1919 MLB season
LeagueMajor League Baseball
SportBaseball
DurationApril 19 – October 9, 1919
Number of games140
Number of teams16
Pennant Winners
AL championsChicago White Sox
  AL runners-upCleveland Indians
NL championsCincinnati Reds
  NL runners-upNew York Giants
World Series
ChampionsCincinnati Reds
  Runners-upChicago White Sox
MLB seasons

The 1919 Major League Baseball season, is best remembered for the Black Sox Scandal, in which the Chicago White Sox threw (purposely lost) the World Series to the Cincinnati Reds, 5–3, in order to illegally gain money from gambling. This scandal resulted in the dissolution of the National Baseball Commission and the creation of the office of the Commissioner of Baseball. The new commissioner, Kenesaw Mountain Landis, banned eight players from baseball for life.[1] The season began on April 19, 1919, when the Brooklyn Robins defeated the Boston Braves 5–2 at Braves Field in the first game of a doubleheader.[2] The regular season ended on September 29 with the New York Yankees defeating the Philadelphia Athletics 4–2 at Shibe Park,[3] with the infamous 1919 World Series opening two days later in Cincinnati.

Each team played a 140-game schedule, facing the seven other teams in the same league 20 times apiece. A 140-game schedule had last been used in 1903; the 154-game schedule was re-instituted in 1920.

Standings

Postseason

Bracket

World Series
   
AL Chicago White Sox 3
NL Cincinnati Reds 5

League Leaders

American League

National League

Significant Events

Raymond Benjamin Caldwell, Yankee pitcher, full-length portrait, facing right, with right arm extended outward after throwing baseball.
Pictured is Ray Caldwell before his move from the Yankees to the Indians, whose eventful 1919 season included throwing a no-hitter and being struck by lightning during the 9th inning of a game.
New York Yankees outfielder George Halas is pictured on a signed baseball card, waiting for the ball to land in his outstretched mitt.
George Halas during his brief and unsuccessful tenure as a professional baseball player for the New York Yankees

Managing changes

Off-season changes

Only one team announced a new manager in the offseason:

Date Team New manager Replaced Former job
January 30 Cincinnati Reds Pat Moran Christy Mathewson Won the 1915 World Series as manager of the Philadelphia Phillies.

Regular Season changes

One team replaced their manager during the season:

Date Team New Manager Replaced Previous Job
July 8 Philadelphia Phillies Gavvy Cravath Jack Coombs Played right field for the Philadelphia Phillies (became player manager)

References

  1. ^ Purdy, Dennis (2006). The Team-by-Team Encyclopedia of Major League Baseball. New York City: Workman. ISBN 0-7611-3943-5.
  2. ^ "April 19, 1919 Brooklyn Robins at Boston Braves Box Score and Play by Play – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  3. ^ "September 29, 1919 New York Yankees at Philadelphia Athletics Box Score and Play by Play – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  4. ^ "May 4, 1919 Philadelphia Phillies at New York Giants Box Score and Play by Play – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  5. ^ "May 11, 1919 St. Louis Cardinals at Cincinnati Reds Box Score and Play by Play – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  6. ^ "May 11, 1919 Washington Senators at New York Yankees Box Score and Play by Play – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  7. ^ a b "Babe Ruth Career Home Runs – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  8. ^ "August 11, 1919 Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees Box Score and Play by Play – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  9. ^ "August 14, 1919 Boston Red Sox at Chicago White Sox Box Score and Play by Play – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  10. ^ "Chautauqua Sports Hall of Fame – Special Features – 35 Years Ago Today Ray Caldwell Survived Lightning To Beat A's". Chautauquasportshalloffame.org. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  11. ^ "September 10, 1919 Cleveland Indians at New York Yankees Box Score and Play by Play – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  12. ^ "Regular Season Standings". Major League Baseball. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  13. ^ "September 21, 1919 Boston Braves at Chicago Cubs Box Score and Play by Play – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  14. ^ "September 21, 1919 Brooklyn Robins at Cincinnati Reds Box Score and Play by Play – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  15. ^ "Regular Season standings". Major League Baseball. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  16. ^ "The Ballplayers – Fred Luderus – baseballbiography.com". baseballbiography.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  17. ^ "September 24, 1919 Boston Red Sox at New York Yankees Box Score and Play by Play – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  18. ^ "September 28, 1919 Philadelphia Phillies at New York Giants Box Score and Play by Play – Baseball-Reference.com". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved December 26, 2014.