1928 Major League Baseball season

February 2024 1928 1928 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 10 – September 30, 1928World Series: October 4–9, 1928 154 16 (8 per league) Regular Season AL: Mickey Cochrane (PHA)NL: Jim Bottomley (STL) Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award#League Awards AL New York Yankees Philadelphia Athletics NL St. Louis Cardinals New York Giants World Series 1928 World Series New York Yankees St. Louis Cardinals List of MLB seasons MLB 1927 Major League Baseball season 1927 1929 Major League Baseball season 1929 The 1928 major league baseball season began on April 10, 1928. The regular season ended on September 30, 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 25th World Series on October 4 and ended with Game 4 on October 9. In the second iteration of this World Series matchup, the Yankees swept the Cardinals in four games, capturing their third championship in franchise history, and the fifth team to win back-to-back World Series. This was the seventh of eight seasons that "League Awards", a precursor to the Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award (introduced in 1931), were issued. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1928 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 10 with the Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators playing, while National League Opening Day took place the following day. The final day of the regular season was on September 30. The World Series took place between October 4 and October 9. Rule change The 1928 season saw the following rule change: The National League reimplemented the early-1920 home run rule, which states that balls are to be called based on where the ball crosses the outfield fence regarding home runs. This rule was only for balls which landed in the stands. Balls which completely left the ballpark were to be judged based on where the ball flew out of sight. The American League would implement the outfield fence portion of the home run rule in 1931, and would extend this interpretation to balls which leave the ballpark completely.sabr How Rules Changes in 1920 Affected Home Runs Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/how-rules-changes-in-1920-affected-home-runs/ 2024-04-22 en-US Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1928 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1928-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enAmerican League American LeagueBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park27,000Bill CarriganChicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park52,000Ray SchalkLena BlackburneCleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioDunn Field21,414Roger PeckinpaughDetroit TigersDetroit, MichiganNavin Field30,000George MoriartyNew York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium82,000Miller HugginsPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park28,250Connie MackSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Dan HowleyWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium27,000Bucky HarrisNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston BravesBoston, MassachusettsBraves Field46,500Jack SlatteryRogers HornsbyBrooklyn RobinsNew York, New YorkEbbets Field28,000Wilbert RobinsonChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field40,000Joe McCarthy baseball managerCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioRedland Field26,060Jack HendricksNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds55,000John McGrawPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaBaker Bowl18,000Burt ShottonPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field41,000Donie BushSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Bill McKechnie Standings start American League New York Yankees break National League St. Louis Cardinals end Tie games 4 tie games (2 in AL, 2 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season. start American League The Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, and Washington Senators had one tie game each. April 13, Cleveland Indians vs. Chicago White Sox, tied at 1 after a shortened game of six innings due to rain.Retrosheet Boxscore: Chicago White Sox 1, Cleveland Indians 1 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1928/B04130CHA1928.htm 2026-04-28 Retrosheet April 14, Washington Senators vs. Boston Red Sox, scoreless tie after a shortened game of five innings due to rain.Retrosheet Boxscore: Boston Red Sox 0, Washington Senators 0 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1928/B04140BOS1928.htm 2026-04-28 Retrosheet break National League The Brooklyn Robins had two tie games. The Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants had one tie game each. May 30 (game 2), New York Giants vs. Brooklyn Robins, tied at 2 after a shortened game of six innings due to rain.Retrosheet Boxscore: Brooklyn Robins 2, New York Giants 2 (2) https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1928/B05302BRO1928.htm 2026-04-28 Retrosheet July 12, Brooklyn Robins vs. Cincinnati Reds, scoreless tie after nine innings due to rain.Retrosheet Boxscore: Cincinnati Reds 0, Brooklyn Robins 0 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1928/B07120CIN1928.htm 2026-04-28 Retrosheet end Postseason The postseason began on October 4 and ended on October 9 with the New York Yankees sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1928 World Series in four games. Bracket World Series AL New York Yankees 4 NL St. Louis Cardinals 0 Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston BravesDave BancroftJack SlatteryCleveland IndiansJack McCallisterRoger PeckinpaughPhiladelphia PhilliesStuffy McInnisBurt ShottonSt. Louis CardinalsBob O'FarrellBill McKechnie In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston BravesJack SlatteryRogers HornsbyChicago White SoxRay SchalkLena Blackburne