1918 Major League Baseball season

Scheduled start American League Opening Day took place on April 15 with four American League teams playing, the Philadelphia Athletics at Boston Red Sox, and the New York Yankees at Washington Senators, while National League Opening Day saw all eight teams play the following day. It was the first season since which saw the two leagues open on different days. Shortened season With World War I ongoing, a "work or fight" mandate was issued by the government, requiring men with non-essential jobs to enlist or take war-related jobs by July 1, or else risk being drafted. Secretary of War Newton D. Baker granted an extension to MLB players through Labor Day, September 2. In early August, MLB clubs decided that the regular season would end at that time. As a result, the number of regular-season games that each team played varied—123 to 130 for AL teams and 124 to 131 for NL teams, including ties—reduced from their original 154-game schedules. The final day of the regular season would see all teams but the Cleveland Indians and St. Louis Browns play. Later in August, Baker granted a further extension to allow for the World Series to be contested; World War I would end two months later, with the Armistice of 11 November 1918. ==Teams==

American League National League Tie games 10 tie games (6 in AL, 4 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season. American League • Cleveland Indians, 2 • Detroit Tigers, 2 • New York Yankees, 3 • Philadelphia Athletics, 2 • St. Louis Browns, 1 • Washington Senators, 2 National League • Chicago Cubs, 2 • Cincinnati Reds, 1 • Philadelphia Phillies, 2 • Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 • St. Louis Cardinals, 2 ==Postseason==

The postseason began on September 5 and ended on September 11 with the Boston Red Sox defeating the Chicago Cubs in the 1918 World Series in six games. Bracket ==Managerial changes==

Off-season In-season ==League leaders==

Any team shown in indicates a previous team a player was on during the season. American League 1 American League Triple Crown pitching winner National League 2 National League Triple Crown pitching winner ==Milestones==

Batters Cycles • Cliff Heathcote (STL): • Heathcote hit for his first cycle and fourth in franchise history, on June 13 against the Philadelphia Phillies. Pitchers No-hitters • Dutch Leonard (BOS): • Dutch threw his second career no-hitter and ninth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Detroit Tigers 5–0 on June 3. Leonard walked one and struck out four. ==Home field attendance==

Robison Field of the St. Louis Cardinals is gradually referred to as Cardinal Field, after Helene Britton, daughter of the deceased former owner Frank Robison, sells her interest in the team following a deal in March 1917, ending the association between the Cardinals and the Robison family. By 1918, Cardinal Field became the name widely used. ==See also==