1928 Major League Baseball season

The 1928 major league baseball season began on April 10, 1928. The regular season ended on September 30, 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 25th World Series on October 4 and ended with Game 4 on October 9. In the second iteration of this World Series matchup, the Yankees swept the Cardinals in four games, capturing their third championship in franchise history, and the fifth team to win back-to-back World Series.

This was the seventh of eight seasons that "League Awards", a precursor to the Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award (introduced in 1931), were issued.

Schedule

The 1928 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 10 with the Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators playing, while National League Opening Day took place the following day. The final day of the regular season was on September 30. The World Series took place between October 4 and October 9.

Rule change The 1928 season saw the following rule change: The National League reimplemented the early- home run rule, which states that balls are to be called based on where the ball crosses the outfield fence regarding home runs. This rule was only for balls which landed in the stands. Balls which completely left the ballpark were to be judged based on where the ball flew out of sight. The American League would implement the outfield fence portion of the home run rule in , and would extend this interpretation to balls which leave the ballpark completely.

Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park27,000Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park52,000Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioDunn Field21,414Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganNavin Field30,000New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium82,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park28,250St. 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 Bowl18,000Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field41,000St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023

Standings

American League

National League

Tie games 4 tie games (2 in AL, 2 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season.

American League The Boston Red Sox, Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians, and Washington Senators had one tie game each. April 13, Cleveland Indians vs. Chicago White Sox, tied at 1 after a shortened game of six innings due to rain. April 14, Washington Senators vs. Boston Red Sox, scoreless tie after a shortened game of five innings due to rain.

National League The Brooklyn Robins had two tie games. The Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants had one tie game each. May 30 (game 2), New York Giants vs. Brooklyn Robins, tied at 2 after a shortened game of six innings due to rain. July 12, Brooklyn Robins vs. Cincinnati Reds, scoreless tie after nine innings due to rain.

Postseason The postseason began on October 4 and ended on October 9 with the New York Yankees sweeping the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1928 World Series in four games.

Bracket

Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston BravesDave BancroftJack SlatteryCleveland IndiansJack McCallisterRoger PeckinpaughPhiladelphia PhilliesStuffy McInnisBurt ShottonSt. Louis CardinalsBob O'FarrellBill McKechnie

In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston BravesJack SlatteryRogers HornsbyChicago White SoxRay SchalkLena Blackburne

League leaders American League

+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Goose Goslin (WSH) .379 OPS Babe Ruth (NYY) 1.172 HR Babe Ruth (NYY) 54 RBI Lou Gehrig (NYY)Babe Ruth (NYY) 142 R Babe Ruth (NYY) 163 H Heinie Manush (SLB) 241 SB Buddy Myer (BOS) 30

+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Lefty Grove (PHA)George Pipgras (NYY) 24 L Red Ruffing (BOS) 25 ERA Garland Braxton (WSH) 2.51 K Lefty Grove (PHA) 183 IP George Pipgras (NYY) 300.2 SV Waite Hoyt (NYY) 8 WHIP Garland Braxton (WSH) 1.012

National League

+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Rogers Hornsby (BSN) .387 OPS Rogers Hornsby (BSN) 1.130 HR Jim Bottomley (STL)Hack Wilson (CHC) 31 RBI Jim Bottomley (STL) 136 R Paul Waner (PIT) 142 H Freddie Lindstrom (NYG) 231 SB Kiki Cuyler (CHC) 37

+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Larry Benton (NYG)Burleigh Grimes (PIT) 25 L Ed Brandt (BSN) 21 ERA Dazzy Vance (BRO) 2.09 K Dazzy Vance (BRO) 200 IP Burleigh Grimes (PIT) 330.2 SV Hal Haid (STL)Bill Sherdel (STL) 5 WHIP Dazzy Vance (BRO) 1.063

Milestones Batters Cycles

Bill Terry (NYG): Terry hit for his first cycle and eighth in franchise history, on May 29 against the Brooklyn Robins. Bob Meusel (NYY): Meusel hit for his third cycle and fourth in franchise history, in game one of a doubleheader on July 26 against the Detroit Tigers.

Other batting accomplishments Ty Cobb (PHA): When only counting the modern definition of a stolen base, defined in , Cobb set a major league record of 897 career stolen bases in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox in game one of a doubleheader on July 4.

Miscellaneous New York Yankees: Set a major league record for most runs scored in the 12th inning, by scoring 11 runs against the Detroit Tigers in game one of a doubleheader on July 26. Philadelphia Phillies: Set the modern National League record for most losses in a season on September 30 with 109. The previous record of 108 was set by the Boston Doves in . Set the modern National League record for worst winning percentage with .283. The previous record of .291 was set by the Boston Rustlers in .

Awards and honors League Award: Jim Bottomley (STL, National); Mickey Cochrane (PHA, American)

Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceChicago Cubs917.1%1,143,740 −1.3%14,854New York Yankees101 −8.2%1,072,132 −7.9%13,924New York Giants931.1%916,1916.8%11,899St. Louis Cardinals953.3%761,5741.6%9,891Philadelphia Athletics987.7%689,75613.9%8,958Brooklyn Robins7718.5%664,8634.3%8,635Pittsburgh Pirates85 −9.6%495,070 −43.1%6,429Chicago White Sox722.9%494,152 −19.6%6,335Cincinnati Reds784.0%490,49010.9%6,288Detroit Tigers68 −17.1%474,323 −38.7%6,160Boston Red Sox5711.8%396,92030.0%5,364Washington Senators75 −11.8%378,501 −28.4%4,731Cleveland Indians62 −6.1%375,9070.7%4,882St. Louis Browns8239.0%339,49737.0%4,409Boston Braves50 −16.7%227,001 −21.4%2,987Philadelphia Phillies43 −15.7%182,168 −40.4%2,429

Venues The Cleveland Indians' Dunn Field reverts to the name League Park, following the sale of the team by team owner Jim Dunn.

See also 1928 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths)

References

External links 1928 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference