The 1939 New York Yankees season was the team's 37th season. The team finished with a record of 106–45, winning their 11th pennant, finishing 17 games ahead of the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Joe McCarthy. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee Stadium. In the World Series, they beat the Cincinnati Reds in four games. As the Yankees had won each World Series dating back to , this marked the first time any team had won four consecutive World Series. This was the first season for the Yankee's radio gameday broadcasts.
Regular season The 1939 New York Yankees are one of only three Yankees teams (the 1927 and 1998 Yankees being the others) to ever finish the regular season with over a .700 winning percentage, lead the league in runs scored and fewest runs allowed, and go on to sweep the World Series. The 1939 Yankees are the only team to ever outscore their regular season opponents by over 400 runs (967–556).
"The Luckiest Man on the Face of the Earth"
The 1939 season would be the final time Yankees fans saw the team's starting veteran first baseman Lou Gehrig in action and in the uniform of the team he played for many years, given his declining health. On June 21, the New York Yankees announced his official retirement and proclaimed July 4, 1939, "Lou Gehrig Appreciation Day" at Yankee Stadium. Between games of the Independence Day doubleheader against the Washington Senators, the poignant ceremonies were held on the diamond. In its coverage the following day, The New York Times said it was "Perhaps as colorful and dramatic a pageant as ever was enacted on a baseball field [as] 61,808 fans thundered a hail and farewell".John Drebinger, "61,808 Fans Roar Tribute to Gehrig", The New York Times, July 5, 1939. Dignitaries extolled the dying slugger and the members of the 1927 Yankees World Championship team, known as "Murderer's Row", attended the ceremonies. New York Mayor Fiorello La Guardia called Gehrig "the greatest prototype of good sportsmanship and citizenship" and Postmaster General James Farley concluded his speech by predicting, "For generations to come, boys who play baseball will point with pride to your record."
Yankees manager Joe McCarthy, struggling to control his emotions, then spoke of Lou Gehrig, with whom there was a close, almost father and son-like bond. After describing Gehrig as "the finest example of a ballplayer, sportsman, and citizen that baseball has ever known", McCarthy could stand it no longer. Turning tearfully to Gehrig, the manager said, "Lou, what else can I say except that it was a sad day in the life of everybody who knew you when you came into my hotel room that day in Detroit and told me you were quitting as a ballplayer because you felt yourself a hindrance to the team. My God, man, you were never that."
The Yankees retired Gehrig's uniform number "4", making him the first player in history to be afforded that honor. Gehrig was given many gifts, commemorative plaques, and trophies. Some came from VIPs; others came from the stadium's groundskeepers and janitorial staff. Footage of the ceremonies shows Gehrig being handed various gifts, and immediately setting them down on the ground, because he no longer had the arm strength to hold them.
Season standings
Game log
|-style=background:#bfb | 1 || April 20 || Red Sox || 2–0 || Ruffing (1–0) || Grove (0–1) || || Yankee Stadium || 30,278 || 1–0 |-style=background:#bfb | 2 || April 21 || @ Senators || 6–3 || Gomez (1–0) || Krakauskas (0–1) || || Griffith Stadium || 32,000 || 2–0 |-style=background:#fbb | 3 || April 22 || @ Senators || 1–3 || Leonard (1–0) || Hildebrand (0–1) || || Griffith Stadium || 12,000 || 2–1 |-style=background:#bfb | 4 || April 23 || @ Senators || 7–4 || Sundra (1–0) || Chase (0–1) || || Griffith Stadium || 22,000 || 3–1 |-style=background:#bfb | 5 || April 24 || Athletics || 2–1 || Pearson (1–0) || Dean (0–1) || || Yankee Stadium || 5,820 || 4–1 |-style=background:#bfb | 6 || April 25 || Athletics || 8–4 || Ruffing (2–0) || Thomas (0–1) || Hadley (1) || Yankee Stadium || 7,268 || 5–1 |-style=background:#fbb | 7 || April 29 || Senators || 1–3 || Chase (1–1) || Gomez (1–1) || || Yankee Stadium || 11,473 || 5–2 |-style=background:#fbb | 8 || April 30 || Senators || 2–3 || Krakauskas (1–2) || Hildebrand (0–2) || Carrasquel (1) || Yankee Stadium || 23,712 || 5–3
