Baseball has been a favorite sport in the United States for over a century. Since the inception of the game in the late 1800s, the game has evolved and captivated millions of fans.
At the beginning of the 20th century, the sport was still in its infancy and was beginning to gain popularity. During the 1910s, many of the game’s greatest players were emerging, and the landscape of the sport was beginning to take shape.
One of the biggest questions that fans of the game have is who was the best baseball player in 1919? This was a crucial year for the sport as it was the first year that the World Series was officially recognized and the first time that teams had a full season.
In order to answer this question, we must look at the statistics of the players from the 1919 season, as well as the overall contributions they made to the game.
1919 Statistics
At the beginning of the 1919 season, the National and American Leagues were in their third season of play. In the National League, the Cincinnati Reds led the league in batting average, runs scored, and hits. The Chicago Cubs led the league in home runs and stolen bases and the Pittsburgh Pirates led the league in ERA.
In the American League, the Chicago White Sox led the league in batting average and hits, the Cleveland Indians led the league in runs scored and home runs, and the Boston Red Sox led the league in ERA and stolen bases.
Babe Ruth
One of the most well-known players in the game during this time was Babe Ruth. Ruth first made his mark on the game in 1914, when he hit his first major league home run. He quickly became one of the most dominant players in the game.
In 1919, Ruth was in his fifth season as a member of the Boston Red Sox. During that season, Ruth hit an incredible 29 home runs and drove in 114 RBIs. His batting average was .322 and he also stole 17 bases. He was also one of the best pitchers in the game, posting an ERA of 2.97 and recording nine wins.
Ty Cobb
Another player who was considered among the best players in the game in 1919 was Ty Cobb. Cobb was already an established player in the game, having been in the major leagues since 1905. During the 1919 season, Cobb batted .384 and had an impressive .468 on-base percentage. He also stole 45 bases and recorded an OPS (on-base plus slugging) of 1.097.
Walter Johnson
Walter Johnson was also a major league player during this time and was considered one of the best pitchers in the game. Johnson was known for his impressive speed and control, as well as his ability to pitch long innings.
In 1919, Johnson had an ERA of 1.49, the lowest in the American League. He also led the league in strikeouts with 158 and recorded 23 wins. He was also one of the most durable pitchers in the game, pitching an impressive 336.2 innings.
Eddie Cicotte
Eddie Cicotte was another player who had a great season in 1919. Cicotte was a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox and had a career-high 29 wins that season. He also had an ERA of 1.82 and led the league in shutouts with seven.
Heinie Groh
Heinie Groh was a third baseman for the Cincinnati Reds who had a great season in 1919. He hit .302 with an OPS of .890 and had a career-high 27 doubles. He also had 12 home runs and had a total of 105 RBIs.
Rogers Hornsby
Rogers Hornsby was another great player in the game during this time. He was a second baseman for the St. Louis Cardinals and had an impressive batting average of .370. He also had an OPS of 1.046 and drove in 101 RBIs.
Conclusion
The 1919 season was a great year for baseball, and there were many great players who had impressive seasons. With that being said, Babe Ruth was clearly the best player in the game that season. He was one of the best hitters in the game, led the league in home runs and RBIs, and was also one of the best pitchers in the game.
He was a dominant player on the field and was a major contributor to the success of the Boston Red Sox that season. He was also a key figure in the team’s World Series victory that year.
For these reasons, Babe Ruth was clearly the best baseball player in 1919.
Honorable Mentions
Although Babe Ruth was the best player in 1919, there were many other great players who had impressive seasons. Some of these players include:
- Ty Cobb: Cobb had an impressive batting average of .384 and an OPS of 1.097
- Walter Johnson: Johnson had an ERA of 1.49, the lowest in the American League, and led the league in strikeouts with 158
- Eddie Cicotte: Cicotte had a career-high 29 wins and led the league in shutouts with seven
- Heinie Groh: Groh had a batting average of .302 and an OPS of .890
- Rogers Hornsby: Hornsby had an impressive batting average of .370 and an OPS of 1.046
These players all had great seasons and were key contributors to their teams’ success that season.
Legacy
Babe Ruth was one of the most dominant players in the game during the 1910s and his legacy has lived on for over a century. He was one of the first players to become a household name and was an integral part of the game’s growth in popularity.
In 1919, he was the best player in the game and his contributions helped the Boston Red Sox win the World Series. He was a great hitter, an impressive pitcher, and one of the best players in the game.
Conclusion
Babe Ruth was the best baseball player in 1919. He was a great hitter, an impressive pitcher, and one of the most dominant players in the game. He was an integral part of the Boston Red Sox’s World Series victory that season and his legacy has lived on for over a century.
Although there were many great players in the game during this time, Babe Ruth was clearly the best player in the 1919 season.