1931 Baseball Season

by the Editors of Publications International, Ltd.
More 1931 Baseball Season Highlights

Following are more highlights from the 1931 baseball season, including Lou Gehrig's American League RBI crown and Babe Ruth's final home run crown.

  • The American League's Lefty Grove becomes the last southpaw to win 30 games in a season, as he cops 31.

  • Grove's .886 win pct. is the best in history by a 30-game winner.

  • Lou Gehrig has a major league record 301 runs produced.

  • Gehrig sets an American League record with 184 RBI.

  • Gehrig also tops the American League in hits (211), runs (163), and total bases (410).

  • Babe Ruth wins his last home run crown by tying with Gehrig (46).

  • Ruth leads the league in OBP (.495), SA (.700), and walks (128).

  • Lefty Grove tops the majors in Ks (175), win pct. (.886), and ERA (2.06), and ties in CGs (27).

  • Bill Walker of the Giants wins his second National League ERA title (2.26).

  • The Yankees have a record six men who score 100 or more runs.

  • The Yankees score a major league record 1,067 runs.

  • Cleveland's Wes Ferrell hits a season record nine home runs while serving as a pitcher.

  • Ferrell ties Grove for the American League lead in CGs (27) and is second in wins (22).

  • The American League rules that all teams must have numbers on their uniforms.

  • On July 17, the White Sox beat the Browns 10-8 in 12 innings; no strikeouts are thrown in the game.

  • The sacrifice fly rule is abolished.

  • Balls bouncing over or going through a fence, heretofore considered home runs, are now ruled doubles.

  • Earl Webb of the Red Sox hits a major league record 67 doubles.

  • Lefty Grove wins an American League record 16 straight games during the season.

  • Bobby Burke of Washington no-hits Boston on August 8.

  • Wes Ferrell no-hits St. Louis on April 29.

  • Lou Gehrig hits a record three grandslams in a four-day period.

  • Brooklyn's Babe Herman hits for the cycle twice during the season -- the first Major League Baseball player to do so.

  • On August 5 vs. Washington, Detroit's Tommy Bridges loses a perfect game with two out in the ninth.
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