1918
American League Champion: Baltimore Browns (93-61)
Standings: Baltimore, Richmond, Columbus, New York, Cleveland, Boston, Philadelphia, Indianapolis
AL MVP: Rogers Hornsby (Richmond) (3rd award)
AL MOP: Smoky Joe Wood (Boston) (8th award)
AL ROY: Charlie Hollocher (New York)
National League Champion: Milwaukee Braves (87-67)
Standings: Milwaukee, New York, St. Louis, Kansas City, Providence, Philadelphia, Toronto, Des Moines
NL MVP: Babe Ruth (Toronto) (2nd award)
NL MOP: Claude Hendrix (Kansas City) (2nd award)
NL ROY: Austin McHenry (Des Moines)
Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Rogers Hornsby (Richmond) .339, George Sisler (New York) .394
Home Runs: Jack Tobin (Baltimore) 8, Babe Ruth (Toronto) 22
Runs Batted In: Cy Williams (Richmond) 83, Babe Ruth (Toronto) 91
Stolen Bases: Fritz Maisel (Boston) 49, Ray Chapman (New York) 64
Wins: Bill Doak (Columbus) 26, Ray Collins (Milwaukee) 23
ERA: Eppa Rixey (Baltimore) 1.96, Claude Hendrix (Kansas City) 2.07
Strikeouts: Smoky Joe Wood (Boston) 199, Nap Rucker (Kansas City) 138
Notes:
- The Browns won their first AL pennant by nine games, while Milwaukee won their league by five games.
- Indianapolis shocking fell from the World Series title to the basement of the AL. Ty Cobb played only 77 games through injury, as the White Sox finished last in the league in both runs scoring and run prevention.
- Williams and Hornsby led the AL in RBI from the heart of the Tigers order.
- Smoky Joe Wood finished second in the AL in wins and ERA.
- Sisler won the NL batting title by more than 50 points.
- No NL batter other than Ruth hit more than six home runs.
- George Ruth (NY Giants) split the year between AAA and the majors, and had a 2.94 ERA when he did play in the NL.
- Bubbles Hargrave (NY Giants) went 6-7 against Toronto.
- Ray Collins (Milwaukee) threw a perfect game against the Phillies.
- Eddie Collins (Columbus), Fred Merkle (Columbus) and Rube Oldring (St. Louis) all brought up their 2000th hits.
- Slow Joe Doyle (St. Louis) and Art Fromme (Columbus) won their 200th games.
- Former teammates Smoky Joe Wood (Boston) and Nap Rucker (Kansas City) picked up their 250th victories.
- George Sisler had a 34 game hitting streak. Marty Krug (Toronto) had one of 30 games.
- St. Louis sent Vic Saier to the White Sox, in exchange for Ed Summers and a minor leaguer.
World Series:
-
Milwaukee defeated Baltimore, 4 games to 1.
- Elmer Smith was series MVP, magnificently batting 14-26 with a homer and 7 RBI.
- Ray Collins and Jeff Tesreau both won both of their starts for the Braves.
- Larry Gardner (Milwaukee) went 10-21 and drove home 5 men.
- Sherry Magee (Milwaukee) batted 8-21 with 5 RBI.
- Shoeless Joe Jackson (Baltimore) went 5-23, and High Pockets Kelly (Baltimore) hit only 2-18.
- Milwaukee's second World Series. (1909)
Off-Season:
- The
Indianapolis White Sox (59-95) had the worst record in baseball, even after winning the World Series the previous year.
- They moved to
Nashville, becoming the most successful team to move.
- Frankie Frisch was chosen first.
- The Dodgers selected Dick Burrus second.
- Bucky Harris was picked eleventh by Kansas City.
Cities that have lost teams: Boston (1903), Chicago (1904), Washington (1905), Chicago (1906), St. Louis (1907), Buffalo (1908), Cincinnati (1909), Louisville (1910), Pittsburgh (1911), Rochester (1912), Minnesota (1913), Detroit (1914), Brooklyn (1915), Hartford (1916), Albany (1917), Indianapolis (1918)
George Sisler batted .394.
Shoeless Joe Jackson led Baltimore to the pennant, but struggled in the World Series.