1942
Changes- Add non MLer - Russian ace Victor Starffin, the first pitcher to win 300 games in professional ball in Japan, was added to the game. He signed with the world champion Chicago Cubs, further strengthening their strong rotation.
- Change DH - the NL will no longer use the designated hitter.
- Lengthen schedule - The schedule will be increased to 168 games.
Off-Season
- Texas traded outfielder Vince DiMaggio to the Reds for closer Foster Edwards and two prospects.
American League
Chicago White Sox (106-62)
Detroit Tigers (97-72)
Minnesota Twins (96-73)
New York Yankees (93-75)
St. Louis Browns (91-77)
Washington Senators (89-79)
Kansas City Royals (86-82)
Baltimore Orioles (80-88)
Nashville Sounds (80-88)
Philadelphia Athletics (79-89)
Boston Red Sox (76-92)
Cleveland Indians (73-95)
Dayton Angels (69-99)
Texas Rangers (62-106)
AL MVP: Ted Williams (Philadelphia) (2nd award)
AL CYA: Johnny Schmitz (Detroit)
AL ROY: Willard Marshall (Nashville)
National League
Milwaukee Brewers (104-64)
New York Giants (101-67)
Pittsburgh Pirates (99-69)
Brooklyn Dodgers (98-70)
Chicago Cubs (98-70)
Louisville Colonels (89-79)
Montreal Expos (87-81)
Philadelphia Phillies (86-82)
Newark Bears (79-89)
Cincinnati Reds (77-91)
Durham Bulls (77-91)
Boston Braves (65-103)
Indianapolis Hoosiers (61-107)
St. Louis Cardinals (55-113)
NL MVP: Joe DiMaggio (Louisville) (4th award)
NL MOP: Ken Raffensberger (Chicago)
NL ROY: Jim Russell (Newark)
Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Ted Williams (Philadelphia) .285, Joe DiMaggio (Louisville) .247
Home Runs: Johnny Mize (Minnesota) 55, Joe DiMaggio (Louisville) 56
Runs Batted In: Johnny Mize (Minnesota) 139, Rudy York (New York) 119
Stolen Bases: Ben Chapman (Baltimore) / Augie Galan (Washington) 25, Lonny Frey (Brooklyn) 24
WAR: Ted Williams (Philadelphia) 11.8, Joe DiMaggio (Louisville) 13.5
Wins: Johnny Schmitz (Detroit) 25, Van Mungo (New York) 23
ERA: Cliff Melton (St. Louis) 1.65, Carl Fischer (Chicago) 1.24
Strikeouts: Allie Reynolds (Detroit) 164, Hal Newhouser (Newark) 169
Saves: Clarence Pickrel (Chicago) 29, Jack Russell (Montreal) 30
WAR: Dizzy Trout (Minnesota) 10.2, Ken Raffensberger (Chicago) 12.9
Notes
- The White Sox won the most games of any AL team since the 1923 Indians. Phil Cavarretta and Travis Jackson were the key hitters, while Bobo Newsom and Mickey Harris led the way on the mound.
- Detroit and Minnesota played a one-game playoff to make the ALCS. The Tigers won 5-2, with Jeff Heath (Detroit) hitting a three-run home run.
- Good pitching and defense took Milwaukee to the top of the NL standings, while slugging catcher Rudy York was the key for the Giants, who made the postseason for the first time.
- The world champion Cubs finished three games back of the Giants, with excellent pitching but the fewest home runs hit in the National League.
- Ted Williams (Athletics) had the best average in baseball by more than 30 points.
- Russian rookie Victor Starffin (Cubs) went 15-16 with a 2.35 ERA and 119 ERA+.
Achievements & Milestones
- Ripper Collins (NY Giants), Ted Williams (Athletics), and Johnny Mize (Minnesota) hit three homers in a game, with Williams doing so twice. The last man to hit three HR twice in the same year was Babe Ruth in 1922.
- Joe Medwick (Louisville), Jim Tabor (Phillies), and Lonny Frey (Brooklyn) all hit for the cycle.
- Hal Newhouser (Newark) threw a pair of no-hitters.
- Jimmie Foxx (Pittsburgh) and Chick Hafey (Athletics) both passed 2000 hits.
