1941 Major League Baseball season

This article is about the 1941 Major League Baseball season only. For information on all of baseball, see 1941 in baseball.
1941 MLB season
LeagueAmerican League (AL)
National League (NL)
SportBaseball
DurationRegular season:
  • April 14 – September 28, 1941 (AL)
  • April 15 – September 28, 1941 (NL)
World Series:
  • October 1–6, 1941
Number of games154
Number of teams16 (8 per league)
Regular season
Season MVPAL: Joe DiMaggio (NYY)
NL: Dolph Camilli (BKN)
AL championsNew York Yankees
  AL runners-upBoston Red Sox
NL championsBrooklyn Dodgers
  NL runners-upSt. Louis Cardinals
World Series
ChampionsNew York Yankees
  Runners-upBrooklyn Dodgers
Locations of teams for the 1941 American League season
American League
Locations of teams for the 1941 National League season
National League

The 1941 major league baseball season began on April 14, 1941. The regular season ended on September 28, with the Brooklyn Dodgers 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 38th World Series on October 1 and ended with Game 5 on October 6. The Yankees defeated the Dodgers, four games to one, capturing their ninth championship in franchise history, since their previous in 1939. This was the first Subway Series World Series to feature the Dodgers (the previous five featured the New York Giants). Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the Cincinnati Reds from the 1940 season.

The ninth Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held on July 8 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, home of the Detroit Tigers. The American League won, 7–5.

In addition to a five-game World Series between New York City teams, highlights of the season included Ted Williams batting .406, and Joe DiMaggio having a 56-game hitting streak; it has been called the "best baseball season ever".[1]

Schedule

See also: Major League Baseball schedule

The 1941 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 1904 season (except for 1919) and would be used until 1961 in the American League and 1962 in the National League.

American League Opening Day took place on April 14 with a game between the New York Yankees and Washington Senators, while National League Opening Day took place on the following day, featuring all eight teams. This was the first season since 1939 that both leagues opened on different days. The final day of the regular season was on September 28 and featured all sixteen teams, continuing the trend since the previous season. The World Series took place between October 1 and October 6.

Rule changes

The 1941 season saw the following rule changes:

  • In what was termed the "Baltimore Amendment", major league teams can now sign players for the purpose of assigning them to a minor-league club, with two caveats: The assignment must be between affiliated clubs, and all assignment transactions were to be reported to the commissioner.[2]
  • Despite both the National and American Leagues previously ruling that a maximum of seven night games could be played (1935 and 1939, respectively,) the St. Louis Browns had played 14 night games the previous season. Despite disagreements between the two leagues during the 1940 Winter Meetings, (the NL wanted to maintain seven days, while the AL wanted to have fewer than seven), Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis reaffirmed the National League's seven night game position for both leagues.[2]
  • A national defensive service list was implemented. If players were called to active military duty, they would be placed on the list, their contracts would remain with their teams, but they would not be counted against a club’s player limit.[2]
  • A two-person-maximum 60-day disabled list (called "injured list" since 2019) was created for each team. The disabled list was 60 calendar days, except after August 1.[2]
  • Rules regarding doubleheaders were clarified: doubleheaders could be scheduled beginning with the fourth Sunday of the season (both St. Louis teams were unofficially allowed to start them a week earlier).[2]

Teams

An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at

League Team City Stadium Capacity Manager[3]
American League Boston Red Sox Boston, Massachusetts Fenway Park 35,000 Joe Cronin
Chicago White Sox Chicago, Illinois Comiskey Park 50,000 Jimmy Dykes
Cleveland Indians Cleveland, Ohio League Park 22,500 Roger Peckinpaugh
Cleveland Stadium* 78,811*
Detroit Tigers Detroit, Michigan Briggs Stadium 58,000 Del Baker
New York Yankees New York, New York Yankee Stadium 71,699 Joe McCarthy
Philadelphia Athletics Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Shibe Park 33,000 Connie Mack
St. Louis Browns St. Louis, Missouri Sportsman's Park 34,023 Fred Haney
Luke Sewell
Washington Senators Washington, D.C. Griffith Stadium 32,000 Bucky Harris
National League Boston Braves Boston, Massachusetts National League Park 37,746 Casey Stengel
Brooklyn Dodgers New York, New York Ebbets Field 35,000 Leo Durocher
Chicago Cubs Chicago, Illinois Wrigley Field 38,396 Jimmie Wilson
Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati, Ohio Crosley Field 29,401 Bill McKechnie
New York Giants New York, New York Polo Grounds 56,000 Bill Terry
Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Shibe Park 33,000 Doc Prothro
Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Forbes Field 33,537 Frankie Frisch
St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis, Missouri Sportsman's Park 34,023 Billy Southworth

Standings

American League

American League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
New York Yankees 101 53 .656 — 51‍–‍26 50‍–‍27
Boston Red Sox 84 70 .545 17 47‍–‍30 37‍–‍40
Chicago White Sox 77 77 .500 24 38‍–‍39 39‍–‍38
Cleveland Indians 75 79 .487 26 42‍–‍35 33‍–‍44
Detroit Tigers 75 79 .487 26 43‍–‍34 32‍–‍45
St. Louis Browns 70 84 .455 31 40‍–‍37 30‍–‍47
Washington Senators 70 84 .455 31 40‍–‍37 30‍–‍47
Philadelphia Athletics 64 90 .416 37 36‍–‍41 28‍–‍49

National League

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Brooklyn Dodgers 100 54 .649 — 52‍–‍25 48‍–‍29
St. Louis Cardinals 97 56 .634 2½ 53‍–‍24 44‍–‍32
Cincinnati Reds 88 66 .571 12 45‍–‍34 43‍–‍32
Pittsburgh Pirates 81 73 .526 19 45‍–‍32 36‍–‍41
New York Giants 74 79 .484 25½ 38‍–‍39 36‍–‍40
Chicago Cubs 70 84 .455 30 38‍–‍39 32‍–‍45
Boston Braves 62 92 .403 38 32‍–‍44 30‍–‍48
Philadelphia Phillies 43 111 .279 57 23‍–‍52 20‍–‍59

Postseason

The postseason began on October 1 and ended on October 6 with the New York Yankees defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1941 World Series in five games.

