1919 Major League Baseball season

April 2014 1919 1919 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 23 – September 29, 1919 (AL) April 19 – September 28, 1919 (NL)World Series: October 1–9, 1919 140 16 (8 per league) Pennant Winners AL Chicago White Sox Cleveland Indians NL Cincinnati Reds New York Giants World Series 1919 World Series Cincinnati Reds Chicago White Sox List of Major League Baseball seasons MLB 1918 Major League Baseball season 1918 1920 Major League Baseball season 1920 The 1919 major league baseball season began on April 19, 1919. The regular season ended on September 29, with the Cincinnati Reds and Chicago White Sox as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 16th World Series, known for the infamous Black Sox Scandal, on October 1 and ended with Game 8 on October 9. The Cincinnati Reds defeated the Chicago White Sox, five games to three, capturing their first championship in franchise history. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the Boston Red Sox from the 1918 season. The Black Sox Scandal, for which the 1919 season is best remembered for, saw the Chicago White Sox throw (purposely lose) the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, 5–3, in order to illegally gain money from gambling. This scandal resulted in the dissolution of the National Baseball Commission and the creation of the office of the Commissioner of Baseball. The new commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, banned eight players from baseball for life.Purdy Dennis The Team-by-Team Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball Workman Publishing Company 2006 0-7611-3943-5 New York City en Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1919 schedule consisted of 140 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had eight teams. Each team was scheduled to play 20 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This 140-game schedule format had been previously used in 1903. The 154-game schedule was re-instituted for the 1920 season. National League Opening Day took place on April 19, when the Brooklyn Robins defeated the Boston Braves 5–2 at Braves Field in the first game of a doubleheader.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN191904191.shtml April 19, 1919 Brooklyn Robins at Boston Braves Box Score and Play by Play Baseball Reference 2014-12-26 American League Opening Day (and most other National League teams' Opening Day) wouldn't take place until April 23, where each league saw six of their teams play. This continued the trend from the previous season which saw both leagues' Opening Day start on different days. The National League regular season ended on September 28, while the American League regular season ended on September 29 with the New York Yankees defeating the Philadelphia Athletics 4–2 at Shibe Park.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHA/PHA191909290.shtml September 29, 1919 New York Yankees at Philadelphia Athletics Box Score and Play by Play Baseball Reference 2014-12-26 This was the first season since 1915 which saw both leagues end on different days, as well as the first season since 1903 that saw the leagues begin and conclude on different days. The World Series would begin in Cincinnati on October 1, before concluding on October 9. Rule change The minor leagues withdrew from the National Agreement, resulting in the abolition of the Rule 5 draft, as well as all existing optional agreements between major- and minor-league teams. The only way in which major-league clubs could acquire players from the minors was by directly purchasing their contracts. This change resulted in the previous $2,500 (US 2500 1919 eq -2) draft fee cap being removed.Pomrenke Jacob 1918 Winter Meetings: Baseball Returns from the Great War Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1918-winter-meetings-baseball-returns-from-the-great-war/ 2025-03-28 en-US Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1919 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1919-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enAmerican League American LeagueBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park27,000Ed BarrowChicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park28,000Kid GleasonCleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioDunn Field21,414Lee FohlTris SpeakerDetroit TigersDetroit, MichiganNavin Field23,000Hughie JenningsNew York YankeesNew York, New YorkBrush Stadium36,000Miller HugginsPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park23,000Connie MackSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park18,000Jimmy Burke baseballWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.National Park27,000Clark GriffithNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston BravesBoston, MassachusettsBraves Field40,000George StallingsBrooklyn RobinsNew York, New YorkEbbets Field30,000Wilbert RobinsonChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWeeghman Park15,000Fred Mitchell baseballCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioRedland Field20,696Pat MoranNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkBrush Stadium36,000John McGrawPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaNational League Park18,000Jack CoombsGavvy CravathPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field25,000Hugo BezdekSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriRobison Field21,000Branch Rickey Standings start American League Chicago White Sox break National League Cincinnati Reds end Tie games 5 tie games (3 in AL, 2 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, 1 New York Yankees, 2 St. Louis Browns, 1 Washington Senators, 2 break National League Boston Braves, 1 Brooklyn Robins, 1 Philadelphia Phillies, 1 St. Louis Cardinals, 1 end Postseason The postseason began on October 1 and ended on October 9 with the Cincinnati Reds defeating the Chicago White Sox in the 1919 World Series in eight games. Bracket World Series AL Chicago White Sox 3 NL Cincinnati Reds 5 Managerial changes Off-season changes Four teams announced new managers in the offseason: DateTeamNew managerReplacedFormer jobDecember 31Chicago White SoxKid GleasonPants RowlandCoach for the Chicago White Sox (1912–1914, 1916–1917)January 30Cincinnati RedsPat MoranChristy Mathewson & Heinie GrohWon the 1915 World Series as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.—Philadelphia PhilliesJack CoombsPat MoranPitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics and Brooklyn Robins—St. Louis CardinalsBranch RickeyJack HendricksGeneral manager for the St. Louis Cardinals (1917–1918) In-season changes Two teams replaced their managers during the season: DateTeamNew ManagerReplacedPrevious Job July 8Philadelphia Phillies Gavvy Cravath Jack CoombsRight fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies (became player-manager) July 18Cleveland Indians Tris Speaker Lee FohlCenter fielder for the Cleveland Indians (became player-manager) League leaders Any team shown in small text indicates a previous team a player was on during the season. American League start + Hitting leaders1919 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1919-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Ty Cobb (DET) .384 OPS Babe Ruth (BOS) 1.114 HR Babe Ruth (BOS) 29 RBI Babe Ruth (BOS) 114 R Babe Ruth (BOS) 103 H Ty Cobb (DET)Bobby Veach (DET) 191 SB Eddie Collins (CWS) 33 break + Pitching leaders1919 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1919-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Eddie Cicotte (CWS) 29 L Harry Harper (WSH) 21 ERA Walter Johnson (WSH) 1.49 K Walter Johnson (WSH) 147 IP Eddie Cicotte (CWS)Jim Shaw (WSH) 306.2 SV Allen Russell (BOS/NYY)Jim Shaw (WSH)Bob Shawkey (NYY) 5 WHIP Walter Johnson (WSH) 0.985 end National League start + Hitting leaders1919 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1919-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Edd Roush (CIN) .321 OPS Heinie Groh (CIN) .823 HR Gavvy Cravath (PHI) 12 RBI Hy Myers (BRO) 73 R George Burns (NYG) 86 H Ivy Olson (BRO) 164 SB George Burns (NYG) 40 break + Pitching leaders1919 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1919-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Jesse Barnes (NYG) 25 L Lee Meadows (PHI/STL) 20 ERA Grover Alexander (CHC) 1.72 K Hippo Vaughn (CHC) 141 IP Hippo Vaughn (CHC) 306.2 SV Oscar Tuero (STL) 4 WHIP Babe Adams (CIN) 0.896 end Milestones Batters Babe Ruth (BOS): Hit his first career grand slam home run against Dave Davenport of the St. Louis Browns in St. Louis as a pitcher on May 20. Boston wins 6–4.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.cgi?id=ruthba01&t=b Babe Ruth Career Home Runs Baseball Reference 2014-12-26 Set a new American League record for home runs in a season by hitting his 17th home run on August 14 against the Chicago White Sox. Ruth broke the record set by Socks Seybold in 1902. Set a new American League record for grand slams in a season by hitting his fourth on August 23 against the Detroit Tigers. Ruth broke the record of two set by Nap Lajoie in 1901.Grand Slams Single Season Leaders https://www.baseball-almanac.com/hitting/higs2.shtml 2025-12-04 Baseball AlmanacBabe Ruth Home Runs https://www.baseball-almanac.com/players/home_run.php?p=ruthba01 2025-12-04 Baseball Almanac en-us Became the first player to hit at least one home run in every American League park in the same season after hitting his 29th and last home run of the season, against the Washington Senators in Washington, D.C.. Ed Konetchy (BRO): Gets his 10th straight hit, tying Jake Gettman's record set with the 1890s Washington Senators in 1897, going 5-for-5 in a 9–4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies. Both will be topped by Walt Dropo in 1952. Tris Speaker (CLE): Ties the American League record for run scoring, crossing the plate five times in a 15–9 win against the New York Yankees.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA191908110.shtml August 11, 1919 Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees Box Score and Play by Play Baseball Reference 2014-12-26 Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Hod Eller (CIN): Eller threw his first career no-hitter and fifth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 6–0 on May 11. He walked three and struck out eight.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN191905110.shtml May 11, 1919 St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds Box Score and Play by Play – Baseball-Reference.com Baseball Reference December 26, 2014 Ray Caldwell (CLE/BOS): Caldwell threw his first career no-hitter and fourth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the New York Yankees 3–0 in game one of a doubleheader on September 10. He walked one and struck out five. Just two weeks prior on August 24, he was struck by lightning.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA191909101.shtml September 10, 1919 Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees Box Score and Play by Play Baseball Reference 2014-12-26 Other pitching accomplishments Walter Johnson (WSH): Retires 28 consecutive batters during a 12-inning scoreless tie against Jack Quinn and the New York Yankees.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA191905110.shtml May 11, 1919 Washington Senators at New York Yankees Box Score and Play by Play Baseball Reference 2014-12-26 Waite Hoyt (BOS): Threw nine perfect innings against the New York Yankees, but gives up five hits in the 13th inning to end the perfect game, eventually losing the game 2–1.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA191909242.shtml September 24, 1919 Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees Box Score and Play by Play Baseball Reference 2014-12-26 Miscellaneous Cincinnati Reds: Set a major league record for most runs scored in the 13th inning, by scoring 10 runs against the Brooklyn Dodgers on May 15.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 Ray Caldwell (CLE/BOS): Struck by lightning during the ninth inning during his August 24 Cleveland Indian debut, following a trade from the Red Sox. He quickly recovered, reportedly saying "Give me that danged ball and turn me toward the plate", before pitching the final out of the game.http://www.chautauquasportshalloffame.org/raycaldwell1954.php Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame – Special Features – 35 Years Ago Today Ray Caldwell Survived Lightning To Beat A's Chautauquasportshalloffame.org 2014-12-26 Boston Braves vs. Chicago Cubs / Brooklyn Robins vs. Cincinnati Reds: On September 21 – In a period of rapidly played games, the Cubs beat the Braves 3–0 in 58 minutes of playing time.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN191909210.shtml September 21, 1919 Boston Braves at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play Baseball Reference 2014-12-26 It takes the Robins 55 minutes to beat the Reds 3–1,https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN191909210.shtml September 21, 1919 Brooklyn Robins at Cincinnati Reds Box Score and Play by Play Baseball Reference 2014-12-26 with Slim Sallee throwing 65 pitches, managing to top Christy Mathewson's 69-pitch complete game. Fred Luderus (PHI): Is presented with a diamond stickpin and gold watch between doubleheader games on September 24 to commemorate his endurance effort for playing over 500 games in a row. The Brooklyn Robins defeat the Phillies twice on Fred Luderus Day in Philadelphia. The second game is the 525th in a row played by the Phillies first baseman, and he will end the season with a consecutive-game streak of 553.https://baseballbiography.com/fred-luderus-1885 The Ballplayers – Fred Luderus baseballbiography.com 2014-12-26 Philadelphia Phillies / New York Giants: Set a record for the quickest nine-inning game in Major League history on September 28, lasting only 51 minutes for a Giants 6–1 victory at Brush Stadium.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NY1/NY1191909281.shtml September 28, 1919 Philadelphia Phillies at New York Giants Box Score and Play by Play Baseball Reference 2014-12-26 Home field attendance Team nameWins%± Percent changeHome attendance%± Percent changePer game Average home attendance per gameNew York GiantsSan Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference87 22.5%708,857 176.2%10,273Detroit TigersDetroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference80 45.5%643,805 216.0%9,197Chicago White SoxChicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference88 54.4%627,186 221.5%8,960New York YankeesNew York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference80 33.3%619,164 119.5%8,482Cleveland IndiansCleveland Guardians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference84 15.1%538,135 82.1%7,799Cincinnati RedsCincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference96 41.2%532,501 226.7%7,607Chicago CubsChicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference75 −10.7%424,430 25.8%5,978Boston Red SoxBoston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference66 −12.0%417,291 67.2%6,323Brooklyn RobinsLos Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference69 21.1%360,721 330.3%5,153St. Louis BrownsBaltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference67 15.5%349,350 186.2%4,991Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference71 9.2%276,810 29.6%3,954Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference47 −14.5%240,424 96.6%3,386Washington SenatorsMinnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference56 −22.2%234,096 28.5%3,251Philadelphia AthleticsOakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference36 −30.8%225,209 26.6%3,217Boston BravesAtlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference57 7.5%167,401 97.1%2,462St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml 2024-03-28 Baseball Reference54 5.9%167,059 51.0%2,421 See also 1919 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) References External links 1919 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1919 in baseball