History of Baseball - Famous Baseball Teams

Record: 102-51Manager: Joe McCarthyFor the New York Yankees, 1936 was a year of change. After losing the two previous pennants to the Detroit Tigers,the Yankees found new life in 1936 and they found a star outfielder forthe future.Â Top Players OFFENSE Lou Gehrig1B; Tony Lazzeri 2B; Frankie Crosetti SS; Red Rolfe 3B; George SelkirkOF; Jake Powell OF; Joe DiMaggio OF; Bill Dickey C.PITCHERS Red Ruffing,Monte Pearson, Bump Hadley, Lefty Gomez, Pal Malone and Johnny Broaca.The Yankees were looking for a pennant, their first since 1932. For NewYork, this was a crucial period in team history. Prior to 1935, the Yankeeshad released the legendary Babe Ruth. Ruth played briefly for the BostonBraves in 1935 and retired from baseball.For the Yankees, winning a serieswithout Ruth in the lineup would be a good way to start their future andkeep their legacy alive. That’s what they did in 1936 with the offenseled by Gehrig and DiMaggio. In his first season in the Major Leagues, DiMaggiohit 29 home runs and drove in 129 runs. His batting average was third onthe team, trailing only Gehrig and Dickey.Â Gehrig responded with an MVP season.He hit 49 home runs and drove in 152 runs and put up a .354 batting average.Dickey, the catcher, hit 22 home runs and drove in 107 and led the teamwith a .362 batting average.Pitching was also a strong point forthis Yankees’ championship team. Six pitchers finished the regular seasonwith double-digit wins. The records include: Ruffing (20-12, 3.85 earnedrun average); Pearson (19-7, 3.71); Hadley (14-4, 4.34); Gomez (13-7, 4.38);Malone (12-4, 3.80); and Broaca (12-7, 4.24).Â For the Yankees, this team was thestart of a World Series streak. New York would win all World Series from1936-1939.Â