1938 Major League Baseball season

February 2024 1938 1938 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 18 – October 2, 1938 (AL) April 19 – October 2, 1938 (NL)World Series: October 5–9, 1938 154 16 (8 per league) Regular season AL: Jimmie Foxx (BOS)NL: Ernie Lombardi (CIN) Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award AL New York Yankees Boston Red Sox NL Chicago Cubs Pittsburgh Pirates World Series 1938 World Series New York Yankees Chicago Cubs List of MLB seasons MLB 1937 Major League Baseball season 1937 1939 Major League Baseball season 1939 The 1938 major league baseball season began on April 18, 1938. The regular season ended on October 2, with the Chicago Cubs and New York Yankees as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 35th World Series on October 5 and ended with Game 4 on October 9. In the second iteration of this World Series matchup, the Yankees swept the Cubs in four games, capturing their seventh championship in franchise history, and their third in a four-World Series run, becoming the first team to win three consecutive World Series. The sixth All-Star Game was held on July 6 at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio, home of the Cincinnati Reds. The National League won, 4–1. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1938 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. American League Opening Day took place on April 18 with four teams playing, while National League Opening Day took place the following day, featuring all eight teams. This was the first season since 1932 that both leagues opened on different days. The final day of the regular season was on October 2 and featured all sixteen teams, continuing the trend since the previous season. The World Series took place between October 5 and October 9. Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1938 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1938-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enAmerican League American LeagueBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,817Joe CroninChicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park50,000Jimmy DykesCleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioLeague Park22,500Ossie VittCleveland Stadium*78,811*Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000Mickey CochraneDel BakerNew York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium71,699Joe McCarthy managerPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000Connie MackSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Gabby StreetOscar Melillo Ski MelilloWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium32,000Bucky HarrisNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston BeesBoston, MassachusettsNational League Park41,700Casey StengelBrooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field35,000Burleigh GrimesChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field38,396Charlie GrimmGabby HartnettCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field29,401Bill McKechnieNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds51,856Bill TerryPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaBaker Bowl*18,800*Jimmie Wilson Jimmie Wilson (baseball)Shibe Park33,000Hans LobertPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field40,000Pie TraynorSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Frankie FrischMike González catcher Standings start American League New York Yankees break National League Chicago Cubs end Tie games 16 tie games (8 in AL, 8 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 Chicago White Sox, 1 Cleveland Indians, 1 Detroit Tigers, 1 New York Yankees, 5 Philadelphia Athletics, 2 St. Louis Browns, 4 Washington Senators, 1 break National League Boston Bees, 1 Brooklyn Dodgers, 2 Chicago Cubs, 2 Cincinnati Reds, 1 New York Giants, 2 Philadelphia Phillies, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 St. Louis Cardinals, 5 end Postseason The postseason began on October 5 and ended on October 9 with the New York Yankees sweeping the Chicago Cubs in the 1938 World Series in four games. Bracket World Series AL New York Yankees 4 NL Chicago Cubs 0 Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston Bees Bill McKechnie Casey StengelCincinnati Reds Bobby Wallace Bill McKechnieCleveland Indians Steve O'Neill Ossie VittDetroit Tigers Cy Perkins Mickey CochranePhiladelphia Athletics Earle Mack Connie MackSt. Louis Browns Jim Bottomley Gabby Street In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerChicago Cubs Charlie Grimm Gabby HartnettDetroit Tigers Mickey Cochrane Del BakerPhiladelphia Phillies Jimmie Wilson Hans LobertSt. Louis Browns Gabby Street Oscar MelilloSt. Louis Cardinals Frankie Frisch Mike González League leaders American League start + Hitting leaders1938 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1938-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal AVG Jimmie Foxx (BOS) .349 OPS Jimmie Foxx (BOS) 1.166 HR Hank Greenberg (DET) 58 RBI Jimmie Foxx (BOS) 175 R Hank Greenberg (DET) 143 H Joe Vosmik (BOS) 201 SB Frankie Crosetti (NYY) 27 break + Pitching leaders1938 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1938-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal W Red Ruffing (NYY) 21 L George Caster (PHA) 20 ERA Lefty Grove (BOS) 3.08 K Bob Feller (CLE) 240 IP Bobo Newsom (SLB) 329.2 SV Johnny Murphy (NYY) 11 WHIP Dutch Leonard (WSH) 1.227 break thumb|180px|Hank Greenberg, Hall of Famer and 2-time MVP end National League start + Hitting leaders1938 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1938-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal AVG Ernie Lombardi (CIN) .342 OPS Johnny Mize (STL) 1.036 HR Mel Ott (NYG) 36 RBI Joe Medwick (STL) 122 R Mel Ott (NYG) 116 H Frank McCormick (CIN) 237 SB Stan Hack (CHC) 16 break + Pitching leaders1938 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1938-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal W Bill Lee (CHC) 22 L Hugh Mulcahy (PHI) 20 ERA Bill Lee (CHC) 2.66 K Clay Bryant (CHC) 135 IP Paul Derringer (CIN) 307.0 SV Dick Coffman (NYG) 12 WHIP Carl Hubbell (NYG) 1.140 break end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Odell Hale (CLE): Hale hit for his first cycle and third in franchise history, on July 12 against the Washington Senators.