The 1947 major league baseball season began on April 15, 1947. The regular season ended on September 28, with the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 44th World Series on September 30 and ended with Game 7 on October 6. In the second iteration of this Subway Series World Series matchup, the Yankees defeated the Dodgers, four games to three, capturing their 11th championship in franchise history, since their previous in . Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the St. Louis Cardinals from the season.

The 14th All-Star Game was held on July 8 at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois, home of the Chicago Cubs. The American League won, 2–1.

The 1947 season is most notable as the year that the baseball color line broke, thanks to the Brooklyn Dodgers starting Jackie Robinson on Opening Day.

Integration: Breaking the color line

On April 15, Opening Day for the National League's Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson was in the Dodgers' lineup, playing first base against the Boston Braves at Ebbets Field. His appearance in a major league game broke the baseball color line, the practice of excluding players of black African descent. Though he endured epithets and death threats, as well as a slow start, his skill would earn him the first ever Rookie of the Year award, named in Robinson's honor 40 years later.

Halfway through the season on July 5, the American League's Cleveland Indians debuted Larry Doby, becoming the first black player in the American League and breaking the AL color line. Doby was a more low-key figure, suffered many of the same indignities that Robinson did, albeit with less press coverage.

Kansas City Monarchs star Willard Brown and teammate Hank Thompson briefly played for the St. Louis Browns, becoming the third and fourth Black players in either the NL or AL, and made the St. Louis Browns the first of either the NL or AL to field two Black players on one roster. Brown was the first black player to hit a home run in the American League.

Schedule

The 1947 schedule consisted of 154 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had eight teams. Each team was scheduled to play 22 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place since the season (except for ) and would be used until in the American League and in the National League.

Opening Day took place on April 15, featuring all sixteen teams, continuing the trend from . The final day of the regular season was on September 28, which also saw all sixteen teams play, continuing the trend from the previous season. This was the first time since that all sixteen teams played their first and last games on the same days. The World Series took place between September 30 and October 6.

Rule changes The 1947 season saw the following rule changes: Regarding salaries and pensions, major-league players would be guaranteed: A minimum salary of $5,000 (). A limitation on pay cuts to a maximum of 25% $25 per week () in living expenses during spring training The creation of a pension plan. Said plan was to be funded by each player contributing $250 per year (), a sum that would be matched by his owner. Proceeds from the World Series broadcasting and the All-Star Game would go to the pension plan. A team claiming a player through waiver calls on the third call would get said player. Previously, owners had been able to retain players put on waivers, regardless of whether another team claimed them or not. The Commissioner of Baseball could no longer unilaterally rule on items "detrimental" to baseball on minor-leagues, and now followed the major-league rule that was implemented the previous season, that the commissioner had the authority to determine when a rule or act was harmful to baseball and to block the implementation of such a rule. A new Major-Minor League Agreement established a classification labeled Bonus Players for both the major and minors. The designation was assigned to newly signed players who were paid bonus money above defined amounts. The fixed minimum amount that would trigger a bonus classification ranged from $600 () in Class D to $6,000 () in the majors. A Bonus Player would retain the label for his career. If he was optioned to a lower classification or playing level, he would be subject to an unrestricted draft.

Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park35,500Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park47,400Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium78,811Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium70,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,166St. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park31,250Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium32,000Boston BravesBoston, MassachusettsBraves Field36,706Brooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field34,219Chicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field38,396Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field30,101New York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds54,500Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,166Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field33,730St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park31,250

Standings

American League

National League

Tie games 11 tie games (7 in AL, 4 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season.

American League Boston Red Sox, 3 Chicago White Sox, 1 Cleveland Indians, 3 Detroit Tigers, 4 New York Yankees, 1 Philadelphia Athletics, 2

National League Brooklyn Dodgers, 1 Chicago Cubs, 1 New York Giants, 1 Philadelphia Phillies, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 2 St. Louis Cardinals, 2

Postseason The postseason began on September 30 and ended on October 6 with the New York Yankees defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1947 World Series in seven games.

Bracket

Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBrooklyn DodgersLeo DurocherClyde SukeforthCincinnati RedsHank GowdyJohnny NeunNew York YankeesJohnny NeunBucky HarrisPittsburgh PiratesSpud DavisBilly HermanSt. Louis BrownsZack TaylorMuddy Ruel

In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBrooklyn DodgersClyde SukeforthBurt ShottonPittsburgh PiratesBilly HermanBill Burwell

League leaders American League

+ Hitting leadersStat PlayerTotal AVG Ted Williams1 (BOS) .343 OPS Ted Williams (BOS) 1.133 HR Ted Williams1 (BOS) 32 RBI Ted Williams1 (BOS) 114 R Ted Williams (BOS) 125 H Johnny Pesky (BOS) 207 SB Bob Dillinger (SLB) 34 1 American League Triple Crown batting winner

+ Pitching leadersStat PlayerTotal W Bob Feller (CLE) 20 L Hal Newhouser (DET) 17 ERA Joe Haynes (CWS) 2.42 K Bob Feller (CLE) 196 IP Bob Feller (CLE) 299.0 SV Ed Klieman (CLE)Joe Page (NYY) 17 WHIP Bob Feller (CLE) 1.194

National League

+ Hitting leadersStat PlayerTotal AVG Harry Walker (PHI/STL) .363 OPS Ralph Kiner (PIT) 1.055 HR Ralph Kiner (PIT)Johnny Mize (NYG) 51 RBI Johnny Mize (NYG) 138 R Johnny Mize (NYG) 137 H Tommy Holmes (BSN) 191 SB Jackie Robinson (BRO) 29

+ Pitching leadersStat PlayerTotal W Ewell Blackwell (CIN) 22 L Johnny Schmitz (CHC) 18 ERA Warren Spahn (BSN) 2.33 K Ewell Blackwell (CIN) 193 IP Warren Spahn (BSN) 289.2 SV Hugh Casey (BRO) 18 WHIP Warren Spahn (BSN) 1.136

Milestones Batters Cycles

Bobby Doerr (BOS): Doerr hit for his second cycle and 12th in franchise history, on May 13 against the Chicago White Sox. Vic Wertz (DET): Wertz hit for his first cycle and fifth in franchise history, in game one of a doubleheader on September 14 against the Washington Senators.

Other batting accomplishments Walker Cooper (NYG): Tied a Major League record by becoming the fourth player and second National League player to hit home runs in six consecutive games between June 22 and 28.

Pitchers No-hitters

Ewell Blackwell (CIN): Blackwell threw his first career no-hitter and ninth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Boston Braves 6–0 on June 18. Blackwell walked four and struck out three. Don Black (CLE): Black threw his first career no-hitter and eighth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Philadelphia Athletics 3–0 in game one of a doubleheader on July 10. Black walked six and struck out five. Bill McCahan (PHA): McCahan threw his first career no-hitter and fifth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Washington Senators 3–0 on September 3. McCahan walked none and struck out two.

Awards and honors

Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the Year Jackie Robinson (BRO) —Most Valuable Player Bob Elliott (BSN) Joe DiMaggio (NYY)

Other awards The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League Player of the Year — Ted Williams (BOS) Rookie of the Year Jackie Robinson (BRO) — Manager of the Year — Bucky Harris (NYY) Executive of the Year Branch Rickey (BRO) —

Baseball Hall of Fame

Carl Hubbell Frankie Frisch Mickey Cochrane Lefty Grove

Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceNew York Yankees9711.5%2,178,937 −3.8%28,298Brooklyn Dodgers94 −2.1%1,807,5260.6%23,173New York Giants8132.8%1,600,79331.2%21,063Cleveland Indians8017.6%1,521,97844.0%19,513Boston Red Sox83 −20.2%1,427,3150.7%17,621Detroit Tigers85 −7.6%1,398,093 −18.8%17,476Chicago Cubs69 −15.9%1,364,0391.6%17,266Pittsburgh Pirates62 −1.6%1,283,53171.1%16,247Boston Braves866.2%1,277,36131.7%16,589St. Louis Cardinals89 −9.2%1,247,91317.5%16,207Philadelphia Athletics7859.2%911,56646.6%11,687Philadelphia Phillies62 −10.1%907,332 −13.2%11,784Cincinnati Reds739.0%899,97525.7%11,688Chicago White Sox70 −5.4%876,948 −10.8%11,693Washington Senators64 −15.8%850,758 −17.2%11,049St. Louis Browns59 −10.6%320,474 −39.1%4,162

Venues After playing at both League Park (where they played 45 seasons in part or in full) and Cleveland Stadium (where they played 13 season in part or in full) since (sans through ), the Cleveland Indians permanently move into Cleveland Stadium leaving their inaugural park, having played at League Park for 45 seasons (every season since excluding 1933). Previously, the Indians would typically play home games at League Park on weekdays and Cleveland Stadium on weekends. They would go on to play at Cleveland Stadium for a total of 60 seasons through .

See also 1947 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) 1947 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season

References

External links

1947 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference