The Yankees had always been a hitters' franchise. Ruth's home runs, Gehrig's consecutive-game streak, DiMaggio's grace in center field -- the identity of the organization lived in the batter's box. So when Spud Chandler went 20-4 with a 1.64 ERA in 1943 and won the American League Most Valuable Player award, it wasn't just a great season. It was the first time a Yankees pitcher had ever taken the honor. That fact alone tells you how good he was.
The Unlikely Ace
Chandler was 35 years old. He'd been a solid pitcher for years -- never bad, never the best arm on the staff, never the guy reporters wrote about first. He'd spent time on the disabled list. He'd missed chunks of earlier seasons. In a rotation that had included Red Ruffing and Lefty Gomez, Chandler was the reliable middle-of-the-order starter you counted on for 15 wins and a clean outing.
Then DiMaggio enlisted. Ruffing enlisted. Rizzuto enlisted. Tommy Henrich enlisted. The needed someone to carry the pitching staff, and Chandler responded with a season that still holds up against any in franchise history.
The Numbers
His 1.64 ERA was the lowest posted by any pitcher between 1920 and 1967 -- a 47-year span that covered the entire live-ball era up to that point. He threw 20 complete games in 30 starts (try getting a modern starter to throw 20 complete games in a career). Five of those were shutouts. He struck out 134 batters. The 20-4 record gave him an .833 winning percentage that bordered on absurd.
| Record | 20-4 (.833) |
| ERA | 1.64 (lowest in majors, 1920-1967) |
| Complete Games | 20 |
| Shutouts | 5 |
| Strikeouts | 134 |
| Award | AL Most Valuable Player (first Yankee pitcher) |
The MVP voting wasn't close. In a franchise where DiMaggio had won the award twice and Gehrig had taken it home, a right-hander who didn't throw especially hard and relied on command, a sinker, and sheer stubbornness became the most valuable player in the American League. that year. . Chandler was still the best player on the team, and everybody knew it.
October
The gave Chandler the stage to put an exclamation point on the season. He won two complete games against the Cardinals -- including a shutout in Game 5 to clinch the championship. Bill Dickey hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning of that clincher, and those were the only runs Chandler needed. Yankees 2, Cardinals 0. Series over.
Two complete games in a World Series. A shutout to clinch it. That's the kind of October performance that turns a great regular season into something permanent.
I just tried to get the ball over the plate and let the defense work.
The Career Behind the Season
Chandler's 1943 wasn't a fluke built on wartime diluted competition (a charge some historians have thrown around). His career winning percentage of .717 -- compiled over 109 wins and 43 losses -- remains the highest among any pitcher with 100 or more victories since 1876. He never had a single losing season in eleven years. That's consistency that goes beyond one wartime campaign.
The war took his prime. Chandler lost the 1944 and 1945 seasons to military service himself, returning at 38 with a shoulder that wasn't the same. The 1943 season stands as the one year everything aligned -- health, command, a supporting cast that scored enough runs, and a pitcher who decided he wasn't going to lose.
Season Opens
Chandler takes over as the staff ace with Ruffing and Gomez both gone. He wins his first start and doesn't look back.
Dominant Stretch
Chandler strings together complete games and shutouts, establishing himself as the best pitcher in the American League. His ERA stays below 2.00 all season.
20th Win
Chandler reaches the 20-win mark, finishing the regular season 20-4 with a 1.64 ERA.
World Series Game 1
Chandler starts the Series opener against the Cardinals, helping the Yankees take a 4-2 victory and set the tone for the rematch.
Game 5 Clincher
Chandler throws a complete-game shutout to clinch the World Series. Dickey's two-run homer in the sixth provides the margin in a 2-0 win.
Frequently Asked Questions
Did Spud Chandler win the 1943 AL MVP?
Yes. Chandler won the American League MVP award in 1943 with a 20-4 record and 1.64 ERA. He was the first pitcher in Yankees history to receive the honor. His 1.64 ERA was the lowest by any major-league pitcher between 1920 and 1967, and he threw 20 complete games with five shutouts.
What was Spud Chandler's career winning percentage?
Chandler's career winning percentage of .717 (109-43) is the highest among any pitcher with 100 or more wins since 1876. He never posted a losing record in any of his eleven major-league seasons, though he lost the 1944 and 1945 campaigns to military service during World War II.
How did Spud Chandler perform in the 1943 World Series?
Chandler won two complete games in the 1943 World Series against the Cardinals, including a shutout in the clinching Game 5. Bill Dickey's two-run homer provided the only runs in the 2-0 Game 5 victory, giving the Yankees their revenge after losing to St. Louis in the 1942 Series.