The 1931 major league baseball season began on April 14, 1931. The regular season ended on September 27, with the St. Louis Cardinals and Philadelphia Athletics as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 28th World Series on October 1 and ended with Game 7 on October 10. In the second iteration of this World Series matchup (and a rematch of the previous year), the Cardinals defeated the Athletics, four games to three, capturing their second championship in franchise history, since their previous in . Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the Philadelphia Athletics from the season.
This was the first season that the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA) selected a Most Valuable Player in each league.
Schedule
The 1931 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, April 14, featured all sixteen teams, the first time since the season. The final day of the regular season was on September 27, which also saw all sixteen teams play on the final day continuing the trend which began the previous season. This was the first time that both Opening Day and the final day of the season saw all sixteen teams play. The World Series took place between October 1 and October 10.
Rule changes The 1931 season saw the following rule changes: The rule previously implemented in , that a sacrifice hit was awarded when any base runner advanced on a fly out, was eliminated. Regulations referring to a batter contacting his own ball were clarified as was the area of bases awarded a batter when a defensive player threw his glove at a batted or thrown ball or in the case of spectator interference. In the National League: The ground rule double rule was implemented, which states that balls that bounce over the fence entitle the batter to two bases. The rule was previously implemented by the American League in . Barnstorming rules were loosened, allowing a squad of players to go to Japan. A rule that only people in uniform be allowed on the playing field after ballpark gates were open was approved. The American League adopted the early- rule that when calling home runs, balls are to be called based on where the ball crosses the outfield fence, no matter if the ball lands in the stands or leaves the ballpark. The National League previously implemented this rule in .
Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park27,000Braves Field*46,500*Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park52,000Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioLeague Park21,414Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganNavin Field30,000New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium62,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000St. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium27,000Boston BravesBoston, MassachusettsBraves Field46,500Brooklyn RobinsNew York, New YorkEbbets Field28,000Chicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field40,000Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioRedland Field26,060New York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds56,000Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaBaker Bowl18,800Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field41,000St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023
Standings
American League
National League
Tie games 9 tie games (5 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 Boston Red Sox, 1 Chicago White Sox, 3 Cleveland Indians, 1 New York Yankees, 2 Philadelphia Athletics, 1 Washington Senators, 2
National League Boston Braves, 2 Brooklyn Robins, 1 Chicago Cubs, 2 New York Giants, 1 Philadelphia Phillies, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1
Postseason The postseason began on October 1 and ended on October 10 with the St. Louis Cardinals defeating the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1931 World Series in seven games.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston Red SoxHeinie WagnerShano CollinsNew York YankeesBob ShawkeyJoe McCarthy
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Al Simmons (PHA) .390 OPS Babe Ruth (NYY) 1.195 HR Lou Gehrig (NYY)Babe Ruth (NYY) 46 RBI Lou Gehrig (NYY) 185 R Lou Gehrig (NYY) 163 H Lou Gehrig (NYY) 211 SB Ben Chapman (NYY) 61
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Lefty Grove1 (PHA) 31 L Pat Caraway (CWS)Sam Gray (SLB) 24 ERA Lefty Grove1 (PHA) 2.06 K Lefty Grove1 (PHA) 175 IP Rube Walberg (PHA) 291.0 SV Firpo Marberry (WSH)Wilcy Moore (BOS) 8 WHIP Lefty Grove (PHA) 1.077
1 American League Triple Crown pitching winner
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Chick Hafey (STL) .349 OPS Rogers Hornsby (CHC) .996 HR Chuck Klein (PHI) 31 RBI Chuck Klein (PHI) 121 R Chuck Klein (PHI)Bill Terry (NYG) 121 H Lloyd Waner (PIT) 214 SB Frankie Frisch (STL) 28
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Jumbo Elliott (PHI)Bill Hallahan (STL)Heinie Meine (PIT) 19 L Si Johnson (CIN) 19 ERA Bill Walker (NYG) 2.26 K Bill Hallahan (STL) 159 IP Heinie Meine (PIT) 284.0 SV Jack Quinn (BRO) 13 WHIP Carl Hubbell (NYG) 1.121
Milestones Batters Cycles
Babe Herman (BRO): Herman hit for his first cycle and third in franchise history, on May 18 against the Cincinnati Reds. Herman hit for his second cycle and fourth in franchise history, on July 24 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. He is the third player in major league history to hit two in one season. Chuck Klein (PHI): Klein hit for his first cycle and fourth in franchise history, on July 1 against the Chicago Cubs.
Other batting accomplishments Babe Ruth (NYY): Became the first player in Major League history to hit 600 home runs on August 21 against the St. Louis Browns. Lou Gehrig (NYY): Tied a Major League record by becoming the third player and second American League player to hit home runs in six consecutive games between August 28 and September 1.
Pitchers No-hitters
Wes Ferrell (CLE): Ferrell threw his first career no-hitter and the fifth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the St. Louis Browns 9–0 on April 29. Ferrell walked three and struck out eight. Bobby Burke (WSH): Burke threw his first career no-hitter and the second no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Boston Red Sox 5–0 on August 8. Burke walked five and struck out eight.
Awards and honors Regular season
Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueMost Valuable Player Frankie Frisch (STL) Lefty Grove (PHA)
The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League Most Valuable Player Chuck Klein (PHI) Lou Gehrig (NYY)
Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceChicago Cubs84 −6.7%1,086,422 −25.8%14,109New York Yankees949.3%912,437 −22.0%11,850New York Giants870.0%812,163 −6.5%10,412Brooklyn Robins79 −8.1%753,133 −31.4%9,910Philadelphia Athletics1074.9%627,464 −13.1%8,366St. Louis Cardinals1019.8%608,53519.7%7,802Boston Braves64 −8.6%515,00510.8%6,603Washington Senators92 −2.1%492,657 −19.8%6,236Cleveland Indians78 −3.7%483,027 −8.6%6,356Detroit Tigers61 −18.7%434,056 −33.2%5,637Chicago White Sox56 −9.7%403,550 −0.6%5,241Boston Red Sox6219.2%350,975 −21.0%4,387Philadelphia Phillies6626.9%284,849 −4.7%3,748Cincinnati Reds58 −1.7%263,316 −31.9%3,420Pittsburgh Pirates75 −6.3%260,392 −27.2%3,338St. Louis Browns63 −1.6%179,12617.8%2,326
Venues Across 80 homes games, the Boston Red Sox played all 15 of their Sunday games at the Boston Braves home field of Braves Field (the remaining 65 home games were played at Fenway Park). This was the last of three consecutive seasons playing all Sunday games at Braves Field and 3rd of four consecutive season playing some games at Braves Field.
This was the last of 31 consecutive seasons that the Cleveland Indians played at their inaugural field, League Park (they would play full seasons at the Park in and , while , and to saw home games split with Cleveland Stadium.
See also 1931 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths)
References
External links 1931 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference