1921 Major League Baseball season

The 1921 Major League Baseball season, ended when the New York Giants beat the New York Yankees in Game 8 of the World Series. 1921 was the first of three straight seasons in which the Yankees would lead the majors in wins. Babe Ruth broke the single season home run record for the third consecutive season by hitting 59 home runs in 152 games. Ruth also broke Roger Connor's record for the most home runs all time when he hit his 139th home run on July 18 against Bert Cole.[1] The record for career strikeouts, previously held by Cy Young was also broken in 1921 by Walter Johnson; Johnson lead the league in strikeouts with 143 and ended the season with 2,835 strikeouts. Young struck out 2,803 during his career.[2] The Cincinnati Reds set a Major League record for the fewest strikeouts in a season, with only 308.[3] Future hall of famers Kiki Cuyler and Goose Goslin both debuted in September 1921.[4]

1921 MLB season
League	Major League Baseball
Sport	Baseball
Duration	April 13 – October 2, 1921
Number of games	154
Number of teams	16
Pennant Winners
AL champions	New York Yankees
AL runners-up	Cleveland Indians
NL champions	New York Giants
NL runners-up	Pittsburgh Pirates
World Series
Champions	New York Giants
Runners-up	New York Yankees

Standings

American League American League W L Pct. GB Home Road New York Yankees 98 55 0.641 — 53–25 45–30 Cleveland Indians 94 60 0.610 4½ 51–26 43–34 St. Louis Browns 81 73 0.526 17½ 43–34 38–39 Washington Senators 80 73 0.523 18 46–30 34–43 Boston Red Sox 75 79 0.487 23½ 41–36 34–43 Detroit Tigers 71 82 0.464 27 37–40 34–42 Chicago White Sox 62 92 0.403 36½ 37–40 25–52 Philadelphia Athletics 53 100 0.346 45 28–47 25–53

National League National League W L Pct. GB Home Road New York Giants 94 59 0.614 — 53–26 41–33 Pittsburgh Pirates 90 63 0.588 4 45–31 45–32 St. Louis Cardinals 87 66 0.569 7 48–29 39–37 Boston Braves 79 74 0.516 15 42–32 37–42 Brooklyn Robins 77 75 0.507 16½ 41–37 36–38 Cincinnati Reds 70 83 0.458 24 40–36 30–47 Chicago Cubs 64 89 0.418 30 32–44 32–45 Philadelphia Phillies 51 103 0.331 43½ 29–47 22–56

Postseason

Bracket

	World Series
	AL	New York Yankees	3
	NL	New York Giants	5

MLB statistical leaders

American League National League Type Name Stat Name Stat AVG Harry Heilmann DET .394 Rogers Hornsby SLC .397 HR Babe Ruth NYY 59 George Kelly NYG 23 RBI Babe Ruth NYY 171 Rogers Hornsby SLC 126 Wins Urban Shocker SLB, Carl Mays NYY 27 Wilbur Cooper PIT, Burleigh Grimes BKN 22 ERA Red Faber CHW 2.48 Bill Doak SLC 2.59 SO Walter Johnson WSH 143 Burleigh Grimes BKN 136 SB George Sisler 35 Frankie Frisch NYG 49

Managers

American League

Team	Manager	Comments
Boston Red Sox	Hugh Duffy
Chicago White Sox	Kid Gleason
Cleveland Indians	Tris Speaker
Detroit Tigers	Ty Cobb
New York Yankees	Miller Huggins
Philadelphia Athletics	Connie Mack
St. Louis Browns	Lee Fohl
Washington Senators	George McBride

National League

Team	Manager	Comments
Boston Braves	Fred Mitchell
Brooklyn Robins	Wilbert Robinson
Chicago Cubs	Johnny Evers and Bill Killefer
Cincinnati Reds	Pat Moran
New York Giants	John McGraw
Philadelphia Phillies	Bill Donovan and Kaiser Wilhelm
Pittsburgh Pirates	George Gibson
St. Louis Cardinals	Branch Rickey

Events

• August 5 – The Pittsburgh Pirates 8–5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies at Forbes Field is the first Major League game to be broadcast on radio. Harold Arlin calls the game for Pittsburgh station KDKA.[5]

References

1. https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/event_hr.cgi?id=ruthba01&t=b
2. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leaders/SO_p_progress.shtml
3. "Single Season Team Strikeout Records". baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved June 6, 2012.
4. https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/MLB/1921-debuts.shtml
5. Mackin, Bob (2004). The Unofficial Guide to Baseball's Most Unusual Records. Canada: Greystone Books. p. 240. ISBN 9781553650386.

External links

• 1921 Major League Baseball season schedule at Baseball Reference