|-style=background:#bfb | 9 || May 2 || @ Tigers || 22–2 || Ruffing (3–0) || Kennedy (0–2) || || Briggs Stadium || 11,379 || 6–3 |-style=background:#bfb | 10 || May 3 || @ Tigers || 10–6 || Sundra (2–0) || Benton (0–1) || Murphy (1) || Briggs Stadium || 14,136 || 7–3 |-style=background:#bfb | 11 || May 4 || @ Indians || 10–6 (10) || Murphy (1–0) || Feller (3–1) || || League Park || 12,000 || 8–3 |-style=background:#fbb | 12 || May 5 || @ Indians || 1–2 (11) || Milnar (1–0) || Gomez (1–2) || || League Park || 9,000 || 8–4 |-style=background:#bfb | 13 || May 6 || @ Indians || 5–1 || Pearson (2–0) || Sullivan (0–1) || || League Park || 10,000 || 9–4 |-style=background:#bfb | 14 || May 7 || @ White Sox || 15–4 || Ruffing (4–0) || Whitehead (0–2) || || Comiskey Park || 35,000 || 10–4 |-style=background:#fbb | 15 || May 8 || @ White Sox || 3–5 || Smith (2–0) || Ferrell (0–1) || || Comiskey Park || 6,000 || 10–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 16 || May 9 || @ White Sox || 8–6 || Donald (1–0) || Lee (3–2) || Murphy (2) || Comiskey Park || 7,000 || 11–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 17 || May 10 || @ Browns || 7–1 || Hadley (1–0) || Marcum (2–3) || || Sportsman's Park || 3,782 || 12–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 18 || May 11 || @ Browns || 10–8 || Pearson (3–0) || Pyle (0–2) || Murphy (3) || Sportsman's Park || 3,167 || 13–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 19 || May 14 || @ Athletics || 10–0 || Ruffing (5–0) || Caster (3–3) || || Shibe Park || 15,509 || 14–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 20 || May 15 || @ Athletics || 3–0 || Ferrell (1–1) || Ross (0–3) || Murphy (4) || Shibe Park || 5,000 || 15–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 21 || May 16 || Browns || 7–5 || Hadley (2–0) || Kramer (3–1) || Donald (1) || Yankee Stadium || 6,503 || 16–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 22 || May 17 || Browns || 4–3 || Pearson (4–0) || Kennedy (0–4) || || Yankee Stadium || 7,576 || 17–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 23 || May 18 || Browns || 8–1 || Donald (2–0) || Mills (0–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 6,870 || 18–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 24 || May 19 || White Sox || 4–2 || Ruffing (6–0) || Smith (2–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 9,755 || 19–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 25 || May 20 || White Sox || 5–2 || Hildebrand (1–2) || Lee (3–4) || Murphy (5) || Yankee Stadium || 18,371 || 20–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 26 || May 21 || Indians || 12–6 || Hadley (3–0) || Humphries (1–3) || || Yankee Stadium || 37,531 || 21–5 |-style=background:#bfb | 27 || May 23 || Indians || 7–3 || Donald (3–0) || Allen (0–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 5,058 || 22–5 |-style=background:#fbb | 28 || May 24 || Tigers || 1–6 || Trout (1–2) || Ferrell (1–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 10,875 || 22–6 |-style=background:#bfb | 29 || May 25 || Tigers || 5–2 || Ruffing (7–0) || McKain (1–1) || || Yankee Stadium || 12,087 || 23–6 |-style=background:#bfb | 30 || May 26 || Athletics || 1–0 || Hildebrand (2–2) || Pippen (0–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 5,139 || 24–6 |-style=background:#bfb | 31 || May 27 || Athletics || 8–2 || Gomez (2–2) || Parmelee (1–6) || || Yankee Stadium || – || 25–6 |-style=background:#bfb | 32 || May 27 || Athletics || 11–9 || Sundra (3–0) || Dean (1–2) || Murphy (6) || Yankee Stadium || 30,358 || 26–6 |-style=background:#bfb | 33 || May 28 || Athletics || 9–5 || Donald (4–0) || Nelson (2–1) || || Yankee Stadium || 14,670 || 27–6 |-style=background:#bfb | 34 || May 29 || @ Red Sox || 6–1 || Hadley (4–0) || Bagby (3–2) || Murphy (7) || Fenway Park || 17,000 || 28–6 |-style=background:#fbb | 35 || May 30 || @ Red Sox || 4–8 || Weaver (1–0) || Ruffing (7–1) || || Fenway Park || – || 28–7 |-style=background:#bfb | 36 || May 30 || @ Red Sox || 17–9 || Pearson (5–0) || Wilson (2–3) || Murphy (8) || Fenway Park || 35,000 || 29–7
