Editing Red Ruffing (section)

=====1939–1946=====
McCarthy named Ruffing to be the starting pitcher for the Yankees on Opening Day in 1939.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1939yankees.stm |title=1939 New York Yankees |publisher=Baseball Library |access-date=September 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081022122703/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1939yankees.stm |archive-date=October 22, 2008 }}</ref> McCarthy, managing the AL All-Star team that year, also selected Ruffing as his starter for the [[1939 MLB All-Star Game]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pttPAAAAIBAJ&pg=4039,6789808&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Six Yankees To Start in All-Star Game: World Series Preview Seen For Stadium, McCarthy Picks Ruffing To Start Game in Surprise Move|first=Gayle|last=Talbot|agency=Associated Press|page=8|newspaper=[[The Evening Independent]]|location=St. Petersburg, Florida|date=July 10, 1939|access-date=September 6, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107225013/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=pttPAAAAIBAJ&pg=4039%2C6789808&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> He missed several weeks late in the 1939 season due to an arm injury,<ref name=ailing/> but managed to start Game One of the [[1939 World Series]]. He defeated the [[Cincinnati Redlegs]] in that game, and the Yankees won the series in a four-game sweep.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1939_WS.shtml |title=1939 World Series&nbsp;– New York Yankees over Cincinnati Reds (4–0) |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=June 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622151259/http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1939_WS.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Ruffing won 21 games during the 1939 season.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1939.shtml |title=1939 New York Yankees Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425025052/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1939.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> His four shutouts in the 1939 season again tied him for the AL lead,<ref name=reminisces/> while he finished second in wins behind [[Bob Feller]], and fourth in ERA (2.93) behind Grove, Lyons, and Feller.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1939-pitching-leaders.shtml |title=1939 American League Pitching Leaders |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 8, 2013 |archive-date=March 10, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210310141558/https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1939-pitching-leaders.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> He finished fifth in the balloting for the AL MVP.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1939.shtml#ALmvp |title=1939 Awards Voting |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=February 2, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090202094840/http://www.baseball-reference.com/awards/awards_1939.shtml#ALmvp |url-status=live }}</ref>

Ruffing was the Yankees' Opening Day starting pitcher in 1940.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1940yankees.stm |title=1940 New York Yankees |publisher=Baseball Library |access-date=September 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724013609/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1940yankees.stm |archive-date=July 24, 2008 }}</ref> He was named to the [[1940 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1940 All-Star team]], and Cronin, acting as manager, selected Ruffing as his starting pitcher.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 9, 1940 |title=Red Ruffing to Start All-Star Game Against Derringer or Walters |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-boston-globe-red-ruffing-to-start-al/165869212/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |newspaper=[[Daily Boston Globe]] |pages=20 |via=[[Newspapers.com]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS194007090.shtml |title=July 9, 1940 All-Star Game Play-By-Play and Box Score |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=January 30, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170130195625/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS194007090.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Ruffing finished the season with a 15–12 win–loss record.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1940.shtml |title=1940 New York Yankees Batting, Pitching, & Fielding Statistics |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425025121/https://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/1940.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>  Ruffing was a member of the [[1941 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|1941&nbsp;All-Star team]] as well, but he did not pitch in the game.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS194107080.shtml |title=July 8, 1941 All-Star Game Play-By-Play and Box Score |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=September 1, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130901142248/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/ALS/ALS194107080.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> He had a 15–6 win–loss record during the 1941 season, and was named the starting pitcher for Game One of the [[1941 World Series]] against the [[Brooklyn Dodgers]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Lq5WAAAAIBAJ&pg=3174,4273167&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Red Ruffing Named Starting Pitcher|agency=United Press International|date=September 30, 1941|newspaper=Eugene Register-Guard|page=8|access-date=September 6, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107224951/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Lq5WAAAAIBAJ&pg=3174%2C4273167&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> Ruffing defeated the Dodgers, as the Yankees won the series four games to one.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1941_WS.shtml |title=1941 World Series&nbsp;– New York Yankees over Brooklyn Dodgers (4–1) |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=June 25, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170625100001/http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1941_WS.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

[[File:Red Ruffing ATC 1943.jpg|thumb|left|180px|Ruffing wearing an [[Air Transport Command]] baseball uniform during [[World War II]].]]
Ruffing pitched for the Yankees during Opening Day of the 1942 season.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1942yankees.stm |title=1942 New York Yankees |publisher=Baseball Library |access-date=September 20, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080830051001/http://www.baseballlibrary.com/baseballlibrary/teams/1942yankees.stm |archive-date=August 30, 2008 }}</ref> That year, he compiled a 14–7 win–loss record. He was again named an All-Star, and again did not pitch in the [[1942 Major League Baseball All-Star Game|All-Star Game]], which was started by teammate [[Spud Chandler]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS194207060.shtml |title=July 6, 1942 All-Star Game Play-By-Play and Box Score |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 7, 2013 |archive-date=October 21, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161021093116/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NLS/NLS194207060.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Though teammate [[Tiny Bonham]] had a better season, pitching to a 21–5 win–loss record, McCarthy again chose Ruffing as his Game One starter for the [[1942 World Series]],<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=z1gyAAAAIBAJ&pg=2625,1952084&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=McCarthy's Mound Choice Justified By Red Ruffing|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Palm Beach Post|page=9|date=October 1, 1942|access-date=September 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7aYiAAAAIBAJ&pg=3681,7052547&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Red Ruffing Named To Pitch First Game of World Series|newspaper=The Daily Times|location=Beaver and Rochester, Pennsylvania|page=1|date=September 30, 1942|access-date=September 8, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107224952/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=7aYiAAAAIBAJ&pg=3681%2C7052547&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> setting a record with six World Series Game One starts that stood until [[Whitey Ford]] started his seventh Game One in the [[1963&nbsp;World Series]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ErorAAAAIBAJ&pg=6686,2613189&dq=red-ruffing+whitey-ford&hl=en|title=Whitey Ford to Break Own Records in Series Opener|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=The Telegraph|location=Nashua, New Hampshire|page=8|date=September 28, 1963|access-date=September 8, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107225013/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=ErorAAAAIBAJ&pg=6686%2C2613189&dq=red-ruffing+whitey-ford&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> Ruffing defeated the [[St. Louis Cardinals]] in Game One, his seventh World Series victory. This set a record that was surpassed by Ford in 1960.<ref name=sabr/> Ruffing pitched again in the Game Five, with the Yankees down three games to one. Ruffing lost the game, as the Cardinals defeated the Yankees to win the series.<ref name=redhead/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1942_WS.shtml |title=1942 World Series&nbsp;– St. Louis Cardinals over New York Yankees (4–1) |publisher=Baseball-Reference.com |access-date=September 6, 2013 |archive-date=June 22, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080622165915/http://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1942_WS.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>

After the 1942 season, Ruffing took a job with [[Vultee Aircraft]], a defense contractor. Despite his age (37) and missing toes, a United States Army doctor certified Ruffing as Class 1-B in the [[Selective Service System]], overruled Ruffing's personal physician, who had ruled Ruffing unfit for service. The Army decided that Ruffing could serve in a non-combat role.<ref name=sabr/><ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FcRRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6062,316293&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Yankees Lose Red Ruffing, Army Inducts Star Hurler: Loss of Four Toes in Youth Prevents Classification in I-A|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=Pittsburgh Post-Gazette|page=17|date=December 30, 1942|access-date=September 8, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107224952/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FcRRAAAAIBAJ&pg=6062%2C316293&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> Ruffing missed the 1943 and 1944 seasons due to his service during World War II. He served in the Sixth Ferrying Group of the [[Air Transport Command (United States Air Force)|Air Transport Command]] of the [[United States Army Air Forces]] at the rank of [[private (rank)|private]]. However, he did pitch for the Air Transport Command's baseball team, throwing a [[Perfect game (baseball)|perfect game]] against [[Joe DiMaggio]]'s team,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nqYiAAAAIBAJ&pg=4803,1414277&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Red Ruffing Hurls No-Hit, No-Run Game|agency=United Press International|page=9|newspaper=The Daily Times|date=July 23, 1943|access-date=September 8, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107224953/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=nqYiAAAAIBAJ&pg=4803%2C1414277&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> and leading his team to the championship against [[Ted Lyons]]' team.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=qdMbAAAAIBAJ&pg=6549,694935&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Red Ruffing Helps Win Coast Title|agency=United Press International|page=18|newspaper=The Pittsburgh Press|date=October 11, 1943|access-date=September 8, 2013}}</ref> In 1944, he played with an All-Star team for troops stationed in [[Hawaii]].<ref name=sabr/>

Ruffing turned 40 years of age during the war, resulting in his [[discharge (military)|discharge]] in June 1945.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=bTMdAAAAIBAJ&pg=1569,1901516&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Red Ruffing Gets Army Discharge|agency=Associated Press|page=1|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=June 5, 1945|access-date=September 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=1945-06-09 |title=Ruffing Works Out With Yanks |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/times-the-picture-paper-ruffing-works-o/165870144/ |access-date=2025-02-17 |work=Times, the Picture Paper |page=16 |publication-place=Minneapolis, Minnesota |via=[[Newspapers.com]] |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> He rejoined the Yankees that month, signing for the same $20,000 salary (${{formatnum:{{Inflation|US|20000|1945}}}} in current dollar terms) he earned in 1942.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Jr8wAAAAIBAJ&pg=6847,596425&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Red Ruffing Rejoins Yankees For Western Trip; Gets $20,000|agency=Associated Press|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|page=19|date=June 24, 1945|access-date=September 8, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107225018/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=Jr8wAAAAIBAJ&pg=6847%2C596425&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> He made his first appearance with the Yankees since the 1942&nbsp;season in July 1945.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=3PAZAAAAIBAJ&pg=6026,4208782&dq=red-ruffing&hl=en|title=Red Ruffing Wins in Comeback Effort: Yank Veteran Makes First Start Since 1942 Series and Beats A's by 13–4 Score|agency=Associated Press|page=9|newspaper=The Milwaukee Journal|date=July 26, 1945|access-date=September 8, 2013}}</ref> Pitching for the Yankees as a spot starter in 1946, he had a 5–1 win–loss record and a 1.77 ERA when he suffered a broken kneecap from a [[line drive]] hit by [[Hank Majeski]], and missed the remainder of the season.<ref name=sabr/>

In total, Ruffing won 231 games with the Yankees. This mark was the most in franchise history, until Ford surpassed it in 1965.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FmJPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3733,4429681&dq=red-ruffing+whitey-ford&hl=en|title=Whitey Ford Nips Chisox|agency=Associated Press|page=21|newspaper=Ocala Star-Banner|date=September 12, 1965|access-date=September 8, 2013|archive-date=November 7, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211107225116/https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=FmJPAAAAIBAJ&pg=3733%2C4429681&dq=red-ruffing+whitey-ford&hl=en|url-status=live}}</ref> He remains the winningest right-handed pitcher in Yankees' history.<ref name=plaque/>