Champions
Major League Baseball
*
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
:
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
over
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 ...
(4-3)
*
All-Star Game
An all-star game is an exhibition game that purports to showcase the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or div ...
, July 9 at
Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri. All but one of these were located on the same piece of land, at the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street, on the ...
: National League, 4-0
Other champions
*
Amateur World Series
The Baseball World Cup was an international tournament where national baseball teams from around the world competed. It was sanctioned by the International Baseball Federation (IBAF). Along with the World Baseball Classic, it was one of two activ ...
:
Cuba
Cuba ( , ), officially the Republic of Cuba ( es, República de Cuba, links=no ), is an island country comprising the island of Cuba, as well as Isla de la Juventud and several minor archipelagos. Cuba is located where the northern Caribbea ...
*
Negro League Baseball All-Star Game: East, 11-0
Awards and honors
![Hank Greenberg 1937 cropped](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c1/Hank_Greenberg_1937_cropped.jpg)
*
Most Valuable Player
In team sports, a most valuable player award, abbreviated 'MVP award', is an honor typically bestowed upon an individual (or individuals, in the instance of a tie) whose individual performance is the greatest in an entire league, for a particu ...
**
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin Greenberg (born Hyman Greenberg; January 1, 1911 – September 4, 1986), nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank", "Hankus Pankus", or "The Hebrew Hammer", was an American professional baseball player and team executive. He played in Major Leagu ...
(AL) – OF,
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 ...
**
Frank McCormick
Frank Andrew McCormick (June 9, 1911 – November 21, 1982) was an American baseball first baseman who played fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "Buck" in honor of Frank Buck, he played for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelph ...
(NL) – 1B,
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
*
The Sporting News Player of the Year Award
''Sporting News'' Player of the Year Award refers to a set of awards given to the player of the year in various sports as adjudged by '' Sporting News'':
Awards include:
* ''Sporting News'' College Football Player of the Year, beginning in 1942
...
**
Bob Feller
Robert William Andrew Feller (November 3, 1918 – December 15, 2010), nicknamed "the Heater from Van Meter", "Bullet Bob", and "Rapid Robert", was an American baseball pitcher who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Clevel ...
– P,
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
*
The Sporting News Most Valuable Player Award
''The Sporting News'' established ''The Sporting News'' Most Valuable Player Award in 1929. The award was given annually to the player judged by ''TSN'' baseball experts as being the most valuable in each league. The awards were discontinued in 19 ...
**
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin Greenberg (born Hyman Greenberg; January 1, 1911 – September 4, 1986), nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank", "Hankus Pankus", or "The Hebrew Hammer", was an American professional baseball player and team executive. He played in Major Leagu ...
(AL) – OF,
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 ...
**
Frank McCormick
Frank Andrew McCormick (June 9, 1911 – November 21, 1982) was an American baseball first baseman who played fifteen seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Nicknamed "Buck" in honor of Frank Buck, he played for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelph ...
(NL) – 1B,
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
*
The Sporting News Manager of the Year Award
The ''Sporting News'' Manager of the Year Award was established in 1936 by ''The Sporting News'' and was given annually to one manager in Major League Baseball. In 1986 it was expanded to honor one manager from each league. In 2021 the winners we ...
**
Bill McKechnie
William Boyd McKechnie (August 7, 1886 – October 29, 1965) was an American professional baseball player, manager and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman during the dead-ball era. McKechnie was the first manager to win Wo ...
–
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
Statistical leaders
Major league baseball final standings
American League final standings
National League final standings
Negro league baseball final standings
Negro American League final standings
Negro National League final standings
Events
January
*January 1 -
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis (; November 20, 1866 – November 25, 1944) was an American jurist who served as a United States federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death. He is remembered for his h ...
voids a trade that would have sent pitcher
George Coffman and second baseman
Benny McCoy
Benjamin Jenison McCoy (November 9, 1915 – November 9, 2011) was a second baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers (1938–1939) and Philadelphia Athletics (1940–1941). Listed at . 170 lb., he batted left-hand ...
to the Philadelphia A's in exchange for outfielder
Wally Moses
Wallace Moses (October 8, 1910 – October 10, 1990) was an Americans, American professional baseball right fielder, who played Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Athletics (1935–41; 1949–51), Chicago White Sox (1942–46) and Boston R ...
. Landis claims the Tigers hid McCoy as his reason for voiding the trade, setting in motion a decision he would make later that month.
*January 10- The Brooklyn Dodgers signed pitcher
Wes Ferrell
Wesley Cheek Ferrell (February 2, 1908 – December 9, 1976) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball from 1927 through 1941. Primarily a starting pitcher, Ferrell played for the Cleveland Indians (192 ...
as a free agent.
*January 14 – Commissioner
Kenesaw Mountain Landis
Kenesaw Mountain Landis (; November 20, 1866 – November 25, 1944) was an American jurist who served as a United States federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death. He is remembered for his h ...
declares 87 players from 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 ...
' farm system
free agent
In professional sports, a free agent is a player who is eligible to sign with other clubs or franchises; i.e., not under contract to any specific team. The term is also used in reference to a player who is under contract at present but who is a ...
s because they had been "hidden" from other teams. The move allows Benny McCoy to sign with the Philadelphia A's as a free agent.
*January 31 - Catcher and future spy for the U.S. Government, catcher Moe Berg, is released by the Boston Red Sox.
February
*February 2 - The election of a
Negro National League president ends in a deadlock, with three owners voting for incumbent Tom Wilson and three voting for New York City businessman
C. B. Powell.
*February 23 - A compromise by
Alex Pompez
Alejandro "Alex" Pompez (May 3, 1890 – March 14, 1974) was an American executive in Negro league baseball who owned the Cuban Stars (East) and New York Cubans franchises from 1916 to 1950. His family had emigrated from Cuba, where his father wa ...
ended a three-week stalemate between the Negro National League clubs over the election of a league president and the role of promoter
Eddie Gottlieb
Edward Gottlieb (born Isadore Gottlieb; September 15, 1898 – December 7, 1979) was a Jewish-Ukrainian professional basketball coach and executive. Nicknamed "Mr. Basketball" and "The Mogul", he was the first coach and manager of the Philadelph ...
. League president Tom Wilson, vice president
Ed Bolden
Edward Bolden (January 17, 1881 in Concordville, Pennsylvania – September 27, 1950 in Darby, Pennsylvania) was an American baseball executive and owner in the Negro leagues.
Early career
Bolden's first occupation in baseball was as a voluntee ...
, and secretary
Cumberland Posey
Cumberland Willis "Cum" Posey Jr. (June 20, 1890 – March 28, 1946) was an American baseball player, manager, and team owner in the Negro leagues, as well as a professional basketball player and team owner.
Early life
Cumberland Jr. was born i ...
were all reelected for the 1940 season.
Newark Eagles
The Newark Eagles were a professional Negro league baseball team which played in the Negro National League from 1936 to 1948. They were owned by Abe and Effa Manley.
History
Formation
The Newark Eagles were formed in 1936 when the Newark Do ...
owner
Abe Manley
Abraham Lincoln Manley (December 22, 1885 – December 9, 1952) was an American Negro league baseball executive. He co-owned the Newark Eagles baseball franchise in the Negro leagues with his wife, Effa Manley, from 1935 to 1946.
Biography
...
, who opposed Wilson's reelection, became league treasurer. Gottlieb was allowed to continue promoting the majority of games at
Yankee Stadium
Yankee Stadium is a baseball stadium located in the Bronx, New York City. It is the home field of the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball, and New York City FC of Major League Soccer.
Opened in April 2009, the stadium replaced the origi ...
, but the
New York Black Yankees
The New York Black Yankees were a professional Negro league baseball team based in New York City; Paterson, New Jersey; and Rochester, New York. Beginning as the independent Harlem Stars, the team was renamed the New York Black Yankees in 1932 and ...
were allowed to promote a double-header at their own home field.
*February 24 - The Brooklyn Dodgers work out a trade with the Boston Red Sox. The deal sees the Dodgers Send Red Evans and Art Parker, along with $3,500 cash to acquire
Pee Wee Reese
Harold Peter Henry "Pee Wee" Reese (July 23, 1918 – August 14, 1999) was an Americans, American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers from 194 ...
.
March
*March 7 - The National League defeats the AL in a charity exhibition All-Star game. The contest is broadcast on the Mutual Broadcasting System raises more than $20,000. The funds are used to help citizens of
Finland
Finland ( fi, Suomi ; sv, Finland ), officially the Republic of Finland (; ), is a Nordic country in Northern Europe. It shares land borders with Sweden to the northwest, Norway to the north, and Russia to the east, with the Gulf of B ...
whose homes and businesses were destroyed in an attack by the
USSR
The Soviet Union,. officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics. (USSR),. was a transcontinental country that spanned much of Eurasia from 1922 to 1991. A flagship communist state, it was nominally a federal union of fifteen nationa ...
.
April
*April 16 – The
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
'
Bob Feller
Robert William Andrew Feller (November 3, 1918 – December 15, 2010), nicknamed "the Heater from Van Meter", "Bullet Bob", and "Rapid Robert", was an American baseball pitcher who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Clevel ...
pitches a 1-0
opening day
Opening Day is the day on which professional baseball leagues begin their regular season. For Major League Baseball (MLB) and most of the American minor leagues, this day typically falls during the first week of April, although in recent years ...
no-hitter
In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...
against the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
.
*April 23 –
Hall of famer
A hall, wall, or walk of fame is a list of individuals, achievements, or other entities, usually chosen by a group of electors, to mark their excellence or fame in their field. In some cases, these halls of fame consist of actual halls or muse ...
Pee Wee Reese
Harold Peter Henry "Pee Wee" Reese (July 23, 1918 – August 14, 1999) was an Americans, American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Los Angeles Dodgers, Brooklyn / Los Angeles Dodgers from 194 ...
makes his major league debut at
shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists who ...
for 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 ...
.
*April 30 –
Tex Carleton
James Otto "Tex" Carleton (August 19, 1906 – January 11, 1977) was a Major League Baseball pitcher from 1932 to 1940 for the St. Louis Cardinals, Chicago Cubs, and Brooklyn Dodgers. Carleton threw a no-hitter on April 30, 1940, against the R ...
pitches a
no-hitter
In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...
as the Brooklyn Dodgers defeat the
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
, 3–0.
May
*May 7 -The
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals hav ...
defeat the Brooklyn Dodgers, 18–2. The Cards have 49 bases on twenty hits, including thirteen extra-base hits and seven home runs.
*May 8 - The Cincinnati Reds trade outfielder
Vince DiMaggio
Vincent Paul DiMaggio (September 6, 1912 – October 3, 1986) was an American Major League Baseball center fielder. During a 10-year baseball career, he played for the Boston Bees (1937–1938), Cincinnati Reds (1939–1940), Pittsburgh Pirates (1 ...
to the Pittsburgh Pirates for outfielder
Johnny Rizzo
John Costa Rizzo (July 30, 1912 – December 4, 1977) was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball from 1938 to 1942. Rizzo set the Pittsburgh Pirates record for most home runs in a season, with 23 in his rookie year of 1938. , Rizzo sti ...
.
*May 13 - Pitcher
Willis Hudlin
George Willis Hudlin (May 23, 1906 – August 5, 2002) was born in Wagoner, Oklahoma, and was a Major League Baseball pitcher for, most notably, the Cleveland Indians from 1926 to 1940. Hudlin did not pitch more than 10 games with any other team, ...
is released by the Cleveland Indians. Three days later he signs with the Washington Senators and continues a journey that will see him pitch for four different teams in the 1940 season.
*May 20 -
Pinky Higgins
Michael Franklin "Pinky" Higgins (May 27, 1909 – March 21, 1969) was an American third baseman, manager, front office executive and scout in Major League Baseball who played for three teams and served as manager or general manager of the Boston ...
belts three home runs, hitting them in the fourth, fifth, and seventh innings in the Tigers 10–7 win over Boston.
*May 22 - The Brooklyn Dodgers sign
Al Campanis
Alexander Sebastian Campanis (Greek: Αλέξανδρος Σεβαστιανός Καμπάνης; November 2, 1916 – June 21, 1998) was an American executive in Major League Baseball (MLB). He had a brief major league playing career, as a ...
as a free agent.
*May 24 - The
St. Louis Browns
The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the Milwaukee Brewers. A charter member of the American League (AL), the Brewers moved to St. Louis, Missouri, after the 1901 season, where they p ...
play their first home game under artificial lights, but the hometown fans go home unhappy as the team falls to
Bob Feller
Robert William Andrew Feller (November 3, 1918 – December 15, 2010), nicknamed "the Heater from Van Meter", "Bullet Bob", and "Rapid Robert", was an American baseball pitcher who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Clevel ...
and the
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
3–2. In the National League on the same night, the New York Giants defeat the Boston Braves 8–1 in the first night game played at the polo grounds.
June
*June 4 - In the first game under the lights for the St. Louis Cardinals,
Joe Medwick
Joseph Michael Medwick (November 24, 1911 – March 21, 1975), nicknamed "Ducky" and "Muscles", was an American Major League Baseball player. A left fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals during the " Gashouse Gang" era of the 1930s, he also pla ...
goes five for five, hitting three doubles, yet the Cardinals fall to the Brooklyn Dodgers 10–1.
*June 5 - After purchasing his contract earlier in the year, the New York Giants return
Johnny Broaca, who was playing in the minor leagues, to the Cleveland Indians. The Indians then turn around and place Broaca on waivers, and he never pitches in the major leagues again.
*June 6 – The Boston Bees sign 19-year-old left-handed pitcher
Warren Spahn
Warren Edward Spahn (April 23, 1921 – November 24, 2003) was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). A left-handed pitcher, Spahn played in 1942 and then from 1946 until 1965, most notabl ...
.
*June 8 -
Harry Craft
Harry Francis Craft (April 19, 1915 – August 3, 1995) was an American Major League Baseball player and manager. Born in Ellisville, Mississippi, he was a center fielder for the Cincinnati Reds from 1937 to 1942. Craft attended Mississippi Colleg ...
hits a three run home run in the fifth inning of a contest against the Brooklyn Dodgers. The hit completes the cycle for Craft, who finished the game five for five as Cincinnati defeats Brooklyn 23–2.
*June 12 - In one of the seasons biggest trades, the Brooklyn Dodgers acquire
Joe Medwick
Joseph Michael Medwick (November 24, 1911 – March 21, 1975), nicknamed "Ducky" and "Muscles", was an American Major League Baseball player. A left fielder with the St. Louis Cardinals during the " Gashouse Gang" era of the 1930s, he also pla ...
and pitcher Curt Davis, along with cash, from the St. Louis Cardinals in exchange for outfielder
Ernie Koy
Ernest Anyz Koy (September 17, 1909 – January 1, 2007), nicknamed "Chief", was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball, who played for four National League teams from 1938 to 1942. He was born in Sealy, Texas and was of American ...
and pitcher
Carl Doyle, along with
Bert Haas and
Sam Nahem
Samuel Ralph "Subway Sam" Nahem (October 19, 1915 – April 19, 2004) was an American pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers (1938), St. Louis Cardinals (1941), and Philadelphia Phillies (1942 and 1948). His professional baseball playing was interrupt ...
. The deal is one of the first made by GM
Larry MacPhail
Leland Stanford "Larry" MacPhail Sr. (February 3, 1890 – October 1, 1975) was an American lawyer and an executive in Major League Baseball. He served as a high-ranking executive, including club president and general manager, with the Cincinn ...
to turn the Dodgers into a contending team.