- Bill Terry (Boston) and Travis Jackson (White Sox) cracked their 2500th hits.
- Dolph Camilli (NY Yankees) and Joe DiMaggio (Louisville) hit their 300th home runs.
- Ripper Collins (NY Giants) joined the 400 home run club.
- Watty Clark (Braves) won his 200th game.
- Lefty Grove (Milwaukee) won game #250.
- Virgil Cheeves (Braves) struck out his 2000th hitter.
- Travis Jackson (White Sox) broke Eddie Collins' record for most career at-bats.
- Chick Hafey (Athletics) passed Joe Jackson for most career doubles.
ALCS
-
Detroit defeated Chicago, 4 games to 1.
- Bob Bowman was the MVP. He pitched 7.1 hitless innings in three relief appearances, and picked up two wins.
- Game Two was won on a walk-off hit, as Mel Almada (Detroit) doubled home Gus Mancuso, giving the Tigers a 4-3 win in eleven frames.
- Game Five was won by Detroit in thirteen innings, as they finally got to Mickey Harris (Chicago), who had thrown twelve scoreless frames before giving up the lead in the thirteenth. The Tigers won 1-0.
- Jeff Heath (Detroit) was 6-18.
- Detroit won the pennant for the first time since 1917.
NLCS
-
New York defeated Milwaukee, 4 games to 1.
- Catcher Rudy York won MVP, going 6-18 with three home runs.
- The Brewers rallied to score four runs in the top of the ninth inning of Game One, winning 5-4 in a comeback victory.
- Van Mungo (New York) pitched a no-hitter in Game Three, allowing six walks, but not a single Brewer to reach by base hit. The Giants won 3-0.
- Bob Elliott (New York) cracked the go-ahead hit in the top of the ninth inning of Game Five, giving the Giants a decisive 5-4 lead. Eddie Lake (Milwaukee) hit two home runs in the game.
- The first pennant in New York Giants history.
World Series
-
Detroit defeated New York, 5 games to 2.
- Bobby Doerr of the Giants was the series MVP, despite being on the losing team. The New York second baseman went 10-24 with a pair of home runs.
- The Tigers scored two runs in the top of the 11th, to win Game One 4-2.
- A scoreless Game Three through ten innings was broken open with three Giants runs in the top of the 11th, with Don Hurst (New York) hitting a two-run double.
- The Tigers were shutout in Game Five, with young Howie Pollet (New York) pitching six innings for just a single hit, and Bud Tinning (New York) closing the last three frames.
- Allie Reynolds (Detroit) pitched 7.1 innings in Game Seven, allowing only one hit, as the Tigers won 2-1 and secured the World Series title.
- Zeke Bonura (Detroit) batted 7-24.
- Cy Blanton (Detroit) won both of his starts.
- Detroit's second title (1917).
Retirements
- Mickey Cochrane. Outstanding backstop who starred for the Brewers and Braves. Nine All-Star games and six Silver Sluggers, for a career 154 OPS+ and 255 homers.
- Lou Gehrig. 1933 and 1934 NL MVP. Nine-time All-Star, five time Silver Slugger at first base. One of the best sluggers of his generation, leading his league in runs in five straight years, RBI three times, average and homers once, and slugging and OPS twice. 567 career homers, tied for the fourth-most all-time, and a 218 OPS+.
- Marty McManus. Strong two-way third baseman who who six Gold Gloves and had a 126 OPS+ and 2199 career hits. Six times an All-Star, mostly for the Cardinals.
- Al Simmons. Eleven-time All-Star who was a consistently excellent outfielder. 2091 hits, 420 HR, and a 155 OPS+. Led AL in RBI once and doubles once.
- Sam West. One of the best defensive center fielders of all-time, winning eleven Gold Gloves. Named to two All-Star teams. 101 OPS+.
Draft
- The Cardinals chose Snuffy Stirnweiss first overall.
- Gil Hodges went second to Indianapolis.
- Texas chose Eddie Stanky third.
- The Braves used the fourth pick on George Kell.
- Dayton chose Andy Pafko at #5.
Johnny Schmitz won the AL Cy Young Award, as well as the World Series.
Bobby Doerr was WS MVP, despite being on the losing side.