The Yankees won their fourth straight pennant and World Series this year. They did it in convincing fashion, finishing 17 games ahead of the second-place Red Sox. Their pitching staff was spectacular; the Yankees had a team ERA of 3.31 - and they were the only team under 4.00. But while the Yankees were the dominant team, it was the Cleveland Indians who had the league's best pitcher.

         This was Bob Feller's fourth season in the majors, and he was all of 20 years old. He was maturing quickly; the previous year he had walked over 200 batters. Though his control was still shaky, Feller was clearly the premier power pitcher in baseball at this time. Feller continued to improve as he aged, and had 107 career wins by age 22, before losing four years to service in the war.
        Red Ruffing probably had his best season, and finished behind Feller in the MVP vote. Ruffing was 35 years old, and had solidified his role as the leader of the Yankees' great staff. It was his last great season, though he would continue to pitch well in limited roles for another six years. Ruffing retired with 273 wins, and was elected to the Hall Of Fame - not bad for a guy who began his career with six straight losing seasons.
        After Ruffing, the pitcher with the most MVP support was Dutch Leonard. This particular Dutch Leonard was a knuckleballer, and is not to be confused with the one who had a 0.96 ERA in 1914, and who also accused Ty Cobb and Tris Speaker of fixing a game. As far as I know, this later Dutch Leonard was involved in no such controversies. He pitched in the majors for 20 years, and played on only two winning teams (the Senators in 1943 and 1945 - both war years). Leonard began his career with Brooklyn in the early 30's when they were terrible, then disappeared for a couple of years. He re-emerged to have his best seasons with the hapless Senators, then finished his career with the Phillies and Cubs.
        Leonard was a pretty good pitcher, won 191 games in his career, and won more than he lost. But this year, I think there were other pitchers who were better. Lefty Grove was 39 years old; he didn't throw as hard or as often as he used to, but he was still great, winning his ninth (and last) ERA title. Though he didn't work as much as Leonard, Grove did have to contend with Fenway Park, whereas Leonard was pitching in spacious Griffith Stadium. In my mind, Grove gets the nod behind Feller and Ruffing.
        And for the fourth spot, I will take Bobo Newsom. This was Newsom's second straight 20-win season; it was the peak of his career, and Feller was the only better power pitcher in the league.