By the close of 1937, the Yankees have proven to be a very successful franchise. Their six World Series championships were already the most in baseball, and to this day only five other teams have managed to attain as many overall while the Bronx Bombers have since added over 20 more. At this point, not only were the Yankees the most accomplished team, but they were also coming off of back-to-back titles. 1938 offered a new challenge: could they win three in a row? The Murderers Row Yankees failed to pull off the hat trick, mainly due to the death of the Manager and the overwhelming season the Philadelphia A's were having. Could Lou Gehrig and company get it done this time?
First order of business was to ensure they could even reach the World Series. Behind half a lineup of Hall of Famers, and eight of them getting MVP votes, the Yankees easily navigated the American League. At 99-53, they won the pennant at 9.5 games over the second place Red Sox. Their offensive power was unmatched, leading all teams with Home Runs (174), Runs (966), Slugging (.446), Stolen Bases (91) and Walks (749). The pitching held their own as well, being the only staff in the AL with an ERA under 4.00 (3.91) and accumulating 11 Shutouts.
Standing in the way of history were the Chicago Cubs. While the Yankees didn't run away with any of the games, their pitching suffocated the Cubs offense, with 34 of the 36 innings pitched by the Starters and just Closer Johnny Murphy picking up the other 2 innings. The Yankees easily swept the series 4-0 and became the first ever three-peat champions. But they weren't done yet...
Bill Dickey never won an MVP, but the closest the future Hall of Famer came was in 1938 when he finished a distant 2nd. His defensive value was as present as ever, catching 126 games and leading the league with 518 Putouts and 74 Assists. In the World Series he batted .400 and hit a Home Run in Game 3.
The last full season of the great Lou Gehrig's career, and he made it count. The baton had been passed on by now to Joe D, but the Yankee Clipper still had one more World Series in him.
It would be a crime to state that DiMaggio *regressed* in his third season, but his 32 Home Runs and 140 RBI were all lower totals than his previous season. Still more than enough to be the leader in those categories on baseballs most dangerous offense. He also led the team with a .324 BA and 13 Triples.
The rest of the Yankee lineup. Mostly holdovers from previous titles, Joe Gordon was called in to replace the legend Tony Lazzeri at 2nd Base. Frank Crosstti would lead the league with 27 Stolen Bases and Red Rolfe would join Dickey, DiMaggio and Gehrig as all star position players.
Bench hitters. Jake Powell may not have had much homer potential, but he wasn't afraid to throw hands however.
Staff ace Red Ruffing led the league with 21 Wins and led all Yankees with a 3.31 ERA. He followed those efforts up with two complete game victories against the Cubs in the World Series, including the title clinching Game 4.
Don't call 1938 a regression year for Gomez either, but he followed up his pitching triple crown season of 1937 with a respectable 18 Wins and a team high 129 Strikeouts. He led the league with 4 Shutouts.
Monte Pearson pitched a CG of his own in the World Series, but his big moment of 1938 came on August 27, when he no-hit the Cleveland Indians. It was the first ever no-hitter in Yankee Stadium history, and the third ever for the franchise.
Other two rotation pitchers. While they weren't apart of the World Series, they brought solid contributions to getting the Yankees the pennant. And who could say no to pitchers who can give 8 innings easy?
Other pitchers on the staff. With a rotation like the one that contains Ruffing and Gomez, 8 inning Starters and a no-hitter man, it's no big deal when most of your bullpen are mop-up guys.
Johnny "Grandma" Murphy was the first great Yankee Closer. And while he was a far cry from Mariano Rivera, he saved a league high 11 games for the Yankees, and was the one arm they called upon in the World Series out of the bullpen, getting the Save in Game 2.