*June 15 – In a 12–1 victory over the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
, the
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
'
Harry Danning
Harry Danning (nicknamed Harry the Horse; September 6, 1911 – November 29, 2004) was an American professional baseball player. He played his entire Major League Baseball career as a catcher for the New York Giants (NL), New York Giants, and was ...
hits for a cycle against that includes an
inside-the-park home run
In baseball, an inside-the-park home run is a play where a batter hits a home run without hitting the ball out of the field of play. It is also known as an "inside-the-parker", "in-the-park home run", or "in-the-park homer".
Discussion
To score a ...
. The ball became lodged behind an
Eddie Grant memorial in front of the Giants' clubhouse.
*June 18 - Joe Medwick, recently acquired by Brooklyn from the St. Louis Cardinals, is beaned by former teammate Bob Bowman. As Medwick is carried from the field on a stretcher, an enraged Larry MacPhail demands criminal charges be brought against Bowman, as MacPhail insisted the beaning was in response to a beef between the two ball players.
July
*July 9 –
Boston Bees
The Atlanta Braves, a current Major League Baseball franchise, originated in Boston, Massachusetts. This article details the history of the Boston Braves, from 1871 to 1952, after which they moved to Milwaukee, and then to Atlanta.
During it ...
outfielder
An outfielder is a person playing in one of the three defensive positions in baseball or softball, farthest from the batter. These defenders are the left fielder, the center fielder, and the right fielder. As an outfielder, their duty is to cat ...
Max West
Max Edward West (November 28, 1916 – December 31, 2003), was an outfielder and first baseman for the Boston Bees/Boston Braves (baseball), Braves (1938–42 and 1946), Cincinnati Reds (1946) and Pittsburgh Pirates (1948).
West signed as an out ...
hits a three-run home run in the first inning, as the
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League (NL), is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, and the world's oldest extant professional team s ...
defeats the
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
, 4–0, in the
All-Star Game
An all-star game is an exhibition game that purports to showcase the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or div ...
at
Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri. All but one of these were located on the same piece of land, at the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street, on the ...
, home of the St. Louis Cardinals.
*July 15 -
Willis Hudlin
George Willis Hudlin (May 23, 1906 – August 5, 2002) was born in Wagoner, Oklahoma, and was a Major League Baseball pitcher for, most notably, the Cleveland Indians from 1926 to 1940. Hudlin did not pitch more than 10 games with any other team, ...
is released by the Washington Senators. One week later, he signs with the New York Giants, making the Giants the third team Hudlin would pitch for that season.
August
*August 3 - Upset by what he viewed as a poor performance against the
Boston Bees
The Atlanta Braves, a current Major League Baseball franchise, originated in Boston, Massachusetts. This article details the history of the Boston Braves, from 1871 to 1952, after which they moved to Milwaukee, and then to Atlanta.
During it ...
, Cincinnati Reds catcher
Willard Hershberger
Willard McKee Hershberger (May 28, 1910 – August 3, 1940) was an American baseball catcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1938 to 1940. In 160 career games, Hershberger recorded a batting average of .316 and accumula ...
takes his own life hours before a double header against Boston.
** Less than a week after being released by the Giants, Willis Hulin signs with the
St. Louis Browns
The St. Louis Browns were a Major League Baseball team that originated in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, as the Milwaukee Brewers. A charter member of the American League (AL), the Brewers moved to St. Louis, Missouri, after the 1901 season, where they p ...
, thus making the Browns the fourth team Hudlin pitched for in during the 1940 season.
September
*September 24 –
Jimmie Foxx
James Emory Foxx (October 22, 1907 – July 21, 1967), nicknamed "Double X" and "The Beast", was an American professional baseball first baseman who played 20 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Red Sox, ...
hit his career 500th
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
.
*September 30 – The
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
finish one-game 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 ...
in the American League pennant race, thus disappointing
Ohio
Ohio () is a state in the Midwestern region of the United States. Of the fifty U.S. states, it is the 34th-largest by area, and with a population of nearly 11.8 million, is the seventh-most populous and tenth-most densely populated. The sta ...
baseball fans who had been rooting all season long for what would have been the only All-Ohio World Series in baseball history, between the National League champions
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
and the Cleveland Indians.
October
*October 8 – The
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
defeat 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 ...
, 2–1, in Game 7 of the
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
to win their second
World Championship
A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...
, four games to three. This was Cincinnati's first World Series victory since the infamous
Black Sox scandal
The Black Sox Scandal was a Major League Baseball game-fixing scandal in which eight members of the Chicago White Sox were accused of throwing the 1919 World Series against the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for money from a gambling syndicate led ...
in
1919
Events
January
* January 1
** The Czechoslovak Legions occupy much of the self-proclaimed "free city" of Pressburg (now Bratislava), enforcing its incorporation into the new republic of Czechoslovakia.
** HMY ''Iolaire'' sinks off the c ...
. Reds'
Bill McKechnie
William Boyd McKechnie (August 7, 1886 – October 29, 1965) was an American professional baseball player, manager and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a third baseman during the dead-ball era. McKechnie was the first manager to win Wo ...
became the first manager to win World Series with two different teams. In
1925
Events January
* January 1
** The Syrian Federation is officially dissolved, the State of Aleppo and the State of Damascus having been replaced by the State of Syria.
* January 3 – Benito Mussolini makes a pivotal speech in the Italia ...
he had won the Classic as manager of the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
.
November
*November 11 –
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 ...
general manager
Larry MacPhail
Leland Stanford "Larry" MacPhail Sr. (February 3, 1890 – October 1, 1975) was an American lawyer and an executive in Major League Baseball. He served as a high-ranking executive, including club president and general manager, with the Cincinn ...
acquires starting pitcher
Kirby Higbe
Walter Kirby Higbe (April 8, 1915 – May 6, 1985) was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1937 to 1950. Best known for his time with the Brooklyn Dodgers, he was a two-time National League (NL) All-S ...
, from 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 ...
, in exchange for catcher
Mickey Livingston
Thompson Orville "Mickey" Livingston (November 15, 1914 – April 3, 1983) was an American professional baseball catcher. He played ten seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between and for the Washington Senators, Philadelphia Phillies, Chi ...
, pitchers
Bill Crouch and
Vito Tamulis
Vitautis Casimirus Tamulis (July 11, 1911 – May 5, 1974) was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees, St. Louis Browns, Philadelphia Phillies and Brooklyn Dodgers from 1934 to 1941.
Biog ...
, and $100,000. Higbe, who won 14 games this past season, will win 22 games in to lead National League pitchers.
December
*December 5 - The New York Yankees sell the contract of outfielder
Jake Powell
Alvin Jacob Powell (July 15, 1908 – November 4, 1948), was an outfielder for the Washington Senators (1930, 1934–1936 and 1943–1945), New York Yankees (1936–1940) and Philadelphia Phillies (1945).
Career
Powell helped the Yankees win th ...
to the
San Francisco Seals of the Pacific Coast League.
*December 12 – The Boston Red Sox send
Doc Cramer
Roger Maxwell "Doc" Cramer (July 22, 1905 – September 9, 1990) was an American center fielder and left-handed batter in Major League Baseball who played for four American League teams from 1929 to 1948.
Career
A mainstay at the top of his team ...
to the Washington Senators for
Gee Walker
Gerald Holmes "Gee" Walker (March 19, 1908 – March 20, 1981) was a Major League Baseball outfielder. During his fifteen-year career he played with the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, Washington Senators, Cleveland Indians and Cincinnati Re ...
, then package him with
Jim Bagby &
Gene Desautels
Eugene Abraham "Red" Desautels (June 13, 1907 – November 5, 1994) was an American professional baseball player. He played most of his Major League Baseball career as a backup catcher with four teams between and . Desautels was a light- hitting ...
