1946 Major League Baseball season

February 2024 1946 1946 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 16 – September 29, 1946 (AL) April 16 – October 3, 1946 (NL)World Series: October 6–15, 1946 154 16 (8 per league) Regular season AL: Ted Williams (BOS)NL: Stan Musial (STL) Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award AL Boston Red Sox Detroit Tigers NL St. Louis Cardinals Brooklyn Dodgers World Series 1946 World Series St. Louis Cardinals Boston Red Sox List of MLB seasons MLB 1945 Major League Baseball season 1945 1947 Major League Baseball season 1947 The 1946 major league baseball season began on April 16, 1946. The regular season ended on October 3, with the St. Louis Cardinals and Boston Red Sox as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The Cardinals defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in a regular season best-of-three tiebreaker, for the National League title, after both teams finished their 154-game schedules with identical 96–58 records. It was Major League Baseball's first-ever regular season tie-breaker. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 43rd World Series on October 6 and ended with Game 7 on October 15. The Cardinals defeated the Red Sox, four games to three, capturing their sixth championship in franchise history, since their previous in 1944. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the Detroit Tigers from the 1945 season. The 13th All-Star Game was held on July 9 at Fenway Park in Boston, Massachusetts, hosted by the Boston Red Sox. The American League won, 12–0. Many notable ballplayers returned from their military service this season, following the end of World War II, such as Joe DiMaggio, Stan Musial, and Ted Williams. This was the first season in which the minor-league baseball color line broke. With the support from then-incoming commissioner Happy Chandler, Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson in late-October 1945 to their top minor-league affiliate, the Montreal Royals. Robinson would play for the Royals for the 1946 season. This was the last National and American League seasons to be played under the color barrier, as in the following season, Jackie Robinson would make his debut with the NL's Brooklyn Dodgers to start and Larry Doby would make his debut with the AL's Cleveland Indians in July. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1946 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 took place on April 16, featuring all sixteen teams, continuing the trend from the previous season. The final day of the scheduled regular season was on September 29, which saw all sixteen teams play, the first time since 1944. Due to the Brooklyn Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals finishing with the same record of 96–58, a best-of-three tie-breaker was scheduled, to be considered an extension of the regular season. The Cardinals swept the series in two games, on October 1 & 3. The World Series took place between October 6 and October 15. Rule changes The 1946 season saw the following rule changes: Rules for unlimited night games for all teams (excluding holidays and Sundays) were confirmed to be permanent by commissioner Happy Chandler.Bokser Andy 1945 Winter Meetings: Resuming Peacetime Baseball – Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1945-winter-meetings-resuming-peacetime-baseball/ 2025-06-02 en-US Twilight-night doubleheaders were banned unless caused by postponements. The National League rule which permitted a 30-man roster until June 15 was expanded to the American League. Previously, the AL's rules permitted expanding the roster until 31 days after the commencement of the season. High-school players were prohibited from being signed by any major- or minor-league teams, until they were out of school for more than one year. As commissioner, Chandler did not retain the right to veto league rules that he believed were detrimental to baseball, as his predecessor, Kenesaw Mountain Landis did, though the major leagues acknowledged that the commissioner had the authority to determine when a rule or act was harmful to baseball and to block the implementation of such a rule. The Triple-A level was created as the new highest level of minor-league baseball, with the elevation of the American Association, International League, and Pacific Coast League, from Double-A. Restrictions were implemented on giving out large signing bonuses. If a player was signed for an annual salary and a bonus exceeding $6,000 (US 6000 1946 eq -2), the signing team could not send him to the minor leagues unless no other team claimed him on waivers. Moreover, if he was claimed by another team, his team could not withdraw the waivers. And if the "bonus baby" did end up going to the minors after all teams passed on him, he would be subject to the annual player draft. Any team violating the rule would lose the player, be unable to re-sign him for three years, and be fined $2,000 (US 2000 1946 eq -2). In addition, the individual transgressor for the team would be fined $500 (US 500 1946 eq -2). Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1946 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1946-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com enAmerican League American LeagueBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,817Joe CroninChicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park50,000Jimmy DykesTed LyonsCleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium78,811Lou BoudreauLeague Park*22,500*Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000Steve O'NeillNew York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium70,000Joe McCarthy managerBill DickeyJohnny NeunPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000Connie MackSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Luke SewellZack Taylor baseballWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium32,000Ossie BluegeNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston BravesBoston, MassachusettsBraves Field37,746Billy SouthworthBrooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field34,219Leo DurocherChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field38,396Charlie GrimmCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field29,401Bill McKechnieHank GowdyNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds56,000Mel OttPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000Ben Chapman baseballPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field33,467Frankie FrischSpud DavisSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Eddie Dyer Standings start American League Boston Red Sox break National League St. Louis Cardinals end The St. Louis Cardinals defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in best-of-three playoff series to earn the National League pennant. Tie games 9 tie games (5 in AL, 4 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season. start American League Boston Red Sox, 2 Chicago White Sox, 1 Cleveland Indians, 2 Detroit Tigers, 1 Philadelphia Athletics, 1 St. Louis Browns, 2 Washington Senators, 1 break National League Boston Braves, 1 Brooklyn Dodgers, 1 Chicago Cubs, 2 Cincinnati Reds, 2 Philadelphia Phillies, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 end Postseason 1946 Major League Baseball postseason The postseason began on October 1 and ended on October 15 with the St. Louis Cardinals defeating the Boston Red Sox in the 1946 World Series in seven games. Bracket National League playoff World Series AL Boston Red Sox 3 NL Brooklyn 0 NL STL Cardinals 4 NL STL Cardinals 2 Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston BravesDel BissonetteBilly SouthworthSt. Louis CardinalsBilly SouthworthEddie Dyer In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerChicago White Sox Jimmy DykesTed LyonsCincinnati RedsBill McKechnieHank GowdyNew York Yankees Joe McCarthyBill DickeyBill DickeyJohnny NeunPittsburgh PiratesFrankie FrischSpud DavisSt. Louis BrownsLuke SewellZack Taylor League leaders American League start + Hitting leaders1946 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1946-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com enStat PlayerTotal AVG Mickey Vernon (WSH) .353 OPS Ted Williams (BOS) 1.164 HR Hank Greenberg (DET) 44 RBI Hank Greenberg (DET) 127 R Ted Williams (BOS) 142 H Johnny Pesky (BOS) 208 SB George Case (CLE) 28 break + Pitching leaders1946 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1946-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com enStat PlayerTotal W Bob Feller (CLE)Hal Newhouser (DET) 26 L Dick Fowler (PHA)Lou Knerr (PHA)Phil Marchildon (PHA) 16 ERA Hal Newhouser (DET) 1.94 K Bob Feller (CLE) 348 IP Bob Feller (CLE) 371.1 SV Bob Klinger (BOS) 9 WHIP Hal Newhouser (DET) 1.069 end National League start + Hitting leaders1946 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1946-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com enStat PlayerTotal AVG Stan Musial (STL) .365 OPS Stan Musial (STL) 1.021 HR Ralph Kiner (PIT) 23 RBI Enos Slaughter (STL) 130 R Stan Musial (STL) 124 H Stan Musial (STL) 228 SB Pete Reiser (BRO) 34 break + Pitching leaders1946 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1946-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com enStat PlayerTotal W Howie Pollet (STL) 21 L Dave Koslo (NYG) 19 ERA Howie Pollet (STL) 2.10 K Johnny Schmitz (CHC) 135 IP Howie Pollet (STL) 266.0 SV Ken Raffensberger (PHI) 6 WHIP Mort Cooper (BSN) 1.106 end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Mickey Vernon (WSH): Vernon hit for his first cycle and fourth in franchise history, in game two of a doubleheader on May 19 against the Chicago White Sox.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1946/B05192CHA1946.htm Washington Senators 7, Chicago White Sox 1 (2) May 19, 1946 Retrosheet.org September 10, 2011 September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125211/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1946/B05192CHA1946.htm live Ted Williams (BOS): Williams hit for his first cycle and 11th in franchise history, in game two of a doubleheader on July 21 against the St. Louis Browns.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1946/B07212BOS1946.htm Boston Red Sox 7, St. Louis Browns 4 (2) July 21, 1946 Retrosheet.org September 10, 2011 September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125212/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1946/B07212BOS1946.htm live Other batting accomplishments Rudy York (BOS): Became the third player to hit two grand slams in a single game, in a 13–6 win over the St. Louis Browns on July 27.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLA/SLA194607270.shtml July 27, 1946 Boston Red Sox at St. Louis Browns Play by Play and Box Score Baseball-Reference.com Sports Reference LLC July 27, 1946 July 10, 2012 April 28, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210428140613/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLA/SLA194607270.shtml live Became the fifth player to hit at least 10 runs batted in (RBI) in a single game, hitting 10 against the St. Louis Browns on July 27.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLA/SLA194607270.shtml July 27, 1946 Boston Red Sox at St. Louis Browns Reds Play by Play and Box Score Baseball-Reference.com Sports Reference LLC July 27, 1946 May 13, 2014 April 28, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210428140613/https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/SLA/SLA194607270.shtml livehttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/yorkru01.shtml Rudy York Statistics and History Baseball-Reference.com Sports Reference LLC May 13, 2014 April 17, 2021 https://web.archive.org/web/20210417063113/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/y/yorkru01.shtml live Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Ed Head (BRO): Head threw his first career no-hitter and the ninth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Boston Braves 5–0 on April 23. Head walked three and struck out two.Boston Braves vs Brooklyn Dodgers Box Score: April 23, 1946 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BRO/BRO194604230.shtml 2026-04-09 Baseball-Reference.com en Bob Feller (CLE): Feller therw his second career no-hitter and the seventh no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the New York Yankees 1–0 on April 30. Feller walked five and struck out 11.Cleveland Indians vs New York Yankees Box Score: April 30, 1946 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA194604300.shtml 2026-04-09 Baseball-Reference.com en Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueMost Valuable Player Stan Musial (STL) Ted Williams (BSN) Other awards The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League Player of the YearMajor League Player of the Year Award by The Sporting News Baseball Almanac https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snml.shtml 2025-01-14 www.baseball-almanac.com Stan Musial (STL) — Rookie of the YearRookie of the Year Award by The Sporting News Baseball Almanac https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snrp3.shtml 2025-01-14 www.baseball-almanac.com Del Ennis (PHI) — Manager of the YearManager of the Year Award by The Sporting News Baseball Almanac https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snmy.shtml 2025-01-14 www.baseball-almanac.com Eddie Dyer (STL) — Executive of the YearMLB Executive of the Year Award Baseball Almanac https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_sney.shtml 2025-01-14 www.baseball-almanac.com — Tom Yawkey (BSN) Baseball Hall of Fame National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Jesse Burkett Frank Chance Jack Chesbro Johnny Evers Tommy McCarthy Joe McGinnity Eddie Plank Joe Tinker Rube Waddell Ed Walsh Clark Griffith (executive/pioneer contributor) 1946 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting Home field attendance Team nameWins%± Percent changeHome attendance%± Percent changePer game Average home attendance per gameNew York Yankeeshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/attend.shtml New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com877.4%2,265,512156.9%29,422Brooklyn Dodgershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com9610.3%1,796,82469.6%22,745Detroit Tigershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/attend.shtml Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com924.5%1,722,59034.5%21,805Boston Red Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com10446.5%1,416,944134.7%18,166Chicago Cubshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com82 −16.3%1,342,97029.6%17,441New York Giantshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com61 −21.8%1,219,87320.0%15,843St. Louis Cardinalshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com983.2%1,061,80778.6%13,613Cleveland Indianshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com68 −6.8%1,057,28989.4%13,731Philadelphia Phillieshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com6950.0%1,045,247266.7%13,401Washington Senatorshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com76 −12.6%1,027,21657.4%13,516Chicago White Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com744.2%983,40349.5%12,448Boston Braveshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com8120.9%969,673159.1%12,593Pittsburgh Pirateshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com63 −23.2%749,96224.0%9,615Cincinnati Redshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com679.8%715,751146.8%9,295Philadelphia Athleticshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com49 −5.8%621,79334.4%7,972St. Louis Brownshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com66 −18.5%526,4359.0%6,837 Venues The Cleveland Indians would play their last game at League Park on September 21 against the Detroit Tigers, permanently moving into Cleveland Stadium for the start of the 1947 season. Over 77 home games, the Indians played 41 games at Cleveland Stadium and 36 games at League Park.Seamheads.com Ballparks Database — 1946 Season https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/year.php?Year=1946 2025-10-09 www.seamheads.com All Sunday home games took place at Cleveland Stadium. This would be the last of 12 seasons since 1932 that saw the Indians play at both venues. See also 1946 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) 1946 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season 1946 Japanese Baseball League season References Further reading Weintraub, Robert (2013) The Victory Season: The End of World War II and the Birth of Baseball's Golden Age. New York: Little, Brown & Company. 978-0-316-20591-7. External links 1946 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1946 in baseball