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Charlton's Baseball Chronology - 1956
January
| January 6 |
A federal court bars former Little League Commissioner Carl Stotz from forming a rival group. He initiated the suit because he felt the league had grown too big‚ and that increasing team rosters to 15 players was preventing less able players from getting any real playing time. |
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The Boston Red Sox sell their Louisville farm club to a Cuban cartel led by Havana businessman Edward F. Wheeler. |
| January 19 |
The City of Hoboken dedicates a plaque honoring the achievements of Alexander Cartwright in organizing early baseball at Elysian Field in the New Jersey city. |
| January 27 |
The New York Giants football team of the NFL switches its home games to Yankee Stadium‚ leading to speculation that the baseball team will soon vacate the Polo Grounds as well. |
February
| February 4 |
The AL says it will test the automatic intentional walk during spring training. The Major Leagues vote to establish the Cy Young Memorial Award for outstanding pitcher of the year. |
| February 5 |
New York Mayor Robert Wagner and Brooklyn Borough President Frank Cashmore sponsor a bill to create a Brooklyn Sports Center Authority to build a $30 million sports center in downtown Brooklyn. |
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The ML owners reject the players' request for an increase in the minimum salary from $6‚000 to $7‚000. |
| February 6 |
Dodger President Walter O'Malley backs the Wagner-Cashmore plan‚ vowing to buy $4 million worth of bonds. |
| February 8 |
The legendary Connie Mack dies at age 93. He began his career with Washington in 1886 as a catcher. After managing the NL Pittsburgh club from 1894-96‚ he became a prominent figure in Ban Johnson's Western League and a founder of the AL and its Philadelphia franchise in l901. In 50 years as the Athletics pilot he won 9 pennants and 5 World Championships‚ but also finished last 17 times. |
| February 9 |
The Cubs sign Ben Banks‚ 22-year-old brother of Ernie‚ recently discharged from the military. The ex-Monarch will not make it out of the minors. |
| February 15 |
The Pirates and the Kansas City A's cancel an exhibition game in Birmingham‚ AL‚ because of a local ordinance barring black players from playing against white players. |
| February 16 |
The courts award Dr. Samuel Shenkman $5‚000 in his suit against Dodger C Roy Campanella for surgery on Campy's injured hand on October 20‚ 1954. Campanella says the doctor never informed him that the charge would be $9‚500‚ a price the catcher considered excessive. |
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ML owners announce that the players' pension fund will receive 60 percent of WS and All-Star Game radio and TV revenues. |
| February 27 |
The Piedmont League disbands after 37 years in operation. |
March
| March 3 |
In an effort to keep the Giants in New York‚ Manhattan Borough President Hulan Jack makes plans for a new 110‚000-seat stadium over the New York Central railroad tracks‚ on a 470‚000-foot site stretching from 60th to 72nd streets on Manhattan's West Side. The estimated cost of $75 million for the stadium eventually dooms the project and will be a major factor in Horace Stoneham's decision to move to San Francisco. |
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The Giants and Indians cancel an exhibition game in Meridian‚ MS‚ because of racial violence in neighboring Alabama. |
| March 7 |
The player reps accept the owners' decisions on minimum pay and the WS TV pact. They seek workman's compensation coverage. The player reps rehire J. M. Lewis as their representative. |
| March 11 |
At Al Lang Field in St. Petersburg‚ there are no maybes about it as Mickey Mantle hits a Grapefruit League pitch from Larry Jackson over the left field wall into the bay. The Yanks top the Cards 4-3. Musial contends‚ "no home run has ever cleared my head by as much as long as I can remember." He'll hit another at Al Lang Field on March 20th off Bob Mave to that also lands in the water. Mantle will clock a 500-foot shot in Miami on the 24th against the Dodgers. |
| March 14 |
Satchel Paige signs with the Birmingham Black Barons (Negro League) at age 50 to play and manage. |
April
| April 7 |
In an exhibition match‚ the Detroit Tigers are outhit but down Houston (Texas League)‚ 10-1 as Al Kaline hits two grand slams. |
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Call it the lemonfruit league. Jim Lemon of the Washington Senators matches Kaline with 8 RBIs in a 16-12 win over the Reds in grapefruit league play. He gets walked his first three times up‚ then hits a double‚ triple and grand slam. |
| April 9 |
The Braves trade 1B George Crowe to the Redlegs for OF Bob "Hurricane" Hazle and righthander Corky Valentine. |
| April 10 |
Why don't these count? Mel Parnell pitches a 4-hitter in Greenville‚ SC as his Red Sox kick the Phillies 21-1. |
| April 17 |
President Eisenhower throws out the first ball in Washington-actually two balls‚ both replicas of Spalding's 1876 ball‚ and the Yanks and Senators each hit 3 HRs‚ the only time this has happened on Opening Day. Hitting LH‚ Mickey Mantle has 2 tape measure CF blasts over 500 feet off Camilo Pascual‚ as the Yanks win easily 10-4. Berra is 4-for-4 with a double and homer and 5 RBIs to ease the way for winner Don Larsen. Camilo Pascual takes the loss. Karl Olson has two homers for Washington‚ the only time in history a Senator has gone deep twice on opening day‚ and rookie Dick Tettelbach hits another‚ his only major league round tripper. All but Mantle take advantage of the new shortened dimensions of Griffith Stadium. For the 3rd consecutive opener‚ President Dwight D. Eisenhower throws out the first ball and stays for 9 innings. |
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Oops. When fans are directed to stand for the National Anthem at Ebbets Field‚ there is a long silence before singer Everett McCooey asks over the loud speaker‚ "who's going to raise the flag?" The flag and the championship flag are then hoisted. It is better than the Opener in 1913 at Ebbets Field when everyone forgot to bring a flag. The Dodgers then lose to the Phils‚ 8-6. |
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At Fenway‚ Ted Williams crosses up the "Williams Shift" by rapping 2 doubles to left and a single to CF to lead the Red Sox to an 8-1 win over the Orioles. Piersall also has 3 hits. Frank Sullivan is the winner allowing 8 hits and an unearned run and helping the offense with an unusual DP for an RBI. With the bases loaded in the 3rd‚ Sullivan flies to RF with Piersall scoring from 3B and Sammy White thrown out at 2B by RF Dave Philley. The pitcher hits into a DP‚ gets an RBI‚ and has no time at bat. |
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The White Sox‚ losers of their last 10 exhibition games‚ edge the visiting Indians‚ 2-1‚ on Bob Lemon's bases-loaded walk. Jim Busby‚ traded by the Sox over the winter‚ accounts for the only Tribe tally with a home run. |
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Gus Zernial hits a pinch double to drive in 2 runs and spoil the one-man effort of Detroit's Frank Lary. The A's win‚ 2-1. Lary hurls a 6-hitter and accounts for the only run with an inside-the-park HR off Alex Kellner. |
| April 19 |
Despite the cold weather‚ a crowd of 12‚214 watches the Dodgers nip the Phillies 5-4 in 10 innings at Jersey City in the first of the 7 NL games the Dodgers will play here in 1956. The Phils take the lead in the top of the 10th‚ 4-3‚ but Brooklyn scores twice to win. Roy Campanella sparks the rally with a double‚ his 1‚000th hit. |
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At Crosley Field‚ the Reds spot the Cardinals an 8-3 lead‚ then tie the game with 5 runs in the 7th inning. Four of the runs come on Ray Jablonski's grand slam. The Cards score a run in the 10th‚ but the Reds score twice in the bottom of the frame to win the slugfest‚ 10-9. |
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In a dramatic southpaw duel‚ Chicago's Jack Harshman and Cleveland's Herb Score each fire 2-hitters‚ with the White Sox prevailing‚ 1-0. The Sox score in the 7th without a hit. On June 21‚ Harshman will win a one-hitter battle‚ 1-0. |
| April 20 |
In the Yankees home opener‚ Mantle clouts a three run homer and Whitey Ford goes all the way‚ allowing 5 Red Sox hits. New York wins‚ 7-1. |
| April 21 |
Art Ditmar of the Athletics limits the White Sox to one hit-an Earl Battey single in the 3rd-winning 15-1‚ as the A's score a ML record 13 runs in the 2nd inning. Two errors by 2B Spook Jacobs allows Battey to score. |
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Mickey Mantle homers for the 2nd day in a row against the Red Sox‚ to lead New York to a 14-10 shoot out at the Stadium. Mantle‚ playing with his thigh wrapped tightly after straining a muscle yesterday‚ is 3-for-5. |
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In Philadelphia‚ The Phils manage just 3 hits in the opener‚ but one is a 3-run homer by Ted Kazanski as Robin Roberts wins‚ 3-1‚ over Johnny Antonelli. New York takes the nitecap‚ 9-7‚ when Willie Mays belts a 9th inning 3-run homer. When the Phillies bat in the bottom of the 9th‚ fans start throwing bottles and cans on the field. RF Whitey Lockman calls time‚ and returns with a helmet. ""I wouldn't mind getting hit by a regular bottle‚ but when they break off the tops and throw them at you‚ that's too much‚" he says later. Outside police are called in to stop to bottle tossers. Beer is not sold at Connie Mack Stadium‚ but fans can bring bottles and cans into the park. |
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After starting the fireworks with a single in the 6th‚ Musial climaxes the 8-run frame with a grand slam to pace the Cards to a 10-4 win over the Braves in the 1st of 2. Ray Crone coasts to a 12-5 Braves win in game 2 for the first place Braves. |
| April 23 |
Rookie Don Drysdale makes his first ML start a dandy by striking out the side in the first inning. He strikes out 9 as Brooklyn beats the Phils‚ 6-1. |
| April 24 |
AL umpire Frank Umont is the first to wear glasses in a regular season game‚ between Detroit and Kansas City. The former NFL tackle (New York Giants) still presents an intimidating appearance to most players and fans. Tuttle‚ Boone‚ and Bertoia rap homers as the Tigers win‚ 7-4. Boone and Bertoia's HRs come in the 8th inning against Bill Bradford‚ pitching his only ML inning. |
| April 27 |
At Yankee Stadium‚ Mantle hits a shot to dead center that hits the bleachers and rebounds back onto the playing field. Red Sox CF Jimmy Piersall plays the ball and fires to 3B to hold the hustling Mantle to a triple. Stengel charges out to argue that the ball is a home run and gets tossed for his efforts. The Sox win‚ 6-4. |
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Following a ruling by PCL president Leslie O'Connor that the stripes on Portland's shirts did not distract batters‚ Sacramento players appear on the field with white polka dots on their shirts. Umpire Chris Pelekoudas disallows them saying they are sewn on. |
| April 29 |
For the 3rd time in his career‚ Phillies LF Del Ennis spoils a no-hitter‚ this time singling off the Giants Ray Monzant‚ who wins the one-hitter 8-1 anyway in the 2nd game of a doubleheader. |
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In an exhibition game at Jersey City‚ the Indians nip the Dodgers‚ 1-0‚ in 10 innings. Sal Maglie pitches 4 scoreless innings for the Tribe‚ and the Dodgers are so impressed they will acquire The Barber on May 15th. He'll provide 13 wins‚ including a no-hitter for Brooklyn. |
May
| May 1 |
Mantle takes Steve Gromek deep in the first inning at the Stadium‚ and New York rolls to a 9-2 win over Detroit. Bauer also homers as Whitey Ford hurls his 3rd CG win. |
| May 2 |
Twenty-five Giants and 23 Cubs appear-a ML record-in a 17-inning marathon finally won by the visiting Giants 6-5. The two teams combined to intentionally walk 11 batters‚ a ML record‚ with the Cubs contributing 7 of the free passes. Losing pitcher Jim Brosnan chipped in with 4 walks‚ all intentional. Cub 3B Don Hoak was not one of the strollers‚ whiffing a NL record 6 times-all against different pitchers‚ (Carl Weilman in 1913 set the ML record with 6 strikeouts in a 15-inning AL game) while Ernie Banks‚ Willie Mays and Wes Westrum are twice walked intentionally. There are 8 unintentional walks for a total of 19. Whitey Lockman starts in LF‚ goes to 1B‚ returns to LF‚ and finishes at 1B. Ex-Giant Monte Irvin is 0-for-5 against 5 pitchers. The game is 6 minutes shy of the 5:19 record set by the Dodgers-Braves in 20 innings in 1940. |
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LF Lee Walls of the Pirates goes 5-for-5 against St. Louis in a 10-inning 10-9 loss to St. Louis. |
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Detroit's Yankee killer Frank Lary tames New York 8-1 at the Stadium. Mantle's 9th inning HR is New York's only score‚ as they drop into 2nd place behind the White Sox. |
| May 3 |
Before 4‚308 at the Stadium‚ Mantle homers for the 3rd day in a row‚ but Kansas City holds on to win‚ 8-7. Mick's homer in the 5th is followed by homers by Bauer and Berra. |
| May 4 |
The National Braille Press presents to manager Pinky Higgins the Red Sox 1956 schedule‚ printed in Braille for the first time. |
| May 5 |
The Yankees clout 4 homers-Berra's‚ Bauer's inside-the-park‚ and two moonshots by Mantle-to top the visiting A's‚ 5-2. Mantle's 2nd homer hits the RF facade just inside the foul pole‚ and almost clears the roof. |
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Despite a near-record strikeout performance by Don Ferrarese‚ the Indians beat the Orioles‚ 2-1. Ferrarese‚ making his first ML start after relieving for 2 years‚ fans 13. The Indians are hitless until Rosen homers in the 5th. |
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In a Sooner State League game at Paris‚ John Wartelle of Paris strikes out 22 Seminole batters to win‚ 8-4. |
| May 6 |
Led By Willie Mays's 4 stolen bases‚ the Giants edge the Cards‚ 5-4. |
| May 7 |
The future NL president‚ Bill White of the NY Giants‚ homers‚ off Ben Flowers‚ in his first time up in the ML. But the Giants lose to St. Louis‚ 6-3 at the Polo Grounds. |
| May 8 |
Mantle clouts an Early Wynn pitch in the 6th to tie the Indians at 2-2‚ and New York edges the Tribe 4-3. |
| May 9 |
Tom Poholsky allows 4 hits and the Cardinals beat the Phils and Herm Wehmeier‚ 3-0. It is a club-record 14th win in a row for the Cardinals over Wehmeier stretching back to July 3‚ 1949. It is also a NL record for consecutive losses from the start a career. |
| May 10 |
At Yankee Stadium‚ Bob Lemon gives Cleveland a 7-2 win over the Yankees. Mantle has a solo homer in the 6th for New York. For Mantle‚ it is his 20th homer of May‚ a new record. The slugger adds a double and two singles and is hitting .425 with 50 RBIs. |
| May 11 |
If you can't beat 'em‚ join 'em. The Cards trade pitchers Harvey Haddix‚ Stu Miller‚ and Ben Flowers to Philadelphia for P Herm Wehmeier and Murry Dickson. Wehmeier‚ who lost to the Cards two days ago‚ has never beaten St. Louis‚ losing his first game to them on July 3‚ 1949. The string of 14 losses to one team ties the ML record. The Cards also trade 2B Solly Hemus for SS Bobby Morgan in a separate deal. |
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Catcher Danny Kravitz hits a game-ending grand slam in the 9th to give the Pirates a 6-5 win over Philadelphia. Jack Meyer serves up the no-out gopher pitch. |
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Los Angeles (PCL) edges San Francisco‚ 6-5‚ as starter Dick Drott fans 14 in seven+ innings and relievers Marino Pieretti and Bob Anderson strike out 5 more. The 19 K's ties the league mark set in 1905. |
| May 12 |
Carl Erskine pitches his 2nd no-hitter for the Dodgers 4 years after his first‚ a 3-0 wipeout of the Giants. Two walks gave New York their only base runners. |
| May 13 |
The Braves destroy the Redlegs 15-0 and 6-1. In game one‚ Warren Spahn homers as his offensive contribution to the win. |
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At Brooklyn‚ Duke Snider hits 2 homers‚ one a grand slam‚ as the Dodgers beat the Giants‚ 6-4. Furillo's homer provides the other score. It is the Duke's first slam at Ebbets. |
| May 14 |
Bob Lemon tops the Yankees for the 2nd time in four days to give the Indians a 3-2 win at Cleveland. New York's only score come in 4th when McDougald and Mantle hit back-to-back homers. |
| May 16 |
In Jersey City‚ Cards RF Wally Moon hits the first ML HR‚ but St. Louis loses 5-3 to the Dodgers. The Dodgers score 5 unearned runs in the 4th. |
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On a blustery day in Cleveland‚ the Yankees top the Indians‚ 4-1. Mantle hits a homer‚ off Bud Daley‚ while his pal Billy Martin is benched for the first time. Bobby Richardson takes his place at 2B. |
| May 17 |
Pittsburgh continues swapping by sending OF Bobby Del Greco and P Dick Littlefield to St. Louis for OF Bill Virdon. Virdon‚ the 1955 Rookie of the Year‚ was hitting just .211 for the Cards when GM Frank Lane unloads him. Virdon will hit .334 the rest of the year for Pittsburgh. |
| May 18 |
Mickey Mantle hits HRs from both sides of the plate for the 3rd time in his career‚ eclipsing the mark of Jim Russell. The shots come off Billy Pierce and the Dixie Howell‚ the 2nd tying the game. Mantle and Berra‚ the AL's top home run hitters‚ combine for 20 bases as the visiting New Yorkers nip Chicago 8-7 in 10 innings. |
| May 19 |
In the Pirates 7-4 win‚ slugger Dale Long hits a 9th-inning HR against the Cubs for the first of a string of 8 HRs in 8 games. |
| May 20 |
The Pirates draw their biggest crowd in 5 years-32‚326-and sweep a pair from the Braves‚ 6-5 and 5-0. Dale Long hits a homer in each game and drives in 7 runs. Friend wins the opener and Ron Kline fires the 6 hitter in the nitecap. |
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At Kansas City‚ Mantle clouts a drive over the 2nd and more distance fence in RF to help the Yankees win‚ 8-5. The drive‚ off Moe Burtschy‚ matches homers to that spot by Larry Doby and Suitcase Simpson. |
| May 22 |
Detroit's Red Wilson belts a two run HR in the bottom of the 9th to give the Tigers a 3-2 win against the Yankees. The loss goes to Whitey Ford‚ his first following 6 wins. Ford had given up just 5 earned runs through 54 innings before today. |
| May 26 |
Three Redlegs pitchers-Johnny Klippstein‚ Hersh Freeman and Joe Black-combine to no-hit the Braves for 9 2?3 innings. Klippstein walks 8 in 7 hitless innings before giving way to Freeman for one inning. Black walks two in his stint and finally gives up a 2-out double to Jack Dittmer in the 10th and 2 more hits in the 11th to lose‚ 2-1. Aaron's triple and 2 intentional walks sets up a Frank Torre single. This is the 8th no-hitter to be lost in extra innings‚ and the only combined-effort one. Starter Ray Crone doesn't give up a run until 2 out in the 9th when Wally Post's RBI double in the 9th provides the Reds with their only run. Torre has 2 RBIs‚ including the winner. |
| May 27 |
Thanks to a dropped 3rd strike by C Hobie Landrith‚ P Jim Davis of the Cubs fans 4 straight Cardinals in the 6th inning. Wally Moon leads off the inning with a double and then steals 3B. The knuckler then K's Hal Smith and Jackie Brandt. His 3rd strike on Lindy McDaniel eludes Landrith‚ and the pitcher reaches first while Moon scores. Don Blasingame then strikes out for the 4th strikeout in the inning. Not since Guy Morton‚ in 1916‚ has a pitcher fanned 4 in one inning. But the Cubs still lose‚ 11-9. The Cards pummel the Cubs in the 2nd game as well‚ winning 12-2. |
| May 28 |
Dale Long of the Pirates connects against the Dodgers Carl Erskine at Forbes Field for his 8th HR in 8 games‚ a record that will stand until the Yankees Don Mattingly equals it in 1987. Pittsburgh wins‚ 3-2‚ behind Bob Friend's 2-hitter. |
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White Sox SS Luis Aparicio hits his first ML HR‚ off Kansas City's Tom Lasorda‚ to open the Sox scoring in the 5th. With the score tied 4-4 in the 9th‚ reliever Billy Pierce walks Lopez‚ and Enos Slaughter then wins the game with a home run. |
| May 29 |
For the second time in two years‚ Gus Bell of the Redlegs hits 3 homers-all consecutive-going 5-for-5 in a 10-4 win over the Cubs at Wrigley. Bell drives in 7 runs. Brooks Lawrence coasts to his 6th straight win. |
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Dodgers P Don Newcombe beats the Pirates 10-1 and blanks Dale Long in 4 ABs‚ stopping his home run streak. Newk has a 3-run double off Kline in the 2nd to help clinch his 7th win. |
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At Yankee Stadium‚ Mantle's walk in the 7th is the first base runner against Willard Nixon‚ and Mantle's 2-out 9th inning homer deprives the Boston righty of a shutout. Boston wins 7-3 at the Stadium. |
| May 30 |
The wind is still blowing out at Wrigley as Braves Eddie Mathews‚ Hank Aaron and Bobby Thomson hit consecutive first-inning HRs against the Cubs Russ Meyer. Meyer then hits the next batter‚ Billy Bruton‚ with a pitch‚ and when Bruton charges the mound‚ both he and Meyer are ejected in the ensuing fight. The Cubs plate 3 in the 1st and reliever Turk Lown homers in the 2nd for his first ML roundtripper. Thomson adds another HR‚ but the Braves lose the first game 10-9. They hold on to win the 2nd‚ 11-9. Fifteen HRs in the 2 games‚ including four by Thomson‚ sets a ML-record in a doubleheader. All but 3 of the homers are solo. |
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Mickey Mantle hits one of the most memorable HRs in his career‚ in the 2nd game of a doubleheader with the Washington Senators. He tags a pitch from Camilo Pascual that comes within 18 inches of leaving Yankee Stadium‚ something never accomplished by any major leaguer. The ball was still climbing when it caromed off the upper-stand facade‚ about 396 feet from home plate. Estimates are that the ball could have traveled more than 600 feet. It is Mantle's 20th HR of the season; no one else has ever hit 20 HRs before June. Mantle also homers in the opener‚ off Pedro Ramos‚ with 2 on as New York sweeps‚ 4-3 and 12-5. |
| May 31 |
The Cubs and Braves keep banging on each other like rented mules‚ with Milwaukee coming out on top‚ 15-8. Lew Burdette is the winner‚ while Paul Minner absorbs his 12th loss in a row to the Braves‚ a streak that started August 29‚ 1951. |
June
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At Wrigley‚ Bonus Baby Sandy Koufax makes his first start of the season‚ trimming the Cubs‚ 4-3‚ on 5 hits. Koufax K's 5. |
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At Baltimore‚ a pair of former Orioles take revenge on the O's as the White Sox win‚ 12-0 and 9-2. Dick Donovan wins the lidlifter as ex-O Dave Philley raps 4 hits. Erv Palica is the loser. Nellie Fox is hit by a pitch on the seat of the pants by reliever Johnny Schmitz‚ but ump Hank Soar rules he didn't try to get out of the way and calls a ball. Schmitz then hits him again‚ and Fox gets 1B. In the nitecap‚ Jim Wilson hurls a 4-hitter to beat his former teammates. |
| June 5 |
A's manager Lou Boudreau comes up with the "Mantle Shift" -moving the infielders around when Mantle bats lefty with the bases empty (left fielder plays deeps 3B‚ SS takes over 2B position‚ and 2B moves to short RF). Mantle K's twice trying to bunt‚ and hits a 2-run homer when the shift is not on‚ as KC wins 7-4. |
| June 7 |
The Red Sox strand a near-record 17 base runners‚ including 13 in the first 5 innings‚ but finally beat the Tigers‚ 6-5 in 10 innings. Mickey Vernon's 4th hit drives in the winner. The Millionaires collect 18 hits‚ 4 walks‚ and error and hit batsman. |
| June 11 |
The discussion over the cork-center base ball continues. At this point‚ there have been 745 homers in the majors‚ hit by 192 players; at this point in the 1927 season‚ there were 320 homers‚ hit by 140 ball players. NL President Warren Giles will retort that bigger players‚ not livelier balls‚ account for the present-day hitting feats. |
| June 13 |
Milwaukee's Danny O'Connell ties a record when he hits 3 straight triples as the Braves trim the Phils‚ 8-6. All are off Robin Roberts (5-8). |
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The Yankees and the White Sox tie a ML mark by using 9 pinch hitters in their game. The Sox prevail 7-5. |
| June 14 |
The University of Minnesota Gophers defeat Arizona 12-1 at the NCAA finals in Nebraska. In their 13-5 win against Mississippi on June 11‚ Gopher Jerry Kindell became the first and only player ever to hit for the cycle in the College World Series. |
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At Yankee Stadium‚ Chicago's Jim Wilson loses a shutout when Mickey Mantle hits a two-out homer in the 7th to tie the White Sox‚ 1-1. The Yankees then roll to a 5-1 win. |
| June 16 |
Before 40‚964 at the Stadium‚ New York trips the Tribe‚ 3-1. Mantle hits a two-run game winner off rookie Herb Score for his third homer in three days. Yesterday's shot came off Mike Garcia in a 6-2 Yankee victory. |
| June 17 |
In Fred Haney's first games managing the Braves‚ Joe Adcock hits 3 of his NL record 13 Ebbets Field HRs in a doubleheader win over Brooklyn before 34‚394 fans. In the first game‚ his game-winning 9th-inning HR off Ed Roebuck lands on the roof‚ making him the only slugger in history to accomplish this. The ball left the field at the 350-foot mark in LF‚ clearing the 83-foot wall. The Braves win‚ 5-4 and 2-1. Under Grimm's platoon system‚ Adcock started only against lefties‚ and last started June 12. He hit a pinch HR yesterday. |
| June 18 |
At Briggs Stadium‚ the score is 2-2 in the 8th when Mantle takes a Paul Foytack fastball over the RF roof onto Trumbull Avenue for a HR to lead the Yankees to a 7-4 win. |
| June 19 |
Musial and Morgan hit 2-run homers in the first inning‚ off Sandy Koufax‚ as the Cards beat the Dodgers‚ 6-0. Murry Dickson pitches a shutout‚ his first win over Brooklyn after 8 straight defeats. His last win over the Brooks was also 6-0‚ on August 22‚ 1954. |
| June 20 |
In the 7th and 8th innings at Detroit's Briggs Stadium‚ Mickey Mantle poles 2 Billy Hoeft pitches into the right CF bleachers‚ something no other player had done since the bleachers were added in the late 1930s. New York wins‚ 4-1. Mantle is now leading in the Triple Crown race. Johnny Kucks (9-3) is the winner with Whitey Ford in relief. |
| June 21 |
For just the 3rd time this century‚ and the 4th ever‚ opposing pitchers throw one-hitters‚ as Jack Harshman of the White Sox beats the combined efforts of Orioles Connie Johnson (7 IP) and George Zuverink (1 IP) to win‚ 1-0. Harshman gives up a 7th inning double to Gus Triandos. The Sox score in the first on a walk‚ stolen base‚ and a double by Nellie Fox. For Harshman‚ it is his 3rd shutout of the year and he has now thrown 20 straight scoreless innings. |
| June 23 |
Hal Jeffcoat of the Cincinnati Reds hits Dodger SS Don Zimmer in the face with a pitch‚ breaking his cheekbone. This is the 2nd time that Zimmer suffers an injury that nearly ends his career‚ and he is out for the season. The Dodgers win‚ 7-6. |
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Kansas City Star reporter Dick Wade says that his stopwatch proves that there were only 9:55 minutes of actual "action" in a game the Athletics won from the Senators 15-6 (in just 81?2 innings). Wade calculated the time the ball was in play‚ allowing a second for each pitch that was taken or fouled off. |
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The Braves get superb pitching from Lew Burdette and Gene Conley and take 2 from the Giants‚ 6-2 and 7-1. The first-place Braves have now won 10 straight and are 2 games ahead of the Reds. Burdette allows just 4 hits in the opener‚ while Conley allows 4 hits in 7 innings in the nitecap. Reliever Dave Jolly allows 3 more‚ including a Dusty Rhodes homer. In the first game‚ Danny O'Connell's 3-run homer off Jim Hearn is the big blow. It is Danny's 2nd homer of the year and his 2nd in two days. |
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The Braves break a 5-5 tie with 3 runs in the 9th to beat the Phils. Spahn saves the game for Bob Buhl to give new manager Fred Haney a record of 11-0. |
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At Chicago‚ Jack Harshman has his 20 innings of scoreless ball snapped in the 1st‚ but he defeats the Red Sox‚ 4-1. For the Pale Hose‚ it is their 9th straight win. |
| June 27 |
Unbeaten Brooks Lawrence wins his 10th‚ beating Pittsburgh 10-2 when the visiting Reds score 9 runs in the 8th inning. Gus Bell‚ Stan Palys‚ and Frank Robinson each drive in two runs against Bob Friend in the 8th. Infielder Johnny O'Brien makes his first pitching appearance‚ hurling a scoreless 9th and striking out Frank Robinson and Roy McMillan. The win moves the Reds to a half-game in back of the Braves. |
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The Red Sox blow a 7-run lead but outlast the White Sox‚ 11-9‚ ending Chicago's 9-game win streak. The Bosox collect 15 hits‚ including 4 singles that Ted Williams blasts through "the shift." Chicago reliever Dixie Howell hits his 1st ML homer to tie the game at 8-8‚ but then allows 3 runs in the 8th inning to lose. |
| June 29 |
Against the Senators‚ Mantle walks four times and Bob Grim allows just two hits as New York wins‚ 3-1. Pedro Ramos takes the loss. |
July
| July 1 |
Mickey Mantle‚ who failed to hit a homer in 11 games since June 20‚ switch-hits HRs in the same game for the 4th time in his career. The Yankees win 8-6 over Washington in the 2nd game for a doubleheader sweep. The 2nd homer‚ off Bud Byerly‚ is a 2 run shot in the 9th inning to win it. Pedro Ramos holds the Bombers to 3 hits in the opener‚ but one is a 2-run HR by Joe Collins in the 8th that wins it for New York‚ 3-2. The Nats rap Ford for 12 hits‚ but he picks 2 runners off base and is helped by 4 DPs. |
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The Cardinals use all 12 pitchers but they still drop a doubleheader to the Reds‚ 19-15 and 7-1. In the 10-inning first game‚ which lasts 3 hours: 47 minutes‚ 43 hits are tallied‚ including 8 homers. Reds slugger Ted Kluszewski accounts for 3 of the homers. |
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Before a PCL game at Lane Field in San Diego‚ Rocky Colavito takes aim at Don Grate's throwing record of 443+ feet. Rocky tops out on a throw over the CF fence at 435 feet‚ 10 inches. Grate will improve his mark to 445 feet 1 inch on Fan Appreciation Night in Minneapolis. He'll take 6 steps before each throw. (as noted by historian Bill O'Neal) |
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New York's Mark Baldwin surrenders only 3 hits‚ but is out dueled by Ed Stein‚ who pitches his 2nd one-hitter of the season to lead Brooklyn to a 3-0 victory. |
| July 5 |
At Detroit‚ the Tigers‚ after losing 14 straight games at home since June 15‚ explode for a 13-7 win over Cleveland. The Indians start strong with a first inning grand slam by Jim Busby‚ but Frank Lary allows just 4 other hits‚ including a Rosen 3-run homer in the 6th. |
| July 6 |
Unlikely slugger Jim Busby of the Indians hits his 2nd grand slam in as many days as the Tribe beats the A's 4-2. Busby is the first to slam in consecutive games since Jimmie Foxx in 1940 and just the 5th this century. |
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Ford Frick inaugurates the Cy Young Award‚ to honor to outstanding pitcher each year. The BBWAA will do the voting. Only one pitcher will be honored each year until 1967‚ when a pitcher in each league will be selected. |
| July 7 |
At Chicago‚ the Tigers blast 3 successive homers off Dick Donovan in the 5th as they defeat they Sox‚ 12-8. Kuenn‚ Torgeson‚ and Maxwell connect in the 6-run 6th. Kaline had earlier homered to start the scoring. |
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Boston's Ted Williams becomes the 12th player to drive in 1‚500 runs when he hits a single in the 2nd game of a doubleheader against the Orioles. The Red Sox sweep‚ winning 9-0 and 8-4. |
| July 10 |
In the All-Star Game‚ the first-place Reds vote five starters on the team-and three runner-ups-all the result of an enthusiastic get-out-the vote campaign by Cincy radio stations and newspapers. Next year the issue will come to a head. In the game‚ Ken Boyer of the Cardinals makes 3 sparkling plays at 3B and gets 3 hits as the NL defeats the AL 7-3. Willie Mays‚ Mickey Mantle‚ Ted Williams‚ and Stan Musial all homer. Mays's pinch-hit 2-run HR off Whitey Ford is his 7th straight hit against the Yankee lefty. |
| July 12 |
Jimmy Piersall puts on a show for a camera crew at Fenway‚ there to film a few scenes before the game for his biopic "Fear Strikes Out." When they finished filming‚ the crew asks Piersall to hit a home run‚ to which he says he'll try. With the score tied 1-1 in the 9th‚ and Dick Gernert on 1B‚ Jimmy smashes a Jack Harshman pitch into the net in LF to beat Chicago‚ 3-1. Piersall also robs Lollar of a hit to keep the game tied. |
| July 13 |
Joe Adcock raps 2 homers‚ one with the bases full‚ to help the Braves sweep a pair from the Dodgers‚ 8-6 and 6-5. The sweep moves the Braves back into 1st place ahead of Brooklyn. |
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At Chicago‚ Ernie Banks plays in his 394th straight game to tie Al Simmons mark for consecutive games after breaking in as a rookie. Banks hits a single to drive in the winning run as the Cubs beat the Pirates‚ 7-6. |
| July 14 |
Boston lefty Mel Parnell pitches a no-hitter against the White Sox at Fenway Park‚ winning 4-0. Parnell makes the last putout unassisted. It is only Parnell's 3rd win against 2 losses and is the 6th straight loss-it'll reach 11-for 2nd-place Chicago. The no-hitter is the first for the Red Sox since 1923. Parnell will go 4-4 before a torn muscle in his pitching arm ends his career as the Red Sox' winningest southpaw. |
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At the Stadium‚ New York edges the Indians in 10 innings in Cleveland‚ 5-4. Mantle deposits a Herb Score fast ball into the Indians bull pen in the 3rd inning. |
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Playing for Wichita Falls (Big State League) against visiting Beaumont‚ Danny Ozark hits four consecutive homeruns good for six RBIs. |
| July 15 |
Wally Burnette of Kansas City shuts out Washington 8-0 in his first start. |
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Hank Aaron of the Braves hits in the second game of a doubleheader sweep of the Pirates‚ the Braves winning 3-2 and 4-1. This is the start of a 25-game hit streak for Aaron‚ the longest of the season. |
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The Reds sweep a pair of extra inning games from the Giants‚ winning the first in 10 innings and the nitecap in 11. Herschel Freeman wins both games by 4-3 scores in relief. |
| July 16 |
A group headed by Fred Knorr and John Fetzer buys the Detroit Tigers and Briggs Stadium for a record $5.5 million. |
| July 17 |
In the 2nd inning in Milwaukee‚ the Braves Joe Adcock gets hit as Giants Ruben Gomez gets him on the wrist. Adcock takes a few steps towards 1B‚ shouts at the pitcher‚ then chases Gomez. The pitcher then fires another ball‚ hitting the first baseman on the thigh‚ before taking off for the safety of the Giants dugout. Braves 3B coach Johnny Riddle misses a tackle on Gomez who reaches his teammates‚ and makes it to the clubhouse where he finds an ice pick. He is finally wrestled to the floor before he can return to the field. Both players are tossed by Bill Jackowski‚ and the NL fines Adcock $100 and Gomez $250 + a three-game suspension. The last-place Giants eventually win‚ 8-6‚ ending the league-leading Braves 7-game win streak. |
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At Cincinnati‚ Reds pitcher Brooks Lawrence wins his 13th straight‚ stopping the Dodgers‚ 4-3. Lawrence (13-0)‚ who doubles in the 9th and scores the winning run‚ has not lost as a Red. He'll sputter now‚ however‚ and finish the season at 19-10. Furillo drives in all 3 runs for the Brooks and Frank Robinson hits his 20th HR to tie the Reds rookie mark. |
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Red Sox pitchers Tom Brewer and Bob Porterfield sweep the KC Athletics 10-0 and 1-0. Williams homer‚ his 400th‚ is the only run in the nitecap and after hitting it‚ Ted glares up at the pressbox and makes a motion as if to spit. Three days later in a game against the Tigers‚ he'll make the same gesture and follow through. For Brewer (12-4) it extends his scoreless streak against KC to 35 innings. |
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Johnny Kucks wins his 4th game in 10 days-2 starts and 2 relieves-beating the Tigers‚ 4-0. It extends the Yanks win streak to 11 games and gives Kucks his 14th win-high in the majors. The Yanks will lose a pair tomorrow. |
| July 18 |
Detroit sweeps a doubleheader against the Yankees at the Stadium‚ winning 8-4 and 4-3. Kaline saves the nitecap game with a leaping catch of a Mantle drive in the 9th inning. Mantle had homered in the first game‚ off Paul Foytack. |
| July 21 |
Junior Gilliam of the Brooklyn Dodgers makes 12 assists at 2B to tie the ML record of Monte Ward‚ set in 1891. Dodger captain Pee Wee Reese gets his 2‚000th ML hit‚ one of 5 active major leaguers to reach the mark. But St. Louis wins‚ 13-6. |
| July 22 |
In the second game in KC‚ against the "Mantle Shift"‚ Mickey beats out a bunt in the 6th‚ then clouts a 2-run homer in the 7th. But Kansas City tops New York‚ 7-4. |
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The Hall of Fame announces special rules governing elections. Writers should vote every 2 years‚ alternating with the veterans committee; because of criticism‚ this will revert back in 1962. To be eligible players must have been retired as a player for 5 years. |
| July 23 |
Joe Cronin and Hank Greenberg are officially inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown‚ NY. |
| July 24 |
New York City Mayor Robert Wagner appoints Charles J. Mylod as chairman and R. E. Blum and C. A. Allen as members of the newly created Brooklyn Sports Center Authority. He reveals plans for a 50‚000-seat stadium bounded by Warren Street and Fourth‚ Flatbush and Fifth Avenues. Robert Moses prefers a different Brooklyn site. |
| July 25 |
At Roosevelt Field in Jersey City‚ the Dodgers clip the Reds‚ 2-1 when Duke Snider hits a homer to dead CF in the 9th inning. Snider's HR‚ his 3rd in 2 days‚ pins the loss on Brooks Lawrence. Newcombe wins and is even with Lawrence in victories (14). Frank Robinson also homers‚ while Furillo hits safely in his 18th straight game. |
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At Pittsburgh‚ the Cubs score 7 runs off Bob Friend and Roy Face in the 8th inning to take a 7-4 lead. But after Turk Lown loads the bases‚ Roberto Clemente belts Jim Brosnan's first pitch off the LF light tower and‚ with the ball still in play‚ circles the bases for an inside-the-park game-ending homer to win‚ 8-7. It is the 2nd ultimate grand slam for Pittsburgh this year. Dale Long also homers‚ his 20th‚ the most ever by a Buc left hander. |
| July 26 |
The Braves win their 9th straight at the Polo Grounds‚ defeating the Giants‚ 11-0‚ and increasing their NL leads to 5 1/2 games. Elongated righty Gene Conley is the winner. Aaron‚ and Thomson hit homers‚ the 8th straight game the Braves have had 2 or more homers. |
| July 27 |
3B Hector Lopez and 1B Vic Power of the Athletics each have 5 hits in a 14-inning 10-9 loss to New York. Kansas City collects 26 hits in the loss. |
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Gil Hodges scores from 2B on a bunt by Campanella to clip the Cubs 4-3 in 10 innings‚ as the Dodgers move to 5 games behind the Braves. Campy's bunt is trapped by 3B Hoak‚ who throws him out at 1B. The Cubs then get Amoros‚ who had been on 1B in a rundown‚ and Hodges scores. The Cubs had worked the play successfully in the 9th. |
| July 28 |
Paul Foytack sets a Tiger club record with 15 strikeouts‚ but Washington wins‚ 6-5. Foytack allows 7 hits and walks 6. |
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The White Sox lose the 17th in their last 20 games as the Red Sox clobber them 13-1. Boston has 19 hits‚ with everyone in the lineup garnering at least one. Russ Nixon is the easy winner‚ losing his shutout in the 9th. Boston is now a game and a half behind the 2nd-place Chicagoans. |
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Larry Doby drives in 8 runs in a doubleheader sweep of the White Sox over Boston‚ 11-2 and 6-3. Billy Pierce wins his ML-high 16th in the lidlifter‚ when Doby drives in 5 runs with a pair of homers. Walt Dropo also drives in 5 runs. Reliever Paul LaPalme wins the nitecap. |
| July 30 |
Facing Bob Lemon‚ Mantle socks his 1st grand slam of the year‚ and drives in 6 runs‚ to lead New York to a 13-6 drubbing of the Indians in Cleveland. Mantle follows by hitting his only career homer against reliever Bob Feller. The Yankees now lead the AL by ten games. |
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The Tigers beat Boston's Frank Sullivan‚ 4-1‚ after 11 straight losses to him stretching back to May 16‚ 1954. Virgil Trucks is the winner‚ firing a 3-hitter. |
| July 31 |
In front of 26‚141 fans‚ including 1‚000 standees‚ at Jersey City‚ Jackie Robinson drives in all the Dodger runs in a 3-2 win over the Braves. Robinson plays 3B‚ his third infield position since joining the Dodgers. The Braves scoring comes on a home run‚ the 22nd game in a row that Milwaukee batters have homered. The Braves have hit 39 homers in the stretch‚ a ML record for the most homers in that number of consecutive games. The Dodgers hold the NL record of 24 straight games‚ in 1953‚ a stretch that saw them hit 39 dingers. |
August
| August 2 |
Boston's Jackie Jensen knocks in 9 RBIs as the Red Sox bag the Tigers 18-3. Jensen has a HR‚ bases loaded triple (he'll hit 3 triples with the bases loaded this year)‚ single and sac fly. He grounds out in the 8th with the sacks full. |
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Herb Score shuts out the Yankees‚ 4-0‚ for the Indians 7th shut out in their last 12 games. Bobby Avila gets the Tribe on board with an inside-the-park homer in the 3rd. Ward and Colavito go back-to-back in the 4th and one out later Chico Carrasquel homers. The 4 solo homers in a shutout win sets a ML record. |
| August 3 |
In the Yankees 10-4 loss to Detroit‚ Whitey Ford is struck on the pitching hand by a 1st-inning line drive off the bat of Ray Boone. Ford will sidelined until the 15th. The Bombers also lose Bob Cerv after he crashes into the wall chasing Bolling's double. |
| August 4 |
Al Kaline drives in all 5 Detroit runs on 2 homers to lead the Tigers to a 5-4 win over New York. Mantle hits two homers against Virgil Trucks‚ and scores another on a single in a losing cause. |
| August 5 |
Kaline again leads Detroit‚ socking a 3-run homer to give Detroit a 4-0 lead over New York. A Mantle homer in the 6th his 37th‚ off the front of the RF roof at Briggs ties the game 5-5. With 2 errors by Sturdivant in the 7th‚ Detroit counters with 3 to win‚ 8-5. New York has lost 6 straight. Mantle is now 11 games ahead of Ruth's '27 pace. |
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In the Braves 5-0 and 5-1 sweep of the Pirates‚ Hank Aaron hits safely in both games to run his consecutive hit streak to 22 games. He hits for the cycle in the pair of games. Conley wins the opener and Burdette wins the nitecap in 6 innings as rain halts the match. Bob Friend (11-11) loses his 8th in a row. |
| August 6 |
Yankee rookie Ralph Terry makes his ML debut at Fenway and picks up his first win with 6 innings of work. He leaves after giving up a homer to Piersall but 2 relievers save the 4-3 win. Brewer takes the loss. Terry is the last Yank rookie starter to debut at Fenway this century: New York's Bob Meyer makes his debut at Fenway as a reliever in 1964. |
| August 7 |
The Boston Red Sox fine Ted Williams $5‚000 for spitting at Boston fans‚ as the Red Sox edge the Yanks‚ 2-1‚ in 11 innings on Williams' bases-loaded walk. It is Williams' 3rd spitting incident in 3 weeks. The spitting started after the crowd of 36‚350‚ a record for night games at Fenway Park and the biggest turnout since WW2‚ started booing the Splendid Splinter for muffing Mickey Mantle's windblown ?y in the 11th. Before the game‚ RF Jackie Jensen had to be restrained by teammates from going into the stands after a heckler. Last September‚ Jensen had challenged a fan to come out of the stands. |
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The largest crowd in minor league history (57‚000) see Miami's 50-year-old Satchel Paige beat Columbus (IL) in the Orange Bowl. |
| August 8 |
Mantle's opposite field homer‚ off Camilo Pascual‚ in the first inning jump starts the Yankees to a 12-2 win over the Senators. Mantle is now 9 games ahead of Ruth's 1927 pace. |
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Robin Roberts wins his 8th straight and his 4th game in 10 days‚ as the visiting Phils defeat the Giants‚ 9-3. Ted Kazanski lines an inside-the-park grand slam off Jim Hearn‚ just the 4th in club history to pace the attack. |
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At Milwaukee‚ the Cards Herm Wehmeier stages a one-man attack‚ hurling a 4 hitter and driving in the winning run in the 10th to win‚ 3-2. He singles off Burdette's glove. He also stops Hank Aaron's hitting streak of 25 straight games. The Braves win the lidlifter easily‚ 10-1 behind homers by Logan‚ Crandall and 2 by Adcock. |
| August 9 |
Longtime Dodger announcer Connie Desmond resigns from the broadcast booth. |
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The Senators get a license to sell beer at Griffith Stadium and the Yankees celebrate with a 15-7 pasting of the Nats. Mantle is walked three times before his slices a two-run homer in the 7th. |
| August 10 |
Cincinnati C Ed Bailey hits a grand slam as the Redlegs win 8-1 over Milwaukee to move into 2nd place‚ a half game behind the Braves and a half game ahead of the Dodgers. |
| August 11 |
Mantle hits his 40th homer‚ off Hal Brown‚ as the Yankees clip the Orioles‚ 10-5. Mantle is the first Yankee since DiMaggio‚ in 1937‚ to hit 40 homers. New York leads the AL by 8 1/2 games. |
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Don Newcombe's consecutive scoreless inning streak is snapped at 39 2/3‚ but the Dodger righty wins his 18th of the year and 9th in a row‚ beating the Phils‚ 5-2. Lopata's 2-run homer in the 7th is the Quaker scoring. |
| August 12 |
Mantle hits his 41st homer‚ and 7th in 8 days‚ to pace New York to 6-2 win and a doubleheader sweep of the Orioles. |
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At Wrigley Field‚ Stan Musial doubles in the 6th for his 1‚071st extra base‚ tying Mel Ott for the NL record‚ but his Cards lose‚ 6-2. Bob Rush is the winner. In the nitecap‚ Wehmeier and Davis each throw 9 scoreless innings before darkness calls the game. |
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Shreveport's Ken Guettler sets the Texas League mark with his 56th HR. He will finish the season with 62. |
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With President Eisenhower in attendance‚ Mantle is 3-for-3‚ including a long homer to LF‚ to lead New York to a 12-2 home win against Boston. Mantle is 13 games ahead of the Babe‚ and is hitting .380. Ted Williams completes the three-game set hitting .393. |
| August 15 |
The Dodgers and Giants draw 26‚385 for a night-game record at Jersey City. A 4th inning Willie Mays HR‚ the only ball hit out of Roosevelt Stadium‚ is the only scoring as Johnny Antonelli shuts out the Dodgers‚ 1-0. He strikes out 11 and allows 2 hits. The loss goes to Don Newcombe who had pitched three straight shutouts and won 9 straight. The loss is the Brooks first at Jersey City after 6 straight wins. |
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Frank Robinson ends a battle with the Cubs by driving in a run in the 15th inning as the Reds win‚ 4-3‚ in the lidlifter at Wrigley. Jeffcoat pitches the 1st 12 innings before giving way to another ex-Cub Johnny Klippstein. In the nitecap‚ Wally Post hits a grand slam and Burgess follows with a solo homer in the 3rd as the Reds win‚ 6-2 in 6 innings. |
| August 16 |
At Brooklyn‚ Duke Snider belts a HR in the 13th off Dick Littlefield to give the Dodgers a 10-9 win over the Giants. It is Duke's 33rd homer of the year‚ but his 1st off a lefty. |
| August 17 |
Detroit pitcher Lou Sleater hits his 3rd homer of the year‚ a 3-run shot‚ in a 9-8 win over the White Sox in 10 innings. |
| August 18 |
Redlegs OF Bob Thurman hits a double and 3 consecutive HRs; Ted Kluszewski and Frank Robinson add 2 each‚ and Wally Post‚ one‚ in a 13-4 win over Milwaukee at Crosley Field. Toby Atwell and Joe Adcock belts round trippers for the Braves. The 8 HRs tie a since-topped ML record. There are three pairs of back to back homers in the game: Klu and Post in the 3rd; Thurman and Klu in the 7th; Rbinson and Thurman in the 8th. The Reds have now hit homers in each game since August 4‚ a streak that will reach 21 games and 41 homers through August 24th. Thurman is the 4th Reds player this year to bang 3 homers. |
| August 19 |
The visiting Braves beat the Reds‚ 3-1‚ with actress Elizabeth Taylor in attendance. She is filming the movie Raintree County in Kentucky. |
| August 20 |
ML players reps adopt a new pension plan providing increased benefits‚ including $350 a month at age 65 for 10-year veterans. |
| August 23 |
Led by Nellie Fox's 7 straight hits‚ the White Sox sweep the Yankees‚ 8-3 and 6-4. Mickey Mantle has a bunt single‚ triple‚ and HR in the nightcap loss but trails Fox in season hits‚ 158 to 155. The Mick still leads in the Triple Crown race. |
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At Boston‚ the Sox score a run in the 8th on 3 walks and a sac fly to beat Cleveland's Bob Lemon‚ 2-1. He and Mel Parnell (7-3) each allow 3 hits. For Parnell‚ it is his last ML win. He'll lose his last 3 decisions and retire at the end of the year. The little lefty is 71-30 at Fenway‚ the 4th best Hub lefty behind Ruth. |
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At Cincinnati‚ Don Newcombe wins his 20th‚ topping the Reds‚ 6-5. He's the first 20-game winner in the majors. Reese is replaced at short after his is hit on the thumb with a pitch‚ |
| August 24 |
Murry Dickson wins his 11th as the Cards defeat the Pirates‚ 6-2. Fred Waters‚ batting 7th ahead of Mazeroski and Foiles‚ is the loser. Foiles does hit a HR. Maz will bat 9th on September 3 with Bob Friend in the 7th spot. |
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At Cincinnati‚ Dodger Sal Maglie tops another ex-Giant‚ Larry Jansen‚ 6-4 to drop the 3rd place Reds 5 games in back of the Braves. Snider and Furillo homer‚ while Gus Bell bangs 2 for the Reds‚ the 21st straight game in which a Cincy player has homered (41 homers in all). |
| August 25 |
On Old Timer's Day at the Stadium‚ the Yankees make room for Enos Slaughter by giving Phil "the Scooter" Rizzuto his unconditional release. Rizzuto will be 38 next month‚ though years later he'll reveal he shaved a year and was really born in 1917. Through the instigation of Ballantine Beer‚ Rizzuto will be in the announcing booth next season‚ replacing Jim Woods. The White Sox top the Yanks‚ 4-2. Mantle has a homer‚ but his throwing error allows the go-ahead run to score. |
| August 27 |
Curt Roberts of Columbus (IL) hits 4 HRs in a row in a 7-inning 10-7 win against the Havana Cubans. His third home run is inside-the-park. Havana wins the 2nd game‚ 5-2. |
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A bus accident near Walsenburg‚ CO injures all 19 members of the Albuquerque (Western League) team. The team is sidelined for two days‚ and when they returned to play it will be with 4 catchers and 2 pitchers in the lineup. |
| August 28 |
The Giants sign 17-year-old lefty Mike McCormick to a bonus contract. |
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In a Midwest League game‚ the Mattoon Phillies score 19 runs in the first inning against Michigan City. Bill Jonletz and Charlie Randall each score 3 runs in the frame. |
| August 29 |
At Yankee Stadium‚ Mantle has a homer and drives in the winning run in the 9th with two outs to give New York a 7-6 win over the A's. Mick's first-inning error had allowed four unearned runs to score. |
| August 31 |
President Dwight D. Eisenhower is in attendance as Jim Lemon of the Senators slugs 3 consecutive HRs‚ off Whitey Ford‚ in a night game against the Yankees. But New York still wins‚ 6-4. Mantle has a homer‚ off Camilo Pascual‚ for the Yanks. |
September
| September 1 |
Sparked by Warren Spahn's 2-hit pitching and the clutch hitting of Adcock‚ the Braves beat the Cards‚ 3-1. Adcock has 3 RBIs. Despite the win‚ the Braves lead is cut to 2 games as the Dodgers sweep a pair from the Giants. |
| September 3 |
The Braves set a home night-game record by drawing 47‚604 to see a doubleheader split with the Redlegs‚ winning the first 3-2 and losing the second 7-5. |
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In Washington‚ the Red Sox wallop the Senators 16-0 in the 2nd game after taking game one 7-5. In the nightcap‚ the Sox bang out 20 safeties with every starter getting a hit. The easy winner on his birthday is Tom Brewer (18-7)‚ who beat the Nats a year ago by the same score. Jim Piersall has 8 RBIs‚ 5 in the opener‚ while Lepcio adds 5 ribbies. |
| September 5 |
The Reds pound Warren Spahn and beat the Braves‚ 12-2‚ to move to 1 1/2 games off the lead. The Reds take 3 out of 4 in the crucial series. |
| September 7 |
In St. Louis‚ Vineger Bend Mizell holds the Reds to two hits‚ and the Cards win 1-0 on Ken Boyer's home run off Joe Nuxhall. |
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The Giants and Dodgers split a pair with New York winning the opener‚ 6-2‚ on a pair of home runs by Willie Mays. Brooklyn takes the nitecap‚ 3-1‚ on Carl Furillo's 2-out homer in the 11th. Don Newcombe wins his 23rd‚ the most by a Dodger since Dazzy Vance in 1924. The win gives Brooklyn a tie for 2nd with the Reds. |
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Behind the pitching of Sam Jones‚ the Cubs beat the leading Braves‚ 5-0. Sad Sam Ks 7 and his 148 strikeouts now leads the NL. |
| September 8 |
The Senators hold Mantle to an infield single but the Yanks dismantle Washington‚ 16-2. Five Yankees have 3 hits apiece‚ led by Hank Bauer with a double‚ triple and homer. |
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The Dodgers edge the Giants‚ 4-3‚ on pitcher Don Bessent's 8th inning sac fly. Gil Hodges loses his glove in the 7th and‚ dispite the public announcement request for help in finding it‚ the glove doesn't reappear till the 9th when an offer is made to swap it for a new glove. The trade with a fan happens seconds later with no questions asked. |
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Young Moe Drabowsky pitches the Cubs to a 2-1 victory over the Braves. Brooklyn now trails Milwaukee by a half game. Milwaukee will sweep a pair from the Cubs tomorrow. |
| September 9 |
The Hollywood Stars (PCL) sweep a pair from the LA Angels‚ 6-4 and 12-3‚ but Angel Steve Bilko belts his 54th home run. Only Tony Lazzeri‚ with 60 in 1925‚ is ahead of Bilko. |
| September 10 |
The Red Sox sign 2B Gene Mauch after he was released by Los Angeles (PCL). Mauch hit .348 in 144 games for L.A. |
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The White Sox sign 16-year-old California pitcher Jim Derrington to a bonus of $50‚000-$60‚000. The bonus baby will have to stay on the Sox roster for 2 years and will debut this month. |
| September 11 |
Yogi Berra ties the ML career record for HRs by a catcher in the Yankees' 9-5 victory over Kansas City. His 236th-and the Yankees' 177th of the season-tie him with Cub great Gabby Hartnett. Hank Bauer hits a leadoff homer; he'll do it again tomorrow to tie a ML mark. |
| September 12 |
In Brooklyn‚ the Braves edge the Dodgers‚ 8-7‚ to break a first-place tie. Bob Buhl gets the decision in relief‚ his club-record 8th win over the Dodgers this year and the first National Leaguer since Tex Carleton in 1936 (vs. Boston) to accomplish the feat. Buhl's mark is a ML record for season wins against the pennant winner. Joe Adcock belts his 13th homer against the Dodgers this season‚ tying a ML mark set by Jimmie Foxx and tied by Hank Sauer‚ in 1954 of homers against one club. Billy Bruton's single is the game winner. Bobby Thomson‚ who is unsuccessful on a steal of home is fined $100 for the unauthorized attempt. |
| September 13 |
Mantle breaks out of a September slump with two hits‚ including a homer‚ as New York beats Tom Gorman and the A's‚ 3-2. |
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In both ends of a doubleheader‚ Hank Aaron has the game-winning hit as the Braves sweep a pair from the Phillies‚ 3-2 in 13 innings‚ and 4-3 in 12 innings. Warren Spahn is the winner in the nitecap‚ his 200th career victory. The sweep moves Milwaukee 2 games ahead of Brooklyn and 3 games up on Cincinnati. |
| September 14 |
In a 5-1 win at Detroit‚ Yogi Berra hits his 29th homer of the year and the 236th of his career‚ passing Gabby Hartnett's mark for catchers. Don Larsen scatters 4 hits for the victory. |
| September 16 |
In Cleveland's Municipal Stadium‚ Mantle explodes an 8th inning shot‚ his 49th of the year‚ off the RF upper deck‚ matching a shot of Ted Williams earlier in the year‚ but Early Wynn hangs on for a 4-3 Indians' 2nd-game win. But the Yankees win the opener‚ 10-3‚ to clinch a tie and eliminate the Tribe from the AL race. Bob Lemon loses his bid for his 20th win. |
| September 17 |
Against the Dodgers‚ Ed Bailey and Ray Jablonski hits back-to-back homers with 2 outs in the 9th as the Reds score 3 times to tie at 4-4. But Carl Furillo answers in the 10th with a leadoff homer off 19-game winner Brooks Lawrence to give Brooklyn the 5-4 win. The Reds lost yesterday 3-2. The victory puts Brooklyn a game ahead of Milwaukee and drop the Reds to 4 games back. |
| September 18 |
Mickey Mantle hits his 50th HR‚ only the 8th to do so‚ in the 11th off of Chicago's Billy Pierce‚ as New York wins 3-2 to clinch another pennant. The Yanks had tied it in the 9th when Berra knocked in Billy Martin. New York has now hit 182 homers to tie the AL record set by the 1936 Yankees. Stengel will now bench Mantle‚ who pulled a muscle‚ for four days to rest the slugger for the Series. |
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Cleveland sweeps a doubleheader from Washington behind Herb Score and Mike Garcia‚ 1-0 and 6-0. Tribe pitchers applied the double calamine on July 29 to the Orioles. |
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The Braves edge the Pirates‚ 6-4‚ to move within .001 of Brooklyn. Warren Spahn saves the game with a 9th inning relief appearance and Billy Bruton makes a spectacular catch to preserve the win with 2 on. |
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At Ebbets Field‚ the Cards Ken Boyer homers with Musial on and 2 out in the 9th to defeat Brooklyn‚ 6-5. The Cards collect just 5 hits‚ including Musial's 350th home run. |
| September 19 |
In a rain-shortened game stopped with 2 out in the bottom of the 7th‚ Bob Lemon of the Indians wins 6-0 over the Senators for his 20th victory of the year. It's his 7th season with 20 wins. Only 365 fans showed up in Cleveland on a cold‚ rainy day. |
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For the 3rd time in his career‚ P Don Newcombe hits 2 HRs in one game in a 17-2 laugher over the visiting Cardinals. It is Newk's 25th win and 8th straight over St. Louis and puts the Dodgers a half game in front of the Braves. Musial and Dark homer for the Cards only scores. Don Demeter hits his first ML homer‚ Sandy Amoros adds an inside-the-park round tripper‚ and 18-year-old Brooklyn native Bob Aspromonte strikes out in his only appearance in the 1905s. But it will him to be the last active Brooklyn Dodger when he finishes his career in 1971. |
| September 20 |
Second year Orioles catcher Tommy Gastall‚ 24‚ is killed when the small plane he is flying crashes into the Chesapeake Bay. The $40‚000 bonus baby had been a quarterback at Boston College and his premature death is eerily similar to that of Harry Agganis‚ a quarterback at Boston University‚ who died in his 2nd year with the Red Sox‚ in 1955. |
| September 21 |
1B Bill Skowron has 5 hits‚ but the series-bound Yankees strand a ML-record 20 base runners in losing to the Red Sox in Boston‚ 13-7. Three times they leave the bases loaded. Against a favorite cousin Frank Sullivan‚ Mickey Mantle has two singles and sends a 480-foot HR into the CF bleachers to the right of the flagpole that hits the brick wall about a foot from the top. It is one of the longest home runs ever hit at Fenway. His 3 hits raise his average to .353‚ 3 points behind Ted Williams‚ who collects two hits today. Billy Klaus has 5 RBIs to lead the Sox. |
| September 22 |
At Fenway‚ the Yankees Don Larsen experiments for the first time with a no windup delivery. He allows just 4 hits‚ including a Lepcio homer‚ in beating the Red Sox‚ 2-1. Byrne gets Williams for the last out. |
| September 23 |
Pittsburgh and Brooklyn draw the largest crowd‚ 44‚932‚ in Forbes Field history. Curfew stops the game with 2 outs in the 9th and Brooklyn leading 8-3. The postponement leaves Milwaukee 1?2 game ahead of the Dodgers. |
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In Milwaukee‚ Billy Bruton hits his first grand slam as the Braves beat the Cubs‚ 7-6. Bob Buhl is the winner. |
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Detroit's Frank Lary wins his 20th‚ firing a 2-hitter to beat the Indians and Bob Lemon‚ 11-1. Lary doesn't allow a hit until Avila singles with one out in the 8th. It is the 7th straight win for the righty‚ who is 16-3 since starting the year 410. |
| September 24 |
NL President Warren Giles waives the 12:50 A.M. curfew for games that may affect the outcome of the pennant race. Brooklyn wins the postponed game‚ but loses the regular game to Pittsburgh‚ 6-5. |
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The White Sox run up an 11-0 lead after 3 1/2 innings at Detroit‚ then hold on for a 14-11 win. Chicago collects 22 hits‚ including 2 homers by Lollar and one by Doby. Detroit answers with 2 homers by Ray Boone‚ another by Wilson and a grand slam by Charlie Maxwell. |
| September 25 |
At Ebbets Field‚ Sal Maglie of the Dodgers no-hits the Phils 5-0 for his 12th win against 4 losses. The win keeps Brooklyn 1?2 game behind the Braves who beat Cincinnati 7-1. |
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In the wake of the Ted Williams spitting incident‚ the Massachusetts State Legislature passes a bill to fine fans for profanity during a game. The bill is later killed. |
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In a doubleheader at Wrigley Field‚ the Cards pull off an unusual triple play. After Solly Drake lines out to Stan Musial‚ the Cards double off Hobie Landrith at 2nd. They then throw the ball around the infield‚ before they realize that Gene Baker‚ who had been a runner on 3B‚ is in the dugout. They then complete the tri-killing. |
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At Cleveland‚ Early Wynn wins his 20th‚ 4-1 over the A's‚ with help from Preston Ward and Colavito. Ward's pinch HR in the 9th ties the game‚ and Rocky's 3-run HR in the 10th wins it. |
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Jim Lemon of the Senators sets a ML record for strikeouts by a batter in one season with 138. This surpasses Larry Doby's mark of 121‚ set in 1953. The Senators lose to the Red Sox 8-4. |
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In his first ML start‚ Charlie Beamon of the Orioles throws a 1-0‚ 4-hit shutout against the Yanks to thwart Whitey Ford's bid for his 20th win. Ford won't win 20 until 1961. |
| September 27 |
The Cards Murry Dickson collects 3 hits and yields just 5‚ but loses in 13 innings to the Cubs‚ 3-2. Solly Drake's RBI-single in the 13th off the 40-year-old makes a winner of reliever Jim Brosnan. |
| September 28 |
In the opener of 3 games with visiting Boston‚ the Yanks top the Sox 7-2. Williams is 0-for-3‚ and needs 6 at bats to qualify for the batting title. Mantle goes 1-for-4‚ but his one hit is a homer off Bob Porterfield. It is Mantle's last homer-and last hit-of the season. |
| September 29 |
The Cincinnati Redlegs tie the 1947 Giants record of 221 homers in a season in beating the Cubs‚ 9-6. |
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The Dodgers sweep a pair from the Pirates 6-2 and 3-1‚ as Milwaukee loses to St. Louis in 12 innings. The Dodgers now lead by one game with just one game to go. |
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The Yanks and the Red Sox use a record 44 players in the game: the 26 used by New York sets a new ML mark. Williams has 6 at bats in the extra inning battle‚ but manages just a single‚ to take him out of the running for the hitting crown. Suffering from a pulled groin muscle‚ Mantle pinch hits and walks with the bases loaded. Mantle does not start tomorrow. But when Stengel hears that Kaline knocks in 2 runs in Detroit‚ he sends Mick in with the bases jammed‚ and he drives in a run on a grounder. Mantle wins the Triple Crown with a .353 batting average‚ 52 HRs‚ and 130 RBI. |
| September 30 |
Sandy Amoros and Duke Snider each hit 2 HRs‚ as the Brooklyn Dodgers win 8-6 over Pittsburgh to cop the pennant on the last day of the season‚ finishing a game ahead of the Braves. Snider belts his 42nd and 43rd homers to help Newcombe win his 27th. |
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The Braves‚ losers of the first 2 games in the series‚ beat the Cards‚ 4-2‚ to finish a game ahead of the 3rd-place Reds. |
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In the first of two games‚ the Giants beat Robin Roberts and the Phils‚ 8-3. Roberts serves up homers to pitcher Al Worthington‚ who hits his only ML homer‚ and a pair to Bill White and has now thrown 46 gophers‚ a new ML record. He also fails in his bid to win 20 for the 6th straight year. White's pair gives him the Giants rookie record with 22. In the nitecap‚ Giants 2B Red Schoendienst gets the 2‚000th hit of his ML career‚ but the Giants lose 5-2. Schoendienst also finishes the season with a .9934 fielding average‚ a mark that will last for 30 years until Ryne Sandberg breaks it. |
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Al Lopez‚ manager of the Indians since l951‚ resigns and is replaced by Kirby Farrell. Lopez‚ who won 470 while losing 354 for a .570 percentage‚ had one pennant and five 2nd-place finishes in his 6 years at the helm. |
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White Sox hurler Jim Derrington becomes the youngest pitcher in modern history to start a game. At the age of 16 years and 10 months‚ he loses to Kansas City‚ 7-6. The $50‚000 bonus baby gives up 3 runs in 6 innings‚ then 3 more before being lifted in the 7th. He also singles‚ the youngest person to get a hit in the 20th century. |
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Veteran Joe Frazier closes out his career with great style by blasting 5 hits‚ good for 10 bases‚ in a doubleheader against the Senators. In the nitecap‚ Frazier doubles in the 8th off Ted Abernathy‚ just the 2nd hit the submariner allows‚ and then homers in the 9th to pace the Orioles to a 6-3 win. The HR comes on Joe's last ML at bat. |
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At Cleveland‚ Detroit manager Harris brings in Billy Hoeft to relieve in the 4th inning and enables the southpaw to get credit for his 20th win‚ 8-4 over the Indians. Following a pre-arranged plan‚ Hoeft takes over for Garver‚ pitching for the 1st time since July 26‚ with a 4-0 lead. Foytack throws the last 2 frames. Harvey Kuenn drives in 3 runs to give him 88 for the year‚ 85 RBIs from the leadoff position. This sets a new ML record for leadoff hitters that will be broken in 1997‚ by Garciaparra. Kaline is 1-for-3 with a 6th inning triple. The loss goes to Bob Feller (0-4)‚ who pitches a complete game in his last ML appearance. |
October
| October 2 |
The Comiskey Park broadcast booth catches fire‚ causing damage estimated at $100‚000. |
| October 4 |
Rain delays Game 2 of the WS. |
| October 5 |
The Dodgers come back from a 6-0 deficit in Game 2 to win 13-8 behind the sterling relief pitching of Don Bessent. Yankee C Yogi Berra becomes the first player in WS history to hit a grand slam in a losing cause as he sends one over the RF screen off Don Newcombe in the 2nd. |
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Owner Clark Griffith of the Senators says the club is considering moving to the West Coast because of the delay in building a new Washington stadium. |
| October 6 |
The Yanks regroup at home and defeat Brooklyn 5-3 in Game 3‚ with Whitey Ford going the distance and Enos Slaughter hitting a 3-run HR. |
| October 7 |
In Game 4‚ the Yanks even the WS at two apiece with a 6-2 win in Yankee Stadium. Righty Tom Sturdivant holds Brooklyn to 6 hits. |
| October 10 |
In Game 7‚ the Yankees win their first WS championship in 3 years as Johnny Kucks sets down the Bums 9-0. Yogi Berra hits a pair of 2-run HRs and Bill Skowron hits a grand slam‚ a first in WS history. There won't be another player hitting a grand slam in a game with a player hitting 2 homers until 1998. Don Newcombe takes the loss‚ his 4th in Series competition. |
| October 11 |
AL President Will Harridge bars the shift of the Senators to the West Coast‚ unless unanimously approved by the other AL owners. |
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Cubs owner William Wrigley announces that GM Wid Mathews and manager Stan Hack have resigned. He names John Holland as GM and Charlie Grimm‚ who was fired as manager of the Braves in earl 1956‚ will return to the Cubs as vice president. Bob Scheffing‚ manager of the LA farm team‚ is named the new Cubs manager. |
| October 17 |
The Senators announce they will study bids from Louisville and San Francisco. |
| October 19 |
Playing below par after their 7-game WS loss to the Yankees‚ the Dodgers lose the first game of an exhibition series in Japan to the Yomiuri Giants 5-4. Nonetheless‚ the Dodgers will win 14‚ lose 4‚ and tie one in the series. |
| October 24 |
The AP names Cincinnati manager Birdie Tebbetts as its NL Manager of the Year. |
| October 25 |
White Sox manager Marty Marion resigns. AL Lopez is the new manager. |
| October 30 |
The Dodgers sell Ebbets Field to a real estate group. They agree to stay until 1959‚ with an option to stay until 1961. |
November
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In Japan‚ the touring Dodgers win the last game of their exhibition trip to finish with 14 wins‚ 4 losses‚ and a tie. |
| November 20 |
The ML Rules committee adopts a new requirement of 477 plate appearances instead of the 400 official times at bat. |
| November 27 |
Charlie Peete‚ given a good shot at being the first black starter on the Cardinals‚ is killed in a plane crash in Caracas‚ Venezuela. Peete‚ who had appeared in 23 games for St. Louis in 1956‚ was returning from playing winter ball. |
December
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In front of a crowd estimated at 100‚114 at the Melbourne Cricket Grounds‚ a U.S. Army team beats an Australian all-star team 11-5 in an Olympic exhibition game. Sergeant Vance Sutton hits a grand slam. |
| December 10 |
The AL club owners vote for a 3-game playoff in case of a tie at the end of the regular season. The AL reelects Will Harridge to a new ten-year term as president. |
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Mrs. Grace Comiskey‚ president of the White Sox‚ dies of a heart attack in Washington. |
| December 11 |
A players organization is established with Bob Feller as president. |
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The Major Leagues vote at a joint meeting to reduce player limits to 28 by Opening Day. |
| December 28 |
The NY Board of Estimate votes $25‚000 for a survey regarding the Dodgers' proposed new stadium for downtown Brooklyn. |