, and send them to the Cleveland Indians for
Joe Dobson
__NOTOC__
Joseph Gordon Dobson (January 20, 1917 – June 23, 1994) was an American professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher who appeared in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians (1939–40), Boston Red Sox (1941–43; 1946 ...
,
Odell Hale
Arvel Odell Hale (August 10, 1908 – June 9, 1980) was a Major League Baseball infielder in the 1930s and early 1940s, primarily for the Cleveland Indians. Though he was born ''Arvel Odell Hale'', baseball encyclopedias listed him simply as ''Od ...
&
Frankie Pytlak
Frank Anthony Pytlak (July 30, 1908 – May 8, 1977) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Cleveland Indians (1932–40) and Boston Red Sox (1941 and 1945–46). He was known as a lin ...
. They also purchase
Pete Fox
Ervin "Pete" Fox (March 8, 1909 – July 5, 1966) was an American professional baseball player from 1930 to 1946. He played 13 seasons in Major League Baseball, principally as a right fielder, for the Detroit Tigers from 1933 to 1940 and th ...
's contract from the Detroit Tigers.
Births
January
*January 4 –
Bart Shirley
*January 6 –
Elvio Jiménez
Felix Elvio Jiménez Rivera (born January 6, 1940) is a former professional baseball left fielder who appeared in one game for the New York Yankees in 1964.
Career
The , rookie was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent before the 1959 ...
*January 7 –
Jim Hannan
James John Hannan (January 7, 1940 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is an American retired professional baseball player who pitched in Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1971 for the Washington Senators, Detroit Tigers and Milwaukee Brewers. Th ...
*January 8 –
Dick Kelley
Richard Anthony Kelley (January 8, 1940 – December 11, 1991) was an American professional baseball player. A left-handed pitcher, Kelley's career extended for 14 seasons, and he spent all or parts of seven years in Major League Baseball as a mem ...
*January 10 –
Dave Skaugstad
David Wendell Skaugstad (January 10, 1940 – July 16, 2023) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher. The left-hander appeared in two games for the Cincinnati Redlegs during the 1957 season. He was listed as tall and . He was also the fir ...
*January 11 –
Hank Fischer
Henry William Fischer (born January 11, 1940 in Yonkers, New York) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with three different teams between 1962 and 1967. Listed at tall and , he batted and threw right-handed.
Fischer was sign ...
*January 12 –
George Kernek
*January 13 –
Ron Brand
Ronald George Brand (born January 13, 1940) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher, and was an original member of the Montreal Expos.
Career Pittsburgh Pirates
Brand originally signed ...
*January 16 –
Bob Baird
Robert Allen Baird (January 16, 1940 – April 11, 1974) was an American professional baseball player, a left-handed pitcher who appeared in eight total games in Major League Baseball over parts of two seasons with the Washington Senators (1962 ...
*January 16 –
Rod Miller
*January 21 –
Rich Beck
Richard Henry Beck (born January 21, 1940) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Beck played for the New York Yankees in the baseball season.
Beck was signed by the Yankees as an amateur free agent in from Gonzaga University, where he pla ...
*January 23 –
Dick Burwell
Richard Matthew Burwell (January 23, 1940 – May 1, 2023) was an American professional baseball pitcher. A right-hander, Burwell pitched parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball, 1960 and 1961, for the Chicago Cubs. The native of Alton, Il ...
February
*February 14 –
Len Gabrielson
*February 19 –
Bill Kelso
William Eugene Kelso (February 19, 1940 – May 11, 2009) was an American professional baseball player who played four seasons for the Los Angeles/California Angels and Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball. Early life
A multi-sport athl ...
*February 21 –
Doug Gallagher
*February 25 –
Danny Cater
Danny Anderson Cater (born February 25, 1940) is an American former professional baseball first baseman, third baseman, outfielder, and designated hitter. He signed with the Philadelphia Phillies at the age of 18, on June 8, 1958. Cater played in ...
*February 25 –
Ron Santo
Ronald Edward Santo (February 25, 1940 – December 3, 2010) was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) third baseman who played for the Chicago Cubs from 1960 through 1973 and the Chicago White Sox in 1974. In 1990, Santo became a member of the ...
March
*March 1 –
Larry Brown
*March 6 –
Willie Stargell
Wilver Dornell Stargell (March 6, 1940 – April 9, 2001), nicknamed "Pops" later in his career, was an American professional baseball left fielder and first baseman who spent all of his 21 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) ( 1962– 1982 ...
*March 10 –
Mitsuhiro Adachi
is a Japanese former baseball pitcher. Mitsuhiro played with the Hankyu Braves from 1959 to 1979. He won the Nippon Professional Baseball Most Valuable Player Award in the Pacific League
The or is one of the two professional baseball leagu ...
*March 13 –
Gary Kolb
Gary Alan Kolb (March 13, 1940 – July 3, 2019) was an American professional baseball player. An outfielder and utilityman, Kolb played all or parts of seven seasons (1960; 1962–65; 1968–69) of Major League Baseball with the St. Louis Cardi ...
*March 18 –
Tony Martínez
Gabriel Antonio Martínez Díaz (March 18, 1940 – August 24, 1991) was a Cuban-born Major League Baseball shortstop who played in parts of four seasons for the Cleveland Indians (1963–66), appearing in 73 career games. The native of Peric ...
*March 19 –
Pete Smith
*March 22 –
Dick Ellsworth
Richard Clark Ellsworth (March 22, 1940 – October 10, 2022) was an American professional baseball starting pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago Cubs (1958, 1960–1966), Philadelphia Phillies (1967), Boston Red ...
April
*April 3 –
José Vidal
*April 5 –
Ron Campbell
*April 11 –
Dick Wantz
Richard Carter Wantz (April 11, 1940 – May 13, 1965) was an American professional baseball player whose life and Major League career were cut short when he was felled by a fatal brain tumor. A right-handed relief pitcher and a rookie member of ...
*April 12 –
Woodie Fryman
Woodrow Thompson Fryman (April 12, 1940 – February 4, 2011), was an American professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for six teams, across 18 seasons (–). A two-time National League (NL) All-Star, he helped th ...
*April 15 –
Willie Davis
*April 16 –
Garry Roggenburk
*April 21 –
Bill Faul
William John Faul (8 June 1909 – 14 September 1974) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the South Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and for the Subiaco Football Club in the Western Australia ...
*April 24 –
Terry Tata
Terry Anthony Tata (born April 24, 1940) is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) umpire. His MLB career began when the National League purchased his contract from the Triple-A International League on March 21, 1973. It ended in 1999.
Career
Du ...
May
*May 6 –
Bill Hands
William Alfred Hands, Jr. (May 6, 1940 – March 9, 2017) was an American professional baseball player who pitched in the major leagues from 1965 to 1975. His best season came in 1969 with the Chicago Cubs, when he won 20 games.
Early life
A ...
*May 10 –
John R. Keennan
*May 11 –
Harry Fanok
Harry Michael Fanok Jr. (born May 11, 1940) is a retired American professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher who was nicknamed "The Flame Thrower" for his blazing fastball. Fanok made 16 appearances, all in relief, for the 1963–64 St. ...
*May 12 –
Tom Timmermann
Thomas Henry Timmermann (born May 12, 1940) is a former American baseball player. He played professional baseball for 15 years from 1960 to 1974, including six seasons in Major League Baseball as a pitcher for the Detroit Tigers (1969–1973) an ...
*May 18 –
Jim Hicks
*May 20 –
Sadaharu Oh
Sadaharu Oh (Japanese: , ''Ō Sadaharu''; born May 20, 1940), also known as Wang Chen-chih (), is a Japanese-born former baseball player and manager Nussbaum, Louis-Frédéric. (2005)"Ō Sadaharu"in ''Japan Encyclopedia'', p. 758. who ...
June
*June 2 –
Horace Clarke
Horace Meredith Clarke (June 2, 1939August 5, 2020) was an American Virgin Islander baseball second baseman who played ten seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres from 1965 to 1974. ...
*June 2 –
Jim Maloney
James William Maloney (born June 2, 1940) is a former right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with the Cincinnati Reds and California Angels (1971). One of the hardest-throwing pitchers of the 1960s, Maloney boasted a fastball c ...
*June 12 –
Del Bates
*June 19 –
Isao Harimoto
is a Korean former Nippon Professional Baseball player and holder of the record for most hits in the Japanese professional leagues. An ethnic Korean, his birth name is Jang Hun (Hangul: 장훈, Hanja: 張勳). Harimoto has spent his life as a resi ...
*June 28 –
Gary Wagner
July
*July 3 –
Coco Laboy
José Alberto "Coco" Laboy (born 3 July 1940) is a former Puerto Rico, Puerto Rican Major League Baseball player. He was signed by the San Francisco Giants as an amateur free agent in 1959 but remained mired in the Minor League Baseball, minor l ...
*July 3 –
César Tovar
César Leonardo Tovar (July 3, 1940 – July 14, 1994), nicknamed "Pepito" and "Mr. Versatility", was a Venezuelan professional baseball player, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Minnesota Twins (–), Philadelphia Phillies (), T ...
*July 8 –
Bucky Brandon
*July 10 –
Gene Alley
Leonard Eugene Alley (born July 10, 1940) is an American former professional baseball player. He played his entire career in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Pittsburgh Pirates from through . A two-time All-Star player, Alley was a ...
*July 10 –
Pete Craig
Peter Joel Craig (born July 10, 1940) is a Canadian former professional baseball player. He pitched in six games in Major League Baseball, four as a starter, over parts of three seasons (1964–1966) for the Washington Senators. He also pitch ...
*July 12 –
Mike Page
Michael Randy Page was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He played 20 games for the Atlanta Braves in , mostly as a pinch hitter
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute Batting (baseball), batter. Batters can be substituted at any time ...
*July 12 –
Jack Warner
*July 13 –
Jack Aker
Jackie Delane Aker (born July 13, 1940) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Kansas City / Oakland Athletics, Seattle Pilots, New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, Atlanta Braves, ...
*July 13 –
Frank Bork
Frank Bernard Bork (born July 13, 1940) is an American former professional baseball pitcher whose eight-year career included part of one season, , in Major League Baseball as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The left-hander, a native of Buff ...
*July 16 –
Tom Metcalf
Thomas John Metcalf (born July 16, 1940) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who appeared in eight games, all in relief, in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees. Born in Amherst, Wisconsin, Metcalf graduated from Lin ...
*July 18 –
Joe Torre
Joseph Paul Torre (; born July 18, 1940) is an American professional baseball executive, serving as a special assistant to the Commissioner of Baseball since 2020. He previously served in the capacity of Major League Baseball's (MLB) chief baseb ...
*July 21 –
John Bateman
*July 21 –
Denis Menke
Denis John Menke (July 21, 1940 – December 1, 2020) was a professional baseball infielder and coach. He played all or parts of 13 seasons in Major League Baseball from 1962 to 1974. He played for the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves (1962–67), H ...
*July 23 –
Hank Allen
Harold Andrew "Hank" Allen (born July 23, 1940) is an American former professional baseball player who appeared in Major League Baseball, primarily as an outfielder, for the Washington Senators (–), Milwaukee Brewers () and Chicago White Sox ...
*July 24 –
Ethan Blackaby
Ethan Allen Blackaby (July 24, 1940 – January 16, 2022) was an American professional baseball player who was an outfielder in Major League Baseball, appearing in 15 games for the Milwaukee Braves during the 1962 and 1964 seasons. He threw and ...
August
*August 3 –
Roger Repoz
*August 5 –
Ossie Chavarría
*August 13 –
Tony Cloninger
Tony Lee Cloninger (August 13, 1940 – July 24, 2018) was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher from through for the Milwaukee / Atlanta Braves, Cincinnati Reds and ...
*August 15 –
Arlo Brunsberg
Arlo Adolph Brunsberg (born August 15, 1940) is an American former professional baseball player. A catcher born in Fertile, Minnesota, he appeared in two games in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers in , and forged a nine season (1962 ...
*August 15 –
José Santiago
*August 18 –
Paul Popovich
*August 25 –
Don Wallace
Donald Allen Wallace (born August 25, 1940) is a former Major League Baseball player. Wallace played 23 games with the California Angels in the 1967 season. He had six at-bats, without a hit. He attended Oklahoma State University
Oklahom ...
*August 28 –
Tom Satriano
Thomas Victor Nicholas Satriano (born August 28, 1940) is an American former professional baseball player. Although he began his professional career as a third baseman, he converted to catcher and played 321 games as a backstop during a ten-year, ...
*August 31 –
Ramón Hernández
Ramón José Hernández Marin (; born May 20, 1976) is a Venezuelan former professional baseball catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) with the Oakland Athletics (1999–2003), San Diego Padres (2004–2005), Baltimore Orioles (2006 ...
*August 31 –
Cleo James
September
*September 1 –
Pat House
Patrick Lory House (born September 1, 1940 in Boise, Idaho) is a former left-handed Major League Baseball (MLB) relief pitcher who played from 1967 to 1968 for the Houston Astros. He was tall and weighed .
Before being signed by the Milwaukee B ...
*September 10 –
Bob Chance
*September 11 –
Jackie Hernández
Jacinto Hernández Zulueta (September 11, 1940 – October 12, 2019)Dipaola, Jerry.Ex-Pirates SS Jackie Hernandez, member of 1971 World Series champs, dies, The Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, October 16, 2019. was a Cuban professional baseball playe ...
*September 12 –
Rich Barry
Richard Donovan Barry (September 12, 1940 – October 9, 2021) was an American professional baseball player who appeared in 20 games in Major League Baseball for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1969, primarily as an outfielder. The native of Berk ...
*September 12 –
Mickey Lolich
Michael Stephen Lolich (born September 12, 1940) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a left-handed pitcher from 1963 until 1979, almost entirely for the Detroit Tigers. A three-time All-Star, ...
*September 15 –
Frank Linzy
Frank Alfred Linzy (born September 15, 1940) is an American former professional baseball player, used almost exclusively as a relief pitcher. Over the course of his Major League Baseball (MLB) career, Linzy played for the San Francisco Giants (; ...
*September 17 –
Cisco Carlos
Francisco Manuel Carlos Guzmán (born September 17, 1940), best known as Cisco Carlos, is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played from 1967 through 1970 for the Chicago White Sox and Washington Senators of Major League Baseba ...
*September 21 –
Jerry Fosnow
*September 24 –
Curt Motton
Curtell Howard Motton ( ; September 24, 1940 – January 21, 2010) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder from through , most notably as a member of the Baltimore Orioles dynasty that ...
October
*October 1 –
John Schuerholz
John Boland Schuerholz Jr. (; born October 1, 1940) is an American baseball front office executive. He was the general manager of Major League Baseball's Atlanta Braves from 1990 to 2007, and then served as the Braves president for a decade from 2 ...
*October 7 –
Morrie Steevens
*October 9 –
Joe Pepitone
Joseph Anthony Pepitone (born October 9, 1940) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who played the bulk of his career for the New York Yankees. He also played several seasons with the Chicago Cubs and had short stints wi ...
*October 10 –
Larry Maxie
Larry Hans Maxie (born October 10, 1940) is a retired American professional baseball player and scout. During his on-field career he was a right-handed pitcher who appeared in two games in the Major Leagues for the Atlanta Braves on August 30 a ...
*October 10 –
Grover Powell
Grover David Powell (October 10, 1940 – May 21, 1985) was an American baseball baseball player, player, a pitcher who appeared in 20 Major League Baseball, Major League games pitched, games for the New York Mets in . Born in Sayre, Pennsylvania, ...