|-style=background:#bfb | 37 || June 1 || @ Indians || 8–3 || Gomez (3–2) || Milnar (3–1) || || League Park || 3,500 || 30–7 |-style=background:#bfb | 38 || June 2 || @ Indians || 17–5 || Donald (5–0) || Allen (1–3) || || League Park || 8,000 || 31–7 |-style=background:#bfb | 39 || June 3 || @ Indians || 3–2 || Hadley (5–0) || Harder (0–3) || Murphy (9) || League Park || 6,000 || 32–7 |-style=background:#bfb | 40 || June 4 || @ Tigers || 8–4 || Ruffing (8–1) || Trout (2–3) || Murphy (10) || Briggs Stadium || 44,190 || 33–7 |-style=background:#fbb | 41 || June 5 || @ Tigers || 0–3 || Bridges (7–1) || Pearson (5–1) || || Briggs Stadium || 9,910 || 33–8 |-style=background:#fbb | 42 || June 6 || @ Tigers || 2–6 || Newsom (6–3) || Hildebrand (2–3) || || Briggs Stadium || 11,924 || 33–9 |-style=background:#bfb | 43 || June 7 || @ White Sox || 5–2 || Gomez (4–2) || Lee (4–6) || Murphy (11) || Comiskey Park || 8,000 || 34–9 |-style=background:#bfb | 44 || June 8 || @ White Sox || 7–2 || Donald (6–0) || Smith (3–4) || || Comiskey Park || 7,500 || 35–9 |-style=background:#bfb | 45 || June 11 || @ Browns || 8–5 || Ruffing (9–1) || Whitehead (0–5) || || Sportsman's Park || – || 36–9 |-style=background:#bfb | 46 || June 11 || @ Browns || 5–1 || Hadley (6–0) || Mills (1–4) || || Sportsman's Park || 7,810 || 37–9 |-style=background:#fbb | 47 || June 14 || Indians || 2–4 || Feller (10–2) || Murphy (1–1) || Milnar (1) || Yankee Stadium || 11,301 || 37–10 |-style=background:#bfb | 48 || June 15 || Indians || 1–0 || Gomez (5–2) || Harder (1–4) || || Yankee Stadium || 9,619 || 38–10 |-style=background:#bfb | 49 || June 16 || Indians || 4–3 || Donald (7–0) || Milnar (4–3) || Russo (1) || Yankee Stadium || 10,171 || 39–10 |-style=background:#bfb | 50 || June 17 || Tigers || 1–0 || Ruffing (10–1) || Newsom (7–4) || || Yankee Stadium || 18,599 || 40–10 |-style=background:#fbb | 51 || June 18 || Tigers || 5–8 || Rowe (2–5) || Hadley (6–1) || || Yankee Stadium || 32,679 || 40–11 |-style=background:#bfb | 52 || June 19 || Tigers || 8–5 || Hildebrand (3–3) || Trout (4–4) || || Yankee Stadium || 6,469 || 41–11 |-style=background:#bfb | 53 || June 20 || White Sox || 13–3 || Pearson (6–1) || Knott (2–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 5,892 || 42–11 |-style=background:#bfb | 54 || June 21 || White Sox || 9–8 || Sundra (4–0) || Brown (4–1) || Murphy (12) || Yankee Stadium || 10,045 || 43–11 |-style=background:#bfb | 55 || June 22 || White Sox || 6–1 || Donald (8–0) || Smith (3–5) || || Yankee Stadium || 8,337 || 44–11 |-style=background:#bfb | 56 || June 24 || Browns || 2–1 || Ruffing (11–1) || Harris (1–2) || || Yankee Stadium || 11,382 || 45–11 |-style=background:#fbb | 57 || June 25 || Browns || 3–7 || Kramer (6–6) || Murphy (1–2) || Mills (1) || Yankee Stadium || – || 45–12 |-style=background:#bfb | 58 || June 25 || Browns || 11–2 || Hildebrand (4–3) || Kennedy (4–8) || || Yankee Stadium || 40,861 || 46–12 |-style=background:#fbb | 59 || June 26 || @ Athletics || 2–3 || Pippen (1–5) || Hadley (6–2) || || Shibe Park || 33,074 || 46–13 |-style=background:#bfb | 60 || June 28 || @ Athletics || 23–2 || Pearson (7–1) || Nelson (5–3) || || Shibe Park || – || 47–13 |-style=background:#bfb | 61 || June 28 || @ Athletics || 10–0 || Gomez (6–2) || Caster (5–8) || || Shibe Park || 21,612 || 48–13 |-style=background:#fbb | 62 || June 29 || @ Senators || 1–2 (12) || Leonard (7–2) || Ruffing (11–2) || || Griffith Stadium || – || 48–14 |-style=background:#bfb | 63 || June 29 || @ Senators || 7–0 (6) || Donald (9–0) || Chase (3–9) || || Griffith Stadium || 6,500 || 49–14 |-style=background:#bfb | 64 || June 30 || @ Senators || 10–2 (7) || Hildebrand (5–3) || Carrasquel (4–5) || || Griffith Stadium || 6,000 || 50–14
|-style=background:#fbb | 65 || July 1 || @ Red Sox || 3–5 || Ostermueller (4–1) || Russo (0–1) || || Fenway Park || 12,000 || 50–15 |-style=background:#fbb