The 1940 Boston Red Sox season was the 40th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished tied for fourth place in the American League (AL) with a record of 82 wins and 72 losses, eight games behind the

Detroit Tigers The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...

Preseason

Transactions

* November 12, 1939: The Red Sox purchase outfielder Dom DiMaggio and pitcher Larry Powell from the San Francisco Seals. * December 8, 1939: The Red Sox purchase infielder Marvin Owen from the Chicago White Sox. * December 26, 1939: The Brooklyn Dodgers purchase infielder Louis "Boze" Berger from the Red Sox off of waivers. * January 25, 1940: The Red Sox announce the signing of pitcher Earl Johnson to a contract. * February 2, 1940: Catcher

Moe Berg Morris Berg (March 2, 1902 – May 29, 1972) was an American catcher and coach in Major League Baseball, who later served as a spy for the Office of Strategic Services during World War II. Although he played 15 seasons in the major leagues, ...

is removed from the active roster. Berg would remain with the Red Sox as a coach for the 1940 and 1941 seasons. * February 9, 1940: The Red Sox sell pitcher Elden Aukur to the St. Louis Browns. * February 13, 1940: The Red Sox sell outfielder Joe Vosmik to the

Brooklyn Dodgers The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...

. * March 29, 1940: The Red Sox send pitcher Russell Evans to the Minneapolis Millers to complete the deal in which

Herb Hash Herbert Howard Hash (February 13, 1911 – May 20, 2008) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from 1940 to 1941 for the Boston Red Sox. He was born in Woolwine, Virginia. Early life Hash was born near the lo ...

, George Lacy, and

Bill Butland Wilburn Rue Butland (March 22, 1918 – September 19, 1997) was an American professional baseball pitcher who appeared in 32 games in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox over four seasons between 1940 and 1947. Born in Terre Haute, Ind ...

were sent to the Red Sox from Minneapolis. * April 14, 1940: Pitcher Ted Olson is sold by the Red Sox to the Baltimore Orioles.

Regular season

Transactions

* April 23: The Red Sox sign pitcher

Emmett O'Neill Robert Emmett O'Neill (January 13, 1918 – October 11, 1993), was an American professional baseball player and former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played with the Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs and the Chicago White Sox. He batted and threw ...

St. Mary's College Saint Mary's College (in French, ''Collège Sainte-Marie''), is the name of several colleges and schools: Australia *St Mary's College, Ipswich, an all-girls Catholic school in Queensland *St Mary's College, Maryborough, a co-educational school i ...

. * April 25: The St. Louis Browns sell catcher Joe Glenn to the Boston Red Sox. * April 28: The

Philadelphia Phillies The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...

announce the purchase of first baseman

Art Mahan Arthur Leo Mahan (June 8, 1913 – December 7, 2010) was a professional baseball player, who played as a first baseman in the major leagues for the Philadelphia Phillies during the season. Born in Somerville, Massachusetts, he batted and threw ...

from the Louisville Colonels. * July 25: Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw M. Landis fines the Red Sox $500 and forces them to release Pitcher Larry Jansen after Red Sox scout Ernie Johson signed Jansen to an illegal "blank contract." * August 3: The

purchase pitcher Lesley Flowers from the Louisville Colonels. * August 13: The Red Sox purchase pitcher

Bill Fleming Leslie Fletchard "Bill" Fleming (July 31, 1913 – June 4, 2006) was an American professional baseball pitcher. A right-hander, the native of Rowland Heights, California, stood tall and weighed , and attended Saint Mary's College of California ...

from the Hollywood Stars of the

Pacific Coast League The Pacific Coast League (PCL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the Western United States. Along with the International League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A level, which is one grade bel ...

. * August 19: The Red Sox claim infielder Charles Gelbert off of waivers from the Washington Nationals. * September 5: The Red Sox announce the acquisition of shortstop

Skeeter Newsome Lamar Ashby "Skeeter" Newsome (October 18, 1910 — August 31, 1989) was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Athletics (1935–39), Boston Red Sox (1941–45) and Philadelphia Phillies (1946–47). Bo ...

from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Hal Seling and another player to be named later. * September 6: The Red Sox announce the purchase of pitcher Mike Ryba from the

Rochester Red Wings The Rochester Red Wings are a Minor League Baseball team of the International League and the Triple-A (baseball), Triple-A affiliate of the Washington Nationals. They are located in Rochester, New York, and play their home games at Innovative Field ...

for cash and a player to be named later. * September 11: The Red Sox sell outfielder Leo Nonnenkamp to the Newark Bears.

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day lineup

Roster

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

''Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Other batters

''Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in''

Pitching

Starting pitchers

''Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts''

Other pitchers

''Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts''

Relief pitchers

''Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts''

Farm system

Source:Johnson, Lloyd, and Wolff, Miles, ed., ''The Encyclopedia of Minor League Baseball'', 2nd edition. Durham, North Carolina: Baseball America, 2007

References

External links

1940 Boston Red Sox team page at Baseball Reference

1940 Boston Red Sox season at baseball-almanac.com
{{Boston Red Sox Boston Red Sox seasons Boston Red Sox Boston Red Sox 1940s in Boston