Skip to content
Surf Wiki
Save to docs
sports

From Surf Wiki (app.surf) — the open knowledge base

1937 Major League Baseball season


FieldValue
title1937 MLB season
leagueAmerican League (AL)
National League (NL)
sportBaseball
durationRegular season:{{Bulleted list
no_of_games154
no_of_teams16 (8 per league)
seasonRegular season
MVPAL: Charlie Gehringer (DET)
NL: Joe Medwick (STL)
MVP_linkMajor League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award
conf1AL
conf1_champ[New York Yankees](1937-new-york-yankees-season)
conf1_runner-up[Detroit Tigers](1937-detroit-tigers-season)
conf2NL
conf2_champ[New York Giants](1937-new-york-giants-mlb-season)
conf2_runner-up[Chicago Cubs](1937-chicago-cubs-season)
finalsWorld Series
finals_link1937 World Series
finals_champ[New York Yankees](1937-new-york-yankees-season)
finals_runner-up[New York Giants](1937-new-york-giants-mlb-season)
seasonslistList of MLB seasons
seasonslistnamesMLB
prevseason_link1936 Major League Baseball season
prevseason_year1936
nextseason_link1938 Major League Baseball season
nextseason_year1938

National League (NL) | April 9 – October 3, 1937}}World Series:{{Bulleted list | October 6–10, 1937}} NL: Joe Medwick (STL) | conf1_runner-up = Detroit Tigers | conf2_runner-up = Chicago Cubs | finals_runner-up = New York Giants The 1937 major league baseball season began on April 19, 1937. The regular season ended on October 3, with the New York Giants and New York Yankees as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 34th World Series on October 6 and ended with Game 5 on October 10. In the fifth iteration of this World Series matchup (and a rematch of the previous year), the Yankees defeated the Giants, four games to one, capturing their sixth championship in franchise history, and their second in a four-World Series run. With this victory, the Yankees became the team with the most World Series victories, a feat that continues today.

The fifth Major League Baseball All-Star Game was held on July 7 at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C., home of the Washington Senators. The American League won, 8–3.

Schedule

The 1937 schedule consisted of 154 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had eight teams. Each team was scheduled to play 22 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place since the season (except for ) and would be used until in the American League and in the National League.

Opening Day, April 19, featured four teams across both leagues play. The final day of the regular season was on October 3 and featured all sixteen teams, the first since . The World Series took place between October 6 and October 10.

Rule changes

The 1937 season saw the following rule changes:

  • Regarding night games, the National and American Leagues allowed teams to play up to seven night games per season at home as long as the visiting team agreed.
  • It was decided to make the baseball slightly "deader" (that is, less effective off the bat), following poor pitching performances and stats of the previous season.
  • New baseballs created would now have "Official Major League Baseball" stamped, as opposed to either National or American Leagues (although both leagues would frequently use their own branded balls through the end of the 20th century).

Teams

An asterisk () denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at*

LeagueTeamCityStadiumCapacityManagerAmerican League}};"Boston Red SoxChicago White SoxCleveland IndiansDetroit TigersNew York YankeesPhiladelphia AthleticsSt. Louis BrownsWashington SenatorsNational League}};"Boston BeesBrooklyn DodgersChicago CubsCincinnati RedsNew York GiantsPhiladelphia PhilliesPittsburgh PiratesSt. Louis Cardinals
Boston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,817
Chicago, IllinoisComiskey Park52,000
Cleveland, OhioLeague Park22,500
Cleveland Stadium*78,811*
Detroit, MichiganNavin Field36,000
New York, New YorkYankee Stadium71,699
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,000
St. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023
Washington, D.C.Griffith Stadium32,000
Boston, MassachusettsNational League Park41,700
New York, New YorkEbbets Field35,000
Chicago, IllinoisWrigley Field40,000
Cincinnati, OhioCrosley Field26,060
New York, New YorkPolo Grounds51,856
Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaBaker Bowl18,800
Pittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field41,000
St. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,023

Standings

American League

National League

Tie games

13 tie games (9 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

  • Boston Red Sox, 2
  • Cleveland Indians, 2
  • Detroit Tigers, 1
  • New York Yankees, 3
  • Philadelphia Athletics, 3
  • St. Louis Browns, 2
  • Washington Senators, 5

National League

  • Brooklyn Dodgers, 2
  • Cincinnati Reds, 1
  • Philadelphia Phillies, 2
  • St. Louis Cardinals, 3

Postseason

The postseason began on October 6 and ended on October 10 with the New York Yankees defeating the New York Giants in the 1937 World Series in five games.

Bracket

| RD1-seed1=AL | RD1-team1=New York Yankees | RD1-score1=4 | RD1-seed2=NL | RD1-team2=New York Giants | RD1-score2=1

Managerial changes

Off-season

TeamFormer ManagerNew Manager[Brooklyn Dodgers](1937-brooklyn-dodgers-season)[Detroit Tigers](1937-detroit-tigers-season)
Casey StengelBurleigh Grimes
Del BakerMickey Cochrane

In-season

TeamFormer ManagerNew Manager[Cincinnati Reds](1937-cincinnati-reds-season)[Detroit Tigers](1937-detroit-tigers-season)[Philadelphia Athletics](1937-philadelphia-athletics-season)[St. Louis Browns](1937-st-louis-browns-season)
Chuck DressenBobby Wallace
Mickey CochraneDel Baker
Del BakerCy Perkins
Connie MackEarle Mack
Rogers HornsbyJim Bottomley

League leaders

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

American League

StatPlayerTotal
AVGCharlie Gehringer (DET).371
OPSLou Gehrig (NYY)1.116
HRJoe DiMaggio (NYY)46
RBIHank Greenberg (DET)184
RJoe DiMaggio (NYY)151
HBeau Bell (SLB)218
SBBen Chapman (BOS/WSH)
Billy Werber (PHA)35
StatPlayerTotal
WLefty Gomez1 (NYY)21
LHarry Kelley (PHA)21
ERALefty Gomez1 (NYY)2.33
KLefty Gomez1 (NYY)194
IPWes Ferrell (WSH/BOS)281.0
SVClint Brown (CWS)18
WHIPMonty Stratton (CWS)1.087

1 American League Triple Crown pitching winner

National League

StatPlayerTotal
AVGJoe Medwick2 (STL).374
OPSJoe Medwick (STL)1.056
HRJoe Medwick2 (STL)
Mel Ott (NYG)31
RBIJoe Medwick2 (STL)154
RJoe Medwick (STL)111
HJoe Medwick (STL)237
SBAugie Galan (CHC)23

2 National League Triple Crown batting winner

StatPlayerTotal
WCarl Hubbell (NYG)22
LWayne LaMaster (PHI)19
ERAJim Turner (BSN)2.38
KCarl Hubbell (NYG)159
IPClaude Passeau (PHI)292.1
SVMace Brown (PIT)
Cliff Melton (NYG)7
WHIPJim Turner (BSN)1.091

Awards and honors

Regular season

Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Most Valuable PlayerJoe Medwick (STL)Charlie Gehringer (DET)

Other awards

*The Sporting News* AwardsAwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Most Valuable PlayerJoe Medwick (STL)Charlie Gehringer (DET)
Player of the YearJohnny Allen (CLE)
Manager of the YearBill McKechnie (BSN)
Executive of the YearEd Barrow (NYY)

Baseball Hall of Fame

Main article: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

  • Nap Lajoie
  • Tris Speaker
  • Cy Young
  • Connie Mack (manager)
  • John McGraw (manager)
  • Morgan Bulkeley (executive)
  • Ban Johnson (executive)
  • George Wright (executive/pioneer contributor)

Home field attendance

Team nameWinsHome attendancePer game
Detroit Tigers897.2%1,072,27622.4%13,926
New York Yankees1020.0%998,1482.2%12,635
New York Giants953.3%926,88710.6%12,358
Chicago Cubs936.9%895,02028.0%11,475
Chicago White Sox866.2%589,24533.7%7,653
Cleveland Indians833.8%564,84912.9%7,242
Boston Red Sox808.1%559,659−10.7%7,563
Brooklyn Dodgers62−7.5%482,481−1.5%6,348
Pittsburgh Pirates862.4%459,67923.4%5,893
St. Louis Cardinals81−6.9%430,811−3.9%5,385
Philadelphia Athletics541.9%430,73851.0%5,452
Cincinnati Reds56−24.3%411,221−11.8%5,140
Washington Senators73−11.0%397,7994.8%4,972
Boston Bees7911.3%385,33913.1%5,070
Philadelphia Phillies6113.0%212,790−14.6%2,876
St. Louis Browns46−19.3%123,12132.0%1,578

Venues

Over 78 home games, the Cleveland Indians played 63 games at League Park and 15 games at Cleveland Stadium. Only Sunday and Monday home games saw games played at Cleveland Stadium. This would be the 3rd of 12 seasons since that saw the Indians play at both venues.

References

References

  1. Keeney, Stephen R.. "1936 Winter Meetings: Home Plate and Hurlers – Society for American Baseball Research".
  2. "1937 Major League Managers".
  3. "1937 American League Batting Leaders".
  4. "1937 American League Pitching Leaders".
  5. "1937 National League Batting Leaders".
  6. "1937 National League Pitching Leaders".
  7. "Most Valuable Player Award by The Sporting News {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
  8. "Major League Player of the Year Award by The Sporting News {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
  9. "Manager of the Year Award by The Sporting News {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
  10. "MLB Executive of the Year Award {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
  11. "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  12. "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  13. "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  14. "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  15. "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  16. "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  17. "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  18. "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  19. "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  20. "St. Louis Cardinals 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. "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  24. "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  25. "Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  26. "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
  27. "Seamheads.com Ballparks Database — 1937 Season".
Info: Wikipedia Source

This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page.

Want to explore this topic further?

Ask Mako anything about 1937 Major League Baseball season — get instant answers, deeper analysis, and related topics.

Research with Mako

Free with your Surf account

Content sourced from Wikipedia, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This content may have been generated or modified by AI. CloudSurf Software LLC is not responsible for the accuracy, completeness, or reliability of AI-generated content. Always verify important information from primary sources.

Report