League leaders American League start + Hitting leaders1928 MLB Player Hitting Stat Leaders https://www.mlb.com/stats/rbi/1928 MLB.com en Stat Player Total AVG Goose Goslin (WSH) .379 OPS Babe Ruth (NYY) 1.172 HR Babe Ruth (NYY) 54 RBI Lou Gehrig (NYY)Babe Ruth (NYY) 142 R Babe Ruth (NYY) 163 H Heinie Manush (SLB) 241 SB Buddy Myer (BOS) 30 break + Pitching leaders1928 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1928-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Lefty Grove (PHA)George Pipgras (NYY) 24 L Red Ruffing (BOS) 25 ERA Garland Braxton (WSH) 2.51 K Lefty Grove (PHA) 183 IP George Pipgras (NYY) 300.2 SV Waite Hoyt (NYY) 8 WHIP Garland Braxton (WSH) 1.012 end National League start + Hitting leaders1928 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1928-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total AVG Rogers Hornsby (BSN) .387 OPS Rogers Hornsby (BSN) 1.130 HR Jim Bottomley (STL)Hack Wilson (CHC) 31 RBI Jim Bottomley (STL) 136 R Paul Waner (PIT) 142 H Freddie Lindstrom (NYG) 231 SB Kiki Cuyler (CHC) 37 break + Pitching leaders1928 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1928-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference en Stat Player Total W Larry Benton (NYG)Burleigh Grimes (PIT) 25 L Ed Brandt (BSN) 21 ERA Dazzy Vance (BRO) 2.09 K Dazzy Vance (BRO) 200 IP Burleigh Grimes (PIT) 330.2 SV Hal Haid (STL)Bill Sherdel (STL) 5 WHIP Dazzy Vance (BRO) 1.063 end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Bill Terry (NYG): Terry hit for his first cycle and eighth in franchise history, on May 29 against the Brooklyn Robins.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1928/B05290BRO1928.htm New York Giants 12, Brooklyn Robins 5 1928-05-29 Retrosheet 2011-09-08 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121213/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1928/B05290BRO1928.htm live Bob Meusel (NYY): Meusel hit for his third cycle and fourth in franchise history, in game one of a doubleheader on July 26 against the Detroit Tigers.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1928/B07261DET1928.htm New York Yankees 12, Detroit Tigers 1 (1) 1928-07-26 Retrosheet 2011-09-08 2015-09-24 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924121215/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1928/B07261DET1928.htm live Other batting accomplishments Ty Cobb (PHA): When only counting the modern definition of a stolen base, defined in 1898, Cobb set a major league record of 897 career stolen bases in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox in game one of a doubleheader on July 4.Ty Cobb 1928 Batting Game Logs https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/gl.fcgi?id=cobbty01&t=b&year=1928 2026-06-15 Baseball Reference enBoston Red Sox vs Philadelphia Athletics Box Score: July 4, 1928 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHA/PHA192807041.shtml 2026-06-15 Baseball Reference en Miscellaneous New York Yankees: Set a major league record for most runs scored in the 12th inning, by scoring 11 runs against the Detroit Tigers in game one of a doubleheader on July 26.DeRosa Theo The most runs scored in each inning, from the 1st to the 26th(!) https://www.mlb.com/news/mlb-most-runs-scored-in-each-inning 2026-04-20 MLB.com en Philadelphia Phillies: Set the modern National League record for most losses in a season on September 30 with 109. The previous record of 108 was set by the Boston Doves in 1909. Set the modern National League record for worst winning percentage with .283. The previous record of .291 was set by the Boston Rustlers in 1911. Awards and honors League Award: Jim Bottomley (STL, National); Mickey Cochrane (PHA, American) Home field attendance Team nameWins%± Percent changeHome attendance%± Percent changePer game Average home attendance per gameChicago Cubshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference917.1%1,143,740 −1.3%14,854New York Yankeeshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/attend.shtml New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference101 −8.2%1,072,132 −7.9%13,924New York Giantshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference931.1%916,1916.8%11,899St. Louis Cardinalshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference953.3%761,5741.6%9,891Philadelphia Athleticshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference987.7%689,75613.9%8,958Brooklyn Robinshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference7718.5%664,8634.3%8,635Pittsburgh Pirateshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference85 −9.6%495,070 −43.1%6,429Chicago White Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference722.9%494,152 −19.6%6,335Cincinnati Redshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference784.0%490,49010.9%6,288Detroit Tigershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/attend.shtml Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference68 −17.1%474,323 −38.7%6,160Boston Red Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference5711.8%396,92030.0%5,364Washington Senatorshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference75 −11.8%378,501 −28.4%4,731Cleveland Indianshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference62 −6.1%375,9070.7%4,882St. Louis Brownshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference8239.0%339,49737.0%4,409Boston Braveshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference50 −16.7%227,001 −21.4%2,987Philadelphia Phillieshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors 2020-09-08 Baseball Reference43 −15.7%182,168 −40.4%2,429 Venues The Cleveland Indians' Dunn Field reverts to the name League Park, following the sale of the team by team owner Jim Dunn. See also 1928 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) References External links 1928 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1928 in baseball