*October 12 –
Glenn Beckert
Glenn Alfred Beckert (October 12, 1940 – April 12, 2020) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a second baseman for the Chicago Cubs for nine seasons from 1965 to 1973, before ending his ...
*October 14 –
Tommy Harper
Tommy Harper (born October 14, 1940) is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder and third baseman. He played with the Cincinnati Reds (1962–67), Cleveland Indians (1968), Seattle Pilots / Milwaukee Brewers (1969–71), Boston Red S ...
*October 14 –
Billy Sorrell
*October 16 –
Dave DeBusschere
David Albert DeBusschere (October 16, 1940 – May 14, 2003) was an American professional National Basketball Association (NBA) player and coach and Major League Baseball (MLB) player. He played for the Chicago White Sox of MLB in 1962 and 1963 a ...
*October 27 –
Héctor Valle
Héctor Jose Valle (born October 27, 1940) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball catcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Professional career
Valle was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers as an amat ...
November
*November 8 –
Joe Nossek
Joseph Rudolph Nossek (born November 8, 1940) is an American former Major League Baseball outfielder, coach (baseball), coach and scout (sport), scout. He threw and batted right-handed, and stood 6' (183 cm) tall and weighed 178 pounds ( ...
*November 9 –
Don Loun
*November 16 –
Buster Narum
Leslie Ferdinand "Buster" Narum (November 16, 1940 – May 17, 2004) was an American professional baseball player. Listed as tall and , he was a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Baltimore Orioles () and Washington ...
*November 18 –
Cal Koonce
Calvin Lee Koonce (November 18, 1940 – October 28, 1993) was an American professional baseball player, a right-handed pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1962–71 for the Chicago Cubs, New York Mets and Boston Red Sox. Born in Fayetteville, Nort ...
*November 20 –
Jeffrey Loria
Jeffrey Harold Loria (born November 20, 1940) is an American art dealer, author, and the former owner of the Montreal Expos (now the Washington Nationals) and Miami Marlins of Major League Baseball.
Early life
Loria was born and raised in a Americ ...
*November 21 –
Tommy McCraw
Tommy may refer to:
People
* Tommy (given name)
* Tommy Atkins, or just Tommy, a slang term for a common soldier in the British Army
Arts and entertainment Film and television
* ''Tommy'' (1931 film), a Soviet drama film
* ''Tommy'' (1975 fil ...
*November 23 –
Billy Ott
*November 23 –
Luis Tiant
Luis Clemente Tiant Vega () (born November 23, 1940) is a Cuban former Major League Baseball (MLB) right-handed starting pitcher. He pitched in MLB for 19 years, primarily for the Cleveland Indians and the Boston Red Sox.
Tiant compiled a 22 ...
*November 25 –
Dennis Aust
Dennis Kay Aust (born November 25, 1940) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. Aust played in 15 games, all as a reliever, for the St. Louis Cardinals in and . He batted and threw right-handed, stood tall and weighed .
A nat ...
December
*December 1 –
Cecil Perkins
Cecil Boyce Perkins (December 1, 1940 – October 28, 2021) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who appeared in two games for the New York Yankees in . He posted a 0–1 record with a 9.00 earned run average in five full innings pitc ...
*December 3 –
Chico Salmon
Ruthford Eduardo "Chico" Salmon (December 3, 1940 – September 17, 2000) was a Panamanian professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a utility player from through , most notably as a member of the Baltimore Orioles team ...
*December 5 –
John Papa
*December 8 –
Brant Alyea
Garrabrant Ryerson Alyea (born December 8, 1940) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Senators, Minnesota Twins, Oakland Athletics, and St. Louis Cardinals. In 1965, ...
*December 10 –
Weldon Bowlin
*December 12 –
Tom Brown
*December 13 –
Nate Oliver
Nathaniel Oliver (born December 13, 1940 in St. Petersburg, Florida) had a seven-year major league career in the 1960s, mostly with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Playing career
Oliver was signed by the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959. He hit just .224 ...
*December 20 –
Thad Tillotson
*December 22 –
Elrod Hendricks
Elrod Jerome "Ellie" Hendricks (December 22, 1940 – December 21, 2005) was a U.S. Virgin Islander professional baseball player and coach. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from through , most notably as a member of the Baltimore ...
*December 26 –
Ray Sadecki
Ray may refer to:
Fish
* Ray (fish), any cartilaginous fish of the superorder Batoidea
* Ray (fish fin anatomy), a bony or horny spine on a fin
Science and mathematics
* Ray (geometry), half of a line proceeding from an initial point
* Ray (gra ...
Deaths
January
*January 3 –
Mike Mahoney, 88, first baseman who played from 1897 to 1898 for the Boston Beaneaters and St. Louis Browns.
*January 3 –
Parke Swartzel, 74, pitcher for the 1889 Kansas City Cowboys.
*January 12 –
Ed Keas, 77, pitcher for the 1888 Cleveland Blues of the American Association.
*January 20 –
Wally Andrews
William Walter Andrews (September 18, 1859 – January 20, 1940), was a professional baseball player who played catcher in the Major Leagues for the Louisville Colonels.
In 1887, with the minor league Memphis Browns, Andrews hit .422 with 218 hi ...
, 60, infield utility man who played with the Louisville Eclipse in 1884 and for the Louisville Colonels in 1888.
*January 31 –
Red Fisher, 52, left fielder who played in 1910 with the St. Louis Browns of the American League.
February
*February 5 –
Frank Decker, 83, catcher/infielder who played with the Syracuse Stars in 1879 and for the St. Louis Brown Stockings in 1882.
*February 5 –
Byrd Lynn
Byrd "Birdie" Lynn (March 13, 1889 – February 5, 1940) was an American Major League Baseball catcher from 1916 to 1920. During that time, he played for the Chicago White Sox and was the back-up to Hall of Fame catcher Ray Schalk.
In 116 career ...
, 50, Chicago White Sox catcher who served as a backup for Hall of Famer
Ray Schalk
Raymond William Schalk (August 12, 1892 – May 19, 1970) was an American professional baseball player, coach, manager and scout. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Chicago White Sox for the majority of his career. Known f ...
and also was a member of the White Sox club that won the World Series in 1917.
*February 13 –
Walter Barnes, 79, sports editor for several Boston newspapers from 1891 to 1933 who was that city's first regular sports columnist.
*February 15 –
Chick Fulmer
Charles John "Chick" Fulmer (February 13, 1851 – February 15, 1940) was a Major League Baseball player who played shortstop from to . He played for the Rockford Forest Citys, New York Mutuals, Philadelphia White Stockings, Louisville Grays, Bu ...
, 89, shortstop who played for eight teams in three different leagues during 11 seasons from 1871 to 1884.
*February 15 –
Ray Morgan, 50, second baseman who was part of a stellar double play combo along with shortstop
George McBride
George Florian "Pinch" McBride (November 20, 1880 – July 2, 1973) was an American professional baseball shortstop for the Milwaukee Brewers, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, and Washington Senators from 1901 to 1920. He started off wit ...
for the Washington Senators from 1911 through 1918.
*February 16 –
Charlie Berry
Charles Francis Berry (October 18, 1902 – September 6, 1972) was an American athlete and sports official who enjoyed careers as a catcher and umpire in Major League Baseball and as an end and official in the National Football League. His fathe ...
, 79, second baseman for the Altoona Mountain City, Kansas City Cowboys, and Chicago Browns/Pittsburgh Stogies during the 1884 Union Association season.
*February 21 –
John Taber
John Taber (May 5, 1880 – November 22, 1965) was an American attorney and New York politician who represented parts of the Finger Lakes and Central New York regions in the United States House of Representatives from 1923 to 1963.
Biography
T ...
, 71, pitcher for the 1890 Boston Beaneaters of the National League.
*February 26 –
Matt Broderick, 62, second baseman for the Brooklyn Superbas of the National League in 1903.
