1944 Major League Baseball season

February 2024 1944 1944 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 18 – October 1, 1944World Series: October 4–9, 1944 154 16 (8 per league) Regular season AL: Hal Newhouser (DET)NL: Marty Marion (STL) Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award AL St. Louis Browns Detroit Tigers NL St. Louis Cardinals Pittsburgh Pirates World Series 1944 World Series St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis Browns List of MLB seasons MLB 1943 Major League Baseball season 1943 1945 Major League Baseball season 1945 The 1944 major league baseball season began on April 18, 1944. The regular season ended on October 1, with the St. Louis Cardinals and St. Louis Browns as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. In an all-St. Louis postseason, the postseason began with Game 1 of the 41st World Series on October 4 and ended with Game 6 on October 9. The Cardinals defeated the Browns, four games to two, capturing their fifth championship in franchise history, since their previous in 1942. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the New York Yankees from the 1943 season. The 12th All-Star Game was held on July 11 at the Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The National League won, 7–1. The season is notable for greatly relaxing restrictions on night games.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 This was Kenesaw Mountain Landis' last season of his 24-year tenure as commissioner, following his death in November. He would be succeeded by Happy Chandler. Challenging the color line During the final days of the 1943 Winter Meetings prior to the season's start, commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis (who, according to a number of baseball authors, has had racism ascribed to him for actively perpetuating the baseball color line)Pietrusza David David Pietrusza 1998 Judge and Jury: The Life and Times of Judge Kenesaw Mountain Landis https://archive.org/details/judgejurylifetim0000piet registration Diamond Communications 406 South Bend, Indiana 978-1-888698-09-1 invited singer Paul Robeson, and three black journalists, Ira F. Lewis of the Pittsburgh Courier, John H. Sengstacke of The Chicago Defender, and Howard Murphy of the Baltimore Afro-American, to plead their case in favor of integration in baseball, marking the first time a black person had spoken directly with the leaders of Organized Baseball about this topic. In response, Landis read a joint American League-National League statement stating that "There is no rule, formal or informal, or any understanding — unwritten, subterranean or sub-anything — against the hiring of Negro players by the teams of organized baseball."Klopsis Nick 1943 Winter Meetings: War on the Home Front Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1943-winter-meetings-war-on-the-home-front/ 2025-06-02 en-US However, it would not be until after Landis' death in November 1944 that baseball would begin to move towards breaking the color line. With the support from incoming commissioner Happy Chandler, Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Branch Rickey signed Jackie Robinson in late-October 1945 to their top minor-league affiliate, the Montreal Royals, eventually breaking the major-league color barrier following his promotion to the majors in 1947. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1944 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 18, featuring fourteen teams. The final day of the regular season was on October 1, which saw all sixteen teams play, continuing the trend since the previous season. The World Series took place between October 4 and October 9. Tri-Cornered Baseball Game Tri-Cornered Baseball Game A unique three-way exhibition game, formatted as a round-robin, was held at the Polo Grounds, which saw the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Giants, and New York Yankees play a game on June 26 to sell war bonds to aid in the U.S. war effort in World War II, in which they would raise $6 million (equivalent to $US 6 1944 1 million in US).Huber Mike Hamelers Rachel The Tri-Cornered War Bond Baseball Game Aaron Marc Z. Nowlin Bill Who's on First: Replacement Players in World War II Society for American Baseball Research 2015 18–20 https://books.google.com/books?id=fAryBgAAQBAJ&dq=tri+cornered+war+bond+baseball+game&pg=PA18 978-1-933599-90-8 The Dodgers defeating the Yankees and Giants, winning the game 5–1–0, respectively. Including a $50 million donation from New York City, a total of $56 million (equivalent to $US .056 1944 3 billion in US) was raised or the war effort.Alonso Nathalie Three-team game celebrates 75th anniversary https://www.mlb.com/news/tri-cornered-game-75th-anniversary 2026-03-25 Major League Baseball en Rule change The 1944 season saw the following rule change: During the July All-Star break, all teams were given permission to have unlimited weekday night games. Previously, all teams were allowed only 14 (except the Washington Senators, which were allowed 21). Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1944 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1944-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 Field37,746Bob ColemanBrooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field35,000Leo DurocherChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field38,396Jimmie Wilson baseballRoy Johnson 1930s outfielderCharlie GrimmCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field29,401Bill McKechnieNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds56,000Mel OttPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000Freddie FitzsimmonsPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field33,467Frankie FrischSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Billy Southworth Standings start American League St. Louis Browns break National League St. Louis Cardinals end Tie games 11 tie games (3 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, 2 Cleveland Indians, 1 Detroit Tigers, 2 Philadelphia Athletics, 1 break National League Boston Braves, 1 Brooklyn Dodgers, 1 Chicago Cubs, 3 Cincinnati Reds, 1 New York Giants, 1 Philadelphia Phillies, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 5 St. Louis Cardinals, 3 end Postseason The postseason began on October 4 and ended on October 9 with the St. Louis Cardinals defeating the St. Louis Browns in the 1944 World Series in six games. Bracket World Series AL St. Louis Browns 2 NL St. Louis Cardinals 4 Managerial changes In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerChicago CubsJimmie WilsonRoy JohnsonRoy JohnsonCharlie Grimm League leaders American League start + Hitting leaders1944 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1944-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal AVG Lou Boudreau (CLE) .327 OPS Bob Johnson (BOS) .959 HR Nick Etten (NYY) 22 RBI Vern Stephens (SLB) 109 R Snuffy Stirnweiss (NYY) 125 H Snuffy Stirnweiss (NYY) 205 SB Snuffy Stirnweiss (NYY) 55 break + Pitching leaders1944 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1944-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal W Hal Newhouser (DET) 29 L Bill Dietrich (CWS)Early Wynn (WSH) 17 ERA Dizzy Trout (DET) 2.12 K Hal Newhouser (DET) 187 IP Dizzy Trout (DET) 352.1 SV Joe Berry (PHA)George Caster (SLB)Gordon Maltzberger (CWS) 12 WHIP Tex Hughson (BOS) 1.048 end National League start + Hitting leaders1944 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1944-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal AVG Dixie Walker (BRO) .357 OPS Stan Musial (STL) .990 HR Bill Nicholson (CHC) 33 RBI Bill Nicholson (CHC) 122 R Bill Nicholson (CHC) 116 H Phil Cavarretta (CHC)Stan Musial (STL) 197 SB Johnny Barrett (PIT) 28 break + Pitching leaders1944 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1944-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enStat PlayerTotal W Bucky Walters (CIN) 23 L Ken Raffensberger (PHI) 20 ERA Ed Heusser (CIN) 2.38 K Bill Voiselle (NYG) 161 IP Bill Voiselle (NYG) 312.2 SV Ace Adams (NYG) 13 WHIP Ted Wilks (STL) 1.069 end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Bobby Doerr (BOS): Doerr hit for his first cycle and ninth in franchise history, in game two of a doubleheader on May 17 against the St. Louis Browns.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1944/B05172BOS1944.htm St. Louis Browns 12, Boston Red Sox 8 (2) 1944-05-17 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125142/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1944/B05172BOS1944.htm live Bob Johnson (BOS): Johnson hit for his first cycle and 10th in franchise history, on July 6 against the Detroit Tigers.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1944/B07060BOS1944.htm Boston Red Sox 13, Detroit Tigers 3 1944-07-06 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2017-08-25 https://web.archive.org/web/20170825163341/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1944/B07060BOS1944.htm live Dixie Walker (BRO): Walker hit for his first cycle and fifth in franchise history, on September 2 against the New York Giants.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1944/B09020BRO1944.htm Brooklyn Dodgers 8, New York Giants 4 September 2, 1944 Retrosheet 2011-09-10 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924125147/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1944/B09020BRO1944.htm live Other batting accomplishments Phil Weintraub (NYG): Became the fourth player to hit at least 10 runs batted in (RBI) in a single game, hitting 11 against the Brooklyn Dodgers in game one of a doubleheader on April 30.