The 1938 baseball season has come to a close, and the Chicago Chiefs and Brooklyn Kings have emerged as the titans of the Federal and Continental Associations, respectively. Let's dive into the thrilling action and notable achievements from this year's competition.
In the Federal Association, the Chicago Chiefs dominated the league with an impressive record of 102 wins and 52 losses, leaving their competitors in their wake. The Detroit Dynamos put up a valiant fight, finishing with a solid record of 94 wins and 60 losses, eight games behind the Chiefs. The Pittsburgh Miners and St. Louis Pioneers secured respectable positions, while the Boston Minutemen, Philadelphia Keystones, New York Gothams, and Washington Eagles encountered more challenging seasons.
Sal Pestilli of the Detroit Dynamos showcased his exceptional skills and emerged as the recipient of the coveted Whitney Award, given to the league's top hitter. Pestilli boasted an impressive .307 batting average, along with a slugging percentage of .627. With 46 home runs, 134 runs scored, and 132 runs batted in, Pestilli's contributions were a major factor in Detroit's success. On the pitching front, the Allen Award was bestowed upon Jim Lonardo of the Chicago Chiefs, who secured an outstanding 25-7 record, accompanied by a 2.68 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP.
The Chiefs' infielder Pete Layton led the league in batting average with an impressive .365, closely followed by his teammate Tom Bird, the Chiefs' catcher, who achieved a remarkable .346 mark. Pestilli continued to dominate the league's offensive categories, leading in slugging percentage, runs, total bases, triples, home runs, and runs batted in. The Chiefs boasted a formidable pitching staff anchored by co-aces Jim Lonardo and Rabbit Day, who posted exceptional records and ERA, contributing significantly to Chicago's success. Lefty Allen of the Pittsburgh Miners demonstrated his endurance and talent by logging an impressive 341.2 innings pitched, winning 24 games, and striking out 218 batters.
Turning our attention to the Continental Association, the Brooklyn Kings extended their reign by securing their third consecutive pennant. With a record of 90 wins and 64 losses, the Kings solidified their position as a force to be reckoned with. The Toronto Wolves finished a mere two games behind, followed closely by the Cleveland Foresters and Philadelphia Sailors, both eight games behind the Kings. The Chicago Cougars, New York Stars, Montreal Saints, and Baltimore Cannons faced their share of challenges throughout the season.
Fred McCormick, who made the move from the St. Louis Pioneers to the Toronto Wolves, wasted no time in making his mark. McCormick's outstanding performance earned him the Whitney Award, as he secured the league's batting title with an impressive .367 average. Al Wheeler of the Brooklyn Kings continued to display his power at the plate, leading the league in home runs (29) and runs batted in (110). The Allen Award for pitching excellence was presented to Dick Lyons of the Chicago Cougars, who showcased a stellar 20-6 record, accompanied by a 2.59 ERA and a 1.15 WHIP.
While the Baltimore Cannons continued to struggle, a young hurler named Gus Goulding showcased his talent, starting 39 games and posting a 14-19 record. Toronto's Joe Hancock also had an outstanding season, notching a 22-8 record and a 3.08 ERA while leading the league in strikeouts. However, Hancock fell short in the Allen Award race, losing out to the impressive performance of Dick Lyons.
For the second time in three years the World Championship Series featured the Chiefs and Kings. In 1936 the Chiefs swept the Kings, but this time the series went the full distance of seven games before Chicago again emerged victorious. Despite winning it all in 1937, Kings fans were once again bitter at a down ending to a seemingly magical season.