YEAR IN REVIEW : 1935 American League

Off the field...

American political leader Huey Long was assassinated in Louisiana. Known as "The Kingfish", Long narrowly defeated for governor of Louisiana in 1924 and moved into office four years later. When the state legislature obstructed his program of economic and social reform, he established control of the state through extensive use of patronage. Long was responsible for the building of badly needed roads and bridges, the expansion of state-owned hospitals, and the extension of the school system into remote rural regions. He also increased the taxes of large businesses in Louisiana, especially those of the big oil companies. In September, he was assassinated by Dr. Carl A. Weiss, who was also slain by Long's bodyguards. Despite his untimely death, Long's administration continued to prosper for several years and the Long family remained an important political power in the state.

In the American League...

Jo-Jo White of the Detroit Tigers and Lou Gehrig of the New York Yankees both tied an American League record after tallying five walks each in a single game.

The Cleveland Indians set a new American League marathon mark (forty-one innings) on April 21st after playing in their third consecutive extra-inning game: fourteen innings against the St. Louis Browns, then a fourteen inning contest and thirteen inning contest versus the Detroit Tigers.

On August 31st, Chicago White Sox ace Vern Kennedy tossed the first no-hitter (5-0) ever at Comiskey Park as well as the first no-no in Major League Baseball since 1931.

In the National League...

Blondy Ryan of the Philadelphia Phillies tied a Major League record (for an individual) on April 21st after turning five separate double plays against the New York Giants. After collectively adding a sixth, the Phillies themselves tied the National League record (for a team) with six double plays.

Cincinnati Reds catcher Ernie Lombardi tied the Major League record for most consecutive doubles after hitting four straight (off of four different pitchers) en route to a 15-4 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies on May 8th.

Pittsburgh Pirates centerfielder Lloyd Waner set a still-standing Major League record with eighteen put outs during a doubleheader sweep against the Boston Braves on June 26th.

Around the League...

Babe Ruth, who was recently released by the New York Yankees, signed a short-term contract with the National League's Boston Braves that included $20,000 and a substantial share in the team's profits.

The Cincinnati Reds hosted the Philadelphia Phillies for the first ever night game on May 24th. Under the lights, the home team prevailed 2-1 before a Crosley Field crowd of 24,422.

On May 25th, Babe Ruth hit the last three homeruns of his career (712, 713, 714) during an 11-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Forbes Field. "The Sultan", who had a previously boasted a three-homer game in the American League (May 21, 1930), became the first Major League player ever to turn a "hat trick" in both leagues.

In November, the National League temporarily assumed control over the bankrupt Boston Braves after several failed attempts to sell the club. Finishing the season with one-hundred fifteen losses, (a record that remained until the 1962 expansion New York Mets lost one-hundred twenty) the fledgling franchise had barely managed a winning percentage of .248, which remained a twentieth century low.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"Don't know it all. Give the other fellow credit for a little knowledge." - Lefty Grove

1935 American League Player Review

1934 | 1935 Hitting Statistics League Leaders | 1936

Base on Balls Lou Gehrig New York 132 Top 25
Batting Average Buddy Myer Washington .349 Top 25
Doubles Joe Vosmik Cleveland 47 Top 25
Hits Joe Vosmik Cleveland 216 Top 25
Home Runs Jimmie Foxx Philadelphia 36 Top 25
Hank Greenberg Detroit
On Base Percentage Lou Gehrig New York .466 Top 25
RBI Hank Greenberg Detroit 170 Top 25
Runs Lou Gehrig New York 125 Top 25
Slugging Average Jimmie Foxx Philadelphia .636 Top 25
Stolen Bases Billy Werber Boston 29 Top 25
Total Bases Hank Greenberg Detroit 389 Top 25
Triples Joe Vosmik Cleveland 20 Top 25
1935 A.L. History | 1935 N.L. History | Year-by-Year History

1935 American League Pitcher Review

1934 | 1935 Pitching Statistics League Leaders | 1936

Complete Games Wes Ferrell Boston 31 Top 25
ERA Lefty Grove Boston 2.70 Top 25
Games Russ Van Atta New York 58 Top 25
St. Louis
Saves Jack Knott St. Louis 7 Top 25
Shutouts Schoolboy Rowe Detroit 6 Top 25
Strikeouts Tommy Bridges Detroit 163 Top 25
Winning Percentage Elden Auker Detroit .720 Top 25
Wins Wes Ferrell Boston 25 Top 25
1935 A.L. History | 1935 N.L. History | Year-by-Year History

1935 American League Team Standings

1935 All-Star Game | 1935 Team Standings | 1935 World Series

Detroit Tigers 93 58 .616 0
New York Yankees 89 60 .597 3
Cleveland Indians 82 71 .536 12
Boston Red Sox 78 75 .510 16
Chicago White Sox 74 78 .487 19½
Washington Senators 67 86 .438 27
St. Louis Browns 65 87 .428 28½
Philadelphia Athletics 58 91 .389 34
1935 American League Team Standings

1935 American League Team Review

Hitting Statistics League Leaderboard

Base on Balls Detroit 627
Batting Average Detroit .290
Doubles Cleveland 324
Hits Washington 1,591
Home Runs Philadelphia 112
On Base Percentage Detroit .366
Runs Detroit 919
Slugging Average Detroit .435
Stolen Bases Boston 91
Triples Washington 95

1935 American League Team Review

Pitching Statistics League Leaderboard

Complete Games Detroit 87
ERA New York 3.60
Fewest Hits Allowed New York 1,276
Fewest Home Runs Allowed Boston 67
Fewest Walks Allowed Cleveland 457
Saves Cleveland 21
Shutouts Detroit 16
Strikeouts New York 594
baseball almanac flat baseball

baseball almanac fast facts

The Yankees set a record with six solo home runs during a game against Boston on the 1st of June in 1935. Bill Dickey hit two while Frankie Crosetti, Ben Chapman, George Selkirk and Red Rolfe hit one each.

Vern Kennedy pitched the first no-hitter at Comiskey Park, which opened in 1910, on August 31, 1935, against the Cleveland Indians. But, did you know that Kennedy TRULY helped his own cause when he slugged a bases loaded triple during the gem?

On December 10, 1935, two legends moved to new cities; Jimmie Foxx was sold by the Athletics (to the Red Sox) for $150,000, and Al Simmons was sold by the White Sox (to the Tigers) for $75,000.