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NY1/NY1194404301.shtml April 30, 1944 Brooklyn Dodgers at New York Giants Play by Play and Box Score Baseball Reference Sports Reference LLC 1944-04-30 2014-05-07 2014-09-16 https://web.archive.org/web/20140916005407/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NY1/NY1194404301.shtml livehttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weintph01.shtml Phil Weintraub Statistics and History Baseball Reference Sports Reference LLC 2014-05-07 2014-06-02 https://web.archive.org/web/20140602104918/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/w/weintph01.shtml? live Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Jim Tobin (BSN): Tobin threw his first career no-hitter and the sixth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers 2–0 on April 27. Tobin walked two and struck out four.Brooklyn Dodgers vs Boston Braves Box Score: April 27, 1944 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN194404270.shtml 2026-04-08 Baseball Reference en Clyde Shoun (CIN): Shoun threw his first career no-hitter and the eighth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Boston Braves 1–0 on May 15. Shoun walked one and struck out one.Boston Braves vs Cincinnati Reds Box Score: May 15, 1944 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN194405150.shtml 2026-04-08 Baseball Reference en Other pitching accomplishments Mel Harder (CLE): Becomes the 50th pitcher in major league history to win 200 games, defeating the Boston Red Sox, 5–4. Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueMost Valuable Player Marty Marion (STL) Hal Newhouser (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 Marty Marion (STL) Bobby Doerr (BOS) 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 Marty Marion (STL) — Pitcher of the YearPitcher of the Year Award by The Sporting News https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snpy2.shtml 2025-01-14 Baseball Almanac Bill Voiselle (NYG) Hal Newhouser (DET) 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 — Luke Sewell (SLB) Executive of the YearMLB Executive of the Year Award https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_sney.shtml 2025-01-14 Baseball Almanac — Bill DeWitt (SLB) Baseball Hall of Fame National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Kenesaw Mountain Landis (executive) 1944 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 Reference8812.8%923,17652.3%11,836New York Yankeeshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/attend.shtml New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference83 −15.3%789,99527.8%10,128New York Giantshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference6721.8%674,48344.7%8,993Chicago Cubshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference751.4%640,11025.9%8,207Brooklyn Dodgershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference63 −22.2%605,905 −8.4%7,869Pittsburgh Pirateshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference9012.5%604,27821.2%7,460Chicago White Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference71 −13.4%563,53910.7%7,319Washington Senatorshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference64 −23.8%525,235 −8.6%6,821St. Louis Brownshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference8923.6%508,644137.2%6,606Boston Red Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference7713.2%506,97541.5%6,500Philadelphia Athleticshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference7246.9%505,32234.1%6,649Cleveland Indianshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference72 −12.2%475,2728.3%6,093St. Louis Cardinalshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference1050.0%461,968 −10.7%6,000Cincinnati Redshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference892.3%409,5678.0%5,251Philadelphia Phillieshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference61 −4.7%369,586 −20.9%4,678Boston Braveshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference65 −4.4%208,691 −23.1%2,676 Venues Over 78 home games, the Cleveland Indians played 43 games at Cleveland Stadium and 35 games at League Park.Seamheads.com Ballparks Database — 1944 Season https://www.seamheads.com/ballparks/year.php?Year=1944 2025-10-09 www.seamheads.com All Sunday home games took place at Cleveland Stadium. All Saturday home games took place at League Park. This would be the 10th of 12 seasons since 1932 that saw the Indians play at both venues. Retired numbers Carl Hubbell had his No. 11 retired by the New York Giants. This was the first number retired by the team. See also 1944 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) 1944 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season References External links 1944 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1944 in baseball