Year In Review : 1932 American League

Off the field...

Charles A. Lindbergh, the American aviator who made the first solo, nonstop transatlantic flight from New York to Paris, faced every parent's nightmare after his child was kidnapped and murdered. In March, Lindberg's son was abducted from his own bedroom with a ransom demand of $50,000 for his release. After paying the sum, Lindberg's son was not returned infuriating the country and sparking one of the largest manhunts in modern history. In September, the missing child's battered body was found near Hopewell and further investigation revealed a suspect named Bruno Richard Hauptmann, who was found in possession of the ransom. In a sensational trial at Flemington, New Jersey, Hauptmann was convicted of murder and electrocuted on April 3^rd, 1936.

In the American League...

On May 16^th, the New York Yankees recorded their fourth straight shutout to equal the American League record set by both Cleveland and Boston in 1903 and 1906. The Pinstripes "perfect rotation" included Johnny Allen, George Pipgras, Red Ruffing, and Lefty Gomez who combined for an 8-0 triumph over the Indians.

Lou Gehrig, of the New York Yankees, tallied four consecutive homeruns during a 20-13 slugfest against the Philadelphia Athletics on June 3^rd. Teammate Tony Lazzeri hit for the cycle and the Bronx Bombers also set a Major League record with forty-one extra bases.

Washington Senators third baseman Ossie Bluege tied the American League record after being walked five times in the first game of a doubleheader that was eventually won by the Detroit Tigers 8-6.

In the National League...

First baseman Bill Terry tied a National League record on April 17^th with twenty-one putouts as the New York Giants topped the Boston Braves 6-0 at the Polo Grounds.

Pittsburgh standout Paul Waner tied a Major League mark with four doubles in five at bats as the Pirates topped the St. Louis Cardinals 5-0 on May 20^th. Waner would later go on to break Chuck Klein's National League record for most doubles in a season with sixty-two.

John Quinn of the Brooklyn Dodgers became the oldest pitcher (at forty-nine) to win a Major League baseball game after relieving Van Mungo in the ninth to beat the New York Giants 2-1 on August 14^th. Teammate Johnny Frederick had tied the game with his fourth pinch-hit homerun of the year setting a new major league record and would go on to add two more before the season's end.

Around the league...

On May 30^th, a commemorative plaque in memory of former Yankee manager Miller Huggins was dedicated at Yankees Stadium initiating an array of tributes that would later evolve into "Monument Park".

At a June 22^nd meeting of the National League club presidents, a committee finally approved the addition of numbers on player uniforms. The American League's New York Yankees had initiated the concept in 1929 with the rest of the American League following close behind.

After holding several hearings, Baseball Commissioner Kenesaw Mountain Landis cleared Rogers Hornsby on charges of fraudulently "borrowing" money from several Chicago Cubs players. The investigation was initiated after local papers in the "Windy City" reported that Hornsby had obtained money from players to bet on horse races or to share in joint ventures.

During a joint meeting of American and National League owners on December 15^th, the concept of "chain store" baseball (originally developed as the St. Louis Cardinal farm system) was approved despite objections by Judge Landis.