1938 Brooklyn Dodgers season
Encyclopedia
The Brooklyn Dodgers
season was their 55th season. The team finished with a record of 69-80, finishing in seventh place in the National League. The 1938 season saw Babe Ruth
hired as the first base coach, and lights installed by the team at Ebbets Field
on June 15.
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
season was their 55th season. The team finished with a record of 69-80, finishing in seventh place in the National League. The 1938 season saw Babe Ruth
Babe Ruth
George Herman Ruth, Jr. , best known as "Babe" Ruth and nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Sultan of Swat", was an American Major League baseball player from 1914–1935...
hired as the first base coach, and lights installed by the team at Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
on June 15.
Offseason
- March 6, 1938: Eddie MorganEddie MorganEdwin Willis Morgan [Pepper] was a backup right fielder/first baseman who played in Major League Baseball between and . Listed at 5' 10", ., Morgan batted and threw left-handed. He was born in Brady Lake, Ohio....
and cash were traded by the Dodgers to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Dolph CamilliDolph CamilliAdolph Louis Camilli was an American first baseman in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the Philadelphia Phillies and Brooklyn Dodgers. He was named the National League's Most Valuable Player in after leading the league in home runs and runs batted in as the Dodgers won the...
.
Regular season
- June 15, 1938: Leo DurocherLeo DurocherLeo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
was the final out of the ninth inning as Johnny Vander Meer of the Cincinnati Reds1938 Cincinnati Reds seasonThe Cincinnati Reds season was a season in American baseball. The team finished fourth in the National League with a record of 82-68, 6 games behind the Chicago Cubs.- Regular season :...
threw the second of his two consecutive no hitters.
Notable transactions
- April 15, 1938: Ernie KoyErnie KoyErnest Anyz Koy , nicknamed "Chief," was an American left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for four National League teams from 1938 - 1942. He was born in Sealy, Texas and was of American Indian ancestry. He attended the University of Texas at Austin and played with the Longhorns...
was purchased by the Dodgers from the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
. - May 2, 1938: Tom WinsettTom WinsettJohn Thomas Winsett was a left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox , St. Louis Cardinals and Brooklyn Dodgers . Winsett batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
was purchased from the Dodgers by the New York GiantsSan Francisco GiantsThe San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
. - July 9, 1938: Buck MarrowBuck MarrowCharles Kennon "Buck" Marrow , was a former professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues in 1932 and 1937-1938. He played for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Detroit Tigers...
was purchased from the Dodgers by the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. - July 11, 1938: Whit WyattWhit WyattJohn Whitlow Wyatt was a starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox , Cleveland Indians , Brooklyn Dodgers , and Philadelphia Phillies...
was purchased by the Dodgers from the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. - July 11, 1938: Gibby BrackGibby BrackGilbert Herman Brack was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers and Philadelphia Phillies from 1937-1939.-External links:...
was traded by the Dodgers to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Tuck StainbackTuck StainbackGeorge Tucker "Tuck" Stainback was a Major League Baseball outfielder for 13 seasons with the Chicago Cubs , St. Louis Cardinals , Philadelphia Phillies , Brooklyn Dodgers , Detroit Tigers , New York Yankees , and Philadelphia Athletics...
. - July 19, 1938: Johnnie Chambers was purchased by the Dodgers from the St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis CardinalsThe St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
. - August 8, 1938: Max ButcherMax ButcherAlbert Maxwell Butcher was an American major league baseball pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Philadelphia Phillies and Pittsburgh Pirates from -.-External links:...
was traded by the Dodgers to the Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team. They are the oldest continuous, one-name, one-city franchise in all of professional American sports, dating to 1883. The Phillies are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League...
for Wayne LaMasterWayne LaMasterNoble Wayne LaMaster , was a professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues for the Philadelphia Phillies and Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1937-1938 baseball seasons....
. - August 12, 1938: Johnnie Chambers was traded by the Dodgers to the Boston Red SoxBoston Red SoxThe Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...
for Lee RogersLee Rogers (baseball)Lee Otis Rogers , was a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues for the Boston Red Sox and Brooklyn Dodgers during the 1938 baseball season.-External links:...
. - August 23, 1938: The Dodgers traded cash and a player to be named later to the Washington SenatorsMinnesota TwinsThe Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
for Fred SingtonFred SingtonFrederic William Sington was an American football player. He was elected to the College Football Hall of Fame in 1955. He would also play professional baseball as an outfielder with the Brooklyn Dodgers and Washington Senators...
. The Dodgers completed the deal by sending Johnnie Chambers to the Red Sox on January 5, 1939. - September 9, 1938: Jimmy OutlawJimmy OutlawJames Paulus Outlaw was an outfielder and third baseman who played in Major League Baseball between the and season...
was purchased by the Dodgers from the Cincinnati RedsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
. The purchase was voided on September 14. - September 14, 1938: Don RossDon Ross (baseball)Donald Raymond Ross was a Major League Baseball player who played 7 seasons with the Detroit Tigers , Brooklyn Dodgers , and Cleveland Indians . Ross played in 498 major league games, 261 as a third baseman, 115 as an outfielder, 20 as a shortstop and 7 as a second baseman...
was purchased by the Dodgers from the Detroit TigersDetroit TigersThe Detroit Tigers are a Major League Baseball team located in Detroit, Michigan. One of the American League's eight charter franchises, the club was founded in Detroit in as part of the Western League. The Tigers have won four World Series championships and have won the American League pennant...
.
Roster
| 1938 Brooklyn Dodgers | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 66 | 208 | 54 | .308 | 5 | 46 | |
| 1B | 146 | 509 | 128 | .251 | 24 | 100 | |
| 2B | 135 | 498 | 130 | .261 | 2 | 37 | |
| 3B | 137 | 487 | 133 | .273 | 6 | 79 | |
| SS | 141 | 479 | 105 | .219 | 1 | 56 | |
| OF | 142 | 521 | 156 | .299 | 11 | 76 | |
| OF | |||||||
| OF |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 27 | 202.2 | 11 | 8 | 3.02 | 38 | |
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 30 | 93.2 | 3 | 5 | 4.04 | 32 | |
| 24 | 72.2 | 5 | 4 | 6.56 | 21 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Awards and honors
- 1938 Major League Baseball All-Star Game1938 Major League Baseball All-Star GameThe 1938 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 6th playing of the mid-summer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 6, 1938 at Crosley Field in Cincinnati, Ohio, the home of the...
- Leo DurocherLeo DurocherLeo Ernest Durocher , nicknamed Leo the Lip, was an American infielder and manager in Major League Baseball. Upon his retirement, he ranked fifth all-time among managers with 2,009 career victories, second only to John McGraw in National League history. Durocher still ranks tenth in career wins by...
starting shortstop - Cookie LavagettoCookie LavagettoHarry Arthur "Cookie" Lavagetto was a third baseman, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball. He is most widely known as the pinch hitter whose double ruined Bill Bevens' no-hitter in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series and gave his Brooklyn Dodgers a breathtaking victory over the New...
- Babe PhelpsBabe PhelpsErnest Gordon Phelps born in Odenton, Maryland, United States was a Catcher for the Washington Senators , Chicago Cubs , Brooklyn Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates...
- Leo Durocher