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1938/B07120WS11938.htm Washington Senators 9, Cleveland Indians 8 1938-07-12 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125035/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1938/B07120WS11938.htm live Other batting accomplishments Jimmie Foxx (BOS): Became the third player in Major League history to hit 400 home runs in the fifth inning against the Cleveland Indians on June 27.Jimmie Foxx Career Home Runs https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.fcgi?id=foxxji01&t=b 2026-05-04 Baseball Reference enThosar Deesha Every member of the 400-HR club https://www.mlb.com/news/400-home-run-club-c279297150 2026-05-04 MLB.com en Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Johnny Vander Meer (CIN): Vander Meer threw his first career no-hitter and sixth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Boston Bees 3–0 on June 11. Vander Meer walked three and struck out four.Boston Bees vs Cincinnati Reds Box Score: June 11, 1938 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN193806110.shtml 2026-03-17 Baseball Reference en Vander Meer threw his second career no-hitter and seventh no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers 6–0 on June 15. Vander Meer walked eight and struck out seven.Cincinnati Reds vs Brooklyn Dodgers Box Score: June 15, 1938 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BRO/BRO193806150.shtml 2026-03-17 Baseball Reference en He is the first in major league history to throw two no-hitters in a season, as well as the only player to ever throw no-hitters in back-to-back starts, the latter of which has been described as "the most unbreakable of all baseball records" by LIFE.1. Johnny Vander Meer's Back-to-Back No-Nos – Unbreakable Baseball Records http://www.life.com/gallery/33512/image/75889081/unbreakable-baseball-records#index/16 LIFE.com See Your World LLC https://web.archive.org/web/20100505064337/http://www.life.com/image/3244801/in-gallery/33512/unbreakable-baseball-records 2010-05-05 Monte Pearson (NYY): Pearson threw his first career no-hitter and third no-hitter in franchise, by defeating the Cleveland Indians 13–0 on August 27. Pearson walked two and struck out seven.Cleveland Indians vs New York Yankees Box Score: August 27, 1938 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA193808272.shtml 2026-03-17 Baseball Reference en Other pitching accomplishments Bob Feller (CLE): Set a modern Major League record for most strikeouts in a single game, throwing 18 strikeouts in a 4–1 loss to the Detroit Tigers in game one of a doubleheader on October 2.Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Indians Box Score: October 2, 1938 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE193810021.shtml 2026-05-14 Baseball Reference en Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican League Most Valuable Player Ernie Lombardi (CIN) Jimmie Foxx (BSN) 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 Ernie Lombardi (CIN) Jimmie Foxx (BSN) 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 Johnny Vander Meer (CIN) — 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 — Joe McCarthy (NYY) Executive of the YearMLB Executive of the Year Award https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_sney.shtml 2025-01-14 Baseball Almanac Warren Giles (CIN) — Baseball Hall of Fame National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Grover Cleveland Alexander Alexander Cartwright (pioneer contributor) Henry Chadwick (pioneer contributor) 1938 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 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference99 −2.9%970,916 −2.7%12,290Chicago Cubshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference89 −4.3%951,6406.3%12,359New York Giantshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference83 −12.6%799,633 −13.7%10,954Detroit Tigershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/attend.shtml Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference84 −5.6%799,557 −25.4%10,121Cincinnati Redshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference8246.4%706,75671.9%9,179Brooklyn Dodgershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference6911.3%663,08737.4%8,961Cleveland Indianshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference863.6%652,00615.4%8,579Boston Red Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference8810.0%646,45915.5%8,619Pittsburgh Pirateshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference860.0%641,03339.5%8,218Washington Senatorshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference752.7%522,69431.4%6,701Philadelphia Athleticshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference53 −1.9%385,357 −10.5%5,070Boston Beeshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference77 −2.5%341,149 −11.5%4,549Chicago White Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference65 −24.4%338,278 −42.6%4,634St. Louis Cardinalshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference71 −12.3%291,418 −32.4%3,598Philadelphia Phillieshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference45 −26.2%166,111 −21.9%2,215St. Louis Brownshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference5519.6%130,4175.9%1,694 Venues Over 76 home games, the Cleveland Indians played 58 games at League Park and 18 games at Cleveland Stadium.Seamheads.com Ballparks Database — 1938 Season https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/year.php?Year=1938 2025-11-13 www.seamheads.com All Thursday games took place at League Park. This would be the 4th of 12 seasons since 1932 that saw the Indians play at both venues. The Detroit Tigers' venue, Navin Field, named after former owner Frank Navin, was renamed to Briggs Stadium, named after new owner Walter Briggs Sr., prior to the season's start. The Philadelphia Phillies would play their last game at the Baker Bowl on June 30 after 28 home games, having played 52 seasons there going back to 1887, and moved into the Philadelphia Athletics' home at Shibe Park, where they would go on to play for 33 seasons through 1970. See also 1938 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) References External links 1938 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1938 in baseball