1945 Major League Baseball season

February 2024 1945 1945 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 17 – September 30, 1945World Series: October 3–10, 1945 154 16 (8 per league) Regular season AL: Hal Newhouser (DET)NL: Phil Cavarretta (CHC) Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award AL Detroit Tigers Washington Senators NL Chicago Cubs St. Louis Cardinals World Series 1945 World Series Detroit Tigers Chicago Cubs List of MLB seasons MLB 1944 Major League Baseball season 1944 1946 Major League Baseball season 1946 The 1945 major league baseball season began on April 17, 1945. The regular season ended on September 30, with the Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 42nd World Series on October 3 and ended with Game 7 on October 10. In the fourth iteration of this World Series matchup, the Tigers defeated the Cubs, four games to three, capturing their second championship in franchise history, since their previous in 1935. It would prove to be the Cubs' last appearance in a World Series until the 2016 World Series. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the St. Louis Cardinals from the 1944 season. The scheduled 13th All-Star Game, to be held at Fenway Park and hosted by the Boston Red Sox, was cancelled due to wartime travel restrictions in World War II. The Red Sox would host the following year. This would be the last season in which any team's minor-league affiliates played under the color barrier, as Jackie Robinson was signed to the Brooklyn Dodgers' top minor-league affiliate, the Montreal Royals, in late-October, following the World Series. He would eventually break the major-league color barrier following his promotion to the majors in 1947. This was Happy Chandler's first season serving as Commissioner of Baseball (though due to his position as US Senator of Kentucky, he would not be formally appointed until November 1, following his resignation of the Senate), following the death of 24-year commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis in 1944. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1945 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 17, featuring all sixteen teams, the first since the 1942 season. The final day of the regular season was on September 30, which saw fourteen teams play. In a scheduling oddity, the Washington Senators of the AL saw their season finish a week earlier on September 23, partly due to World War II travel restrictions, but also the need to convert Griffith Stadium's playing field to host its autumn football tenants, the NFL Washington Redskins and Georgetown University. The World Series took place between October 3 and October 10. Rule changes The 1945 season saw the following rule changes: In addition to unlimited weekday nights, unrestricted ability to play night games was expanded to include Saturdays. All but holidays and Sundays were still restricted. Also, the host team was required to get formal consent from the visiting team to play at night.Marren Joe 1944 Winter Meetings: A New Era Without Landis – Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1944-winter-meetings-a-new-era-without-landis/ 2025-06-02 en-US Night games on Sunday would not exist until 1990, with ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball. The "Barrow Regulation" was passed, prohibiting teams from renting its ballpark to a football team as long as the baseball team had a chance of playing in the World Series. Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1945 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1945-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com enAmerican League American LeagueBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,817Joe CroninChicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park50,000Jimmy DykesCleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium78,811Lou BoudreauLeague Park*22,500*Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000Steve O'NeillNew York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium70,000Joe McCarthy managerPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000Connie MackSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Luke SewellWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium32,000Ossie BluegeNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston BravesBoston, MassachusettsBraves Field37,746Bob ColemanDel BissonetteBrooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field35,000Leo DurocherChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field38,396Charlie GrimmCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field29,401Bill McKechnieNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds56,000Mel OttPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000Freddie FitzsimmonsBen Chapman baseballPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field33,467Frankie FrischSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Billy Southworth Standings start American League Detroit Tigers break National League Chicago Cubs end Tie games 12 tie games (8 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, 3 Chicago White Sox, 1 Cleveland Indians, 2 Detroit Tigers, 2 Philadelphia Athletics, 3 St. Louis Browns, 3 Washington Senators, 2 break National League Boston Braves, 2 Brooklyn Dodgers, 1 Chicago Cubs, 1 New York Giants, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 St. Louis Cardinals, 1 end Postseason The postseason began on October 3 and ended on October 10 with the Detroit Tigers defeating the Chicago Cubs in the 1945 World Series in seven games. Bracket World Series AL Detroit Tigers 4 NL Chicago Cubs 3 Managerial changes In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston BravesBob ColemanDel BissonettePhiladelphia PhilliesFreddie FitzsimmonsBen Chapman League leaders Any team shown in small text indicates a previous team a player was on during the season. American League start + Hitting leaders1945 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1945-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com enStat PlayerTotal AVG Snuffy Stirnweiss (NYY) .309 OPS Snuffy Stirnweiss (NYY) .862 HR Vern Stephens (SLB) 24 RBI Nick Etten (NYY) 111 R Snuffy Stirnweiss (NYY) 107 H Snuffy Stirnweiss (NYY) 195 SB Snuffy Stirnweiss (NYY) 33 break + Pitching leaders1945 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1945-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com enStat PlayerTotal W Hal Newhouser1 (DET) 25 L Bobo Newsom (PHA) 20 ERA Hal Newhouser1 (DET) 1.81 K Hal Newhouser1 (DET) 212 IP Hal Newhouser (DET) 313.1 SV Jim Turner (NYY) 10 WHIP Roger Wolff (WSH) 1.012 1 American League Triple Crown pitching winner end National League start + Hitting leaders1945 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1945-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com enStat PlayerTotal AVG Phil Cavarretta (CHC) .355 OPS Tommy Holmes (BSN) .997 HR Tommy Holmes (BSN) 28 RBI Dixie Walker (BRO) 124 R Eddie Stanky (BRO) 124 H Tommy Holmes (BSN) 224 SB Red Schoendienst (STL) 26 break + Pitching leaders1945 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1945-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com enStat PlayerTotal W Red Barrett (STL/BSN) 23 L Dick Barrett (PHI) 20 ERA Ray Prim (CHC) 2.40 K Preacher Roe (PIT) 148 IP Red Barrett (STL/BSN) 284.2 SV Ace Adams (NYG)Andy Karl (PHI) 15 WHIP Ray Prim (CHC) 0.998 end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Bob Elliott (PIT): Elliott hit for his first cycle and 12th in franchise history, in game two of a doubleheader on July 15 against the Brooklyn Dodgers.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1945/B07152PIT1945.htm Pittsburgh Pirates 15, Brooklyn Dodgers 3 (2) July 15, 1945 Retrosheet.org September 10, 2011 September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125155/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1945/B07152PIT1945.htm live Bill Salkeld (PIT): Salkeld hit for his first cycle and 13th in franchise history, on August 4 against the St. Louis Cardinals.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1945/B08040PIT1945.htm St. Louis Cardinals 6, Pittsburgh Pirates 5 August 4, 1945 Retrosheet.org September 10, 2011 September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125156/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1945/B08040PIT1945.htm live Other batting accomplishments Mel Ott (NYG): Became the third player in Major League history to hit 500 home runs in the third inning against the Boston Braves on August 1.https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ottme01.shtml Mel Ott Statistics and History Baseball-Reference.com July 15, 2010 May 20, 2019 https://web.archive.org/web/20190520205619/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/o/ottme01.shtml liveMel Ott Career Home Runs https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=ottme01&t=b 2026-04-08 Baseball-Reference.com en Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Dick Fowler (PHA): Fowler threw his first career no-hitter and the fourth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the St. Louis Browns 1–0 in game two of a doubleheader on September 9. Fowler walked four and struck out six.St. Louis Browns vs Philadelphia Athletics Box Score: September 9, 1945 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHA/PHA194509092.shtml 2026-04-08 Baseball-Reference.com en Miscellaneous Pete Gray (SLB): On April 17, became the first of three one-armed man to ever play in the Major Leagues (though only player to play missing his arm above the elbow). He batted .218 in 77 games. Awards and honors The Sporting News Most Valuable Player Award went to Detroit Tigers third baseman Eddie Mayo; however, following a post-season vote, the official AL MVP Award was given to fellow Detroit Tiger Hal Newhouser, a pitcher. 1945 Awards Voting Baseball-Reference.com https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1945.shtml Baseball-Reference.com November 15, 2015 Newhouser ended the season with an ERA of 1.81, a record of 25 wins and 9 losses, and 212 strikeouts. Both of them helped lead the Detroit Tigers to a World Series win, and Newhouser remarked that Eddie Mayo was the driving force behind the 1945 pennant chase and that Mayo was a "take-charge kind of guy in our field."February 2018 The NL Most Valuable Player Award went to Chicago Cubs first baseman and outfielder Phil Cavarretta. Tommy Holmes Statistics and History Baseball-Reference.com https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/h/holmeto01.shtml Baseball-Reference.com November 15, 2015 He ended the season with an impressive batting average of .355 and an on-base-percentage of .455. Phil Cavarretta Statistics and History Baseball-Reference.com https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/cavarph01.shtml Baseball-Reference.com November 15, 2015 The second-place finisher was Boston Braves player Tommy Holmes who finished the season with a batting average of .352 and an impressive slugging percentage of .577. Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueMost Valuable Player Phil Cavarretta (CHC) Hal Newhouser (DET) Other awards The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League Most Valuable PlayerMost Valuable Player Award by The Sporting News Baseball Almanac https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snmv.shtml 2025-01-14 www.baseball-almanac.com Tommy Holmes (BSN) Eddie Mayo (DET) 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 — Hal Newhouser (DET) Pitcher of the YearPitcher of the Year Award by The Sporting News Baseball Almanac https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snpy2.shtml 2025-01-14 www.baseball-almanac.com Hank Borowy (CHC) Hal Newhouser (DET) 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 — Ossie Bluege (WSH) 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 Philip K. Wrigley (CHC) — Baseball Hall of Fame National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Roger Bresnahan Dan Brouthers Fred Clarke Jimmy Collins Ed Delahanty Hugh Duffy Hughie Jennings King Kelly Jim O'Rourke Wilbert Robinson (manager) MLB Baseball Hall of Fame Inductees Baseball-Reference.com https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/hof.shtml Baseball-Reference.com November 15, 2015 1945 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting 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 September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com880.0%1,280,34138.7%16,847Brooklyn Dodgershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com8738.1%1,059,22074.8%13,580Chicago Cubshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com9830.7%1,036,38661.9%13,637New York Giantshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com7816.4%1,016,46850.7%13,032New York Yankeeshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/attend.shtml New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com81 −2.4%881,84511.6%11,603Chicago White Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com710.0%657,98116.8%8,892Washington Senatorshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com8735.9%652,66024.3%8,367Pittsburgh Pirateshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com82 −8.9%604,6940.1%7,654Boston Red Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com71 −7.8%603,79419.1%7,741St. Louis Cardinalshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com95 −9.5%594,63028.7%7,623Cleveland Indianshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com731.4%558,18217.4%7,249St. Louis Brownshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com81 −9.0%482,986 −5.0%6,355Philadelphia Athleticshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com52 −27.8%462,631 −8.4%6,008Boston Braveshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com673.1%374,17879.3%4,989Cincinnati Redshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com61 −31.5%290,070 −29.2%3,767Philadelphia Phillieshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com46 −24.6%285,057 −22.9%3,702 Venues Over 77 home games, the Cleveland Indians played 46 games at Cleveland Stadium and 31 games at League Park.Seamheads.com Ballparks Database — 1945 Season https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/year.php?Year=1945 2025-10-09 www.seamheads.com All Sunday and Monday home games took place at Cleveland Stadium. This would be the 11th of 12 seasons since 1932 that saw the Indians play at both venues. See also 1945 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) 1945 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season References External links 1945 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1945 in baseball