1929 in baseball

The following are the baseball events of the year 1929 throughout the world.  

Champions

• World Series: Philadelphia Athletics over Chicago Cubs (4-1)

Awards and honors

• League Award
  • Rogers Hornsby, Chicago Cubs, 2B

Statistical leaders

Major league baseball final standings

American League final standings

National League final standings

Negro League Baseball final standings

Negro National League final standings

† Nashville was not in the league but their games counted in the standings.

American Negro League final standings

• Baltimore was awarded the Pennant as they reportedly won both halves of the season.

Events

January-April

• January 22 - The New York Yankees announce they will put numbers on the backs of their uniforms, becoming the first baseball team to start continuous use of the numbers. The first numbers are based on positions in the batting order; thus, Babe Ruth will wear number 3 and Lou Gehrig number 4. In a few weeks, the Cleveland Indians announce that they, too, will put numbers on the uniforms. By 1931, all American League teams will use them. It will be 1933 before all National League players are numbered.

• February 28 - The Chicago White Sox trade Bibb Falk to the Cleveland Indians for Chick Autry.

• April 16 - On opening day, Hall of Famer Earl Averill makes his major league debut in the Cleveland Indians' 5-4 eleven inning victory over the Detroit Tigers. The St. Louis Browns defeat the Chicago White Sox, 3-1; the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Chicago Cubs, 4-3, and the St. Louis Cardinals defeat the Cincinnati Reds 5-2.

• April 18 - The Cincinnati Reds trade Val Picinich to the Brooklyn Robins for Rube Ehrhardt and Johnny Gooch.

• April 19 - Hall of famer Rick Ferrell makes his major league debut in the St. Louis Browns' 5-4 loss to the Chicago White Sox.

• April 27 - Brooklyn Robins relief pitcher Clise Dudley is the first player ever to hit a home run off the first pitch he sees. Regardless, Brooklyn loses 8-3 to the Philadelphia Phillies.

May-August

• May 1
  • The Philadelphia Athletics defeat the Boston Red Sox 24-6 at Fenway Park. The 24 runs matches a franchise record, and the 29 hits set another franchise mark.
  • Both games in the National League (the Chicago Cubs in Cincinnati and the Pittsburgh Pirates in St. Louis) are called 4-4 ties after thirteen innings.

• May 8 - Carl Hubbell pitches a no-hitter for the New York Giants in an 11–0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

• May 13 - At League Park, the Cleveland Indians defeat the New York Yankees, 4–3, in the first game played in Major League history in which players from both teams wear uniform numbers on the back of their jerseys.

• May 24 - The Detroit Tigers defeat the Chicago White Sox 6-5 in 21 innings. Winning pitcher George Uhle pitches twenty innings to earn his eighth win of the season with no losses. The losing pitcher is Ted Lyons, who pitched all 21 innings for Chicago.

• June 20 - Red Badgro, who had been playing professional football since 1927, makes his major league debut as an outfielder with the St. Louis Browns. Despite modest baseball stats (two home runs, 45 runs batted in and a .257 batting average over two seasons with the Browns), Badgro has a nine year football career that lands him in the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 1981.

• July 3 - Nine double plays are turned in the Chicago Cubs' 7-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

• July 6 - After losing 10-6 in the opener of a double header against the Philadelphia Phillies, the St. Louis Cardinals score ten runs in the first inning on their way to a 28-6 victory in the second game. The two teams combine to collect a record 73 hits in a double header.

• July 24 - With a win over the New York Giants and a 6-4 loss by the Pittsburgh Pirates at the hands of the Brooklyn Robins, the Cubs claim sole possession of first place in the National League by half a game. They hold first place the remainder of the season.

• August 11 - Babe Ruth hit his 500th career home run in the second inning off Willis Hudlin at Cleveland's League Park. The homer was Ruth's 30th of the year, but it wasn't enough as the Indians beat the Yankees, 6-5.

• August 17 - The New York Yankees purchase Lefty Gomez's contract from San Francisco of the Pacific Coast League.

September-December

• September 21 - Connie Mack's Philadelphia Athletics win their 100th game of the season, 10-7, over the Detroit Tigers.

• October 5 - The Philadelphia Phillies' Lefty O'Doul goes six-for-nine in a double header with the New York Giants on the last day of the season for the Phillies, ending the season with a .398 batting average.

• October 8 - Howard Ehmke, who was in the twilight of his career, and had made only eleven appearances for the Philadelphia Athletics during the regular season, is handed the ball for the first game of the 1929 World Series. He gives up just one unearned run in the ninth inning to lead the A's to a 3-1 victory over the Chicago Cubs.

• October 9 - Jimmie Foxx has a pair of home runs to lead the A's to a 9-3 victory in game two of the World Series.

• October 10 - Hall of fame outfielder Max Carey retires.

• October 11 - Philadelphia Athletics game two starting pitcher George Earnshaw is the starter in game three of the World Series as well, and pitches all nine innings. The Cubs win their only game of the World Series, 3-1.

• October 12 - Behind 8-0, the Philadelphia Athletics explode for ten runs in the seventh inning to win game four of the World Series, 10-8. Mule Haas has a three run inside the park home run during the inning.

• October 14 - Down 2-0 with one out in the ninth inning, the A's score three runs to claim their first World Championship since 1913. Bing Miller delivers the World Series winning hit.

• December 11 - The St. Louis Browns trade Wally Schang to the Philadelphia Athletics for Sammy Hale.

Births

January–April

• January 2 - Ed Wolfe
• January 11 - Don Mossi
• January 17 - Eilaine Roth
• January 31 - Duke Maas
• February 5 - Al Worthington
• February 18 - Cal Neeman
• February 22 - Ryne Duren
• February 23 - Elston Howard
• February 26 - Dorice Reid
• March 7 - Red Wilson
• April 3 - Art Ditmar
• April 6 - Don Elston
• April 9 - Hank Morgenweck
• April 20 - Harry Agganis
• April 29 - Mickey McDermott
• April 29 - Steve Ridzik

May–August

• May 3 - Helen Walulik
• May 7 - Dick Williams
• May 18 - Jack Sanford
• May 19 - Curt Simmons
• May 29 - Velma Abbott
• June 2 - Louise Erickson
• June 10 - Hank Foiles
• June 11 - Frank Thomas
• June 19 - Don Ferrarese
• July 2 - Chuck Stobbs
• July 4 - Chuck Tanner
• July 4 - Bill Tuttle
• July 7 - John Romonosky
• July 9 - Héctor López
• July 9 - Wally Post
• July 14 - Patricia Scott
• July 17 - Roy McMillan
• July 19 - Alice Pollitt
• July 21 - Jerry Snyder
• July 24 - Patricia Scott
• August 4 - Joe Pignatano
• August 7 - Don Larsen
• August 14 - Jim Pisoni
• August 16 - Curt Roberts
• August 26 - Tom Poholsky

September–December

• September 12 - Tom Herrin
• September 22 - Harry Bright
• September 24 - Jim Mangan
• September 30 - Marv Blaylock
• October 1 - Jaynie Krick
• October 3 - Nancy Mudge
• October 24 - Jim Brosnan
• October 27 - Ange Armato
• November 11 - Ike Delock
• November 14 - Jimmy Piersall
• November 17 - Norm Zauchin
• November 20 - Lou Berberet
• November 30 - Leo Kiely
• December 1 - Nino Escalera
• December 13 - Billy Loes
• December 14 - Pete Whisenant
• December 15 - Ray Herbert
• December 18 - Gino Cimoli
• December 28 - Jean Marlowe
• December 30 - Bill Taylor

Deaths

January–April

• January 2 - Denny Lyons, 62, third baseman who batted .310 lifetime, set record with 255 putouts in 1887; led American Association in slugging in 1890
• January 3 - Charlie Smith, 48, pitcher who played from 1902 through 1914 for the Cleveland Bronchos, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, ending with a 2.81 ERA in 1,349 innings
• January 7 - Law Daniels, 66, catcher/outfielder for two season from 1887 to 1888.
• January 11 - Mike Golden, 77, pitcher and outfielder for the Keokuk Westerns, Chicago White Stockings, and Milaukee Grays during his two season career in 1875 and 1878.
• February 2 - Thorny Hawkes, 76, second baseman for two seasons in the majors; 1879 and 1884.
• February 2 - Mike Walsh, 78, umpire in the NL's first season in 1876 who later officiated in the American Association; managed Louisville in 1884
• March 13 - Sherry Magee, 44, left fielder for the Phillies who led NL in RBI four times and in hits, runs and doubles once each; 1910 batting champion, his 441 stolen bases included 23 thefts of home plate; NL umpire in 1928
• March 23 - Denny Williams, 32, outfielder who played from 1921 to 1928 for the Cincinnati Reds and Boston Red Sox

May–August

• May 13 - George Stallings, 61, manager who led "Miracle Braves" to 1914 title; also managed Phillies, Tigers and Highlanders
• May 28 - Ollie Beard, 67, shortstop for the Cincinnati Red Stockings/Reds from 1889 to 1890 and third baseman for the 1891 Louisville Colonels. Family reportedly invented the Kentucky dish, Burgoo.
• July 3 - Bill McClellan, 73, second baseman and shortstop for eight seasons from 1878 to 1888.
• July 5 - Ted Sullivan, 78, Manager of four different Major League teams in three seasons, 1883-1888.
• August 15 - Jack Manning, 75, pitcher and right fielder from 1873-1886.

September–December

• September 25 - Miller Huggins, 50, manager of the Yankees since 1918 who led the team to its first six pennants and three World Series titles, including the legendary 1927 "Murderer's Row" squad; as second baseman, led NL in walks four times, batted .304 for 1912 Cardinals
• September 27 - John Gochnaur, 54, shortstop for the Brooklyn Superbas and Cleveland Bronchos/Naps. Last player to commit 90 errors in a single season, and commonly considered the "Worst Baseball Player Ever."
• October 1 - Lee Richmond, 72, pitcher whose 32 victories for 1880 Worcesters included the major leagues' first perfect game
• October 9 - Red Kleinow, 42, catcher from 1904 through 1911 for the New York Highlanders, Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies
• October 14 - Joe Borden, 75, pitcher who threw the first no-hitter in professional organized baseball history in 1875, later won the first game in National League history.
• October 22 - Jim Manning, 67, outfielder/infielder for five seasons from 1884 to 1889. Managed the 1901 Washington Senators.
• November 14 - Joe McGinnity, 58, pitcher whose 246 victories included eight 20-win seasons; led NL in wins five times, innings four times and games six times; 31 wins for 1903 Giants included three complete August doubleheaders; also won over 200 games in minor leagues
• November 15 - Billy Nash, 64, third baseman for Boston who scored 100 runs four times; led league in putouts, double plays and fielding four times each
• November 30 - Jimmy Wood, 84, player-manager for several teams in the National Association, 1871-1875.
• December 19 - Doc McMahon, 42, pitched for the 1908 Boston Red Sox in their inaugural season, and defeated the New York Highlanders, 11–3, in his only major league appearance