The Cubs swap SS Bobby Mattick and OF Jim Gleeson to the Reds for SS Billy Myers. Myers will split his time between Chicago and the minors next year and quit in 1942 rather than take a pay cut.

The Cubs swap SS Bobby Mattick and OF Jim Gleeson to the Reds for SS Billy Myers. Myers will split his time between Chicago and the minors next year and quit in 1942 rather than take a pay cut.

Larry MacPhail continues his dealing and gets his catcher. The Dodgers trade for Mickey Owen, giving Gus Mancuso and $85,000 to the Cardinals.

Larry MacPhail continues his dealing and gets his catcher. The Dodgers trade for Mickey Owen, giving Gus Mancuso and $85,000 to the Cardinals.

Cleveland Indians owner Alva Bradley finally fires manager Oscar Vitt and replaces him with Roger Peckinpaugh

Cleveland Indians owner Alva Bradley finally fires manager Oscar Vitt and replaces him with Roger Peckinpaugh

1940 – Unwilling to yield to the players’ demands during the season, Cleveland Indians owner Alva Bradley finally fires manager Oscar Vitt and replaces him with Roger Peckinpaugh. It is Peckinpaugh’s second time as Cleveland’s field boss.

|

Brooklyn Dodgers acquires pitcher Kirby Higbe from the Philadelphia Phillies for catcher Mickey Livingston, pitchers Bill Crouch and Vito Tamulis, and $100,000

1940 – Brooklyn Dodgers general manager Larry MacPhail still needs a starting pitcher to make his team a threat to the Reds. He acquires pitcher Kirby Higbe from the Philadelphia Phillies for catcher Mickey Livingston, pitchers Bill Crouch and Vito Tamulis, and $100,000. Higbe, who won 14 games in 1940, will win 22 games next season to lead National League pitchers.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt is re-elected for a third term defeating Wendell Willkie

President Franklin D. Roosevelt is re-elected for a third term defeating Wendell Willkie

President Franklin D. Roosevelt, the Democratic candidate who broke with tradition to run for an unprecedented third term, is re-elected, defeating Wendell Willkie by a comfortable margin. The unlikely dark horse Republican candidate had once served as the Dodgers’ lawyer, but the independent-minded barrister’s involvement in politics proved not to be beneficial for a team that was in constant chaos at the time.

Hall of Famer Walter Johnson loses a bid to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives

Hall of Famer Walter Johnson loses a bid to become a member of the U.S. House of Representatives

On November 5, 1940,  In his bid to represent Maryland’s sixth congressional district in the U.S. House of Representatives, baseball legend Walter Johnson narrowly loses to William D. Byron, the Democrat incumbent, who will die in a plane crash in February. The Hall of Fame right-hander, elected as a Montgomery County Commissioner in 1938, receives…

Detroit Tigers outfielder Hank Greenberg is named the American League MVP for second time

Detroit Tigers outfielder Hank Greenberg is named the American League MVP for second time

1940 – Detroit Tigers outfielder Hank Greenberg is named the American League MVP with Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller finishing second. Greenberg hit .340 with 41 home runs and 150 RBI, while Feller posted a 27-11 record with a 2.61 ERA. Having won the award in 1935 as a first baseman, Greenberg becomes the first player to win the MVP again playing a different position.

October 8 1940 Detroit Tigers at Cincinatti Reds World Series Radio Broadcast

October 8 1940 Detroit Tigers at Cincinatti Reds World Series Radio Broadcast

October 8 1940 Detroit Tigers at Cincinatti Reds World Series Classic Broadcasts are old-time broadcasts that have been put together from various sources. Many are found on the Internet Archives in a raw form. If you wish to take a deeper dive, that includes: Scorecards, Rosters, Newspaper Clippings. All members can jump over to :…