The Brooklyn Dodgers won their first pennant since 1920. It was a new era for the Dodgers; for many years, New York had the Yankees and the Giants, and the Dodgers were also-rans, for the faithful only. Now, they became the fabled "bums", a great team in their own league that always lost to the Yankees in the World Series. That was the case this year, as they lost to the Yanks in five games.

         Whit Wyatt led all pitchers in the MVP vote. Wyatt had been in the majors for ten years, and had never won more then 9 games in a season. In 1940, the Dodgers needed a starting pitcher, and Wyatt fit the bill, winning 15 games. He took a another big step forward this year, and was clearly the best pitcher in the league. Wyatt had two more big seasons for the Dodgers, but by then was already in his late 30's, and his career ended soon after.
        Wyatt was followed in the MVP voting by Elmer Riddle, Ernie White, and Kirby Higbe. I see no reason to change that order. Riddle was 27 years old, and had only a single win in his career. He pitched brilliantly. Riddle struggled in 1942, then was brilliant again in 1943. Something must have gone wrong with his arm after that; over the next three seasons, Riddle pitched very rarely, walking 70 batters while striking out only 19.
        Ernie White was 25 years old; like Riddle, he had a great rookie season. He couldn't build on it, though, and won only 12 games the rest of his career. Kirby Higbe was a hard thrower without much control. but he had some fine seasons for the Dodgers. He started the infamous Game Four of the World Series, in which the catcher Mickey Owen committed a passed ball, and the Yankees came back and won in the ninth inning. Higbe didn't make it through the fourth inning, apparently upset because of a pre-game argument with manager Leo Durocher. Durocher didn't wait long to pull him, either.
        The was also the last outstanding year in the fine career of Lon Warneke, who retired a couple of years later with 192 career wins.