1948 Major League Baseball season

The 1948 major league baseball season began on April 19, 1948. The regular season ended on October 4, with the Boston Braves and Cleveland Indians as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The Indians won the American League title via a tie-breaker game victory over the Boston Red Sox, after both teams finished their 154-game schedules with identical 96–58 records. This was the second regular season tie-breaker, and saw a change from the previous three-game format to that of a single-game, Game 163. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 45th World Series on October 6 and ended with Game 6 on October 11. The Indians defeated the Braves, four games to two, capturing their second championship in franchise history, since their previous in . Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the New York Yankees from the season.

The 15th All-Star Game was held on July 13 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, Missouri, hosted by the St. Louis Browns. The American League won, 5–2, for their third straight win.

The 1948 season is notable as being the final season of any Negro league holding major-league status, as per MLB's 2020 designation of Negro leagues. It would be the final season of the Negro National League, while the Negro American League would continue as a minor-league until it ceased play after the season.

Schedule

The 1948 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 season (except for ) and would be used until in the American League and in the National League.

Opening Day took place on April 19, featuring six teams. The final day of the scheduled regular season was on October 3, which saw all sixteen teams play, continuing the trend from . Due to the Boston Red Sox and Cleveland Indians finishing with the same record of 96–58, a tie-breaker game was scheduled, to be considered an extension of the regular season. The Indians won the Game 163 tie-breaker on October 4. The World Series took place between October 6 and October 11.

Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park35,500Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park47,400Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium78,811Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium67,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,166St. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,000Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium28,085Boston BravesBoston, MassachusettsBraves Field37,106Brooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field34,219Chicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field38,396Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field30,101New York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds54,500Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,166Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field33,730St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,000

Standings

American League

National League

The Cleveland Indians defeated the Boston Red Sox in a one-game regular season extension to earn the American League pennant.

Tie games 7 tie games (3 in AL, 4 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season.

American League Chicago White Sox, 2 Cleveland Indians, 1 St. Louis Browns, 2 Washington Senators, 1

National League Boston Braves, 1 Brooklyn Dodgers, 1 Chicago Cubs, 1 New York Giants, 1 Philadelphia Phillies, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 St. Louis Cardinals, 1

Postseason

The postseason began on October 4 and ended on October 11 with the Cleveland Indians defeating the Boston Braves in the 1948 World Series in six games.

Bracket

Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBrooklyn DodgersBurt ShottonLeo DurocherPittsburgh PiratesBill BurwellBilly MeyerSt. Louis BrownsMuddy RuelZack TaylorWashington SenatorsOssie BluegeJoe Kuhel

In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBrooklyn DodgersLeo DurocherRay BladesRay BladesBurt ShottonCincinnati RedsJohnny NeunBucky WaltersNew York GiantsMel OttLeo DurocherPhiladelphia PhilliesBen ChapmanDusty CookeDusty CookeEddie Sawyer

League leaders American League

+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Ted Williams (BOS) .369 OPS Ted Williams (BOS) 1.112 HR Joe DiMaggio (NYY) 39 RBI Joe DiMaggio (NYY) 155 R Tommy Henrich (NYY) 138 H Bob Dillinger (SLB) 207 SB Bob Dillinger (SLB) 28

+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Hal Newhouser (DET) 21 L Fred Sanford (SLB) 21 ERA Gene Bearden (CLE) 2.43 K Bob Feller (CLE) 164 IP Bob Lemon (CLE) 293.2 SV Russ Christopher (CLE) 17 WHIP Bob Lemon (CLE) 1.226

National League

+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Stan Musial (STL) .376 OPS Stan Musial (STL) 1.152 HR Ralph Kiner (PIT)Johnny Mize (NYG) 40 RBI Stan Musial (STL) 131 R Stan Musial (STL) 135 H Stan Musial (STL) 230 SB Richie Ashburn (PHI) 32

+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Johnny Sain (BSN) 24 L Dutch Leonard (PHI) 17 ERA Harry Brecheen (STL) 2.24 K Harry Brecheen (STL) 149 IP Johnny Sain (BSN) 314.2 SV Harry Gumbert (CIN) 17 WHIP Harry Brecheen (STL) 1.037

Milestones Batters Four home runs in one game

Pat Seerey (CWS/): Became the fifth player to hit four home runs in one game as a part of the Chicago White Sox in a 12–11 win against the Philadelphia Athletics in game one of a doubleheader on July 18.

Cycles

Joe DiMaggio (NYY): DiMaggio hit for his second cycle and 11th in franchise history, on May 20 against the Chicago White Sox. Wally Westlake (PIT): Westlake hit for his first cycle and 14th in franchise history, on July 30 against the Brooklyn Dodgers. Jackie Robinson (BRO): Robinson hit for his first cycle, the sixth in franchise history, and the sixth reverse cycle in major league history, in game one of a doubleheader on August 29 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Other batting accomplishments George Vico (DET): Becomes the fifth major league player to hit a home run off the first pitch he sees as a major league player against the Chicago White Sox.

Pitchers No-hitters

Bob Lemon (CLE): Lemon threw his first career no-hitter and ninth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Detroit Tigers 2–0 on June 30. Lemon walked three and struck out four. Rex Barney (BRO): Barney threw his first career no-hitter and 10th no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the New York Giants 2–0 on September 9. Barney walked two and struck out four, throwing 75 strikes on 116 pitches.

Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the Year Alvin Dark (BSN) —Most Valuable Player Stan Musial (STL) Lou Boudreau (CLE)

Other awards The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League Player of the Year — Lou Boudreau (CLE) Pitcher of the Year Johnny Sain (BSN) Bob Lemon (CLE) Rookie of the Year Richie Ashburn (PHI) — Manager of the Year Billy Meyer (PIT) — Executive of the Year — Bill Veeck (CLE)

Baseball Hall of Fame

Herb Pennock Pie Traynor

Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceCleveland Indians9721.3%2,620,62772.2%33,172New York Yankees94 −3.1%2,373,9018.9%30,830Detroit Tigers78 −8.2%1,743,03524.7%22,637Boston Red Sox9615.7%1,558,7989.2%19,985Pittsburgh Pirates8333.9%1,517,02118.2%18,963New York Giants78 −3.7%1,459,269 −8.8%18,952Boston Braves915.8%1,455,43913.9%19,151Brooklyn Dodgers84 −10.6%1,398,967 −22.6%17,935Chicago Cubs64 −7.2%1,237,792 −9.3%15,869St. Louis Cardinals85 −4.5%1,111,440 −10.9%14,434Philadelphia Athletics847.7%945,0763.7%12,274Cincinnati Reds64 −12.3%823,386 −8.5%10,693Washington Senators56 −12.5%795,254 −6.5%10,196Chicago White Sox51 −27.1%777,844 −11.3%10,235Philadelphia Phillies666.5%767,429 −15.4%10,098St. Louis Browns590.0%335,5644.7%4,415

Retired numbers Babe Ruth had his No. 3 retired by the New York Yankees on June 13. This was the second number retired by the team. Mel Ott had his No. 4 retired by the New York Giants on July 17. This was the second number retired by the team.

See also 1948 in baseball (Events, Movies, Births, Deaths) 1948 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season

References

Further reading

External links

1948 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference