1949 Major League Baseball season

February 2024 1949 1949 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 18 – October 2, 1949World Series: October 5–9, 1949 154 16 (8 per league) Regular season AL: Ted Williams (BOS)NL: Jackie Robinson (BRO) Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award AL New York Yankees Boston Red Sox NL Brooklyn Dodgers St. Louis Cardinals World Series 1949 World Series New York Yankees Brooklyn Dodgers Joe Page (NYY) Babe Ruth Award List of MLB seasons MLB 1948 Major League Baseball season 1948 1950 Major League Baseball season 1950 The 1949 major league baseball season began on April 18, 1949. The regular season ended on October 2, with the Brooklyn Dodgers 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 46th World Series on October 5 and ended with Game 5 on October 9. In the third iteration of this Subway Series World Series matchup, the Yankees defeated the Dodgers, four games to one, capturing their 12th championship in franchise history, since their previous in 1947, and their first in a five-run World Series. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the Cleveland Indians from the 1948 season. The 16th All-Star Game was held on July 12 at Ebbets Field in New York, New York, home of the Brooklyn Dodgers. The American League won, 11–7, for their fourth straight win. With the Negro National League folding and the Negro American League losing their major-league status prior to the 1949 season, as per MLB's 2020 designation of Negro Leagues, the National and American Leagues remain as the sole major-leagues of baseball, a fact which continues to the present day. On July 8, the New York Giants become the fourth team in professional baseball to break the color line when they fielded Hank Thompson (who previously integrated the St. Louis Browns, becoming the only player to integrate two teams) and Monte Irvin.These players integrated each MLB team https://www.mlb.com/news/players-who-broke-color-barrier-for-every-team 2024-11-14 MLB.com en Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1949 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 four teams. The final day of the regular season was on October 2, which saw all sixteen teams play, continuing the trend from 1946. The World Series took place between October 5 and October 9. Rule changes The 1949 season saw the following rule changes: Regarding the bonus rule, the amount of the bonus must now be made public before a contract was signed, including "such payments as are made to college men to help them with their education."Levy Gary 1948 Winter Meetings: Concerns and Conflicts Regarding Televised Baseball Grow Stronger https://sabr.org/journal/article/1948-winter-meetings-concerns-and-conflicts-regarding-televised-ball-grow-stronger/ 2025-06-03 Society for American Baseball Research en-US Rules regarding night games were amended: In addition to Sundays and holidays, night games were banned a day before a scheduled doubleheader, as well as on the night of a visiting team's departure for another city. In the American League, the number of night games which did not require consent from the visiting team was increased from two to four. In the National League, the number of night games which did not require consent from the visiting team was increased to five. Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1949 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1949-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball Reference enAmerican League American LeagueBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park35,200Joe McCarthy managerChicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park47,400Jack OnslowCleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium78,811Lou BoudreauDetroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000Red RolfeNew York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium67,000Casey StengelPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,166Connie MackSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,000Zack Taylor baseballWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium29,731Joe KuhelNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston BravesBoston, MassachusettsBraves Field37,106Billy SouthworthJohnny CooneyBrooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field32,111Burt ShottonChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field38,690Charlie GrimmFrankie FrischCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field30,101Bucky WaltersLuke SewellNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds54,500Leo DurocherPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,166Eddie SawyerPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field33,730Billy MeyerSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,000Eddie Dyer Standings start American League New York Yankees break National League Brooklyn Dodgers end Tie games 8 tie games (2 in AL, 6 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 Detroit Tigers, 1 New York Yankees, 1 St. Louis Browns, 1 break National League Boston Braves, 3 Brooklyn Dodgers, 2 Cincinnati Reds, 2 New York Giants, 2 