March
* March 2 –
Matt Kilroy
Matthew Aloysius "Matches" Kilroy (June 21, 1866 – March 2, 1940) was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball. In 1886, he had 513 strikeouts, which remains the MLB single-season record.
Early life
Kilroy was born in Philadel ...
, 73, pitcher for six teams in 10 seasons spanning 1896–1898, who won 46 games in 1887, hurled a no-hitter in 1886 and struck out 513 batters that season, the most ever in a single season and far ahead of second-place
Charles Radbourn
Charles Gardner Radbourn (December 11, 1854 – February 5, 1897), nicknamed "Old Hoss", was an American professional baseball pitcher who played 12 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for Buffalo (1880), Providence (1881–1885), ...
, who struck out 441 in 1884
* March 6 –
Marshall Locke, 82, outfielder for the 1884 Indianapolis Hoosiers
* March 7 –
Johnny Johnston, 49, left fielder who played with the St. Louis Browns in 1913
* March 13 –
Ira Flagstead
Ira James Flagstead (September 22, 1893 – March 13, 1940), sometimes known as "Pete", was an American baseball player. He played 15 years of professional baseball, principally as an outfielder, including 13 years in Major League Baseball with ...
, 46, outfielder with a strong arm and a reliable glove who played for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators and Pittsburgh Pirates in a span of 14 seasons from 1917 to 1930, hitting .290 with 40 home runs and 450 RBI in 1,218 career games, while leading all American League outfielders for the most assists in 1923 (31) and 1925 (24), and for the best fielding average in 1927 (.986)
* March 22 –
Libe Washburn
Libeus "Libe" Washburn (June 16, 1874 – March 22, 1940) was an American professional baseball outfielder and pitcher. Washburn made his debut for the New York Giants as an outfielder in . He had four hits in nine at-bats in six games. The follo ...
, 29, outfielder and pitcher who played from 1902 to 1903 with the New York Giants and Philadelphia Phillies
* March 30 –
Roy Crabb, 49, pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics during the 1912 season
* March 30 –
George McQuillan
George Watt McQuillan (May 1, 1885 – March 30, 1940) was an American professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball from 1907 to 1918 for the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians.
I ...
, 55, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates and Cleveland Indians during ten seasons from 1907 to 1918, who in 1907 set one of the longest-lived records in Major League history when he pitched 25 innings before giving up the first earned run of his career, a feat broken by
Brad Ziegler
Brad Gregory Ziegler (born October 10, 1979) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Oakland Athletics, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, and Miami Marlins. Ziegler was one of th ...
in 2008.
April
*April 8 –
Bill Abstein
William Henry Abstein (February 2, 1883 – April 8, 1940), nicknamed "Big Bill", was a professional baseball and amateur soccer player. He played all or part of three seasons in Major League Baseball player, from 1906 to 1910, primarily as a fi ...
, 57, first baseman who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Browns in part of three seasons spanning 1906–1910.
*April 8 –
Dave Murphy, 63, shortstop for the 1905 Boston Beaneaters.
*April 10 –
Tom Seaton
Thomas Gordon Seaton (August 30, 1887 – April 10, 1940) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball from 1912-1917. He was signed in 1909 as a pitcher by the Portland, Oregon baseball team in the Pacific Coast League. In he was part of a pitchin ...
, 52, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies, Brooklyn Tip-Tops, Newark Pepper and Chicago Cubs in six seasons from 1912 to 1917, who posted a record of 93-63 and a 3.14 ERA in 231 career games, while leading the National League in wins and strikeouts during the 1913 season.
*April 12 –
Fred Klobedanz
Frederick Augustus "Duke" Klobedanz (June 13, 1871 – April 12, 1940) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Boston Beaneaters in five seasons and had a lifetime major league win–loss record of 53–25.
Career
Klobedanz, a ...
, 68, pitcher for the Boston Beaneaters in a span of five seasons from 1896 to 1902, who was a member of the Boston team that clinched the National League pennant in 1897 and 1898 and led the league in winning percentage in 1897.
*April 22 –
Alex Hardy
David Alexander Hardy (September 29, 1877 – April 22, 1940) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball in the early twentieth century. He played for the Chicago Cubs of the National League in 1902 and 1903.
In July 1905, while playing for the mi ...
, 62, Canadian-born pitcher who played for the Chicago Cubs/Orphans of the National League in 1902 and 1903.
*April 28 –
Henry Cote
Henry Joseph Cote (February 19, 1864 – April 28, 1940) was an American Major League Baseball catcher who played with the Louisville Colonels
The Louisville Colonels were a Major League Baseball team that also played in the American Associa ...
, 76, pitcher for the Louisville Colonels of the National League in the 1894 and 1895 seasons.
*April 30 –
Patsy Dougherty
Patrick Henry "Patsy" Dougherty (October 27, 1876 – April 30, 1940) was a Major League Baseball outfielder from 1902 to 1911. He played for the Boston Americans (now the Boston Red Sox), the New York Highlanders (now the New York Yankees), and ...
, 63, outfielder for the Boston Americans and Chicago White Sox clubs that won the World Series in 1903 and 1906 respectively, who became the first player to hit two home runs in a single World Series game with a pair in 1903, while leading the American League with 47 stolen bases in 1908.
May
*May 5 –
Bill Wise, 79, pitcher/outfielder who played for the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association in 1882, the Washington Nationals of the Union Association in 1884, and the Washington Nationals of the National League in 1886.
*May 8 –
Chick Fraser
Charles Carrolton Fraser (August 26, 1873 – May 8, 1940) was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. He pitched for numerous teams between 1896 and 1909. He ranks second all time among major-league pitchers in the category of hit batsmen, ...
, 66, pitcher for seven teams in 14 seasons from 1896 through 1909, most prominently for the 1907 and 1908 Chicago Cubs clubs that won the World Series, who hurled a no-hitter in 1903 and ranks second on the all-time list of
most hit batsmen by a Major League Baseball pitcher.
*May 14 –
Harry Gaspar
Harry Lambert Gaspar (April 28, 1883 – May 14, 1940) was a professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of four seasons (1909–1912) with the Cincinnati Reds. For his career, he compiled a 46–48 record in 143 appe ...
, 57, pitcher who played from 1909 through 1912 for the Cincinnati Reds.
*May 16 –
Spike Shannon
William Porter "Spike" Shannon (February 7, 1875 – May 16, 1940) was a professional baseball player and umpire.
Shannon was an outfielder over parts of five seasons (1904–1908) with the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Pi ...
, 62, outfielder over parts of five seasons from 1904 to 1908 with the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Giants and Pittsburgh Pirates, who led the National League for the most scored runs in the 1907 season.
June
*June 1 –
Logan Drake, 40, pitcher who made ten total appearances for 1922–1924 Cleveland Indians.
*June 3 –
Billy Kelly, 54, catcher.
*June 4 –
Phil Baker, 86, first baseman/catcher.
*June 16 –
Bill Hawes, 83, outfielder/first baseman.
*June 19 –
Ed Pabst, 72, outfielder.
*June 24 –
Bert Adams
John Bertram Adams (June 21, 1891 – June 24, 1940) was a professional baseball player in the early 20th century. Primarily a catcher, Adams played from to , with the Cleveland Naps and Philadelphia Phillies.
Adams died in 1940 at age 49 and ...
, 49, catcher.
*June 24 –
Axel Lindstrom
Axel Olaf Lindstrom (August 26, 1895 - June 24, 1940) was a pitcher for the 1916 Philadelphia Athletics.
The 1916 A's had the worst winning percentage of any major league baseball team in the 20th century. Lindstrom made his lone appearance at ...
, 44, pitcher.
*June 26 –
Jimmie Savage, 56, outfielder.
*June 26 –
Billy Reid, 83, second baseman.
*June 27 –
Frank Thompson
Frank Thompson Jr. (July 26, 1918 – July 22, 1989) was an American politician. He represented in the United States House of Representatives as a Democratic Party (United States), Democrat from 1955 to 1980, and was chairman of the United State ...
