The 1963 major league baseball season began on April 8, 1963. The regular season ended on September 29, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 60th World Series on October 2 and ended with Game 4 on October 6. In the eighth iteration of this World Series matchup, and their first since the Dodgers relocated to Los Angeles from Brooklyn, New York, the Dodgers swept the Yankees in four games, capturing their third championship in franchise history, since their previous in , and second in Los Angeles. The Dodgers' stellar pitching staff, anchored by left-hander Sandy Koufax and right-hander Don Drysdale, was so dominant that the vaunted Yankees, despite the presence of sluggers such as Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris in their lineup, never took a lead against Los Angeles the entire Series. This was the eighth World Series between the two teams. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the New York Yankees from the season.
In a return to the single-game-in-a-season format, the 34th All-Star Game, was held on July 9 at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, home of the Cleveland Indians. The National League won, 5–3.
Schedule
The 1963 schedule consisted of 162 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had 10 teams. Each team was scheduled to play 18 games against the other nine teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place by the American League since the season and by the National League since the previous season, and would be used until .
Opening Day took place on April 8, featuring four teams. The final day of the regular season was on September 29, which saw 16 teams play. The World Series took place between October 2 and October 6.
Rule changes The 1963 season saw the following rule changes: The top of the strike zone was raised from the armpits to the top of the shoulders. Caught stealing, a statistic that began being tracked in , was officially codified. In efforts to speed up the game: Both the American and National Leagues implement a five-pitch warm-up limit per inning, reducing the number from eight. The American League, however, still allows eight pitches for the first 30 days of the season. Both leagues implement a rule forcing pitchers to be in the on-deck circle as the next batter in the lineup. Previously, the following batter would stand in the on-deck circle while the pitcher rested on the bench until his at-bat. The American League additionally required catchers in the on-deck circle to remove all protective gear. The National League now limits the ability of managers to visit the mound to once per inning. The pitcher would be removed from the game if the manager visited a second time. If offensive interference is called, all runners must return to their last legally touched base.
Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandBaltimore Memorial Stadium49,373Boston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,357Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisWhite Sox Park46,550Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium73,811Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganTiger Stadium53,089Kansas City AthleticsKansas City, MissouriMunicipal Stadium34,165Los Angeles AngelsLos Angeles, CaliforniaDodger Stadium56,000Minnesota TwinsBloomington, MinnesotaMetropolitan Stadium40,073New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium67,337Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.District of Columbia Stadium43,500Chicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field36,755Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field30,322Houston Colt .45sHouston, TexasColt Stadium32,601Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles, CaliforniaDodger Stadium56,000Milwaukee BravesMilwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee County Stadium43,768New York MetsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds56,000Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaConnie Mack Stadium33,608Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field35,500San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco, CaliforniaCandlestick Park42,553St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriBusch Stadium30,500
Standings
American League
National League
Tie game 1 tie game (0 in AL, 1 in NL), which is not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and was replayed again) occurred during the season.
National League May 29, Milwaukee Braves vs. Los Angeles Dodgers, tied at 3 after a shortened seven innings on account of fog.
Postseason The postseason began on October 2 and ended on October 6 with the Los Angeles Dodgers sweeping the New York Yankees in the 1963 World Series in four games.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston Red SoxPinky HigginsJohnny PeskyChicago CubsCollege of CoachesBob KennedyCleveland IndiansMel HarderBirdie TebbettsKansas City AthleticsHank BauerEd LopatMilwaukee BravesBirdie TebbettsBobby Bragan
In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerDetroit TigersBob ScheffingChuck DressenWashington SenatorsMickey VernonEddie YostEddie YostGil Hodges
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Carl Yastrzemski (BOS) .321 OPS Bob Allison (MIN) .911 HR Harmon Killebrew (MIN) 45 RBI Dick Stuart (BOS) 118 R Bob Allison (MIN) 99 H Carl Yastrzemski (BOS) 183 SB Luis Aparicio (BAL) 40
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Whitey Ford (NYY) 24 L Orlando Peña (KCA) 20 ERA Gary Peters (CWS) 2.33 K Camilo Pascual (MIN) 202 IP Whitey Ford (NYY) 269.1 SV Stu Miller (BAL) 27 WHIP Ralph Terry (NYY) 1.063
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Tommy Davis (LAD) .326 OPS Hank Aaron (MIL) .977 HR Hank Aaron (MIL)Willie McCovey (SF) 44 RBI Hank Aaron (MIL) 130 R Hank Aaron (MIL) 121 H Vada Pinson (CIN) 204 SB Maury Wills (LAD) 40
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Sandy Koufax1 (LAD)Juan Marichal (SF) 25 L Roger Craig (NYM) 22 ERA Sandy Koufax1 (LAD) 1.88 K Sandy Koufax1 (LAD) 306 IP Juan Marichal (SF) 321.1 SV Lindy McDaniel (CHC) 22 WHIP Sandy Koufax (LAD) 0.875 1 National League Triple Crown pitching winner
Milestones Batters Cycles
Johnny Callison (PHI): Callison hit for his first cycle and sixth in franchise history, on June 27 against the Pittsburgh Pirates. Jim Hickman (NYM): Hickman hit for his first cycle, first in franchise history, and seventh natural cycle in major league history on August 7 against the St. Louis Cardinals.
Other batting accomplishments Eddie Mathews (MIL): Became the eighth player in Major League history to hit 400 home runs in the seventh inning against the Philadelphia Phillies on April 16. Duke Snider (NYM): Became the ninth player in Major League history to hit 400 home runs in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds on June 14. Woodie Held / Pedro Ramos / Tito Francona / Larry Brown (CLE): Became the second group of players to hit four consecutive home runs in the 6th inning in game one of a doubleheader on July 31 against the Los Angeles Angels. Willie Mays (SF): Became the 10th player in Major League history to hit 400 home runs in the third inning against the St. Louis Cardinals on August 27. Jesús Alou / Matty Alou / Felipe Alou (SF): Became the first brother trio to bat consecutively in one game on September 10. Stan Musial (STL): Set a National League record for most career hits with his 3,630th hit in on September 29 against the Cincinnati Reds.
Pitchers No-hitters
Sandy Koufax (LAD): Koufax threw for his second career no-hitter and 15th no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the San Francisco Giants 8–0 on May 11. Koufax walked two and struck out four, throwing 72 strikes on 111 pitches. Don Nottebart (HOU): Nottebart threw for his first career no-hitter and first in franchise history, by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4–1 on May 17. Nottebart walked three and struck out eight, throwing 67 strikes on 105 pitches. Juan Marichal (SF): Marichal threw for his first career no-hitter and ninth in franchise history, by defeating the Houston Colt .45s 1–0 on June 15. Marichal walked two and struck out five.
Other pitching accomplishments Bob Shaw (MIL): Set a Major League record for most balks in a game by a single player when he balked five times on May 4. Milwaukee Braves: Set a Major League record at six balks for most balks in a game by a single team when Bob Shaw balked five times and Denny Lemaster balked once on May 4. Early Wynn (CLE): Became the 14th member of the 300-win club, defeating the Kansas City Athletics on game two of a doubleheader on July 13, winning 7–4. Warren Spahn (MIL): Breaks a National League record for most starts previously set by Grover Cleveland Alexander, when he starts his 601st game on August 23. Became the oldest pitcher to win 20 games in a season on September 8 against the Philadelphia Phillies, at age 42.
Miscellaneous Ernie Banks (CHC): Set a National League record by recording 22 putouts in a 3–1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on May 9.
Season recap In the American League, the New York Yankees were in the 4th of 5 straight pennant winning years, and, led by MVP Elston Howard, cruised to the American League title by 10.5 games over the 2nd place Chicago White Sox.
In the National League, most experts figured the San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Dodgers would be locked in another battle for the pennant, much like 1962 when the Giants came from behind and beat the Dodgers in a playoff. The Dodgers started slowly, perhaps feeling the hangover effect from blowing the pennant the year before. They were 2 games under .500 in early May, and trailed the surprising St. Louis Cardinals by 4.5 games. Then their pitching asserted itself, and on August 28, the Dodgers led the Giants by 5.5 games and the Cardinals by 6.5 games. The Cardinals proceeded to win 19 of their next 20 games and, while the Dodgers didn't exactly slump, they went "only" 14–7 during that same period. Thus, the Dodgers went into St. Louis on September 16 to play the Cardinals in a 3-game series leading by only 1 game. With the memory of blowing the 1962 pennant fresh in their minds, the Dodgers proceeded to sweep the Cardinals and take a 4-game lead with 7 games to go. The key game was the third one; the Cardinals led 5–1 in the 8th inning and a win would move them back to within 2 games of L.A. But the Dodgers got 3 in the 8th and in the top of the 9th, late season call up Dick Nen, in only his 8th major league at bat, hit a pinch hit homer to force extra innings. The Cardinals got a leadoff triple from Dick Groat in the 10th but could not score. The Dodgers then scored an unearned run in the 13th inning and won, 6–5. The disheartened Cardinals then lost their next 3 games as well while the Dodgers won 3 of their next 4 to clinch the pennant with 6 games left.
Awards and honors
Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards BBWAA Award National League American League Rookie of the Year Pete Rose (CIN) Gary Peters (CWS) Cy Young Award Sandy Koufax (LAD) — Most Valuable Player Sandy Koufax (LAD) Elston Howard (NYY) Babe Ruth Award(World Series MVP) Sandy Koufax (LAD) —Gold Glove Awards Position National League American League Pitcher Bobby Shantz (STL) Jim Kaat (MIN) Catcher Johnny Edwards (CIN) Elston Howard (NYY) 1st Base Bill White (STL) Vic Power (MIN) 2nd Base Bill Mazeroski (PIT) Bobby Richardson (NYY) 3rd Base Ken Boyer (STL) Brooks Robinson (BAL) Shortstop Bobby Wine (PHI) Zoilo Versalles (MIN)Outfield Roberto Clemente (PIT) Jim Landis (CWS) Curt Flood (STL) Al Kaline (DET) Willie Mays (SF) Carl Yastrzemski (BOS)
Other awards Sport Magazine's World Series Most Valuable Player Award: Sandy Koufax (LAD)