St. Louis Cardinals, 3 end Postseason The postseason began on October 5 and ended on October 9 with the New York Yankees defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1949 World Series in five games. Bracket World Series AL New York Yankees 4 NL Brooklyn Dodgers 1 Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerChicago White Sox Ted LyonsJack OnslowDetroit TigersSteve O'NeillRed RolfeNew York YankeesBucky HarrisCasey Stengel In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston BravesBilly SouthworthJohnny CooneyChicago CubsCharlie GrimmFrankie FrischCincinnati RedsBucky WaltersLuke Sewell League leaders American League start + Hitting leaders1949 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1949-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com en Stat Player Total AVG George Kell (DET) .343 OPS Ted Williams (BOS) 1.141 HR Ted Williams (BOS) 43 RBI Vern Stephens (BOS)Ted Williams (BOS) 159 R Ted Williams (BOS) 150 H Dale Mitchell (CLE) 203 SB Bob Dillinger (SLB) 20 break + Pitching leaders1949 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1949-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com en Stat Player Total W Mel Parnell (BOS) 25 L Paul Calvert (WSH)Ned Garver (SLB)Sid Hudson (WSH) 17 ERA Mike Garcia (CLE) 2.36 K Virgil Trucks (DET) 153 IP Mel Parnell (BOS) 295.1 SV Joe Page (NYY) 27 WHIP Fred Hutchinson (DET) 1.161 end National League start + Hitting leaders1949 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1949-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com en Stat Player Total AVG Jackie Robinson (BRO) .342 OPS Ralph Kiner (PIT) 1.089 HR Ralph Kiner (PIT) 54 RBI Ralph Kiner (PIT) 127 R Jackie Robinson (BRO) 132 H Stan Musial (STL) 207 SB Jackie Robinson (BRO) 37 break + Pitching leaders1949 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1949-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com en Stat Player Total W Warren Spahn (BSN) 21 L Howie Fox (CIN) 19 ERA Dave Koslo (NYG) 2.50 K Warren Spahn (BSN) 151 IP Warren Spahn (BSN) 302.1 SV Ted Wilks (STL) 9 WHIP Dave Koslo (NYG) 1.113 end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Wally Westlake (PIT): Westlake hit for his second cycle and 15th in franchise history, on June 14 against the Boston Braves.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1949/B06140PIT1949.htm Pittsburgh Pirates 4, Boston Braves 3 June 14, 1949 Retrosheet.org September 10, 2011 September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130442/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1949/B06140PIT1949.htm live Gil Hodges (BRO): Hodges hit for his first cycle and seventh cycle in franchise history, on June 25 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1949/B06250PIT1949.htm Brooklyn Dodgers 17, Pittsburgh Pirates 10 June 25, 1949 Retrosheet.org September 10, 2011 September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130444/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1949/B06250PIT1949.htm live Stan Musial (STL): Musial hit for his first cycle and 10th in franchise history, on July 24 against the Brooklyn Dodgers.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1949/B07240BRO1949.htm St. Louis Cardinals 14, Brooklyn Dodgers 1 July 24, 1949 Retrosheet.org September 10, 2011 September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130445/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1949/B07240BRO1949.htm live Other batting accomplishments Willie Jones (PHI): On April 20, Jones ties Dick Bartell (1933) and Ernie Lombardi (1935) for most consecutive doubles in the National League at four. Elmer Valo (PHA): On May 1, Valo becomes the first American League player to hit two bases-loaded triples in a game, against the Washington Senators. Del Ennis / Andy Seminick / Willie Jones / Schoolboy Rowe (PHI): Become the second group of players in Major League history to hit five home runs in one inning in the eighth inning against the Cincinnati Reds on June 2. Andy Seminick hit two home runs in the set of five, hitting the second and fifth home run.Most home runs hit by a team in one inning of a Major League Baseball (MLB) game https://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/world-records/500678-most-home-runs-hit-by-a-team-in-one-inning-of-a-major-league-baseball-mlb-game#:~:text=The%20Major%20League%20Baseball%20(MLB),recently%20by%20Houston%20Astros%20batters 2026-05-07 Guinness World RecordsCincinnati Reds vs Philadelphia Phillies Box Score: June 2, 1949 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/PHI/PHI194906020.shtml 2026-05-07 Baseball-Reference.com en Walker Cooper (CIN/NYG): Became the sixth player to hit at least 10 runs batted in (RBI) in a single game as a part of the Cincinnati Reds, hitting 10 against the Chicago Cubs on July 6.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN194907060.shtml July 6, 1949 Chicago Cubs at Cincinnati Reds Play by Play and Box Score Baseball-Reference.com Sports Reference LLC July 6, 1949 May 13, 2014 November 17, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20151117020413/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CIN/CIN194907060.shtml livehttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/coopewa01.shtml Walker Cooper Statistics and History Baseball-Reference.com Sports Reference LLC May 13, 2014 October 28, 2023 https://web.archive.org/web/20231028082817/https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/c/coopewa01.shtml live Ties a modern record with six hits in seven at-bats as a part of the Cincinnati Reds, including three home runs with 10 RBI, against the Chicago Cubs on July 6. Wally Moses (PHA): Recorded his 2,000th career hit with a single in the fifth inning against the St. Louis Browns on July 26. Ralph Kiner (PIT): On September 13, Kiner tied a major league record held by six players with his fourth grand slam of the season, against the Philadelphia Phillies. Miscellaneous Philadelphia Phillies: Tie a major league record for a team hitting the most home runs in a single inning, with five home runs in the eighth inning on June 2 against the Cincinnati Reds.Rogers III C. Paul June 2, 1949: Phillies smash 5 homers in one inning to tie major-league record https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/june-2-1949-phillies-smash-5-homers-in-one-inning-to-tie-major-league-record/ 2025-12-20 Society for American Baseball Research en-US Washington Senators: Set a major league record for giving up most bases on balls in an inning, surrendering 11 in the third inning on September 11 against the New York Yankees.Harris Bruce September 11, 1949: Four Senators pitchers set major-league record with 11 walks in one inning https://sabr.org/gamesproj/game/september-11-1949-four-senators-pitchers-set-major-league-record-with-11-walks-in-one-inning/ 2025-12-20 Society for American Baseball Research en-US Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the Year Don Newcombe (BRO) Roy Sievers (SLB)Most Valuable Player Jackie Robinson (BRO) Ted Williams (BOS)Babe Ruth Award(World Series MVP) — Joe Page (NYY)https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=_LYtAAAAIBAJ&pg=1115,1620359 Babe Ruth Award Goes To Joe Page The New London Day January 20, 1950 September 27, 20111949 World Series https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1949_WS.shtml live https://web.archive.org/web/20080623002404/http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1949_WS.shtml June 23, 2008 September 20, 2009 Baseball Reference Other awards The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League 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 — Ted Williams (BOS) 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 Howie Pollet (STL) Ellis Kinder (BOS) Rookie of the YearRookie of the Year Award by The Sporting News https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snrp3.shtml 2025-01-14 Baseball Almanac Don Newcombe (BRO) Roy Sievers (SLB) 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 — Casey Stengel (NYY) Executive of the YearMLB Executive of the Year Award https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_sney.shtml 2025-01-14 Baseball Almanac Bob Carpenter (PHI) — Baseball Hall of Fame National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Mordecai Brown Charlie Gehringer Kid Nichols 1949 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 September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com973.2%2,283,676 −3.8%29,278Cleveland Indianshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com89 −8.2%2,233,771 −14.8%29,010Detroit Tigershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/attend.shtml Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com8711.5%1,821,2044.5%23,349Brooklyn Dodgershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com9715.5%1,633,74716.8%20,945Boston Red Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com960.0%1,596,6502.4%20,736Pittsburgh Pirateshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com71 −14.5%1,449,435 −4.5%18,824St. Louis Cardinalshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com9612.9%1,430,67628.7%18,110New York Giantshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com73 −6.4%1,218,446 −16.5%15,423Chicago Cubshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com61 −4.7%1,143,139 −7.6%14,846Boston Braveshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com75 −17.6%1,081,795 −25.7%14,049Chicago White Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com6323.5%937,15120.5%12,171Philadelphia Phillieshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com8122.7%819,6986.8%10,645Philadelphia Athleticshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com81 −3.6%816,514 −13.6%10,604Washington Senatorshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com50 −10.7%770,745 −3.1%10,010Cincinnati Redshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com62 −3.1%707,782 −14.0%9,074St. Louis Brownshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com53 −10.2%270,936 −19.3%3,519 See also 1949 in baseball (Events, Movies, Births, Deaths) 1949 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season 1949 Nippon Professional Baseball season References External links 1949 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1949 in baseball