, 44, third baseman.
July
*July 3 –
John Stafford, 70, pitcher.
*July 5 –
George Yeager, 66, catcher.
*July 13 –
Ollie Tucker
Oliver Dinwiddie Tucker (January 27, 1902 – July 13, 1940) was a Major League Baseball outfielder who played for two seasons. He played for the Washington Senators for 20 games in 1927 and the Cleveland Indians for 14 games in 1928. Ollie Tucke ...
, 38, outfielder.
*July 16 –
Bill Leith
William Leith (May 31, 1873 – July 16, 1940), nicknamed "Shady Bill", was an American professional baseball
Baseball is a bat-and-ball sport played between two teams of nine players each, taking turns batting and fielding. The ...
, 67, pitcher.
*July 19 –
John Heileman
John George Heileman (August 10, 1872 – July 19, 1940) was an American professional baseball infielder. He played briefly in Major League Baseball for the 1901 Cincinnati Reds. He was erroneously known as Chink Heileman.
Biography
Heileman p ...
, 67, third baseman.
*July 22 –
Charlie Swindells, 61, pitcher.
*July 27 –
Tom Williams, 69, pitcher/outfielder.
*July 28 –
Red Ehret
Philip Sydney "Red" Ehret (August 31, 1868 – July 28, 1940) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1888 to 1898 for the Kansas City Cowboys, Louisville Colonels, Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Browns, and Cincinnati Reds
The Cin ...
, 71, pitcher.
*July 28 –
Stan Yerkes, 65, pitcher.
August
*August 3 –
Willard Hershberger
Willard McKee Hershberger (May 28, 1910 – August 3, 1940) was an American baseball catcher for the Cincinnati Reds of Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1938 to 1940. In 160 career games, Hershberger recorded a batting average of .316 and accumula ...
, 30, Cincinnati Reds' catcher who committed suicide in his hotel room as the Reds were visiting the Boston Bees during a weekend series; he was hitting .309 in 48 games when he died; the Reds dedicated the 1940 season to his memory, then won NL pennant by 12 games and the seven-game
1940 World Series
The 1940 World Series matched the Cincinnati Reds against the Detroit Tigers, with the Reds winning a closely contested seven-game series. The victory secured the Reds the second championship in their franchise history and came 21 years after th ...
.
*August 5 –
Ed Bruyette
Edward T. Bruyette (August 31, 1874 – August 5, 1940) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1901. , 65, outfielder.
*August 13 –
Buck Stanley, 50, pitcher.
*August 14 –
Charlie Hollocher
Charles Jacob Hollocher (June 11, 1896 – August 14, 1940) was a professional baseball player who was a shortstop in Major League Baseball.
Biography
Born in St. Louis, Hollocher was a shortstop for the Chicago Cubs from 1918 to 1924. His cous ...
, 44, shortstop for the 1918–1924 Chicago Cubs, appearing in 760 career games.
*August 17 –
Bock Baker, 62, pitcher.
*August 21 –
Ernest Thayer
Ernest Lawrence Thayer (; August 14, 1863 – August 21, 1940) was an American writer and poet who wrote the poem "Casey" (or "Casey at the Bat"), which is "the single most famous baseball poem ever written" according to the Baseball Almanac, and ...
, 77, newspaper editor whose 1888 poem "
Casey at the Bat Casey at the Bat is a poem written in 1888 by Ernest Thayer.
Casey at the Bat may also refer to:
* ''Casey at the Bat'' (1916 film), a film based on the poem
* ''Casey at the Bat'' (1927 film), a film based on the poem
* ''Casey at the Bat'', an ...
" became a staple of baseball culture.
*August 24 –
Ed Hallinan, 52, shortstop.
*August 28 –
Charlie Johnson, 55, outfielder.
September
*September 1 –
Gus Dundon
Augustus Joseph Dundon (July 10, 1874 – September 1, 1940) was a second baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago White Sox.
Biography
Dundon was born in Columbus, Ohio. He began his professional baseball career at the age o ...
, 66, second baseman.
*September 3 –
Johnny Welch
Johnny Welch (December 2, 1906 – September 2, 1940) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played in the major leagues for nine years. Welch died from tuberculosis at age 33 and is buried at Calvary Cemetery in St. Louis, Missouri.
C ...
, 33, pitcher.
*September 10 –
Bill Shipke
William Martin Shipke (November 18, 1882 – September 10, 1940) was a Major League Baseball third baseman who played for four seasons. He played for the Cleveland Naps
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based i ...
, 57, third baseman.
*September 14 –
Andy Knox, 76, first baseman.
*September 15 –
Ed Yewell, 78, outfielder/infielder.
*September 21 –
Billy Otterson, 78, shortstop.
*September 25 –
Mike Jordan, 77, outfielder.
October
*October 5 –
Crazy Schmit
Frederick M. "Crazy" Schmit (February 13, 1866 – October 5, 1940) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Pittsburgh Alleghenys, Baltimore Orioles, New York Giants, Cleveland Spiders, and Baltimore Orioles. At the time of t ...
, 74, pitcher.
*October 9 –
Bill Massey, 69, first baseman.
*October 17 –
George Davis, 70, Hall of Fame shortstop for the Cleveland Spiders, New York Giants and Chicago White Sox in 20 seasons spanning 1890–1909, who hit over .300 in nine consecutive seasons from 1893 to 1901, fashioned a then-record 33-game hitting streak in 1893, and set Major League records for the most career hits (2600+) and RBI (1437) by a
switch-hitter
In baseball, a switch hitter is a player who bats both right-handed and left-handed, usually right-handed against left-handed pitchers and left-handed against right-handed pitchers.
Characteristics
Right-handed batters generally hit better aga ...
, while leading the ''
Hitless Wonder'' White Sox in their victory over the Chicago Cubs in the
1906 World Series
The 1906 World Series was the championship series in Major League Baseball for the 1906 season. The third edition of the World Series, it featured a crosstown matchup between the American League champion Chicago White Sox and the National Leagu ...
.
*October 23 –
Harry Krause
Harry William "Hal" Krause (July 12, 1888 – October 23, 1940) was a Major League Baseball player. He was a pitcher over parts of five seasons (1908–1912) with the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Naps. He led the American League in earned ...
, 52, pitcher.
November
*November 3 –
Joe Burke, 72, third baseman.
*November 4 –
George Bird, 90, outfielder.
*November 5 –
Bill Mellor, 66, first baseman.
*November 12 –
Joe Quinn, 75, second baseman.
*November 14 –
George Clark, 49, pitcher for the 1913 New York Yankees.
*November 18 –
John Harkins, 81, pitcher.
December
*December 7 –
Harry Eells, 60, pitcher.
*December 16 –
Billy Hamilton, 74, Hall of Fame center fielder and a prolific hitter who hit better than .300 in 12 successive seasons en route to a career mark of .344, including two batting crowns, while collecting eleven 100-run seasons with a record 192 in 1894; 914 career stolen bases, a single-season total of 111 steals in 1891 and a single-game of seven in 1894, ending his career as one of only three big leaguers whose runs scored (1,691) exceeded his games played (1,578).
*December 18 –
John Kiley
John Kiley (November 1, 1912 – July 15, 1993SSDI, SSN: 010-12-0234) was the organist at Braves Field from 1948 to 1952, Fenway Park from 1953 to 1989 and at the Boston Garden from 1941 to 1984. He is credited with having discovered the Boston Ga ...
, 81, left fielder/pitcher.
*December 22 –
Patsy McGaffigan
Mark Andrew "Patsy" McGaffigan (September 12, 1888 – December 22, 1940) was a Major League Baseball second baseman and shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which ...
, 52, infielder.
*December 22 –
Bill Schwartz, 76, catcher.
References
External links
{{DEFAULTSORT:1940 In Baseball