More 1943 Baseball Season Highlights

Check out more 1943 baseball season highlights, including Jim Bagby Jr. topping the American League in innings and the Giants finishing last:

  • On June 17, Joe Cronin becomes the first to pinch-hit a homer in both games of a doubleheader.
  • Chicago White Sox Wally Moses and New York's Johnny Lindell tie for the American League lead in triples with 12 -- a new record-low for loop leader.
  • Spud Chandler and Detroit's Dizzy Trout tie for the American League lead in wins (20).
  • Spud Chandler leads in win percentage (.833) and ERA (1.64) and ties for the lead in shutouts (five).
  • Jim Bagby Jr. -- son of 30-game winner Jim Sr. -- tops the American League in innings (273).
  • During the 1943 baseball season, no pitcher in the American League has more than 20 complete games.
  • Cleveland's Allie Reynolds leads the American League in Ks with 151.
  • Cincinnati's Johnny Vander Meer repeats as National League K leader (174).
  • For the first time since 1927, major league homer total falls below 1,000.
  • The Cards hit .279 while no regular on the Yankees hits above .280.
  • The Cards' Max Lanier leads the National League in ERA at 1.90.
  • Cardinal Mort Cooper leads National League in win pct. (.724) and ties for lead in wins (21).
  • Washington's George Case wins his fifth consecutive American League theft crown (61).
  • George Case leads the American League in runs (102).
  • The Giants finish last for the first time since 1915.
  • To save on rubber, a new balata baseball is introduced.
  • There are no homers in the first 11 games of the season, and the new ball is shelved.
  • Mel Ott is second in the National League with 18 homers -- all 18 are hit in his home park.
  • The Chicago White Sox play 44 doubleheaders.
  • The Phils play a National League record 43 doubleheaders.
  • The bankrupt Phils franchise is sold to the National League for $50,000; Bill Cox becomes owner.
  • Guy Curtwright of the Chicago White Sox hits in 26 straight games, an American League rookie record.
  • The A's lose an American League record (since broken) 20 straight games.
  • On Sept. 16, Philly's Carl Scheib, age 16, becomes the youngest player ever to pitch in an American League game.
  • The American League wins the first All-Star Game played at night, 5-3 at Shibe Park.
  • Arky Vaughan quits the Dodgers at the end of the 1943 baseball season rather than continue to play under manager Leo Durocher.
  • During the season, Vaughan leads the National League in runs (112).
  • Detroit rookie Dick Wakefield tops the American League in hits (200) and doubles (38), and is second in batting (.316).
  • The American League has only three .300 hitters and only five above .290.
  • Ace Adams sets a new modern major league record with 70 mound appearances.

To learn more about baseball, see: