1940 Detroit Tigers season
Encyclopedia
The Detroit Tigers
season was their 40th since they entered the American League in . The team won the American League
pennant
with a record of 90-64, finishing just one game ahead of the Cleveland Indians
and just two games ahead of the New York Yankees
. It was the sixth American League pennant for the Tigers. The team went on to lose the 1940 World Series
to the Cincinnati Reds
4 games to 3.
, who won his second American League MVP award; Rudy York
, who was #2 in the AL behind Greenberg in RBIs, total bases and extra base hits; Barney McCosky
, who led the major leagues in hits and triples; and Bobo Newsom
, who led the major leagues in Adjusted ERA+
and was #2 in the AL behind Bob Feller
in ERA, wins, and winning percentage.
With the expansion of Briggs Stadium, the Tigers set a major league attendance record with 1,112,693 fans attending games in 1940. The 1940 Tigers were the first team to draw 1,000,000 or fans.
led by Bob Feller in a tight pennant race that went back-and-forth right down to the end of the season. The Tigers outscored their opponents 888 to 717 for the season. The Tigers set a major league attendance record with 1,112,693 fans attending games at Briggs Stadium during the 1940 season. The 1940 Tigers were the first team to draw 1,000,000 or more fans.
played for the Tigers from 1936–1947, missing the 1943-1945 seasons for military service. He was chosen four times for the AL All Star team. In 1940, Tebbetts hit .296 and led all AL catchers in assists (89), errors (17) and double plays (10).
Catching duties were shared with Billy Sullivan, Jr.
. He hit .309 with a .399 on base percentage and .450 slugging percentage for the 1940 Tigers. Sullivan played in 5 of 7 games of the 1940 World Series
for the Tigers, scoring three runs with a .389 on base percentage. His father, Billy Sullivan, was also a catcher for the Tigers in 1916.
Rudy York
started as a catcher in 1937. In 1940, the Tigers persuaded Hank Greenberg to move to left field, allowing York to take over at first base. The experiment was successful, as York finished 2nd in the AL in RBIs (134), total bases (343), and extra base hits (85). He also finished 8th in the AL MVP voting, 3rd in the major leagues in times on base (279) and doubles (46) and 4th in the AL in slugging percentage (.583). York was among the American League
leaders in home runs for 11 consecutive seasons from 1937–1947, and his .503 slugging percentage as a Tiger ranks #4 in franchise history.
Charlie Gehringer
, known as "The Mechanical Man" for his quiet consistency, was the Tigers' second baseman
from 1924-1942. In 1940, the 37-year-old Gehringer hit .313, scored 198 runs, and was 4th in the major leagues in on base percentage (.428) and 3rd in AL in bases on balls (101).
Shortstop
Dick Bartell
was known as one of the most ferocious competitors of his era. In 1940, he hit only .233 for the Tigers, but he had 76 walks boosting his on base percentage by 100 points to .335. He scored 76 runs and drove in 53 runs for the 1940 season. Bartell finished 12th in the AL MVP voting in 1940.
Third baseman
Pinky Higgins
was the team's starting third baseman from 1939-1944. In 1940, he hit .271, drove in 76 runs, hit 13 home runs, and walked 61 times, boosting his on base percentage to .357.
"Hammerin' Hank" Greenberg
was the team's and the league's MVP. He was awarded the AL Most Valuable Player award for the second time in his career, the first person to win the MVP award at two different positions (1935 at first base, 1940 at left field). In 1940, Greenberg led the major leagues in RBIs (150), extra base hits (99), slugging percentage (.670), OPS (1.103), total bases (384), doubles (50), and runs created (166). He also led the AL in home runs (41) and at bats per home run (14.0). He was 4th in AL in batting average (.340) and 2nd in the major leagues in on base percentage (.433), runs scored (134), and times on base (289). Greenberg was drafted into the military in early 1941 (one of the first major league players to be drafted) and lost parts of five seasons (1941–1945) to military service.
Center fielder
Barney McCosky
also had a tremendous year. For the 1940 season, McCosky led the major leagues in hits (200) and triples (19). He was also 3rd in the major leagues in runs scored (123), and 4th in the AL in times on base (268), 5th in the AL in batting (.340). In the World Series, he hit .304 (7-for-23) with five runs. McCosky finished 16th in the 1940 AL MVP voting. Since 1940, the only Tiger to exceed McCosky's 19 triples is Curtis Granderson in 2007.
Right fielder
Pete Fox
played 82 games in right field, hitting .289 with a .403 slugging percentage.
Bruce Campbell
was traded to the Tigers in January 1940. Campbell played 74 games in right field for the Tigers, sharing the position with Pete Fox. During the regular season, Campbell hit .283 with a .381 on base percentgae and .448 slugging percentage. Campbell played all 7 games of the 1940 World Series and hit .360 with a slugging percentage of .520 in the Series, with a home run and five RBIs.
Hall of Famer Earl Averill
was acquired by the Tigers in 1938 and was a backup outfielder for the 1940 team. Averill retired in 1941.
finished 4th in the AL MVP voting in 1940 and was the ace of the Tigers' pitching staff. After losing on Opening Day, Bobo won 13 straight games during the regular season before injuring his thumb. He finished the season as the major league leader in Adjusted ERA+
(167), second in the major leagues in strikeouts (164), and second in the AL in ERA (2.83), wins (21), and winning percentage (.808). Newsom gave a historic effort in the 1940 World Series, pitching three complete games with a 1.38 ERA. After watching his son win Game 1, Bobo's father died in a Cincinnati hotel. Bobo promised to win Game 5 for his father and shut out the Reds, 5-0. Newsom started Game 7 on only one day's rest, and held the Reds to 2 runs, but the Tigers scored only once. The Reds won the game and the World Series, but Newsom's performance was one of the greatest efforts in World Series history.
Schoolboy Rowe
finished 7th in the AL MVP voting in 1940 and was the AL leader in winning percentage (.842) with a 16-3 record. He started two games in the 1940 World Series. He lasted a combined 3-2/3 innings in his two starts and lost both games with an ERA of 17.18.
Tommy Bridges
was fourth in the AL in both strikeouts (133) and Adjusted ERA+
(140). He was also second in the major leagues in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched (6.06). He started one game of the 1940 World Series, pitching a complete game for the win.
Closer Al Benton
led the major leagues in saves (17) and was second in the major leagues in games finished (35).
Hal Newhouser
was the youngest player in AL in 1940 at age 19. The future two-time AL MVP started 20 games for the 1940 Tigers and had a record of 9-9.
Rookie Floyd Giebell
was one of the most interesting stories of the 1940 season. Giebell made his major league debut in September 1940 as a 30-year-old rookie. Giebel pitched a pair of complete game victories and gave up only two runs in 18 innings for an earned run average
of 1.00. On September 27, 1940, the Tigers needed one more win to clinch the pennant. With Bob Feller scheduled to pitch for the Indians, Detroit manager
Del Baker
decided to start Giebell rather than "waste" his aces Bobo Newsom
or Schoolboy Rowe
. Time magazine described Giebell at the time as "a gawky stringbean" — Geiebell was 6'2½" (189 cm) and 172 pounds (78 kg) —who "looked like a sacrificial lamb as he ambled out to the mound." But, as Time reported after the game, Giebell was "no lamb" that day. Instead, "[w]ith cunning change of pace and the control of an oldtimer, the green-as-grass rookie shut out the Indians 2-to-0." Feller gave up only 3 hits for the day, but one of them was a 2-run wind-blown home run by Rudy York
. Giebell shut out the Indians for 9 innings in one of the great "David vs. Goliath" moments in baseball history.
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
featured the Detroit Tigers and the Cincinnati Reds
, with the Tigers losing in 7 games.
In Game 1, the Tigers beat the Reds, 7-2. It was the 10th straight World Series loss for a National League team. The Tigers scored five runs in the 2nd inning, and Bruce Campbell
added a two-run home run. Bobo Newsom
held the Reds to eight hits. Newsom’s father, visiting from South Carolina, died in a Cincinnati
hotel room the day after watching his son win Game 1.
In Game 2, Bucky Walters
gave the NL its first World Series game victory, 5-3, since Carl Hubbell
beat the Yankees in 1937. Jimmy Ripple
hit a two-run home run in the 3rd inning, and Walters gave up only 3 hits.
In Game 3, the Tigers won, 7-3, before a crowd of almost 53,000 at Briggs Stadium. The Tigers had 9 hits and 19 total bases in the 7th and 8th innings off the Reds. Tommy Bridges
pitched a complete game.
In Game 4, the Reds won, 5-2. Paul Derringer
‚ who had lost 4 World Series starts going back to 1931‚ finally got a win. Detroit starter Dizzy Trout
did not make it out of the third inning.
In Game 5, Bobo Newsom got the start for Detroit, just three days after his father’s death. Bobo said he was going to pitch the game for his dad. In front of 55,000 fans in Detroit, he shut out the Reds, as the Tigers won 8-0, and took a 3-2 lead in the Series.
In Game 6, Bucky Walters got the win for the Reds with a 4-0 shutout.
The final game was a heartbreaker for the Tigers, as Bobo Newsom was called on to start on only one day’s rest. Detroit got an unearned run in the 3rd inning to take a 1-0 lead. Newsom pitched well, allowing only two runs in the 7th inning. The Tigers scored only once, and the Reds won, 2-1.
1940 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
in 2001:
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
season was their 40th since they entered the American League in . The team won the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
with a record of 90-64, finishing just one game ahead of the Cleveland Indians
1940 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished second in the American League with a record of 89-65, just one game behind the Detroit Tigers.- Regular season :...
and just two games ahead of the New York Yankees
1940 New York Yankees season
The 1940 New York Yankees season was the team's 38th season in New York and its 40th overall. The team finished in third place with a record of 88-66, finishing two games behind the American League champion Detroit Tigers and one game behind the second-place Cleveland Indians. New York was managed...
. It was the sixth American League pennant for the Tigers. The team went on to lose the 1940 World Series
1940 World Series
The 1940 World Series matched the Cincinnati Reds against the Detroit Tigers, with the Reds winning the Series in seven games for their second championship, their first since the scandal-tainted victory in...
to the Cincinnati Reds
1940 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The team finished first in the National League with a record of 100-53, winning the pennant by 12 games over the Brooklyn Dodgers...
4 games to 3.
Offseason
- December 9, 1939: Wally MosesWally MosesWallace Moses was a right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1935 through 1951, he played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox . Moses batted and threw left-handed...
was traded by the Tigers to the Philadelphia AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Benny McCoyBenny McCoyBenjamin Jenison McCoy was a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Athletics . Listed at 5' 9". 170 lb., he batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
. The trade was voided on January 14, 1940. - January 14: Baseball commissioner Judge LandisKenesaw Mountain LandisKenesaw Mountain Landis was an American jurist who served as a federal judge from 1905 to 1922 and as the first Commissioner of Baseball from 1920 until his death...
ruled that 91 players on the Tigers roster or in the Detroit farm system were free agents, due to misconduct by the team in restricting its minor league players. The players awarded free agency included Roy CullenbineRoy CullenbineRoy Joseph Cullenbine was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played ten years in the Major Leagues for six teams: Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers , St...
‚ Benny McCoyBenny McCoyBenjamin Jenison McCoy was a former second baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Athletics . Listed at 5' 9". 170 lb., he batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
‚ Lloyd Dietz‚ and Steve RachunokSteve RachunokStephen Stepanovich Rachunok , was a professional baseball pitcher in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers. He appeared in two games during the 1940 season, one as a starter, where he pitched a complete game.-External links:...
from the team’s major league roster. Landis also ordered the team to pay compensation of $47‚250 to 14 players. The minor league players awarded free agency included Johnny SainJohnny SainJohn Franklin Sain was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who was best known for teaming with left-hander Warren Spahn on the Boston Braves teams from 1946 to 1951...
. - February 15: The Tiger released a roster showing Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
as an outfielder. Greenberg’s move to the outfield made room for Rudy YorkRudy YorkPreston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
to take over at first base.
Regular season
The 1940 Tigers were led by: Hank GreenbergHank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
, who won his second American League MVP award; Rudy York
Rudy York
Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
, who was #2 in the AL behind Greenberg in RBIs, total bases and extra base hits; Barney McCosky
Barney McCosky
William Barney McCosky was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. From 1939 through 1953, he played for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians . McCosky batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
, who led the major leagues in hits and triples; and Bobo Newsom
Bobo Newsom
Louis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953...
, who led the major leagues in Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
and was #2 in the AL behind Bob Feller
Bob Feller
On December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
in ERA, wins, and winning percentage.
With the expansion of Briggs Stadium, the Tigers set a major league attendance record with 1,112,693 fans attending games in 1940. The 1940 Tigers were the first team to draw 1,000,000 or fans.
Season summary
The 1940 Tigers won the American League pennant with a record of 90-64. They narrowly beat the Cleveland Indians1940 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. The team finished second in the American League with a record of 89-65, just one game behind the Detroit Tigers.- Regular season :...
led by Bob Feller in a tight pennant race that went back-and-forth right down to the end of the season. The Tigers outscored their opponents 888 to 717 for the season. The Tigers set a major league attendance record with 1,112,693 fans attending games at Briggs Stadium during the 1940 season. The 1940 Tigers were the first team to draw 1,000,000 or more fans.
Catcher: Tebbetts and Sullivan
Catcher Birdie TebbettsBirdie Tebbetts
George Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from to...
played for the Tigers from 1936–1947, missing the 1943-1945 seasons for military service. He was chosen four times for the AL All Star team. In 1940, Tebbetts hit .296 and led all AL catchers in assists (89), errors (17) and double plays (10).
Catching duties were shared with Billy Sullivan, Jr.
Billy Sullivan, Jr.
William Joseph Sullivan, Jr. born in Chicago, Illinois was a catcher, first baseman and third baseman for the Chicago White Sox , Cincinnati Reds , Cleveland Indians , St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates...
. He hit .309 with a .399 on base percentage and .450 slugging percentage for the 1940 Tigers. Sullivan played in 5 of 7 games of the 1940 World Series
1940 World Series
The 1940 World Series matched the Cincinnati Reds against the Detroit Tigers, with the Reds winning the Series in seven games for their second championship, their first since the scandal-tainted victory in...
for the Tigers, scoring three runs with a .389 on base percentage. His father, Billy Sullivan, was also a catcher for the Tigers in 1916.
Infield: York, Gehringer, Bartell, and Higgins
First basemanFirst baseman
First base, or 1B, is the first of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a baserunner in order to score a run for that player's team...
Rudy York
Rudy York
Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
started as a catcher in 1937. In 1940, the Tigers persuaded Hank Greenberg to move to left field, allowing York to take over at first base. The experiment was successful, as York finished 2nd in the AL in RBIs (134), total bases (343), and extra base hits (85). He also finished 8th in the AL MVP voting, 3rd in the major leagues in times on base (279) and doubles (46) and 4th in the AL in slugging percentage (.583). York was among the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
leaders in home runs for 11 consecutive seasons from 1937–1947, and his .503 slugging percentage as a Tiger ranks #4 in franchise history.
Charlie Gehringer
Charlie Gehringer
Charles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
, known as "The Mechanical Man" for his quiet consistency, was the Tigers' second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
from 1924-1942. In 1940, the 37-year-old Gehringer hit .313, scored 198 runs, and was 4th in the major leagues in on base percentage (.428) and 3rd in AL in bases on balls (101).
Shortstop
Shortstop
Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball fielding position between second and third base. Shortstop is often regarded as the most dynamic defensive position in baseball, because there are more right-handed hitters in baseball than left-handed hitters, and most hitters have a tendency to pull the...
Dick Bartell
Dick Bartell
Richard William Bartell , nicknamed "Rowdy Richard," was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball. One of the most ferocious competitors of his era, he won both admirers and critics at each stop during a career which saw him traded every few seasons, often under acrimonious circumstances...
was known as one of the most ferocious competitors of his era. In 1940, he hit only .233 for the Tigers, but he had 76 walks boosting his on base percentage by 100 points to .335. He scored 76 runs and drove in 53 runs for the 1940 season. Bartell finished 12th in the AL MVP voting in 1940.
Third baseman
Third baseman
A third baseman, abbreviated 3B, is the player in baseball whose responsibility is to defend the area nearest to third base — the third of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run...
Pinky Higgins
Pinky Higgins
Michael Franklin "Pinky" Higgins 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 Red Sox during the period of through . He batted and threw right-handed.-Playing...
was the team's starting third baseman from 1939-1944. In 1940, he hit .271, drove in 76 runs, hit 13 home runs, and walked 61 times, boosting his on base percentage to .357.
Outfield: Greenberg, McCosky, Fox, Campbell, and Averill
Left fielderLeft fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
"Hammerin' Hank" Greenberg
Hank Greenberg
Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
was the team's and the league's MVP. He was awarded the AL Most Valuable Player award for the second time in his career, the first person to win the MVP award at two different positions (1935 at first base, 1940 at left field). In 1940, Greenberg led the major leagues in RBIs (150), extra base hits (99), slugging percentage (.670), OPS (1.103), total bases (384), doubles (50), and runs created (166). He also led the AL in home runs (41) and at bats per home run (14.0). He was 4th in AL in batting average (.340) and 2nd in the major leagues in on base percentage (.433), runs scored (134), and times on base (289). Greenberg was drafted into the military in early 1941 (one of the first major league players to be drafted) and lost parts of five seasons (1941–1945) to military service.
Center fielder
Center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball fielding position between left field and right field...
Barney McCosky
Barney McCosky
William Barney McCosky was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. From 1939 through 1953, he played for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians . McCosky batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
also had a tremendous year. For the 1940 season, McCosky led the major leagues in hits (200) and triples (19). He was also 3rd in the major leagues in runs scored (123), and 4th in the AL in times on base (268), 5th in the AL in batting (.340). In the World Series, he hit .304 (7-for-23) with five runs. McCosky finished 16th in the 1940 AL MVP voting. Since 1940, the only Tiger to exceed McCosky's 19 triples is Curtis Granderson in 2007.
Right fielder
Right fielder
A right fielder, abbreviated RF, is the outfielder in baseball or softball who plays defense in right field. Right field is the area of the outfield to the right of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Pete Fox
Pete Fox
Ervin "Pete" Fox was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played thirteen seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox ....
played 82 games in right field, hitting .289 with a .403 slugging percentage.
Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell (baseball)
Bruce Campbell was a professional baseball player from 1930 to 1942. Campbell began his career with the Chicago White Sox, but had very little playing time in the major leagues. In 1932, Campbell was traded from the White Sox to the St. Louis Browns, with Bump Hadley, for Red Kress. In St...
was traded to the Tigers in January 1940. Campbell played 74 games in right field for the Tigers, sharing the position with Pete Fox. During the regular season, Campbell hit .283 with a .381 on base percentgae and .448 slugging percentage. Campbell played all 7 games of the 1940 World Series and hit .360 with a slugging percentage of .520 in the Series, with a home run and five RBIs.
Hall of Famer Earl Averill
Earl Averill
Howard Earl Averill was an American player in Major League Baseball who was a center fielder from 1929 to 1941...
was acquired by the Tigers in 1938 and was a backup outfielder for the 1940 team. Averill retired in 1941.
Pitching: Newsom, Bridges, Rowe, Gorsica, Newhouser, and Trout
Bobo NewsomBobo Newsom
Louis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953...
finished 4th in the AL MVP voting in 1940 and was the ace of the Tigers' pitching staff. After losing on Opening Day, Bobo won 13 straight games during the regular season before injuring his thumb. He finished the season as the major league leader in Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
(167), second in the major leagues in strikeouts (164), and second in the AL in ERA (2.83), wins (21), and winning percentage (.808). Newsom gave a historic effort in the 1940 World Series, pitching three complete games with a 1.38 ERA. After watching his son win Game 1, Bobo's father died in a Cincinnati hotel. Bobo promised to win Game 5 for his father and shut out the Reds, 5-0. Newsom started Game 7 on only one day's rest, and held the Reds to 2 runs, but the Tigers scored only once. The Reds won the game and the World Series, but Newsom's performance was one of the greatest efforts in World Series history.
Schoolboy Rowe
Schoolboy Rowe
Lynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
finished 7th in the AL MVP voting in 1940 and was the AL leader in winning percentage (.842) with a 16-3 record. He started two games in the 1940 World Series. He lasted a combined 3-2/3 innings in his two starts and lost both games with an ERA of 17.18.
Tommy Bridges
Tommy Bridges
Thomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
was fourth in the AL in both strikeouts (133) and Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+
Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
(140). He was also second in the major leagues in strikeouts per 9 innings pitched (6.06). He started one game of the 1940 World Series, pitching a complete game for the win.
Closer Al Benton
Al Benton
John Alton Benton was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played with the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox ....
led the major leagues in saves (17) and was second in the major leagues in games finished (35).
Hal Newhouser
Hal Newhouser
Harold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
was the youngest player in AL in 1940 at age 19. The future two-time AL MVP started 20 games for the 1940 Tigers and had a record of 9-9.
Rookie Floyd Giebell
Floyd Giebell
Floyd George Giebell was an American Major League Baseball player who is best remembered as the pitcher who shut out Bob Feller and the Cleveland Indians in his third career start to clinch the American League pennant for the Detroit Tigers over the Indians.Born in Pennsboro, West Virginia,...
was one of the most interesting stories of the 1940 season. Giebell made his major league debut in September 1940 as a 30-year-old rookie. Giebel pitched a pair of complete game victories and gave up only two runs in 18 innings for an earned run average
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 1.00. On September 27, 1940, the Tigers needed one more win to clinch the pennant. With Bob Feller scheduled to pitch for the Indians, Detroit manager
Manager (baseball)
In baseball, the field manager is an individual who is responsible for matters of team strategy on the field and team leadership. Managers are typically assisted by between one and six assistant coaches, whose responsibilities are specialized...
Del Baker
Del Baker
Delmer David Baker was an American catcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. As a manager, he led the 1940 Detroit Tigers to the American League pennant...
decided to start Giebell rather than "waste" his aces Bobo Newsom
Bobo Newsom
Louis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953...
or Schoolboy Rowe
Schoolboy Rowe
Lynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
. Time magazine described Giebell at the time as "a gawky stringbean" — Geiebell was 6'2½" (189 cm) and 172 pounds (78 kg) —who "looked like a sacrificial lamb as he ambled out to the mound." But, as Time reported after the game, Giebell was "no lamb" that day. Instead, "[w]ith cunning change of pace and the control of an oldtimer, the green-as-grass rookie shut out the Indians 2-to-0." Feller gave up only 3 hits for the day, but one of them was a 2-run wind-blown home run by Rudy York
Rudy York
Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
. Giebell shut out the Indians for 9 innings in one of the great "David vs. Goliath" moments in baseball history.
Season chronology
- April 16: On Opening Day in Detroit, the Tigers draw the largest crowd, 49,417, in the major leagues. The Tigers lose to the St. Louis Browns, 5-1, as Detroit castoff Slick CoffmanSlick CoffmanGeorge David "Slick" Coffman was an American baseball pitcher. He played 18 years of professional baseball, including four years in Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers and St. Louis Browns . In his major league debut in May 1937, Coffman won in an 11-inning, 4-2 pitching duel with...
won over Bobo NewsomBobo NewsomLouis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953...
. - April 25: The Tigers beat the St. Louis Browns, 4-2, for their fourth consecutive win. Bobo Newsom got the win for Detroit. Elden AukerElden AukerElden le Roy Auker was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball noted for his submarine pitching style....
, who helped the Tigers win the 1935 World Series, was the losing pitcher from the Browns. - April 29: At Detroit‚ Bob FellerBob FellerOn December 8, 1941, Feller enlisted in the Navy, volunteering immediately for combat service, becoming the first Major League Baseball player to do so following the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 7. Feller served as Gun Captain aboard the USS Alabama, and missed four seasons during his service...
walked in the winning run in the 8th inning and lost to the Tigers‚ 4-3. Cotton PippenCotton PippenHenry Harold "Cotton" Pippen was a 6'2" Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher for three years with St. Louis Cardinals , Philadelphia Athletics , and Detroit Tigers . Pippen was born in Cisco, Texas , where his father was a rancher...
was the winner with 8-1/3 innings of relief. - May 20: Pinky HigginsPinky HigginsMichael Franklin "Pinky" Higgins 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 Red Sox during the period of through . He batted and threw right-handed.-Playing...
hit three consecutive home runs and drove in seven runs to lead Detroit to a 10-7 victory over the first place Red Sox. Jimmie FoxxJimmie FoxxJames Emory "Jimmie" Foxx , nicknamed "Double X" and "The Beast", was a right-handed American Major League Baseball first baseman and noted power hitter....
hit his 10th home run of the year‚ a 5th inning grand slam. - May 21: Jimmie Foxx hit a grand-slam for the second day in a row against Detroit in an 11-8 Red Sox win. Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
and Rudy YorkRudy YorkPreston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
homered for Detroit, while Wally MosesWally MosesWallace Moses was a right fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1935 through 1951, he played for the Philadelphia Athletics , Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox . Moses batted and threw left-handed...
had a pair of triples and 2 singles. - June 13: The Indians beat the Tigers‚ 3-2‚ in 11 innings‚ winning on Charlie GehringerCharlie GehringerCharles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
's throwing error. Cleveland had their best month of the year‚ settling into first place‚ which they will hold until the final two weeks of the season. - June 14: The Indians beat the Tigers, 8-0, as Johnny AllenJohnny Allen (baseball)John Thomas Allen was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball for the New York Yankees, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Browns, Brooklyn Dodgers, and New York Giants....
held the Tigers to two hits. - June 23: Bobo Newsom won his 9th straight game for the Tigers, holding the Yankees to four hits. The Tigers moved to a game and a half behind the first place Indians.
- June 27: Bobo Newsom (10-1) won his 10th in a row after losing on Opening Day, as the 2nd place Tigers beat St. Louis, 2-1. Detroit had only three hits, but two of them were home runs by Hank Greenberg and Charlie Gehringer.
- July 1: Bobo Newsom notched his 11th victory in a row‚ 3-1‚ over the White Sox.
- July 2: Detroit took over 1st place as the Indians lost to the Browns and the Tigers beat the White Sox‚ 10-9‚ taking advantage of 10 walks.
- July 4: The Tigers drew the largest crowd in their history‚ 56‚272‚ for the first-place showdown with the Indians. Detroit took the opener‚ 5-3‚ behind Tommy BridgesTommy BridgesThomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
’ complete game. The Indians bounced back to win the second game in 11 innings‚ 2-1‚ to regain first place. - July 6: The Tigers swept a pair from the Browns and moved within 2 percentage points of the Indians. In an 11-2 win‚ Bobo Newsom allowed three hits in winning his 12th straight complete game win. Johnny GorsicaJohnny GorsicaJohn Joseph Perry "Johnny" Gorsica, born John Joseph Perry Gorczyca was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played seven seasons for the Detroit Tigers from 1940-1947. Born in Bayonne, New Jersey, Gorsica went to West Virginia University before making his debut with the Tigers on April 22, 1940...
got the win for the Tigers in the second game. - July 7: The Tigers beat the St. Louis Browns, 5-2, to move into a tie for first place.
- July 13: In the second game of a doubleheader, Bobo Newsom won 13th straight game. Bobo allowed two hits in shutting out Washington‚ 4-0‚ in the nightcap of 2. The Tigers also won the opener and moved within a point of 1st place.
- July 17: Going for his 14th straight win‚ Bobo Newsom broke his right thumb in the 4th inning against Boston. Newsom was covering first and injured his thumb taking a throw from Rudy York. Newsom left with a 3-2 lead, and Al BentonAl BentonJohn Alton Benton was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played with the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox ....
took the loss, 8-3, in relief of Newsom in the first game of a double header. Detroit also lost the second game‚ 8-5‚ and dropped into a 2nd place tie with the Red Sox. The doctor predicted Newsom would be out four weeks but Bobo says 10 days. - July 18: A triple play and three walks in the final inning helped the Tigers top the Red Sox‚ 10-8‚ and return to first place.
- July 31: Detroit beat the Yankees, 7-6, in 11 innings to remains in a tie for first place with Cleveland. Pinky Higgins hit a bases-loaded triple in the 8th inning to make it 5-4, but the Yankees tied it. The Tigers won it in the 11th‚ with two walks by Lefty GomezLefty GómezVernon Louis "Lefty" Gomez was an American left-handed major league pitcher who played in the American League for the New York Yankees between 1930 and 1942. Considered one of the great pitchers of the day, Gomez was a seven-time All-Star and a five-time World Series Champion with the Yankees...
a game-winning single by Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
. - August 1, 1940: Red KressRed KressRalph "Red" Kress was a shortstop and coach in Major League Baseball. From through , he played for the St. Louis Browns , Chicago White Sox , Washington Senators , Detroit Tigers and New York Giants . Kress batted and threw right-handed...
was released by the Tigers. - August 2: In Detroit‚ the Red Sox beat the Tigers‚ 12-9. Shortstop Joe CroninJoe CroninJoseph Edward Cronin was a Major League Baseball shortstop and manager.During a 20-year playing career, he played from 1926–45 for three different teams, primarily for the Boston Red Sox. Cronin was a major league manager from 1933–47...
hit for the cycle for the second time in his career. Cronin’s 8th inning homer‚ off Archie McKainArchie McKainArchie Richard McKain , nicknamed "Happy," was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played six seasons with the Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , and St. Louis Browns . Born in Delphos, Kansas, McKain went 8-8 as a Red Sox rookie in 1937...
won it for the Sox. - August 5: St. Louis Browns pitcher John WhiteheadJohn Whitehead (baseball)John Henderson Whitehead , was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from –. He played for the Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Browns.-External links:...
pitched a 6-inning rain-shortened no-hitter against the Tigers‚ winning 4-0. The game was Whitehead’s only win in 1940, as an ankle injury sidelined him. Detroit won the first game of the double header‚ 9-2. - August 12: Cleveland and Detroit‚ deadlocked for first place (64-44)‚ met in a pitching duel between Bob Feller and Hal NewhouserHal NewhouserHarold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
. Cleveland won‚ 8-5‚ as Feller became the majors' first 20-game winner. - August 13: The Indians moved two2 games in front by beating the Tigers again‚ 6-5.
- August 24: The Tigers beat the Red Sox, 12-1, at Fenway Park. Ted WilliamsTed WilliamsTheodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
pitched the last two innings, allowing 3 hits and one run scored when third baseman Charlie GelbertCharlie GelbertCharles Magnus Gelbert was a professional baseball player. He played all or part of ten seasons in Major League Baseball for the St...
juggled a double play grounder. Williams struck out Tiger slugger Rudy York‚ who had driven in 5 Detroit runs, on three pitches - September 3: Detroit‚ in third place behind the Indians and Yankees‚ beat the Indians and Bob Feller, 7-2, at Briggs Stadium. Charlie Gehringer‚ Hank Greenberg and Bruce CampbellBruce Campbell (baseball)Bruce Campbell was a professional baseball player from 1930 to 1942. Campbell began his career with the Chicago White Sox, but had very little playing time in the major leagues. In 1932, Campbell was traded from the White Sox to the St. Louis Browns, with Bump Hadley, for Red Kress. In St...
all hit home runs. Schoolboy RoweSchoolboy RoweLynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
got the win. - September 4: In Detroit‚ the Tigers beat the Indians again, 11-2. Bruce Campbell and Charlie Gehringer both hit three-run home runs. Tommy Bridges and Al Benton combined for the win.
- September 6: Bobo Newsom won his 18th game as the Tigers handed Cleveland its 5th straight loss‚ 10-5. The Indians lead was reduced to one game.
- September 7: The Tigers beat the Browns 5-4‚ scoring three runs in the 9th inning to win. Hank Greenberg hits his 29th home run of the year. With the Indians losing their 6th straight game, the Tigers trailed by only .011 percentage points.
- September 9: The Indians lost their 7th straight, and the Tigers took over first place with the Yankees one game back.
- September 10: The Tigers lost to the Red Sox, 6-5 in 13 innings, and Cleveland moves back into first by .001 percentage points. Lefty GroveLefty GroveRobert Moses "Lefty" Grove was a professional baseball pitcher. After having success in the minor leagues during the early 1920s, Grove became a star in Major League Baseball with the American League's Philadelphia Athletics and Boston Red Sox, winning 300 games in his 17-year MLB career...
got the win over Bobo Newsom. - September 11: The Tigers beat the Red Sox, 11-7, to briefly take over first place. But the Yankees and Indians split a double-header in Cleveland. The day ended with three teams (Yankees, Indians, and Tigers) tied for first place.
- September 12: The Tigers beat the Yankees, 6-3, in Detroit. Hank Greenberg hit his 32nd home run.
- September 13: Tommy Bridges shut out the Yankees‚ 8-0‚ for his 16th victory and Detroit's 8th win in 9 games. Hank Greenberg hits his 33rd home run of the year.
- September 14: The Yankees beat the Tigers, 16-7, exploding on Bobo Newsom. Joe DiMaggioJoe DiMaggioJoseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
had two doubles among his four hits as he took over the AL batting lead from Rip RadcliffRip RadcliffRaymond Allen Radcliff was a Major League Baseball outfielder and first baseman. He played mainly for the Chicago White Sox, but also played for the St. Louis Browns and the Detroit Tigers. His best season came in when he batted .342 and finished 9th in AL MVP voting...
. The Tigers led the AL by a half game as Red Sox rookie Earl Johnson stopped the Indians‚ 2-1. - September 15: The Tigers lost, 6-1, to Washington knuckleballer Dutch LeonardDutch Leonard (right-handed pitcher)Emil John "Dutch" Leonard was an American professional baseball player. He played in in Major League Baseball as a right-handed knuckleball pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers , Washington Senators , Philadelphia Phillies , and Chicago Cubs...
. The Indians swept a double header from the A's‚ 5-0 and 8-5. Bob Feller pitched a one-hitter with no walks in the opener. - September 17: The Tigers beat Washington, 6-3, to regain first place. Schoolboy Rowe (15-3) got the win, and Rudy York hit his 29th home run.
- September 18: The Tigers split a double header with the A’s (14-0, 6-13), and Bob Feller won his 26th game as Cleveland swept the Senators, to push the Indians a half game ahead of the Tigers.
- September 19: The Tigers swept the A's‚ 13-2 and 10-1. Floyd GiebellFloyd GiebellFloyd George Giebell was an American Major League Baseball player who is best remembered as the pitcher who shut out Bob Feller and the Cleveland Indians in his third career start to clinch the American League pennant for the Detroit Tigers over the Indians.Born in Pennsboro, West Virginia,...
‚ 30‚ just up from Buffalo where he went 15-16‚ won the opener and Dizzy TroutDizzy TroutPaul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,...
won the second game. The Indians also won and with 8 games left‚ the Tigers and Indians are tied with equal records of 85-61. - September 20: The Tigers beat the Indians, 6-5, in Detroit. The Tigers score five runs off Bob Feller, who was pitching in relief. The Tigers failed to hit a home run for the first time in 18 games.
- September 21: With the Tigers‚ Indians‚ and Yankees in a tight pennant race‚ the Tigers beat the Indians, 5-0, behind the solid pitching of Schoolboy Rowe. Rowe got his 16th win, and the Tigers extended their lead to two games.
- September 22: The Indians beat the Tigers, 10-5, in front of 56,771 fans in Detroit. Bob Feller got the win. Hank Greenberg hit his 40th home run, but the Indians had home runs by Feller, Hal TroskyHal TroskyHarold Arthur Trosky, Sr., born Harold Arthur Trojovsky , was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago White Sox . Trosky was born in Norway, Iowa. He batted left-handed and threw right-handed.Trosky had a career .302 batting average, with a...
‚ Roy WeatherlyRoy WeatherlyCyril Roy Weatherly , was a professional baseball player who played outfielder in the Major Leagues from -. He would play for the Cleveland Indians, New York Giants, and New York Yankees.-External links:...
‚ Ben Chapman‚ and Ken KeltnerKen KeltnerKenneth Frederick Keltner was an American professional baseball player. He played almost his entire Major League Baseball career as a third baseman with the Cleveland Indians, until his final season when he played 13 games for the Boston Red Sox. He batted and threw right-handed...
. Detroit's lead was reduced to one game. - September 24: Former Tiger Elden AukerElden AukerElden le Roy Auker was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball noted for his submarine pitching style....
led the Red Sox over the Indians. - September 25: In Detroit‚ Bobo Newsom won both games of a double header against the White Sox. Detroit won the opener, 10-9, as Newsom pitched 2 innings of relief for his 20th win. Rudy York had the game-winning double in the 10th inning. Newsom pitched a complete game in the nightcap, a 3-2 win. Hank Greenberg hit his 41st home run and collected his 150th RBI. Detroit led by 2 games.
- September 27: In one of the most famous games in Tigers history, the Tigers needed one win to clinch the pennant. Bob Feller was set to start for the Indians at Cleveland. Detroit manager Del BakerDel BakerDelmer David Baker was an American catcher, coach and manager in Major League Baseball. As a manager, he led the 1940 Detroit Tigers to the American League pennant...
chose to start rookie Floyd Giebell against Feller. Giebell went the distance and beat Feller and the Indians, 2-0. Feller gave up only three hits, but one of the hits was a wind-blown two-run home run by Rudy York. During the game‚ unruly Cleveland fans showered the field with fruit and vegetables delaying the game. Hank Greenberg was hit by a tomato while in the field. At one point‚ a basket of green tomatoes was dropped into the Detroit bullpen, landing on Birdie TebbettsBirdie TebbettsGeorge Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from to...
' head and knocking him out for a few moments. The police caught the “fan” who dropped the basket of tomatoes on Tebbetts’ head. They brought Tebbetts to the holding area after the game, and allowed him to punch the unruly fan. - October 26: Hank Greenberg was named the AL MVP with 292 points. Greenberg also won the MVP honors in 1935 as a first baseman. Bob Feller was second in the MVP voting with 222 points.
Roster
| 1940 Detroit Tigers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers | Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 111 | 379 | 112 | .296 | 4 | 46 | |
| 1B | 155 | 588 | 186 | .316 | 33 | 134 | |
| 2B | 139 | 515 | 161 | .313 | 10 | 81 | |
| 3B | 131 | 480 | 130 | .271 | 13 | 76 | |
| SS | 139 | 528 | 123 | .233 | 7 | 53 | |
| OF | 148 | 573 | 195 | .340 | 41 | 150 | |
| OF | 143 | 589 | 200 | .340 | 4 | 57 | |
| OF | 93 | 350 | 101 | .289 | 5 | 48 |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 103 | 297 | 84 | .283 | 8 | 44 | |
| 78 | 220 | 68 | .309 | 3 | 41 | |
| 64 | 118 | 33 | .280 | 2 | 20 | |
| 33 | 99 | 22 | .222 | 1 | 11 | |
| 23 | 58 | 15 | .259 | 0 | 6 | |
| 37 | 57 | 6 | .105 | 0 | 2 | |
| 15 | 40 | 9 | .225 | 0 | 1 | |
| 26 | 37 | 9 | .243 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | 4 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1 | 1 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
Note: pitchers' batting statistics not included
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 36 | 264 | 21 | 5 | 2.83 | 164 | |
| 29 | 197.7 | 12 | 9 | 3.37 | 133 | |
| 27 | 169 | 16 | 3 | 3.46 | 61 | |
| 29 | 160 | 7 | 7 | 4.33 | 68 | |
| 28 | 133.3 | 9 | 9 | 4.86 | 89 | |
| 4 | 21.1 | 1 | 2 | 6.75 | 9 | |
| 2 | 18 | 2 | 0 | 1.00 | 11 |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 33 | 100.7 | 3 | 7 | 4.47 | 64 | |
| 17 | 76 | 3 | 7 | 5.68 | 32 | |
| 6 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 10.93 | 7 |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L= Losses; SV = Saves; GF = Games Finished; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | GF | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 42 | 6 | 10 | 17 | 35 | 4.42 | 50 | |
| 27 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 17 | 2.82 | 24 | |
| 26 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 10 | 4.69 | 25 | |
| 14 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 5.08 | 14 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 9.00 | 0 | |
| 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 | 1 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | ∞ | 0 |
World Series summary
The 1940 World Series1940 World Series
The 1940 World Series matched the Cincinnati Reds against the Detroit Tigers, with the Reds winning the Series in seven games for their second championship, their first since the scandal-tainted victory in...
featured the Detroit Tigers and the Cincinnati Reds
1940 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The team finished first in the National League with a record of 100-53, winning the pennant by 12 games over the Brooklyn Dodgers...
, with the Tigers losing in 7 games.
In Game 1, the Tigers beat the Reds, 7-2. It was the 10th straight World Series loss for a National League team. The Tigers scored five runs in the 2nd inning, and Bruce Campbell
Bruce Campbell (baseball)
Bruce Campbell was a professional baseball player from 1930 to 1942. Campbell began his career with the Chicago White Sox, but had very little playing time in the major leagues. In 1932, Campbell was traded from the White Sox to the St. Louis Browns, with Bump Hadley, for Red Kress. In St...
added a two-run home run. Bobo Newsom
Bobo Newsom
Louis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953...
held the Reds to eight hits. Newsom’s father, visiting from South Carolina, died in a Cincinnati
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
hotel room the day after watching his son win Game 1.
In Game 2, Bucky Walters
Bucky Walters
William Henry "Bucky" Walters was an American Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Walters played for the Boston Braves , Boston Red Sox , Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds...
gave the NL its first World Series game victory, 5-3, since Carl Hubbell
Carl Hubbell
Carl Owen Hubbell was an American baseball player. He was a member of the New York Giants in the National League from 1928 to 1943, and remained on the Giants' payroll for the rest of his life, long after their move to San Francisco.Twice voted the National League's Most Valuable Player, Hubbell...
beat the Yankees in 1937. Jimmy Ripple
Jimmy Ripple
James Albert "Jimmy" Ripple was an American professional baseball player who played as an outfielder in Major League Baseball for seven seasons from 1936 to 1943. He played for the New York Giants , the Brooklyn Dodgers , the Cincinnati Reds , and the Philadelphia Athletics...
hit a two-run home run in the 3rd inning, and Walters gave up only 3 hits.
In Game 3, the Tigers won, 7-3, before a crowd of almost 53,000 at Briggs Stadium. The Tigers had 9 hits and 19 total bases in the 7th and 8th innings off the Reds. Tommy Bridges
Tommy Bridges
Thomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
pitched a complete game.
In Game 4, the Reds won, 5-2. Paul Derringer
Paul Derringer
Samuel Paul Derringer was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three National League teams from 1931 to 1945, primarily the Cincinnati Reds....
‚ who had lost 4 World Series starts going back to 1931‚ finally got a win. Detroit starter Dizzy Trout
Dizzy Trout
Paul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,...
did not make it out of the third inning.
In Game 5, Bobo Newsom got the start for Detroit, just three days after his father’s death. Bobo said he was going to pitch the game for his dad. In front of 55,000 fans in Detroit, he shut out the Reds, as the Tigers won 8-0, and took a 3-2 lead in the Series.
In Game 6, Bucky Walters got the win for the Reds with a 4-0 shutout.
The final game was a heartbreaker for the Tigers, as Bobo Newsom was called on to start on only one day’s rest. Detroit got an unearned run in the 3rd inning to take a 1-0 lead. Newsom pitched well, allowing only two runs in the 7th inning. The Tigers scored only once, and the Reds won, 2-1.
| Game | Score | Date | Location | Attendance | Winning Pitcher | Losing Pitcher |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tigers – 7, Reds – 2 | October 2 | Crosley Field Crosley Field Crosley Field was a Major League Baseball park located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home field of the National League's Cincinnati Reds from 1912 through June 24, 1970, and the original Cincinnati Bengals football team, members of the second and third American Football League... |
31,793 | Bobo Newsom Bobo Newsom Louis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953... |
Paul Derringer Paul Derringer Samuel Paul Derringer was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three National League teams from 1931 to 1945, primarily the Cincinnati Reds.... |
| 2 | Tigers – 3, Reds – 5 | October 3 | Crosley Field Crosley Field Crosley Field was a Major League Baseball park located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home field of the National League's Cincinnati Reds from 1912 through June 24, 1970, and the original Cincinnati Bengals football team, members of the second and third American Football League... |
30,640 | Bucky Walters Bucky Walters William Henry "Bucky" Walters was an American Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Walters played for the Boston Braves , Boston Red Sox , Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds... |
Schoolboy Rowe Schoolboy Rowe Lynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies... |
| 3 | Reds – 4, Tigers – 7 | October 4 | Briggs Stadium | 52,877 | Tommy Bridges Tommy Bridges Thomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946... |
Jim Turner |
| 4 | Reds – 5, Tigers – 2 | October 5 | Briggs Stadium | 54,093 | Paul Derringer Paul Derringer Samuel Paul Derringer was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three National League teams from 1931 to 1945, primarily the Cincinnati Reds.... |
Dizzy Trout Dizzy Trout Paul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,... |
| 5 | Reds – 0, Tigers – 8 | October 6 | Briggs Stadium | 55,189 | Bobo Newsom Bobo Newsom Louis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953... |
Junior Thompson |
| 6 | Tigers – 0, Reds – 4 | October 7 | Crosley Field Crosley Field Crosley Field was a Major League Baseball park located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home field of the National League's Cincinnati Reds from 1912 through June 24, 1970, and the original Cincinnati Bengals football team, members of the second and third American Football League... |
30,481 | Bucky Walters Bucky Walters William Henry "Bucky" Walters was an American Major League Baseball All-Star pitcher. A native of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Walters played for the Boston Braves , Boston Red Sox , Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds... |
Schoolboy Rowe Schoolboy Rowe Lynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies... |
| 7 | Tigers – 1, Reds – 2 | October 8 | Crosley Field Crosley Field Crosley Field was a Major League Baseball park located in Cincinnati, Ohio. It was the home field of the National League's Cincinnati Reds from 1912 through June 24, 1970, and the original Cincinnati Bengals football team, members of the second and third American Football League... |
26,854 | Paul Derringer Paul Derringer Samuel Paul Derringer was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for three National League teams from 1931 to 1945, primarily the Cincinnati Reds.... |
Bobo Newsom Bobo Newsom Louis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953... |
Batting
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dick Bartell Dick Bartell Richard William Bartell , nicknamed "Rowdy Richard," was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball. One of the most ferocious competitors of his era, he won both admirers and critics at each stop during a career which saw him traded every few seasons, often under acrimonious circumstances... |
7 | 26 | 7 | .269 | 0 | 3 |
| Bruce Campbell Bruce Campbell (baseball) Bruce Campbell was a professional baseball player from 1930 to 1942. Campbell began his career with the Chicago White Sox, but had very little playing time in the major leagues. In 1932, Campbell was traded from the White Sox to the St. Louis Browns, with Bump Hadley, for Red Kress. In St... |
7 | 25 | 9 | .360 | 1 | 5 |
| Charlie Gehringer Charlie Gehringer Charles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers... |
7 | 28 | 60 | .214 | 0 | 1 |
| Hank Greenberg Hank Greenberg Henry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation... |
7 | 28 | 10 | .357 | 1 | 6 |
| Pinky Higgins Pinky Higgins Michael Franklin "Pinky" Higgins 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 Red Sox during the period of through . He batted and threw right-handed.-Playing... |
7 | 24 | 8 | .333 | 1 | 6 |
| Barney McCosky Barney McCosky William Barney McCosky was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. From 1939 through 1953, he played for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians . McCosky batted left-handed and threw right-handed... |
7 | 23 | 7 | .304 | 0 | 1 |
| Billy Sullivan Billy Sullivan, Jr. William Joseph Sullivan, Jr. born in Chicago, Illinois was a catcher, first baseman and third baseman for the Chicago White Sox , Cincinnati Reds , Cleveland Indians , St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates... |
5 | 13 | 2 | .154 | 0 | 0 |
| Birdie Tebbetts Birdie Tebbetts George Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from to... |
4 | 11 | 0 | .000 | 0 | 0 |
| Rudy York Rudy York Preston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama... |
7 | 26 | 6 | .231 | 1 | 2 |
Pitching
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bobo Newsom Bobo Newsom Louis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953... |
3 | 26 | 2 | 1 | 1.38 | 17 |
| Johnny Gorsica Johnny Gorsica John Joseph Perry "Johnny" Gorsica, born John Joseph Perry Gorczyca was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played seven seasons for the Detroit Tigers from 1940-1947. Born in Bayonne, New Jersey, Gorsica went to West Virginia University before making his debut with the Tigers on April 22, 1940... |
2 | 11.3 | 0 | 0 | 0.79 | 4 |
| Tommy Bridges Tommy Bridges Thomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946... |
1 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 3.00 | 5 |
| Clay Smith Clay Smith (baseball) Clay Jamieson Smith was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for two seasons. He played for the Cleveland Indians for four games in 1938 and the Detroit Tigers for 14 games in 1940. He pitched in the 1940 World Series, posting an ERA of 2.25 in the Series.Smith was born and died in... |
1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 2.25 | 1 |
| Schoolboy Rowe Schoolboy Rowe Lynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies... |
2 | 3.7 | 0 | 2 | 17.18 | 1 |
| Archie McKain Archie McKain Archie Richard McKain , nicknamed "Happy," was a left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played six seasons with the Boston Red Sox , Detroit Tigers , and St. Louis Browns . Born in Delphos, Kansas, McKain went 8-8 as a Red Sox rookie in 1937... |
1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3.00 | 0 |
| Dizzy Trout Dizzy Trout Paul Howard "Dizzy" Trout was a Major League Baseball pitcher primarily for the Detroit Tigers. Born in Sandcut, Indiana, he first played professionally in 1935 with the Terre Haute Tots in the Three-I League before signing with Detroit in 1939.Trout played for the Tigers for fourteen seasons,... |
1 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 9.00 | 1 |
| Fred Hutchinson Fred Hutchinson Frederick Charles Hutchinson was an American professional baseball player, a major league pitcher for the Detroit Tigers. He also was a manager for three major league teams... |
1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 | 1 |
Awards and honors
- Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
: AL Most Valuable Player award
1940 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
1940 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1940 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 8th playing of the mid-summer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 9, 1940 at Sportsman's Park in St. Louis, Missouri, the home of...
- Tommy BridgesTommy BridgesThomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
, pitcher - Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
, outfielder - Bobo NewsomBobo NewsomLouis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953...
, pitcher
League leaders
- Al BentonAl BentonJohn Alton Benton was a Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher who played with the Philadelphia Athletics , Detroit Tigers , Cleveland Indians and Boston Red Sox ....
: MLB leader in saves (17) - Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
: AL leader in home runs (41) - Hank Greenberg: MLB leader in RBIs (150)
- Hank Greenberg: MLB leader in extra base hits (99)
- Hank Greenberg: MLB leader in slugging percentage (.670)
- Hank Greenberg: MLB leader in OPS (1.103)
- Hank Greenberg: MLB leader in total bases (384)
- Hank Greenberg: MLB leader in doubles (50)
- Hank Greenberg: MLB leader in runs created (166)
- Hank Greenberg: AL leader in at bats per home run (14.0)
- Barney McCoskyBarney McCoskyWilliam Barney McCosky was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. From 1939 through 1953, he played for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians . McCosky batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
: MLB leader in hits (200) - Barney McCosky: MLB leader in triples (19)
- Bobo NewsomBobo NewsomLouis Norman Newsom was an American starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Also known as "Buck", Newsom played for a number of teams from 1929 through 1953...
: MLB leader in Adjusted ERA+Adjusted ERA+Adjusted ERA+, often simply abbreviated to ERA+ or ERA plus, is a pitching statistic in baseball. It adjusts a pitcher's earned run average according to the pitcher's ballpark and the ERA of the pitcher's league...
(167) - Schoolboy RoweSchoolboy RoweLynnwood Thomas "Schoolboy" Rowe was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball, primarily for the Detroit Tigers and Philadelphia Phillies...
: AL leader in winning percentage (.842) - Birdie TebbettsBirdie TebbettsGeorge Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from to...
: AL leader in assists (89), errors (17) and double plays (10) by a catcher
Players ranking among top 100 all time at position
The following members of the 1934 Detroit Tigers are among the Top 100 of all time at their position, as ranked by The New Bill James Historical Baseball AbstractThe Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract
The Bill James Historical Baseball Abstract is a reference-type book written by Bill James featuring an overview of baseball decade by decade, along with rankings of the top 100 players at each position. The original edition was published in 1985 by Villard Books, followed by The New Bill James...
in 2001:
- Birdie TebbettsBirdie TebbettsGeorge Robert "Birdie" Tebbetts was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and front office executive. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and the Cleveland Indians from to...
: 64th best catcher of all time - Hank GreenbergHank GreenbergHenry Benjamin "Hank" Greenberg , nicknamed "Hammerin' Hank" or "The Hebrew Hammer," was an American professional baseball player in the 1930s and 1940s. A first baseman primarily for the Detroit Tigers, Greenberg was one of the premier power hitters of his generation...
: 8th best first baseman of all time - Rudy YorkRudy YorkPreston Rudolph York was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Detroit Tigers , Boston Red Sox , Chicago White Sox and Philadelphia Athletics . York was born in Ragland, Alabama...
: 56th best first baseman of all time - Charlie GehringerCharlie GehringerCharles Leonard Gehringer , nicknamed “The Mechanical Man,” was a German-American Major League Baseball second baseman who played 19 seasons for the Detroit Tigers...
: 8th best second baseman of all time - Dick BartellDick BartellRichard William Bartell , nicknamed "Rowdy Richard," was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball. One of the most ferocious competitors of his era, he won both admirers and critics at each stop during a career which saw him traded every few seasons, often under acrimonious circumstances...
: 37th best shortstop of all time - Earl AverillEarl AverillHoward Earl Averill was an American player in Major League Baseball who was a center fielder from 1929 to 1941...
: 14th best center fielder of all time (played 64 games for 1940 Tigers) - Barney McCoskyBarney McCoskyWilliam Barney McCosky was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. From 1939 through 1953, he played for the Detroit Tigers , Philadelphia Athletics , Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians . McCosky batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
: 70th best center fielder of all time - Pete FoxPete FoxErvin "Pete" Fox was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played thirteen seasons in the American League with the Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox ....
: 96th best right fielder of all time (played 93 games for 1940 Tigers) - Bruce CampbellBruce Campbell (baseball)Bruce Campbell was a professional baseball player from 1930 to 1942. Campbell began his career with the Chicago White Sox, but had very little playing time in the major leagues. In 1932, Campbell was traded from the White Sox to the St. Louis Browns, with Bump Hadley, for Red Kress. In St...
: 98th best right fielder of all time (played 103 games for 1940 Tigers) - Tommy BridgesTommy BridgesThomas Jefferson Davis Bridges was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played his entire career with the Detroit Tigers from 1930 to 1946...
: 77th best pitcher of all time - Hal NewhouserHal NewhouserHarold "Prince Hal" Newhouser was an American pitcher for Major League Baseball who played 17 seasons from 1939 to 1955, mostly with the Detroit Tigers of the American League...
: 36th best pitcher of all time