Bracket

World Series
   
AL New York Yankees 4
NL Brooklyn Dodgers 1

Managerial changes

Off-season

Team Former Manager New Manager
Chicago Cubs Gabby Hartnett Jimmie Wilson
Cleveland Indians Ossie Vitt Roger Peckinpaugh

In-season

Team Former Manager New Manager
St. Louis Browns Fred Haney Luke Sewell

League leaders

American League

Hitting leaders[4]
Stat Player Total
AVG Ted Williams (BRS) .406
OPS Ted Williams (BRS) 1.287
HR Ted Williams (BRS) 37
RBI Joe DiMaggio (NYY) 125
R Ted Williams (BRS) 135
H Cecil Travis (WSH) 218
SB George Case (WSH) 33
Pitching leaders[5]
Stat Player Total
W Bob Feller (CLE) 25
L Bobo Newsom (DET) 20
ERA Thornton Lee (CWS) 2.37
K Bob Feller (CLE) 260
IP Bob Feller (CLE) 343.0
SV Johnny Murphy (NYY) 15
WHIP Thornton Lee (CWS) 1.165

National League

Hitting leaders[6]
Stat Player Total
AVG Pete Reiser (BKN) .343
OPS Pete Reiser (BKN) .964
HR Dolph Camilli (BKN) 34
RBI Dolph Camilli (BKN) 120
R Pete Reiser (BKN) 117
H Stan Hack (CHC) 186
SB Danny Murtaugh (PHP) 18
Pitching leaders[7]
Stat Player Total
W Kirby Higbe (BKN)
Whit Wyatt (BKN) 		22
L Rip Sewell (PIT) 17
ERA Elmer Riddle (CIN) 2.24
K Johnny Vander Meer (CIN) 202
IP Bucky Walters (CIN) 305.0
SV Jumbo Brown (NYG) 8
WHIP Whit Wyatt (BKN) 1.058

Awards and honors

Regular season

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA Award National League American League
Most Valuable Player Dolph Camilli (BKN) Joe DiMaggio (NYY)

Other awards

The Sporting News Awards
Award National League American League
Most Valuable Player[8] Dolph Camilli (BKN) Joe DiMaggio (NYY)
Player of the Year[9] — Ted Williams (BRS)
Manager of the Year[10] Billy Southworth (SLC) —
Executive of the Year[11] — Ed Barrow (NYY)

Home field attendance

Team name Wins %± Home attendance %± Per game
Brooklyn Dodgers[12] 100 13.6% 1,214,910 24.5% 15,379
New York Yankees[13] 101 14.8% 964,722 −2.5% 12,368
New York Giants[14] 74 2.8% 763,098 2.0% 9,783
Cleveland Indians[15] 75 −15.7% 745,948 −17.4% 9,688
Boston Red Sox[16] 84 2.4% 718,497 0.3% 9,331
Detroit Tigers[17] 75 −16.7% 684,915 −38.4% 8,895
Chicago White Sox[18] 77 −6.1% 677,077 2.5% 8,571
Cincinnati Reds[19] 88 −12.0% 643,513 −24.3% 8,146
St. Louis Cardinals[20] 97 15.5% 633,645 95.5% 8,021
Chicago Cubs[21] 70 −6.7% 545,159 1.9% 7,080
Philadelphia Athletics[22] 64 18.5% 528,894 22.4% 6,869
Pittsburgh Pirates[23] 81 3.8% 482,241 −5.1% 6,183
Washington Senators[24] 70 9.4% 415,663 9.0% 5,329
Boston Braves[25] 62 −4.6% 263,680 9.1% 3,469
Philadelphia Phillies[26] 43 −14.0% 231,401 11.7% 3,045
St. Louis Browns[27] 70 4.5% 176,240 −26.4% 2,231

References

  1. ^ Creamer, Robert (1991). Baseball in '41: A Celebration of the "Best Baseball Season Ever". Viking Press. ISBN 0670833746.
  2. ^ a b c d e Nowlin, Bill; Waddell, Nick. "1940 Winter Meetings: Judge Landis' Final Reign – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved May 30, 2025.
  3. ^ "1941 Major League Managers". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  4. ^ "1941 American League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  5. ^ "1941 American League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  6. ^ "1941 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  7. ^ "1941 National League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved February 5, 2025.
  8. ^ "Most Valuable Player Award by The Sporting News | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  9. ^ "Major League Player of the Year Award by The Sporting News | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  10. ^ "Manager of the Year Award by The Sporting News | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  11. ^ "MLB Executive of the Year Award | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  12. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  13. ^ "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  14. ^ "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  15. ^ "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  16. ^ "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  17. ^ "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  18. ^ "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  19. ^ "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  20. ^ "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  21. ^ "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  22. ^ "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  23. ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  24. ^ "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  25. ^ "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  26. ^ "Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  27. ^ "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.

Further reading

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