feller threw his first career no-hitter and sixth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Chicago White Sox 1–0 on April 16. Feller walked five and struck out eight.Cleveland Indians vs Chicago White Sox Box Score: April 16, 1940 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA194004160.shtml 2026-03-24 Baseball Reference en Tex Carleton (BRO): Carleton threw his first career no-hitter and eighth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Cincinnati Reds 3–0 on April 30. Carleton walked two and struck out four.Brooklyn Dodgers vs Cincinnati Reds Box Score: April 30, 1940 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN194004300.shtml 2026-03-24 Baseball Reference en Miscellaneous Brooklyn Dodgers: Set a major league record for most runs scored in the 20th inning, by scoring four runs against the Boston Bees on July 5.DeRosa Theo The most runs scored in each inning, from the 1st to the 26th(!) https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-most-runs-scored-in-each-inning 2026-04-20 MLB.com en Awards and honors thumb|264x264px|Hank Greenberg, Hall of Famer and 2-time MVP thumb|238x238px|Frank McCormick 1940 NL MVP and 9x All-Star Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueMost Valuable Player Frank McCormick (CIN) Hank Greenberg (DET) Other awards The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League Most Valuable PlayerMost Valuable Player Award by The Sporting News https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snmv.shtml 2025-01-14 Baseball Almanac Frank McCormick (CIN) Hank Greenberg (DET) Player of the YearMajor League Player of the Year Award by The Sporting News https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snml.shtml 2025-01-14 Baseball Almanac — Bob Feller (CLE) Manager of the YearManager of the Year Award by The Sporting News https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snmy.shtml 2025-01-14 Baseball Almanac Bill McKechnie (CIN) — Executive of the YearMLB Executive of the Year Award https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_sney.shtml 2025-01-14 Baseball Almanac — Walter Briggs Sr. (DET) Home field attendance Team nameWins%± Percent changeHome attendance%± Percent changePer game Average home attendance per gameDetroit Tigershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/attend.shtml Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference9011.1%1,112,69333.1%14,085New York Yankeeshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/attend.shtml New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference88 −17.0%988,97515.0%13,013Brooklyn Dodgershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference884.8%975,9782.1%12,049Cleveland Indianshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference892.3%902,57660.1%11,007Cincinnati Redshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference1003.1%850,180 −13.4%11,041New York Giantshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference72 −6.5%747,8526.5%9,840Boston Red Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference82 −7.9%716,23425.0%9,066Chicago White Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference82 −3.5%660,33611.1%8,466Chicago Cubshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference75 −10.7%534,878 −26.4%6,946Pittsburgh Pirateshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference7814.7%507,93434.8%6,772Philadelphia Athleticshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference54 −1.8%432,1459.4%6,087Washington Senatorshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference64 −1.5%381,24112.4%4,951St. Louis Cardinalshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference84 −8.7%324,078 −19.0%4,209Boston Beeshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference653.2%241,616 −15.5%3,222St. Louis Brownshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference6755.8%239,591119.5%3,112Philadelphia Phillieshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference5011.1%207,177 −25.5%2,622 Venues Over 82 home games, the Cleveland Indians played 49 games at Cleveland Stadium and 33 games at League Park.Seamheads.com Ballparks Database — 1940 Season https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/year.php?Year=1940 2025-11-12 www.seamheads.com All Sunday home games took place at Cleveland Stadium. This would be the 6th of 12 seasons since 1932 that saw the Indians play at both venues. Retired numbers Willard Hershberger had his No. 5 retired by the Cincinnati Reds, though his number would enter circulation just two years later. His number would later be re-retired to honor Johnny Bench in 1984. This was the first number retired by the team. See also 1940 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) References External links 1940 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1940 in baseball