1937 Major League Baseball season

1937 February 2024 1937 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 9 – October 3, 1937World Series: October 6–10, 1937 154 16 (8 per league) Regular season AL: Charlie Gehringer (DET)NL: Joe Medwick (STL) Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award AL New York Yankees Detroit Tigers NL New York Giants Chicago Cubs World Series 1937 World Series New York Yankees New York Giants List of MLB seasons MLB 1936 Major League Baseball season 1936 1938 Major League Baseball season 1938 The 1937 major league baseball season began on April 19, 1937. The regular season ended on October 3, with the New York Giants 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 34th World Series on October 6 and ended with Game 5 on October 10. In the fifth iteration of this World Series matchup (and a rematch of the previous year), the Yankees defeated the Giants, four games to one, capturing their sixth championship in franchise history, and their second in a four-World Series run. With this victory, the Yankees became the team with the most World Series victories, a feat that continues today. The fifth All-Star Game was held on July 7 at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., home of the Washington Senators. The American League won, 8–3. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1937 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 19, featured four teams across both leagues play. The final day of the regular season was on October 3 and featured all sixteen teams, the first since 1935. The World Series took place between October 6 and October 10. Rule changes The 1937 season saw the following rule changes:Keeney Stephen R. 1936 Winter Meetings: Home Plate and Hurlers Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1936-winter-meetings-home-plate-and-hurlers/ 2025-04-28 en-US Regarding night games, the National and American Leagues allowed teams to play up to seven night games per season at home as long as the visiting team agreed. It was decided to make the baseball slightly "deader" (that is, less effective off the bat), following poor pitching performances and stats of the previous season. New baseballs created would now have "Official Major League Baseball" stamped, as opposed to either National or American Leagues (although both leagues would frequently use their own branded balls through the end of the 20th century). Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1937 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1937-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enAmerican League American LeagueBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,817Joe CroninChicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park52,000Jimmy DykesCleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioLeague Park22,500Steve O'NeillCleveland Stadium*78,811*Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganNavin Field36,000Mickey CochraneDel BakerCy PerkinsNew York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium71,699Joe McCarthy managerPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000Connie MackEarle MackSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Rogers HornsbyJim BottomleyWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium32,000Bucky HarrisNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston BeesBoston, MassachusettsNational League Park41,700Bill McKechnieBrooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field35,000Burleigh GrimesChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field40,000Charlie GrimmCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field26,060Chuck DressenBobby Wallace baseballNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds51,856Bill TerryPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaBaker Bowl18,800Jimmie Wilson baseballPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field41,000Pie TraynorSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Frankie Frisch Standings start American League New York Yankees break National League New York Giants end Tie games 13 tie games (9 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 Cleveland Indians, 2 Detroit Tigers, 1 New York Yankees, 3 Philadelphia Athletics, 3 St. Louis Browns, 2 Washington Senators, 5 break National League Brooklyn Dodgers, 2 Cincinnati Reds, 1 Philadelphia Phillies, 2 St. Louis Cardinals, 3 end Postseason The postseason began on October 6 and ended on October 10 with the New York Yankees defeating the New York Giants in the 1937 World Series in five games. Bracket World Series AL New York Yankees 4 NL New York Giants 1 Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBrooklyn Dodgers Casey Stengel Burleigh GrimesDetroit Tigers Del Baker Mickey Cochrane In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerCincinnati Reds Chuck Dressen Bobby WallaceDetroit Tigers Mickey Cochrane Del Baker Del Baker Cy PerkinsPhiladelphia Athletics Connie Mack Earle MackSt. Louis Browns Rogers Hornsby Jim Bottomley League leaders Any team shown in small text indicates a previous team a player was on during the season. American League start + Hitting leaders1937 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1937-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal AVG Charlie Gehringer (DET) .371 OPS Lou Gehrig (NYY) 1.116 HR Joe DiMaggio (NYY) 46 RBI Hank Greenberg (DET) 184 R Joe DiMaggio (NYY) 151 H Beau Bell (SLB) 218 SB Ben Chapman (BOS/WSH)Billy Werber (PHA) 35 break + Pitching leaders1937 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1937-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal W Lefty Gomez1 (NYY) 21 L Harry Kelley (PHA) 21 ERA Lefty Gomez1 (NYY) 2.33 K Lefty Gomez1 (NYY) 194 IP Wes Ferrell (WSH/BOS) 281.0 SV Clint Brown (CWS) 18 WHIP Monty Stratton (CWS) 1.087 1 American League Triple Crown pitching winner end National League start + Hitting leaders1937 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1937-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal AVG Joe Medwick2 (STL) .374 OPS Joe Medwick (STL) 1.056 HR Joe Medwick2 (STL)Mel Ott (NYG) 31 RBI Joe Medwick2 (STL) 154 R Joe Medwick (STL) 111 H Joe Medwick (STL) 237 SB Augie Galan (CHC) 23 2 National League Triple Crown batting winner break + Pitching leaders1937 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1937-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal W Carl Hubbell (NYG) 22 L Wayne LaMaster (PHI) 19 ERA Jim Turner (BSN) 2.38 K Carl Hubbell (NYG) 159 IP Claude Passeau (PHI) 292.1 SV Mace Brown (PIT)Cliff Melton (NYG) 7 WHIP Jim Turner (BSN) 1.091 end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Gee Walker (DET): Walker hit for his first cycle, the third in franchise history, and the fourth reverse cycle in major league history, on April 20 against the Cleveland Indians.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1937/B04200DET1937.htm Detroit Tigers 4, Cleveland Indians 3 1937-04-20 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123509/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1937/B04200DET1937.htm live Joe DiMaggio (NYY): DiMaggio hit for his first cycle and the seventh in franchise history, on July 9 against the Washington Senators.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1937/B07090NYA1937.htm New York Yankees 16, Washington Senators 2 1937-07-09 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123512/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1937/B07090NYA1937.htm live Lou Gehrig (NYY): Gehrig hit for his second cycle and the eighth in franchise history, on August 1 against the St. Louis Browns.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1937/B08010NYA1937.htm New York Yankees 14, St. Louis Browns 5 1937-08-01 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924123513/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1937/B08010NYA1937.htm live Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Bill Dietrich (CWS): Dietrich threw his first career no-hitter and 10th no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the St. Louis Browns 8–0 on June 1. Dietrich walked two and struck out five.St. Louis Browns vs Chicago White Sox Box Score: June 1, 1937 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHA/CHA193706010.shtml 2026-03-17 Baseball Reference en Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueMost Valuable Player Joe Medwick (STL) Charlie Gehringer (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 Joe Medwick (STL) Charlie Gehringer (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 — Johnny Allen (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 (BSN) — Executive of the YearMLB Executive of the Year Award https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_sney.shtml 2025-01-14 Baseball Almanac — Ed Barrow (NYY) Baseball Hall of Fame National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Nap Lajoie Tris Speaker Cy Young Connie Mack (manager) John McGraw (manager) Morgan Bulkeley (executive) Ban Johnson (executive) George Wright (executive/pioneer contributor) 1937 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 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference897.2%1,072,27622.4%13,926New York Yankeeshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/attend.shtml New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference1020.0%998,1482.2%12,635New York Giantshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference953.3%926,88710.6%12,358Chicago Cubshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference936.9%895,02028.0%11,475Chicago White Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference866.2%589,24533.7%7,653Cleveland Indianshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference833.8%564,84912.9%7,242Boston Red Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference808.1%559,659 −10.7%7,563Brooklyn Dodgershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference62 −7.5%482,481 −1.5%6,348Pittsburgh Pirateshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference862.4%459,67923.4%5,893St. Louis Cardinalshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference81 −6.9%430,811 −3.9%5,385Philadelphia Athleticshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference541.9%430,73851.0%5,452Cincinnati Redshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference56 −24.3%411,221 −11.8%5,140Washington Senatorshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference73 −11.0%397,7994.8%4,972Boston Beeshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference7911.3%385,33913.1%5,070Philadelphia Phillieshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference6113.0%212,790 −14.6%2,876St. Louis Brownshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference46 −19.3%123,12132.0%1,578 Venues Over 78 home games, the Cleveland Indians played 63 games at League Park and 15 games at Cleveland Stadium.Seamheads.com Ballparks Database — 1937 Season https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/year.php?Year=1937 2025-11-17 www.seamheads.com Only Sunday and Monday home games saw games played at Cleveland Stadium. This would be the 3rd of 12 seasons since 1932 that saw the Indians play at both venues. See also 1937 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) References External links 1937 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1937 in baseball