1943 Major League Baseball season

February 2024 1943 1943 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 20 – October 3, 1943 (AL) April 21 – October 3, 1943 (NL)World Series: October 5–11, 1943 154 16 (8 per league) Regular season AL: Spud Chandler (NYY)NL: Stan Musial (STL) Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award AL New York Yankees Washington Senators NL St. Louis Cardinals Cincinnati Reds World Series 1943 World Series New York Yankees St. Louis Cardinals List of MLB seasons MLB 1942 Major League Baseball season 1942 1944 Major League Baseball season 1944 The 1943 major league baseball season began on April 20, 1943. The regular season ended on October 3, with the St. Louis Cardinals 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 40th World Series on October 5 and ended with Game 5 on October 11. In the fourth iteration of this World Series matchup (and a rematch of the previous year), the Yankees defeated the Cardinals, four games to one, capturing their tenth championship in franchise history, since their previous in 1941. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the St. Louis Cardinals from the 1942 season. The 11th All-Star Game was held on July 13 at the Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, hosted by the Philadelphia Athletics. The American League won, 5–3. This was also the first All-Star Game held at night. In order to conserve rail transport during World War II, the 1943 spring training sites was limited to an area east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River. Spring training sites included the Chicago White Sox in French Lick, Indiana; the Washington Senators in College Park, Maryland; and the Yankees in Asbury Park, New Jersey.Suehsdorf A. D. The Great American Baseball Scrapbook Random House 1978 0-394-50253-1 103 en Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1943 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 20 with a game between the Philadelphia Athletics and Washington Senators, while National League Opening Day took place on the following day, featuring four teams. This was the first season since 1941 that both leagues opened on different days. The final day of the regular season was on October 3, which saw all sixteen teams play, also the first time since 1941. The World Series took place between October 5 and October 11. Rule changes The 1943 season saw the following rule changes: Draft rules in regard to payment of the selection fee for players on the National Defense, voluntarily retired, and suspended lists were revised. Previously, teams had not had to pay the selection fee until the player reported to the team. With the new revision, teams would now have to pay the fee when the player was selected.Bush Frederick C. 1942 Winter Meetings: Green Light Matters of Manpower and the Military Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1942-winter-meetings-green-light-matters-of-manpower-and-the-military/ 2025-05-30 en-US During the July All-Star break, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis granted the Washington Senators the ability to play an unlimited amount of weekday night games (previously, they were allowed 21, while other teams were still only allowed 14).Moraski Richard The Washington Senators in Wartime Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/the-washington-senators-in-wartime/ 2025-05-30 en-US Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1943 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1943-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference 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 Field37,746Casey StengelBob ColemanBrooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field35,000Leo DurocherChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field38,396Jimmie Wilson baseballCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field29,401Bill McKechnieNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds56,000Mel OttPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000Bucky HarrisFreddie FitzsimmonsPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field33,467Frankie FrischSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Billy Southworth Standings start American League New York Yankees break National League St. Louis Cardinals end Tie games 11 tie games (4 in AL, 7 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 Detroit Tigers, 1 New York Yankees, 1 Philadelphia Athletics, 1 St. Louis Browns, 1 break National League Chicago Cubs, 1 Cincinnati Reds, 1 New York Giants, 3 Philadelphia Phillies, 3 Pittsburgh Pirates, 3 St. Louis Cardinals, 3 end Postseason The postseason began on October 5 and ended on October 11 with the New York Yankees defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1943 World Series in five games. Bracket World Series AL New York Yankees 4 NL St. Louis Cardinals 1 Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerDetroit TigersDel BakerSteve O'NeillPhiladelphia PhilliesHans LobertBucky HarrisWashington SenatorsBucky HarrisOssie Bluege In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston BravesCasey StengelBob ColemanPhiladelphia PhilliesBucky HarrisFreddie Fitzsimmons League leaders American League start + Hitting leaders1943 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1943-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal AVG Luke Appling (CWS) .328 OPS Charlie Keller (NYY) .922 HR Rudy York (DET) 34 RBI Rudy York (DET) 118 R George Case (WSH) 102 H Dick Wakefield (DET) 200 SB George Case (WSH) 61 break + Pitching leaders1943 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1943-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal W Spud Chandler (NYY)Dizzy Trout (DET) 20 L Lum Harris (PHA) 21 ERA Spud Chandler (NYY) 1.64 K Allie Reynolds (CLE) 151 IP Jim Bagby (CLE) 273.0 SV Gordon Maltzberger (CWS) 14 WHIP Spud Chandler (NYY) 0.992 end National League start + Hitting leaders1943 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1943-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal AVG Stan Musial (STL) .357 OPS Stan Musial (STL) .988 HR Bill Nicholson (CHC) 29 RBI Bill Nicholson (CHC) 128 R Arky Vaughan (BRO) 112 H Stan Musial (STL) 220 SB Arky Vaughan (BRO) 20 break + Pitching leaders1943 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1943-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal W Mort Cooper (STL)Elmer Riddle (CIN)Rip Sewell (PIT) 21 L Nate Andrews (BSN) 20 ERA Max Lanier (STL) 1.90 K Johnny Vander Meer (CIN) 174 IP Al Javery (BSN) 303.0 SV Les Webber (BRO) 10 WHIP Whit Wyatt (BRO) 1.007 end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Leon Culberson (BOS): Culberson hit for his first cycle, eighth in franchise history, and sixth natural cycle in major league history on July 3 against the Cleveland Indians.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1943/B07030CLE1943.htm Boston Red Sox 12, Cleveland Indians 4 1943-07-03 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125132/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1943/B07030CLE1943.htm live Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueMost Valuable Player Stan Musial (STL) Spud Chandler (NYY) 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 Stan Musial (STL) Spud Chandler (NYY) 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 — Spud Chandler (NYY) 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 — Clark Griffith (WSH) Home field attendance Team nameWins%± Percent changeHome attendance%± Percent changePer game Average home attendance per gameBrooklyn Dodgershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference81 −22.1%661,739 −36.2%8,594New York Yankeeshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/attend.shtml New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference98 −4.9%618,330 −32.9%8,030Detroit Tigershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/attend.shtml Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference786.8%606,2874.5%7,773Washington Senatorshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference8435.5%574,69442.4%7,562St. Louis Cardinalshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference105 −0.9%517,135 −6.6%6,384Chicago White Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference8224.2%508,96219.5%6,697Chicago Cubshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference748.8%508,247 −14.0%6,777Pittsburgh Pirateshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference8021.2%498,74011.1%6,394Philadelphia Phillieshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference6452.4%466,975102.9%5,987New York Giantshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference55 −35.3%466,095 −40.2%6,053Cleveland Indianshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference829.3%438,894 −4.5%5,700Cincinnati Redshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference8714.5%379,122 −11.2%4,861Philadelphia Athleticshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference49 −10.9%376,735 −11.0%4,769Boston Red Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference68 −26.9%358,275 −50.9%4,653Boston Braveshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference6815.3%271,289 −4.9%3,523St. Louis Brownshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference72 −12.2%214,392 −16.1%2,784 Venues Over 77 home games, the Cleveland Indians played 48 games at Cleveland Stadium and 29 games at League Park.Seamheads.com Ballparks Database — 1943 Season https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/year.php?Year=1943 2025-11-12 www.seamheads.com All Sunday home games took place at Cleveland Stadium. This would be the 9th of 12 seasons since 1932 that saw the Indians play at both venues. See also 1943 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) 1943 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season References External links 1943 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1943 in baseball