Earned Run Average : 1944 National League Top 25

Finding the American or National League leader in virtually every hitting & pitching statistic is easy-to-do. Finding the top 25 players during any given season is far more challenging. Baseball Almanac has taken away that difficult problem and is pleased to present the data you requested:

"Major League Baseball has the most gruelling schedule of all the major sports, with each team playing 162 games in 180 days." - Baseball Gambling Online
 

1944 Earned Run Average Leaders

Top 25 in the National League

Ed Heusser 2.38 (2.3823) Cincinnati Reds 1
Bucky Walters 2.40 (2.4000) Cincinnati Reds 2
Mort Cooper 2.46 (2.4610) St. Louis Cardinals 3
Ted Wilks 2.64 (2.6437) St. Louis Cardinals 4
Max Lanier 2.65 (2.6478) St. Louis Cardinals 5
Fritz Ostermueller 2.81 (2.8133) Brooklyn Dodgers 6
Pittsburgh Pirates  
Harry Brecheen 2.85 (2.8521) St. Louis Cardinals 7
Claude Passeau 2.89 (2.8943) Chicago Cubs 8
Jim Tobin 3.01 (3.0067) Boston Braves 9
Clyde Shoun 3.02 (3.0197) Cincinnati Reds 10
Bill Voiselle 3.02 (3.0224) New York Giants 11
Ken Raffensberger 3.06 (3.0619) Philadelphia Phillies 12
Harry Gumbert 3.07 (3.0739) St. Louis Cardinals 13
Cincinnati Reds  
Nick Strincevich 3.08 (3.0789) Pittsburgh Pirates 14
Preacher Roe 3.11 (3.1079) Pittsburgh Pirates 15
Max Butcher 3.12 (3.1206) Pittsburgh Pirates 16
Bill Fleming 3.13 (3.1263) Chicago Cubs 17
Hank Wyse 3.15 (3.1477) Chicago Cubs 18
Bill Lee 3.15 (3.1536) Philadelphia Phillies 19
Rip Sewell 3.18 (3.1783) Pittsburgh Pirates 20
Nate Andrews 3.22 (3.2176) Boston Braves 21
Tommy de la Cruz 3.25 (3.2457) Cincinnati Reds 22
Charley Schanz 3.32 (3.3191) Philadelphia Phillies 23
Curt Davis 3.34 (3.3402) Brooklyn Dodgers 24
Rube Melton 3.46 (3.4591) Brooklyn Dodgers 25



Jose Cruz of the Houston Astros had his number twenty-five retired on October 3, 1992, and became the first Major League player with that particular retired number.

Did you know that more than forty players have worn the number twenty-five for the Boston Red Sox — including Jack Clark, Denny Galehouse, Dizzy Trout and Tony Conigliaro.

The most recognizable Detroit Tiger to wear the number twenty-five was probably Norm Cash (who wore it from 1960 through 1974), but did you know that Hall of Famer Larry Doby also wore it during his single season with Detroit?