The 1932 Yankees had the most Hall of Fame members of any World Series Champions—9. Their opponents, the Cubs, had a good number as well, making that year’s fall classic the leader in HOF participants.
The Yankees pitching staff included future HOF members Ruffing, Gomez, and Pennock.
HOF member Dickey was behind the plate, and HOFers Gehrig (1B), Lazzeri (2B), and Joe Sewell (3B) in the infield.
Earl Combs was the everyday left fielder, and Ruth the regular in right. And rounding out the HOF roster, manager Joe McCarthy (no, he wasn’t the same Joe McCarthy who served in the Senate; indeed, McCarthy managed the Red Sox after his stunningly successful 14-year run pilot ing the Yankees).
The Cubs were not chopped liver! On their WS roster were 4 future HOF members: spitballer Burleigh Grimes; catcher Gabby Hartnett (who once caused a stir by signing an autograph of Al Capone’s son); Billy Herman, 2B; and Kiki Cuyler in the OF.
The Yankees swept the series. But the match produced some dramatic moments, including Babe’s “called shot” off Cubs’ ace Charlie Root. Ruth probably wasn’t really pointing to the center field bleachers; more likely he was gesturing toward the Cubs dugout as part of a series-long pattern of abuse that the Yankees directed at their rivals for failing to vote a share of their pennant-bounty to former Yankee, and mid-season acquisition, Mark Koenig.
Lots of other characters figured in the series. On NY side: Wilcy Moore & George Pigras, ’27 Yankee alums; Frank Crosetti, famous for depiction in Jim Bouton’s classic Ball Four; Ben Chapman, whose all star play will forever be overshadowed by his ugly race-baiting of Jackie Robinson; & scrappy reliever Johnny Allen.
If you want to learn more about this epic team, definitely check out Ronald A. Mayer’s The 1932 New York Yankees: The Story of a Legendary Team, a Remarkable Season, and a Wild World Series