The 1940 Cleveland Indians season was a season in American major league baseball. The team finished second in the American League with a record of 89–65, one game behind the Detroit Tigers. Had the Indians finished ahead of the Tigers, The Indians would have played their cross state National League rivals, the National League Champion Cincinnati Reds, in the World Series. The World Series would have been the only all Ohio World series. The season is infamous for ten Indian players confronting owner Alva Bradley and demanding the removal of manager Ossie Vitt, saying the man's behavior was harming the team. When the news broke, the public sided with Vitt and the Indians were dismissed as "crybabies." The movement has since been named the "Crybaby Rebellion."
Regular season April 16, 1940: Indians pitcher Bob Feller threw what is, to date, the only Opening Day no-hitter. Feller walked five and struck out eight as the Indians beat the White Sox, 1–0, at Comiskey Park.SI.com – Statitudes – Statitudes: Opening Day 2002, By the Numbers – Sunday March 30, 2003 01:50 AM
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Notable transactions May 13, 1940: Willis Hudlin was released by the Indians.Willis Hudlin at Baseball Reference
Opening Day Lineup +Opening Day Starters # Name Position5 Lou Boudreau SS22 Roy Weatherly CF11 Ben Chapman RF7 Hal Trosky 1B24 Jeff Heath LF25 Ken Keltner 3B9 Rollie Hemsley C6 Ray Mack 2B19 Bob Feller P 1940 Opening Day Lineup at Baseball-Reference
Roster 1940 Cleveland Indians Roster Pitchers Catchers
Infielders Outfielders Manager
Coaches
Player stats = Indicates team leader Batting
Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Pos Player G AB H Avg. HR RBICRollie Hemsley119416111.2674421BHal Trosky140522154.29525932BRay Mack146530150.2831269SSLou Boudreau155627185.29591013BKen Keltner149543138.2541577OFBeau Bell120444124.279458 OF 143 548 157 .286 4 50OFRoy Weatherly135578175.3031259
Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in Player G AB H Avg. HR RBIJeff Heath10035678.2191450Frankie Pytlak6214921.141016Rusty Peters307117.23907Soup Campbell356214.22602Odell Hale485011.22006Oscar Grimes11130.00000Hank Helf110.00000
Pitching = Indicates league leader Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO 43 320.1 27 11 2.61 261Al Milnar37242.118103.2799Mel Harder31186.112114.0676 31 183.0 15 7 3.44 46 Johnny Allen 32 138.2 9 8 3.44 62
Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G IP W L ERA SO Mike Naymick 13 30.0 1 2 5.10 15Willis Hudlin423.2214.948Nate Andrews612.0016.003Dixie Howell35.0001.802Ken Jungels23.1002.701Cal Dorsett11.0009.000
Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts Player G W L SV ERA SO 40 3 7 3 4.95 57 Harry Eisenstat 27 1 4 4 3.14 27Johnny Humphries190218.2917Bill Zuber171105.6312
Awards and honors All Star Game
Lou Boudreau, Shortstop
Bob Feller, Pitcher
Rollie Hemsley, Catcher
Ken Keltner, Third baseman
Ray Mack, Second baseman
Al Milnar, Pitcher
Farm system
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Cedar RapidsJohnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball, 3rd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007
References
External links 1940 Cleveland Indians season at Baseball Reference