January 23: Hall of Fame election: The writers' vote again fails to select an inductee, despite a newly revamped voting process. Voting again favors earlier candidates from the 1900s and 1910s, but none is able to gain 75% of the vote.
April 23: The Hall of Fame Committee clears the deadlock at the top of the writers' ballot by selecting 11 new inductees, primarily from the popular candidates of the 1900s and 1910s: Jesse BurkettSouth Side Park in 1903. Jesse Cail Burkett ( December 4, 1868 May 27, 1953), nicknamed "The Crab", was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century. Burkett played from 1890 to 1905, predominantly as an outfielder, and had an accomplish, Frank ChanceFrank Leroy Chance ( September 9, 1877 September 15, 1924) was a Major League Baseball player at the turn of the 20th century. Performing the roles of first baseman and manager, Chance led the Chicago Cubs to four National League championships in the span, Jack ChesbroAmerican Tobacco Company baseball card. John Dwight Chesbro ( June 5, 1874 November 6, 1931) was a Major League Baseball pitcher at the turn of the 20th century. He was nicknamed "Happy Jack". Chesbro, a spitballer (spitballs were legal until 1920), broke, Johnny EversJohn Joseph Evers ( July 21, 1881 March 28, 1947) was a Major League Baseball player and manager. He was born in Troy, New York. The name originally rhymed with beavers rather than levers but Evers came to accept both pronunciations during his life. Evers, Clark GriffithChicago White Sox at the West Side Grounds in 1902. Clark Calvin Griffith ( November 20, 1869 October 27, 1955), nicknamed "the Old Fox", was a Major League Baseball pitcher (1891 1914), manager (1901 1920) and team owner (1920 1955). Griffith entered the, Tommy McCarthyGoodwin & Company baseball card (Old Judge (N172)). Thomas Francis Michael McCarthy ( July 24, 1863 August 5, 1922) was a 19th century Major League Baseball player. McCarthy joined the Boston Reds in the Union Association in 1884 as a starting pitcher and, Joe McGinnityNew York Giants at the West Side Grounds in 1905. Joseph Jerome McGinnity ( March 19, 1871 November 14, 1929) was a Major League Baseball pitcher at the turn of the 20th century. After his major league career ended, he pitched in the minor leagues, eventu, Eddie PlankPhiladelphia Athletics at South Side Park in 1905. Edward Stewart Plank ( August 31, 1875 February 24, 1926), nicknamed "Gettysburg Eddie", was a left-handed Major League Baseball pitcher in the early 20th century. He was the first left-handed pitcher to, Joe Tinker, Rube Waddell and Ed Walsh. Selections of 19th century players are largely postponed. It is decided that the writers will henceforth select only players retired within the more recent past, rather than from the entire 20th century.
June 15: When some ballplayers jumped to the Mexican League, MLB Commissioner Happy Chandler mentions a lifetime suspension for them, but his penalty is later reduced ( 1949).
July 14: Player-manager Lou Boudreau of Cleveland Indians hits four doubles and one home run, but Ted Williams wallops three HRs and drives in eight runs, as the Boston Red Sox top the Indians 11-10. In the Sox second-game win, the famous "Boudreau Shift" is born. Boudreau shifts all his players, except the third baseman and left fielder, to the right side of the diamond in an effort to stop Williams. Ted grounds out and walks twice while ignoring the shift.
