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1918 Major League Baseball season


FieldValue
title1918 MLB season
leagueAmerican League (AL)
National League (NL)
sportBaseball
durationRegular season:{{Bulleted list
no_of_games154 (scheduled)
123–131 (actual)
no_of_teams16 (8 per league)
playoffsPennant winners
conf1AL
conf1_champ[Boston Red Sox](1918-boston-red-sox-season)
conf1_runner-up[Cleveland Indians](1918-cleveland-indians-season)
conf2NL
conf2_champ[Chicago Cubs](1918-chicago-cubs-season)
conf2_runner-up[New York Giants](1918-new-york-giants-season)
finalsWorld Series
finals_link1918 World Series
finals_champ[Boston Red Sox](1918-boston-red-sox-season)
finals_runner-up[Chicago Cubs](1918-chicago-cubs-season)
seasonslistList of Major League Baseball seasons
seasonslistnamesMLB
prevseason_link1917 Major League Baseball season
prevseason_year1917
nextseason_link1919 Major League Baseball season
nextseason_year1919

National League (NL) | April 15 – September 2, 1918 (AL) | April 16 – September 2, 1918 (NL)}}World Series:{{Bulleted list | September 5–11, 1918}} 123–131 (actual) | conf1_runner-up = Cleveland Indians | conf2_runner-up = New York Giants | finals_runner-up = Chicago Cubs The 1918 major league baseball season began on April 15, 1918. The regular season ended earlier than originally scheduled, September 2, because of a reduced schedule due to American participation in World War I. The National League and American League champions were the Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 15th World Series on September 5 and ended with Game 6 on September 11. The Red Sox defeated the Cubs, four games to two, capturing their fifth championship in franchise history, since their previous in . Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the Chicago White Sox from the season.

Schedule

Scheduled start

American League Opening Day took place on April 15 with four American League teams playing, the Philadelphia Athletics at Boston Red Sox, and the New York Yankees at Washington Senators, while National League Opening Day saw all eight teams play the following day. It was the first season since which saw the two leagues open on different days.

Shortened season

With World War I ongoing, a "work or fight" mandate was issued by the government, requiring men with non-essential jobs to enlist or take war-related jobs by July 1, or else risk being drafted. Secretary of War Newton D. Baker granted an extension to MLB players through Labor Day, September 2. In early August, MLB clubs decided that the regular season would end at that time. As a result, the number of regular-season games that each team played varied—123 to 130 for AL teams and 124 to 131 for NL teams, including ties—reduced from their original 154-game schedules. The final day of the regular season would see all teams but the Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Browns play. Later in August, Baker granted a further extension to allow for the World Series to be contested; World War I would end two months later, with the Armistice of 11 November 1918.

Teams

LeagueTeamCityStadiumCapacityManagerAmerican League}};"Boston Red SoxChicago White SoxCleveland IndiansDetroit TigersNew York YankeesPhiladelphia AthleticsSt. Louis BrownsWashington SenatorsNational League}};"Boston BravesBrooklyn RobinsChicago CubsCincinnati RedsNew York GiantsPhiladelphia PhilliesPittsburgh PiratesSt. Louis Cardinals
Boston, MassachusettsFenway Park27,000
Chicago, IllinoisComiskey Park28,000
Cleveland, OhioDunn Field21,414
Detroit, MichiganNavin Field23,000
New York, New YorkBrush Stadium36,000
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park23,000
St. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park18,000
Washington, D.C.National Park27,000
Boston, MassachusettsBraves Field40,000
New York, New YorkEbbets Field30,000
Chicago, IllinoisWeeghman Park15,000
Cincinnati, OhioRedland Field20,696
New York, New YorkBrush Stadium36,000
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaNational League Park18,000
Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field25,000
St. Louis, MissouriRobison Field21,000

Standings

American League

National League

Tie games

10 tie games (6 in AL, 4 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season.

American League

  • Cleveland Indians, 2
  • Detroit Tigers, 2
  • New York Yankees, 3
  • Philadelphia Athletics, 2
  • St. Louis Browns, 1
  • Washington Senators, 2

National League

  • Chicago Cubs, 2
  • Cincinnati Reds, 1
  • Philadelphia Phillies, 2
  • Pittsburgh Pirates, 1
  • St. Louis Cardinals, 2

Postseason

The postseason began on September 5 and ended on September 11 with the Boston Red Sox defeating the Chicago Cubs in the 1918 World Series in six games.

Bracket

| RD1-seed1=AL | RD1-team1=Boston Red Sox | RD1-score1=4 | RD1-seed2=NL | RD1-team2=Chicago Cubs | RD1-score2=2

Managerial changes

Off-season

TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerBoston Red SoxNew York YankeesSt. Louis Cardinals
Jack BarryEd Barrow
Bill DonovanMiller Huggins
Miller HugginsJack Hendricks

In-season

TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerCincinnati RedsSt. Louis Browns
Christy MathewsonHeinie Groh
Fielder JonesJimmy Austin
Jimmy AustinJimmy Burke

League leaders

Any team shown in small text indicates a previous team a player was on during the season.

American League

StatPlayerTotal
AVGTy Cobb (DET).382
OPSBabe Ruth (BOS).966
HRBabe Ruth (BOS)
Tillie Walker (PHA)11
RBIBobby Veach (DET)84
RRay Chapman (CLE)84
HGeorge Burns (PHA)178
SBGeorge Sisler (SLB)45
StatPlayerTotal
WWalter Johnson1 (WSH)23
LEddie Cicotte (CWS)
Scott Perry (PHA)19
ERAWalter Johnson1 (WSH)1.27
KWalter Johnson1 (WSH)162
IPScott Perry (PHA)332.1
SVGeorge Mogridge (NYY)7
WHIPWalter Johnson (WSH)0.954

1 American League Triple Crown pitching winner

National League

StatPlayerTotal
AVGZack Wheat (BRO).335
OPSEdd Roush (CIN).823
HRGavvy Cravath (PHI)8
RBISherry Magee (CIN)76
RHeinie Groh (CIN)86
HCharlie Hollocher (CHC)161
SBMax Carey (PIT)58
StatPlayerTotal
WHippo Vaughn2 (CHC)22
LRube Marquard (BRO)
Joe Oeschger (PHI)18
ERAHippo Vaughn2 (CHC)1.74
KHippo Vaughn2 (CHC)148
IPHippo Vaughn (CHC)290.1
SVFred Anderson (NYG)
Wilbur Cooper (PIT)
Joe Oeschger (PHI)
Fred Toney (NYG/CIN)3
WHIPHippo Vaughn (CHC)1.006

2 National League Triple Crown pitching winner

Home field attendance

Team nameWinsHome attendancePer game
Chicago Cubs8413.5%337,256−6.4%4,558
Cleveland Indians73−17.0%295,515−38.1%4,766
New York Yankees60−15.5%282,047−14.6%4,210
New York Giants71−27.6%256,618−48.7%4,582
Boston Red Sox75−16.7%249,513−35.7%3,564
Pittsburgh Pirates6527.5%213,61010.8%3,009
Detroit Tigers55−29.5%203,719−55.5%3,512
Chicago White Sox57−43.0%195,081−71.5%3,484
Washington Senators72−2.7%182,122103.1%2,461
Philadelphia Athletics52−5.5%177,926−19.6%2,617
Cincinnati Reds68−12.8%163,009−39.4%2,296
Philadelphia Phillies55−36.8%122,266−65.5%2,145
St. Louis Browns581.8%122,076−42.0%2,303
St. Louis Cardinals51−37.8%110,599−61.7%1,515
Boston Braves53−26.4%84,938−51.3%1,633
Brooklyn Robins57−18.6%83,831−62.2%1,552

Venues

Robison Field of the St. Louis Cardinals is gradually referred to as Cardinal Field, after Helene Britton, daughter of the deceased former owner Frank Robison, sells her interest in the team following a deal in March 1917, ending the association between the Cardinals and the Robison family. By 1918, Cardinal Field became the name widely used.

References

References

  1. [http://www.thisgreatgame.com/1918-baseball-history.html "1918 All Work or Fight and No Play,"] ''This Great Game: The Online Book of Baseball''. Retrieved June 8, 2020.
  2. (April 6, 2020). "Special report: War, fever and baseball in 1918".
  3. Verducci, Tom. (June 22, 2020). "Love, Loss and Baseball: Letters From the Hub, Chapters VI - IX".
  4. (August 5, 1918). "Cutting Down Baseball Season Favors Present Club Leaders for Final Honors". [[Star-Gazette]].
  5. "The 1918 Season".
  6. "The 1918 Post-Season Games".
  7. "1918 Major League Managers".
  8. "1918 American League Batting Leaders".
  9. "1918 American League Pitching Leaders".
  10. "1918 National League Batting Leaders".
  11. "1918 National League Pitching Leaders".
  12. "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  13. "Cleveland Guardians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  14. "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  15. "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  16. "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  17. "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  18. "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  19. "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  20. "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  21. "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  22. "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  23. "Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  24. "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  25. "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  26. "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  27. "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  28. (March 2, 1917). "Plan To Sell The Cardinals". Star-Gazette.
  29. (May 3, 1917). "Cardinal Owners Pay Part Down". Wilkes-Barre Times Leader.
  30. Thomas, Joan M.. "Robison Field (St. Louis) – Society for American Baseball Research".
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