October 12, 1936
I meant to post the regular season standings before I wrote about the League Championship Series, but the end of the season was so exciting that I forgot. Here they are, and they haven't changed since mid-September.
Code:
NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS
NORTHERN W L PCT GB
Boston 94 60 .610 --
Pittsburgh 80 74 .519 14
Brooklyn 77 77 .500 17
Philadelphia 73 81 .474 21
New York G 72 82 .468 22
New York Y 72 82 .468 22
MID-EAST W L PCT GB
Detroit 84 70 .545 --
Washington 82 72 .532 2
Cleveland 81 73 .526 3
Milwaukee 74 80 .481 10
Baltimore 72 82 .468 12
Cincinnati 63 91 .409 21
AMERICAN LEAGUE STANDINGS
CONTINENTAL W L PCT GB
Portland 104 50 .675 --
Seattle 88 66 .571 16
Chicago W 80 74 .519 24
Chicago C 74 80 .481 30
St. Louis 65 89 .422 38
Kansas City 61 93 .396 43
PACIFIC W L PCT GB
San Diego 86 68 .558 --
Oakland 84 70 .545 2
Hollywood 80 74 .519 6
Sacramento 72 82 .468 14
San Francisco 67 87 .435 19
Los Angeles 63 91 .409 23
Earlier, I wrote that Portland had won 106 games this season. That was an error; they won "only" 104. They're the second-winningest team of all time, behind the 1930 Oakland Oaks, who went 107-47.
- A superb second half propelled Portland outfielder Chuck Klein to the American League Outstanding Hitter Award. Klein has now won the OHA in six of the last seven seasons. He hit .359 with 41 home runs and 138 RBI, the latter two totals best in the league. His 1.036 OPS was second to that of his teammate, Josh Gibson (1.058).
- Klein's teammate, Pat Caraway, enjoyed the finest season of his career and won his second AL Outstanding Pitcher trophy. Pat went 24-4 with a 2.98 ERA, leading both leagues in victories. The humble lefthander seemed surprised by his selection, admitting that he rarely looks at his statistics until the season is over.
- Nobody was surprised when Buddy Lewis, the versatile infielder of the San Diego Padres, was named the 1936 American League Rookie of the Year. Buddy, who turned 20 late in the season, hit .358 with 16 home runs and 87 RBI, scoring 113 runs and lashing 215 base hits. His emergence was a big reason for the Padres' World Championship run.
- For the fourth time, the National League's Outstanding Hitter Award goes to Pittsburgh slugger Lou Gehrig. The Iron Horse hit .358, drilled 50 home runs, drove in 134 runs, and scored 167 runs to set a new major league record. Gehrig's 1.116 OPS is the highest of his career, and he has scored and driven in at least 100 runs in each of his 12 big league seasons.
- Boston's ace righthander, Satchel Paige, recieved his third National League Oustanding Pitcher Award this year. Satch produced a 21-9 record and a 2.65 ERA, and he struck out 234 batters. His K total broke his own major league record, but the Senators' Dizzy Dean whiffed 256 to beat him.
- The National League's top freshman was New York Giants shortstop Andrew Mann. He finally got his chance at a full-time job at age 26, and he made the most of it, hitting .295 with 11 homers, 78 RBI, and 90 runs scored. Mann also ranks among the slickest glove men in the business.