The 1943 major league baseball season began on April 20, 1943. The regular season ended on October 3, 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 40th World Series on October 5 and ended with Game 5 on October 11. In the fourth iteration of this World Series matchup (and a rematch of the previous year), the Yankees defeated the Cardinals, four games to one, capturing their tenth championship in franchise history, since their previous in . Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the St. Louis Cardinals from the season.
The 11th All-Star Game was held on July 13 at the Shibe Park in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, hosted by the Philadelphia Athletics. The American League won, 5–3. This was also the first All-Star Game held at night.
In order to conserve rail transport during World War II, the 1943 spring training sites was limited to an area east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River. Spring training sites included the Chicago White Sox in French Lick, Indiana; the Washington Senators in College Park, Maryland; and the Yankees in Asbury Park, New Jersey.
Schedule
The 1943 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.
American League Opening Day took place on April 20 with a game between the Philadelphia Athletics and Washington Senators, while National League Opening Day took place on the following day, featuring four teams. This was the first season since that both leagues opened on different days. The final day of the regular season was on October 3, which saw all sixteen teams play, also the first time since . The World Series took place between October 5 and October 11.
Rule changes The 1943 season saw the following rule changes: Draft rules in regard to payment of the selection fee for players on the National Defense, voluntarily retired, and suspended lists were revised. Previously, teams had not had to pay the selection fee until the player reported to the team. With the new revision, teams would now have to pay the fee when the player was selected. During the July All-Star break, Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis granted the Washington Senators the ability to play an unlimited amount of weekday night games (previously, they were allowed 21, while other teams were still only allowed 14).
Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,817Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park50,000Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium78,811League Park*22,500*Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium70,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000St. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium32,000Boston BravesBoston, MassachusettsBraves Field37,746Brooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field35,000Chicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field38,396Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field29,401New York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds56,000Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field33,467St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023
Standings
American League
National League
Tie games 11 tie games (4 in AL, 7 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, 3 Chicago White Sox, 1 Detroit Tigers, 1 New York Yankees, 1 Philadelphia Athletics, 1 St. Louis Browns, 1
National League Chicago Cubs, 1 Cincinnati Reds, 1 New York Giants, 3 Philadelphia Phillies, 3 Pittsburgh Pirates, 3 St. Louis Cardinals, 3
Postseason The postseason began on October 5 and ended on October 11 with the New York Yankees defeating the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1943 World Series in five games.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerDetroit TigersDel BakerSteve O'NeillPhiladelphia PhilliesHans LobertBucky HarrisWashington SenatorsBucky HarrisOssie Bluege
In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston BravesCasey StengelBob ColemanPhiladelphia PhilliesBucky HarrisFreddie Fitzsimmons
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leadersStat PlayerTotal AVG Luke Appling (CWS) .328 OPS Charlie Keller (NYY) .922 HR Rudy York (DET) 34 RBI Rudy York (DET) 118 R George Case (WSH) 102 H Dick Wakefield (DET) 200 SB George Case (WSH) 61
+ Pitching leadersStat PlayerTotal W Spud Chandler (NYY)Dizzy Trout (DET) 20 L Lum Harris (PHA) 21 ERA Spud Chandler (NYY) 1.64 K Allie Reynolds (CLE) 151 IP Jim Bagby (CLE) 273.0 SV Gordon Maltzberger (CWS) 14 WHIP Spud Chandler (NYY) 0.992
National League
+ Hitting leadersStat PlayerTotal AVG Stan Musial (STL) .357 OPS Stan Musial (STL) .988 HR Bill Nicholson (CHC) 29 RBI Bill Nicholson (CHC) 128 R Arky Vaughan (BRO) 112 H Stan Musial (STL) 220 SB Arky Vaughan (BRO) 20
+ Pitching leadersStat PlayerTotal W Mort Cooper (STL)Elmer Riddle (CIN)Rip Sewell (PIT) 21 L Nate Andrews (BSN) 20 ERA Max Lanier (STL) 1.90 K Johnny Vander Meer (CIN) 174 IP Al Javery (BSN) 303.0 SV Les Webber (BRO) 10 WHIP Whit Wyatt (BRO) 1.007
Milestones Batters Cycles
Leon Culberson (BOS): Culberson hit for his first cycle, eighth in franchise history, and sixth natural cycle in major league history on July 3 against the Cleveland Indians.
Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueMost Valuable Player Stan Musial (STL) Spud Chandler (NYY)
Other awards The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League Most Valuable Player Stan Musial (STL) Spud Chandler (NYY) Player of the Year — Spud Chandler (NYY) Manager of the Year — Joe McCarthy (NYY) Executive of the Year — Clark Griffith (WSH)
Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceBrooklyn Dodgers81 −22.1%661,739 −36.2%8,594New York Yankees98 −4.9%618,330 −32.9%8,030Detroit Tigers786.8%606,2874.5%7,773Washington Senators8435.5%574,69442.4%7,562St. Louis Cardinals105 −0.9%517,135 −6.6%6,384Chicago White Sox8224.2%508,96219.5%6,697Chicago Cubs748.8%508,247 −14.0%6,777Pittsburgh Pirates8021.2%498,74011.1%6,394Philadelphia Phillies6452.4%466,975102.9%5,987New York Giants55 −35.3%466,095 −40.2%6,053Cleveland Indians829.3%438,894 −4.5%5,700Cincinnati Reds8714.5%379,122 −11.2%4,861Philadelphia Athletics49 −10.9%376,735 −11.0%4,769Boston Red Sox68 −26.9%358,275 −50.9%4,653Boston Braves6815.3%271,289 −4.9%3,523St. Louis Browns72 −12.2%214,392 −16.1%2,784
Venues Over 77 home games, the Cleveland Indians played 48 games at Cleveland Stadium and 29 games at League Park. All Sunday home games took place at Cleveland Stadium. This would be the 9th of 12 seasons since that saw the Indians play at both venues.
See also 1943 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) 1943 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season
References
External links 1943 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference