1949
Changes- Add divisions - Each league will now have two five-team divisions and a four team division, with a wildcard team also making the playoffs.
- Expand FA - Players will become free agents after 8 years of major league service.
- Suspend random prospect - Catcher Rube Walker (Louisville) will be suspended for the entire season.
Off-Season
- Bobby Doerr signed with Detroit in free agency.
- Eddie Joost moved from Brooklyn to Detroit to become Doerr's double play partner.
American League East
Washington Senators (104-64)
Philadelphia Athletics (87-81)
New York Yankees (84-84)
Boston Red Sox (79-89)
Baltimore Orioles (69-99)
American League Central
Detroit Tigers (108-60)
Cleveland Indians (101-68)
Chicago White Sox (87-81)
Akron Aeros (66-102)
Minnesota Twins (62-106)
American League West
Kansas City Royals (104-64)
California Angels (100-69)
St. Louis Browns (67-101)
Colorado Rockies (59-109)
AL MVP: Ted Kluszewski (Kansas City)
AL CYA: Marv Breuer (Washington) (2nd award)
AL ROY: Tommy Glaviano (Detroit)
National League East
New York Giants (97-71)
Montreal Expos (83-85)
Brooklyn Dodgers (78-90)
Newark Bears (74-94)
Boston Braves (72-96)
National League Central
Durham Bulls (97-72)
Louisville Colonels (96-73)
Pittsburgh Pirates (78-90)
Cincinnati Reds (77-91)
Philadelphia Phillies (77-91)
National League West
Chicago Cubs (99-69)
Houston Astros (93-75)
St. Louis Cardinals (92-76)
Milwaukee Brewers (64-104)
NL MVP: Dick Kokos (Louisville)
NL MOP: Steve Gromek (Cincinnati)
NL ROY: Walt Dropo (Newark)
Statistical Leaders
Batting Average: Ted Kluszewski (Kansas City) .252, Vic Wertz (Boston) .239
Home Runs: Ted Kluszewski (Kansas City) 56, Walt Dropo (Newark) 49
Runs Batted In: Ted Kluszewski (Kansas City) 131, Vern Stephens (Houston) 116
Stolen Bases: Gil Coan (Minnesota) 32, Elmer Valo (New York) 34
WAR: Bobby Doerr (Detroit) 10.0, Joe DiMaggio (Louisville) 10.1
Wins: Warren Spahn (Cleveland) 22, Steve Gromek (Cincinnati) 24
ERA: Paul Erickson (Chicago) 1.77, Gene Schott (Milwaukee) 1.28
Strikeouts: Curt Simmons (Minnesota) 185, Ewell Blackwell (Brooklyn) 172
Saves: Ken Burkhart (Baltimore) 28, Dick Mauney (Durham) 35
WAR: Marv Breuer (Washington) 10.1, Ewell Blackwell (Brooklyn) 13.6
Notes
- The Tigers rode their fine pitching staff to the best record in baseball and the first-ever AL Central title. Russo, Gerheauser, Schmitz, and Rowe all had ERAs below 2.18, and all won at least 15 games.
- Larry Doby (Cleveland) hit a three-run home run in the AL Wildcard playoff game, as his Indians defeated the Angels, 4-3.
- Kluszewski of the Royals unexpectedly won the Triple Crown, and emerged as one of the most fearsome power hitters in baseball.
- Durham outlasted Louisville to win the NL Central title, though DiMaggio and Dick Kokos of the Colonels were two of the most dangerous hitters in the big leagues.
- Akron traded outfielder Johnny Rizzo to Louisville for prospect Ray Medeiros.
Achievements & Milestones
- Eddie Yost (California), and Bob Elliott (NY Giants) hit for the cycle.
- There were 20 no-hitters. Vern Olsen (NY Yankees) had an attempt at a perfect game ruined by an error by Creepy Crespi.
- Wally Judnich (Athletics), Vern Stephens (Houston), and Charlie Keller (Durham) reached 300 homers.
- Hank Sauer (Brooklyn) hit his 400th home run.
- Marv Breuer (Washington) won his 200th big league game.
- Gene Schott (Milwaukee) and Johnny Babich (Minnesota) picked up their 250th victories.
- Harry Eisenstat (Cubs) saved game #300.
Division Series
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Detroit defeated Cleveland, 3 games to 1.
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Washington defeated Kansas City, 3 games to 1.
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Chicago defeated Louisville, 3 games to 0.
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New York defeated Durham, 3 games to 0.
- Tetsuharu Kawakami (NY Giants) hit a walk-off single to win Game Two of their series.
- Paul Dean (Cubs) no-hit the Colonels in Game Two, allowing just two walks.
ALCS
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Washington defeated Detroit, 4 games to 0.
- Augie Galan, series MVP, was 7-20 with a pair of homers.
- The Senators won Game One in fourteen innings, a 7-6 win on a sacrifice fly.
- Game Two took fifteen innings! Pat Seerey (Washington) hit a two-run homer, and the Senators won 5-3. It was Seerey's second home run of the game.
- Bill Atwood (Washington) hit a walk-off home run to clinch the series, taking Lefty West deep in the bottom of the ninth of Game Four.
NLCS
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Chicago defeated New York, 4 games to 0.
- Russ Christopher took the series MVP, having taken the win in the decisive fourth game.
- The Giants scored only four runs across the four games.
- The Senators and the Cubs previously met in the 1937 World Series.
World Series
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Washington defeated Chicago, 5 games to 2.
- Marv Breuer was the series MVP, throwing eighteen scoreless innings.
- Breuer threw a three-hit shutout in Game Three, as the Sens won 4-0, and a two-hitter in Game Seven, a 2-0 win for Washington.
- Hal Trosky (Washington) was 9-27 with four RBI.
- Erv Dusak (Washington) drove in six runs.
- Catcher Matt Batts (Chicago) hit two home runs.
- Johnny Antonelli (Chicago) lost to Breuer in both of his starts.
- The Senators' second World Series. (1940)
Retirements
- Joe Cronin. Nine-time All-Star shortstop. 1946 ALCS MVP as he won title with the White Sox. Seven Silver Sluggers and two Gold Gloves. 117 OPS+ across long career.
- Carl Fischer. 1940, 1941, 1943, 1947 NL MOP. 1935 WS MVP. Eight All-Stars, three rings, 318-211 record, and a 160 ERA+ for dominant ace.
- Lonny Frey. Five-time All-Star second baseman for the Dodgers. Three-time Silver Slugger and two Gold Gloves. Three world titles, and a 125 career OPS+.
Draft
- Colorado picked Jim Piersall went first overall.
- The Twins chose Jackie Jensen at two.
- The Brewers drafted Joe Adcock third.
- Bobby Morgan went fourth to Akron.
- Whitey Ford slipped to Newark, at eleven.
Ted Kluszewski won the American League Triple Crown and MVP.
Dick Kokos was the National League MVP.