The 1929 major league baseball season began on April 16, 1929. The regular season ended on October 6, with the Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Athletics as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 26th World Series on October 8 and ended with Game 5 on October 14. In the second iteration of this World Series matchup, the Athletics defeated the Cubs, four games to one, capturing their fourth 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.
This was the last of eight seasons that "League Awards", a precursor to the Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award (introduced in 1931), were issued. Only a National League award was given in 1929.
Schedule
The 1929 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 16 and saw eight teams across both leagues play. The final day of the regular season was on October 6. The World Series took place between October 8 and October 14.
Rule changes The 1929 season saw the following rule changes: For all ballparks, foul poles must be constructed to be at least 25 feet above the outer barrier, to aid umpires in calling balls fair or foul. The poles were to be constructed either on top of the grandstand roof, or the outer fence of the ballpark. This was coupled with the home run rule, the interpretation of which follows the early- rule, which states that balls are to be called based on where the ball crosses the outfield fence. This rule now accounts for all balls which leave the ballpark, including those which completely leave the ballpark. The American League would implement this home run rule in . The American League implements the ground rule double rule, which states that balls that bounce over the fence entitle the batter to two bases. The rule would be implemented by the National League in . The Cleveland Indians and the New York Yankees are the first teams to make uniform numbers on the back of the jersey permanent. In the past teams, such as the St Louis Cardinals and the Cleveland Indians, had experimented with numbers before, but only on the sleeves and only for a few weeks. A rule change ended the practice of minor-league teams selling a star prospect to a friendly major-league club for a high price, having the player returned at a later date and then, when it put him back on the open market, forcing another big-league club to pay the already established price. The signing of any player under the age of 17 was banned. A price tag of $7,500 () on any first-year player was implemented.
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, OhioDunn Field21,414Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganNavin Field30,000New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium62,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park30,000St. 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 Grounds55,000Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaBaker Bowl20,000Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field41,000St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023
Standings
American League
National League
Tie games 8 tie games (3 in AL, 5 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 Detroit Tigers, 1 Philadelphia Athletics, 1 St. Louis Browns, 2 Washington Senators, 1
National League Chicago Cubs, 4 Cincinnati Reds, 1 New York Giants, 1 Philadelphia Phillies, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 St. Louis Cardinals, 2
Postseason The postseason began on October 8 and ended on October 14 with the Philadelphia Athletics defeating the Chicago Cubs in the 1929 World Series in five games.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston BravesRogers HornsbyEmil FuchsDetroit TigersGeorge MoriartyBucky HarrisSt. Louis CardinalsBill McKechnieBilly SouthworthWashington SenatorsBucky HarrisWalter Johnson In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerNew York YankeesMiller HugginsArt FletcherPittsburgh PiratesDonie BushJewel EnsSt. Louis CardinalsBilly SouthworthGabby StreetGabby StreetBill McKechnie
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Lew Fonseca (CLE) .369 OPS Babe Ruth (NYY) 1.128 HR Babe Ruth (NYY) 46 RBI Al Simmons (PHA) 157 R Charlie Gehringer (DET) 131 H Dale Alexander (DET)Charlie Gehringer (DET) 215 SB Charlie Gehringer (DET) 27
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W George Earnshaw (PHA) 24 L Red Ruffing (BOS) 22 ERA Lefty Grove (PHA) 2.81 K Lefty Grove (PHA) 170 IP Sam Gray (SLB) 305.0 SV Firpo Marberry (WSH)Wilcy Moore (NYY) 9 WHIP Firpo Marberry (WSH) 1.206
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Lefty O'Doul (PHI) .398 OPS Rogers Hornsby (CHC) 1.139 HR Chuck Klein (PHI) 43 RBI Hack Wilson (CHC) 159 R Rogers Hornsby (CHC) 156 H Lefty O'Doul (PHI) 254 SB Kiki Cuyler (CHC) 43
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Pat Malone (CHC) 22 L Watson Clark (BRO) 19 ERA Bill Walker (NYG) 3.09 K Pat Malone (CHC) 166 IP Watson Clark (BRO) 279.0 SV Guy Bush (CHC)Johnny Morrison (BRO) 8 WHIP Red Lucas (CIN) 1.204
Milestones Batters Cycles
Mel Ott (NYG): Ott hit for his first cycle and ninth in franchise history, in game two of a doubleheader on May 16 against the Boston Braves. Ski Melillo (SLB): Melillo hit for his first cycle and fourth in franchise history, in game two of a doubleheader on May 23 against the Cleveland Indians. Joe Cronin (WSH): Cronin hit for his first cycle and third in franchise history, in game one of a doubleheader on September 2 against the Boston Red Sox.
Other batting accomplishments Babe Ruth (NYY): Became the first player in Major League history to hit 500 home runs in the second inning against the Cleveland Indians on August 11.
Pitchers No-hitters
Carl Hubbell (NYG): Hubbell threw his first career no-hitter and the eighth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 11–0 on May 8. Hubbell walked one and struck out four.
Miscellaneous New York Giants: Set a major league record for most runs scored in the 14th inning, by scoring eight runs against the Pittsburgh Pirates on June 15. Chicago Cubs / Philadelphia Athletics: For the first time since 1912, that both pennant winners won by more than 10 games. Philadelphia Athletics: On October 12, Game 4 of the World Series featured a historic 10-run rally by the Athletics in the seventh inning to comeback from a 8–0 deficit, nicknamed "The Mack Attack," after the team's manager, Connie Mack. He commented that it was "The greatest thrill [he] had in 29 years of managing." At the time, this was a record.
Awards and honors League Award: Rogers Hornsby (CHC) The Sporting News Most Valuable Player Award: Al Simmons (PHA)
Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceChicago Cubs987.7%1,485,16629.9%19,041New York Yankees88 −12.9%960,148 −10.4%12,469Detroit Tigers702.9%869,31883.3%11,290New York Giants84 −9.7%868,806 −5.2%11,283Philadelphia Athletics1046.1%839,17621.7%11,340Brooklyn Robins70 −9.1%731,88610.1%9,505Cleveland Indians8130.6%536,21042.6%7,055Pittsburgh Pirates883.5%491,377 −0.7%6,465Chicago White Sox59 −18.1%426,795 −13.6%5,616St. Louis Cardinals78 −17.9%399,887 −47.5%5,193Boston Red Sox581.8%394,620 −0.6%5,059Boston Braves5612.0%372,35164.0%4,836Washington Senators71 −5.3%355,506 −6.1%4,558Cincinnati Reds66 −15.4%295,040 −39.8%3,783Philadelphia Phillies7165.1%281,20054.4%3,700St. Louis Browns79 −3.7%280,697 −17.3%3,645
Venues Across 78 homes games, the Boston Red Sox played their Monday, September 2 doubleheader against the Washington Senators, as well as all 15 of their Sunday games at the Boston Braves home field of Braves Field (the remaining 61 home games were played at Fenway Park). This was the 1st of three consecutive seasons playing all Sunday games at Braves Field and 1st of four consecutive season playing some games at Braves Field.
See also 1929 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths)
References
External links 1929 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference