1943 in baseball



Champions

Major League Baseball

Other champions

Awards and honors

Statistical leaders

Any team shown in indicates a previous team a player was on during the season.
1 All-time single-season batting average record
2 Negro National League Triple Crown pitching winner

Negro league baseball final standings

All Negro leagues standings below are per Seamheads.

Negro American League final standings

This was the seventh season of the Negro American League. Birmingham and Chicago each won a half of the season, which therefore matched them up in a matchup to determine the champion for the NAL pennant to determine who would make the 1943 Negro World Series. Birmingham prevailed in five games to win their first ever pennant.

Negro National League postseason

  • Birmingham Black Barons over Chicago American Giants.

Negro National League final standings

This was the eleventh season of the second Negro National League. For the sixth time in seven seasons, the Homestead Grays won the pennant, this time under manager Candy Jim Taylor.

Negro World Series

Independent teams final standings

The Negro National League All Star team & Atlanta Black Crackers played against the two leagues.

Events

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

  • July 1 – The first All-American [Girls Professional Baseball League All-Star Team|AAGPBL All-Star Game]—and the first night game to be played at Wrigley Field—takes place under temporary lights. The game pits players from the Kenosha Comets and Racine Belles against those from the Rockford Peaches and South Bend Blue Sox.
  • July 3 – Boston Red Sox rookie outfielder Leon Culberson hits for the cycle in a 12–4 road victory over the Indians at Cleveland Stadium. Culberson's is the only "cycle" in the "organized" majors in 1943 and the first cycle in MLB to be completed by an inside the park home run.
  • July 10 – Brooklyn Dodgers manager Leo Durocher is forced to quell a mini-mutiny among his players after he suspends headstrong pitcher Bobo Newsom for insubordination and criticizes the hurler in a newspaper interview. Shortstop/third baseman Arky Vaughan, a future member of the Hall of Fame, strips off his uniform in support of Newsom and refuses to play. During a pregame team meeting, Dodger star Dixie Walker, angry at Newsom's treatment, also threatens to walk out.
  • *With Vaughan on the sidelines but Walker in the lineup, the Dodgers take the field, tally ten runs in the first inning, and thrash the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates, 23–6, the most runs scored in a single game by any MLB club during 1943.
  • *Vaughan will return to action for Brooklyn's July 11 doubleheader. Newsom, who is 9–4 in 22 appearances with six complete games, one shutout and one save, never pitches again for the Dodgers; he will be waived to the St. Louis Browns on July 15 for pitchers Archie McKain and Fritz Ostermueller.
  • July 11
  • *In the first game of a Braves Field doubleheader, Harry Gumbert fires the St. Louis Cardinals' fourth straight complete-game shutout in defeating Boston, 3–0. The Redbird staff's scoreless-innings-pitched streak will reach 42 before it's snapped in the first inning of Game 2 today.
  • *The arrival of the annual All-Star break sees the eventual pennant-winners fattening their leads. In the American League, the New York Yankees have overcome a poor start to July by winning their ninth game in 11 starts, to take a 4½-game lead over the Detroit Tigers. In the National League, the Cardinals have won 14 of 16 games since June 27 to leapfrog the quarreling Dodgers and build a five-game bulge.
  • July 13 – At Shibe Park, home of the Philadelphia Athletics, a near-capacity crowd of 31,938 witnesses a 5–3 American League win in the 1943 All-Star Game—the first Midsummer Classic to take place under the lights. Future Hall of Famer Bobby Doerr of the Boston Red Sox delivers the decisive blow, a three-run homer in the second inning. The game raises $115,000 for the "Bat and Ball Fund," which buys baseball equipment for servicemen. The first pitch is delayed to 9 p.m. local time to enable the BBC to carry the game live by shortwave to Allied military personnel across the globe.
  • July 16 – The New York Giants claim Joe Medwick off waivers from the Brooklyn Dodgers. The future Hall-of-Fame outfielder, 31, is a nine-time NL All-Star.
  • July 21 – Stan Musial, playing only his second full big-league season, enjoys his first career five-hit game, knocking in four runs in the St. Louis Cardinals' 14–6 triumph over the visiting Giants in the second game of a twin bill. Musial, 22, becomes the ninth of 11 MLB players to make five hits in a game in 1943, but the feat is noteworthy becomes it comes during one of his most dominant seasons as a batsman; he will lead the NL in 12 key offensive categories, including base hits, and register six four-hit games. He'll also win his first Most Valuable Player Award.
  • July 27 – His once-promising debut season ruined by a 9–23 record during July, the Philadelphia Phillies' impulsive new owner, William D. Cox, fires manager Bucky Harris and replaces him with veteran pitcher Fred Fitzsimmons, released by the Brooklyn Dodgers to take the assignment.
  • *The firing threatens to spark a full-scale player mutiny against the 33-year-old Cox, whose bad behavior includes offering unsolicited batting tips, criticizing players in the press, and notifying reporters about Harris's dismissal without telling Harris himself. Cox has also been forced to publicly apologize to Ford Frick for questioning the NL president's integrity. The Phillies' playing roster presents a petition threatening to strike, but withdraw their protest when Cox apologizes to Harris at a clubhouse meeting. They then take the field and defeat the first-place Cardinals, 6–4, to break the Redbirds' 11-game winning streak.
  • *The repercussions of the dismissal will still prove significant. Harris is summoned to a meeting with Commissioner of Baseball Kenesaw Mountain Landis, and the fired manager will become an influential prosecution witness in Landis's probe into reports that Cox is betting on Phillies games.
  • July 31 – The Dodgers, who've faded to 10½ games behind the front-running St. Louis Cardinals, deal hot-tempered pitcher Johnny Allen and NL MVP Dolph Camilli to the arch-enemy New York Giants for pitchers Bill Lohrman and Bill Sayles and infielder Joe Orengo. Although Camilli, 36, refuses to report—later admitting "I hated the Giants"—the trade will stand.

August

September

October

November

December

Births

January

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

September

October

November

December

Deaths

January

  • January 3 – Bid McPhee, 83, Hall of Fame second baseman who played his entire 18-year career with the Cincinnati Reds, beginning in 1882 when the organization was a part of the American Association and called the Red Stockings. Widely regarded as one of the best defensive second basemen in the 19th century, even though he took the field without benefit of a glove, McPhee retired in 1899 with a career.272 batting average, 2,258 hits, 1,684 runs, 189 triples, 568 stolen bases and a.944 fielding average, while also managing the Reds in 1901 and 1902.
  • January 3 – Jack Rafter, 67, catcher who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in its 1904 season.
  • January 7 – Ted Welch, 50, who appeared in three games as a relief pitcher for the St. Louis Terriers of the Federal League in 1914.
  • January 8 – John Titus, 66, outfielder who played from 1903 through 1912 with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Boston Braves.
  • January 12 – Bill Webb, 47, whose professional career lasted for 14 seasons, beginning as a second baseman for the Pittsburgh Pirates in 1916 and ending in 1930, becoming a manager in the minor leagues after that, and later serving the Chicago White Sox as a coach and farm system director from 1935 until his death.
  • January 23 – Farmer Weaver, 77, outfielder who played from 1888 to 1894 for the Louisville Colonels and Pittsburgh Pirates.
  • January 24 – Pat O'Connell, 81, center fielder who played for the Baltimore Orioles of the American Association during the 1886 season.

February

  • February 3 – Jake Virtue, 77, first baseman who played from 1890 through 1894 for the Cleveland Spiders.
  • February 4 – Frank Dwyer, 74, pitcher for five teams in a span of twelve years from 1888 to 1899, who posted a 176–152 record and a 3.85 ERA in 365 pitching appearances, including two 20-win season, 12 shutouts and 270 complete games.
  • February 7 – Floyd Ritter, 72, backup catcher for the 1890 Toledo Maumees of the American Association.
  • February 8 – Dan Casey, 80, pitcher who posted a 96–90 record with a 2.18 earned run average for four teams in seven seasons from 1884 to 1890, twice winning more than 20 games for the Philadelphia Quakers, while leading the National League in 1887 in both ERA and shutouts, and ending third in W–L% and fourth in wins.
  • February 11 – Ralph McLaurin, 57, fourth outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1908 season.
  • February 12 – Bart Cantz, 83, catcher who played from 1888 through 1890 with the Baltimore Orioles and the Philadelphia Athletics of the American Association.
  • February 15 – John Deering, pitcher who played in 1903 with the Detroit Tigers and the New York Highlanders of the American League.
  • February 17 – Hippo Galloway, 60, turn-of-the-century player for the Cuban X-Giants, considered the first black Canadian to play organized baseball.

March

  • March 2 – Earle Gardner, 59, backup infielder who played from 1908 through 1912 for the New York Highlanders of the American League.
  • March 3 – Bill Whaley, 44, outfielder for the 1923 St. Louis Browns of the American League.
  • March 6 – Jimmy Collins, 73, Hall of Fame third baseman and manager who spent the majority of his fourteen-year Major League career in Boston with either the Beaneaters and the Americans; a fine hitter but best remembered for his defensive play at third base, whether it setting up defensively away from the bag or mastering the art of defense against the bunt; a.300 hitter five times, with a high of.346 in 1897, he won the National League home run crown with 15 in 1898, driving in well over 100 runs in both seasons and scoring more than 100 runs four times; specifically credited with having developed the barehanded pickup and off-balance throw to first base in defending bunts, his 601 total chances accepted at third base in 1899 remain a National League record, additionally leading his league's third basemen in putouts five times, assists four times, double plays twice, he still stands second all-time in career putouts at third base, and also managed the Americans to two American League pennants and a triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first modern World Series in 1903.
  • March 13 – Earl Smith, 52, corner outfielder and third baseman for the Chicago Cubs, St. Louis Browns and Washington Senators in seven seasons from 1916 through 1923.
  • March 20 – Heinie Wagner, 62, shortstop who played for the New York Giants and the Boston Red Sox in a span of 14 seasons from 1902 to 1918, and later managed the Red Sox in 1930.
  • March 21 – Joe Daly, 74, outfielder and catcher for the Philadelphia Athletics, Cleveland Spiders and Boston Beaneaters during three seasons from 1890 to 1892.
  • March 30 – Tex McDonald, 52, right fielder who played from 1912 to 1913 with the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Braves of the National League, and for the Pittsburgh Rebels and Buffalo Buffeds/Blues of the Federal League from 1914 to 1915.

April

  • April 1 – Pat Deasley, 85, Irish bare-handed catcher who played from 1881 through 1888 for the Boston Red Caps, St. Louis Browns, New York Giants and Washington Nationals.
  • April 11 – Tom Knowlson, 47, pitcher for the 1915 Philadelphia Athletics.
  • April 22 – Kirby White, 59, pitcher for the Boston Doves and the Pittsburgh Pirates in three seasons from 1909 to 1911.
  • April 23 – Cliff Curtis, 61, pitcher who played for the Boston Doves/Rustlers, Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and Brooklyn Dodgers during five seasons from 1909 to 1913.
  • April 26:
  • *Bob Emslie, 84, Canadian umpire who set records with 35 seasons of officiating and over 1,000 games worked single-handedly; previously, as a pitcher, won 32 games for the 1884 Baltimore Orioles of the American Association.
  • *Gene McCann, 66, pitcher for the Brooklyn Superbas in the 1901 and 1902 seasons.
  • April 28 – Dennis Berran, 55, outfielder for the 1912 Chicago White Sox.
  • April 29 – Elijah Jones, 61, pitcher who played for the Detroit Tigers in 1907 and 1909.

May

  • May 6 – William J. Slocum, 59, sportswriter and editor for several New York newspapers since 1910.
  • May 7 – Bill Coughlin, 64, infielder who played for the Washington Senators and Detroit Tigers in a span of nine seasons from 1899 to 1908, as well as the only player to play for the Senators' National League club in its final season of 1899, and join the newly formed Senators for their 1901 inaugural season in the American League.
  • May 10:
  • *Ginger Clark, 64, pitcher who played for the 1902 Cleveland Bronchos of the American League.
  • *Joe Werrick, 81, third baseman who played with the St. Paul Saints of the Union Association in 1884, and for the Louisville Colonels of the American Association from 1886 to 1888.
  • May 13:
  • *Jack Hendricks, 68, outfielder who played from 1902 to 1903 for the New York Giants, Chicago Orphans and Washington Senators, and later managed the St. Louis Cardinals in 1918 and the Cincinnati Reds from 1924 to 1929.
  • *Pat Malone, 40, pitcher who posted a 115–79 record for the 1928–1934 Chicago Cubs, then a 19–13 mark for the 1935–1937 New York Yankees; led National League in wins with 22 in 1929 and 20 in 1930; NL strikeout leader in 1930; member of 1936 and 1937 World Series champions.
  • May 14 – Bob Allen, 75, shortstop for the Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Beaneaters and Cincinnati Reds in five seasons spanning 1890–1897, as well as a manager for two brief stints with the Phillies in 1890 and Cincinnati in 1900.
  • May 22:
  • *Red Bowser, 61, backup outfielder for the 1910 Chicago White Sox.
  • *Bob Wood, 77, backup catcher who played for the Cincinnati Reds, Cleveland Blues, Cleveland Bronchos and Detroit Tigers, in a span of seven seasons from 1898 to 1905.
  • May 28 – Henri Rondeau, 56, outfielder and catcher in a 17-year career from 1909 to 1925, including parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball for the Detroit Tigers in 1913 and the Washington Senators from 1915 to 1916, while playing in all or parts of 12 seasons with the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association.
  • May 29 – Pat Wright, 74, second baseman who played in one game He played in one game for the Chicago Colts of the National League in 1890.

June

  • June 14 – Fred Kommers, 57, outfielder who spent the 1913 season with the Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League, before moving to the outlaw Federal League to play for the St. Louis Terriers and Baltimore Terrapins in 1914.
  • June 19 – Art Goodwin, 67, pitcher who made one appearance with the New York Highlanders in 1905.
  • June 21 – Chet Chadbourne, 58, outfielder for the Boston Red Sox, Kansas City Packers and Boston Braves, who became a Minor League institution after collecting 3,216 hits over 21 seasons, as well as managing and umpiring at the same level.
  • June 30 – Mike McDermott, 80, pitcher who played from 1895 through 1897 for the Louisville Colonels, Cleveland Spiders and St. Louis Browns of the National League.

July

  • July 14 – George Pechiney, 81, pitcher who played from 1885 to 1897 for the Cleveland Blues and Cincinnati Red Stockings of the American Association.
  • July 26 – Tom Gettinger, 74, outfielder who played from 1889 to 1890 with the St. Louis Brown Stockings, and then for the Louisville Colonels in 1895.
  • July 30 – Charlie Fritz, 61, pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Athletics during the 1907 season.

August

  • August 11 – Fred Woodcock, 75, pitcher for the 1892 Pittsburgh Pirates of the National League.
  • August 14 – Joe Kelley, 71, Hall of Fame outfielder who along with John McGraw, Willie Keeler and Hughie Jennings made up the Big Four of the great Baltimore Orioles teams of the middle 1890s, playing on six pennant-winning teams during his 17-year stint in the Major Leagues and finishing with a.317 career batting average, 443 stolen bases,.402 on-base percentage and 194 triples, also driving in 100 or more runs in five straight seasons and scoring over 100 runs six times, while posting a lifetime.955 fielding percentage in the outfield to go along with 212 assists.
  • August 15 – Art Whitney, 85, third baseman and shortstop who played for eight teams during eleven seasons from 1880 to 1891, also a member of the New York Giants clubs that won the World Series in 1888 and 1889.
  • August 16 – Beals Becker, 57, outfielder for five teams during eight seasons spanning 1908–1915, who made a name for himself in the Major Leagues as a dangerous slugger, ranking four times among the top-ten in home runs in the National League, while becoming the first player to hit two pinch-hit home runs in a single season, and the first to hit two inside-the-park homers in the same game.
  • August 27 – Frank Truesdale, 59, second baseman who played from 1910 to 1918 for the St. Louis Browns, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox.

September

  • September 1:
  • *Joe Connolly, 59, left fielder for the Boston Braves from 1913 through 1916, who was the offensive star of the 1914 Miracle Braves World Champions.
  • *Eddie Matteson, 58, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1914 and the Washington Senators in 1918.
  • September 4 – Harry Hardy, 67, pitcher for the Washington Senators in the 1905 and 1906 seasons.
  • September 5 – Cecil Ferguson, 60, pitcher for the New York Giants and the Boston Doves/Rustlers in six seasons from 1906 to 1911, who led the National League in saves in 1906.
  • September 11 – Blaine Durbin, 57, pitcher who played from 1907 to 1909 with the Chicago Cubs, Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates.
  • September 14 – Bill Murray, 50, second baseman for the 1917 Washington Senators.
  • September 22 – Larry Hesterfer, 65, pitcher for the New York Giants during the 1901 season, who is best known as the only player to have hit into a triple play in his first at bat in Major League history.

October

  • October 15 – Joe Rickert, 66, outfielder who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the 1898 season and the Boston Beaneaters in 1901.
  • October 23 – Heinie Peitz, 72, catcher for four teams in a span of 16 seasons from 1892 to 1913, who formed part of the famed Pretzel Battery along with pitcher Ted Breitenstein while playing for the St. Louis Browns and the Cincinnati Reds in the 1890s.
  • October 30 – Frank Whitney, 87, outfielder who played for the Boston Red Caps in the 1876 season.

November

December

  • December 3 – Mike Grady, 73, catcher who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, St. Louis Browns, New York Giants, Washington Senators and St. Louis Cardinals, during eleven seasons between 1894 and 1906.
  • December 6:
  • *Charley Hall, 59, who pitched for the Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers in nine seasons between 1906 and 1918, and also was a member of the 1912 World Champion Red Sox.
  • *George Magoon, 68, middle infielder who played in the National League with the Brooklyn Bridegrooms, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago Orphans and Cincinnati Reds, and for the American League's Chicago White Sox in a span of six seasons from 1898 to 1903.
  • December 18 – Bill Conway, 82, catcher who entered the National League in 1884 with the Philadelphia Quakers, appearing in one game for them before playing seven games with the Baltimore Orioles in 1886.
  • December 19 – Bill Bergen, 65, fine defensive catcher who played from 1901 through 1911 with the Cincinnati Reds, and for the Brooklyn's Superbas and Dodgers clubs from 1904 to 1911.
  • December 21:
  • *Jim Cudworth, 85, outfielder and first baseman who played for the Kansas City Cowboys of the Union Association in 1884.
  • *Jack Warner, 71, catcher who played for the Boston Beaneaters, Louisville Colonels, New York Giants, Boston Americans, St. Louis Cardinals, Detroit Tigers and Washington Senators in 14 seasons from 1895 through 1908, and was also a member of the 1904 World Champion Giants.
  • December 28 – Steve Evans, 58, outfielder who played in the National League with the New York Giants in 1908 and the St. Louis Cardinals from 1910 through 1913, and for the Brooklyn Tip-Tops and Baltimore Terrapins of the Federal League from 1914 to 1915.