More 1940 Baseball Season Highlights

Following are more highlights from the 1940 baseball season, including who led the leagues in various slugging departments.

  • Frank McCormick ties the National League record when he leads loop in hits (191) for a third consecutive season.
  • Reds win a major league record 41 one-run games.
  • ­The sacrifice fly rule is again abolished.
  • Johnny Mize paces the National League in every major slugging department except OBP.
  • Ted Williams leads the American League in runs (134) and OBP (.442) and is third in batting (.344).
  • Hank Greenberg tops majors in RBI (150), doubles (50), runs produced (238), SA (.670), and total bases (384).
  • Bob Feller tops majors in CGs (31) and AL in ERA (2.62).
  • Bucky Walters tops the National League in wins (22) for the second year in a row.
  • Walters leads the National League in CGs (29), innings (305), and ERA (2.48).
  • Detroit's Rudy York, second in American League in RBI with 134, combines with teammate Greenberg for 284 RBI.
  • Phils and A's both lose 100 or more games and finish last.
  • Cleveland shortstop Lou Boudreau has 101 RBI and tops AL shortstops in assists, DPs, and FA.
  • On Sept. 24, Red Sox became the first American League team to club four homers in one inning.
  • On April 30, Dom DiMaggio of the Red Sox ties American League record by scoring five runs in a game.
  • The Cards swap Mickey Owen to Brooklyn for Gus Mancuso and $65,000.
  • The Cards send Ducky Medwick and Curt Davis to Brooklyn for four players and $125,000.
  • Cubs finish below .500 for the first time in 15 years.
  • Walt Judnich's 24 homers set a record for a St. Louis Browns rookie.
  • Yankee Frank Crosetti leads the American League in being hit by the pitch a record fifth consecutive year.
  • Forty-three minor leagues begin the season -- a new record.
  • Cincinnati's Harry Craft sets a major league record for outfielders with a .997 fielding average.
  • Reds catcher Willard Hershberger commits suicide.
  • Pittsburgh's Arky Vaughan leads the National League in triples (15) and runs (113).
  • Hack Wilson ties Frank McCormick for National League lead in hits (191).
  • McCormick tops National League in doubles (44).
  • Pittsburgh's Elbie Fletcher leads the National League in OBP (.418) after walking a major league-leading 119 times.
  • Cincinnati's Lonnie Frey leads the National League in thefts with 22.
  • Washington's George Case again leads the American League in steals (35).
  • Brownie Rip Radcliff and Tiger Barney McCosky tie for American League lead in hits with an even 200.
  • McCosky's 19 triples lead the majors.
  • McCosky and Greenberg both hit .340 for Detroit.
  • Yankee Charlie Keller leads the American League in walks with 106.
  • Detroit's Schoolboy Rowe leads the American League in win percentage. (.842).
  • Brooklyn's Freddie Fitzsimmons tops the National League in win percentage. (.889)

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