The 1954 major league baseball season began on April 13, 1954. The regular season ended on September 26, with the New York Giants and Cleveland Indians as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 51st World Series on September 29 and ended with Game 4 on October 2. The Giants swept the Indians in four games, capturing their fifth championship in franchise history, since their previous in . Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the New York Yankees from the season.
The 21st All-Star Game was held on July 13 at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio, home of the Cleveland Indians. The American League won, 11–9, ending the National League's four-win streak.
In a continuation of the relocation trend that began the previous season, the St. Louis Browns moved from St. Louis, Missouri to Baltimore, Maryland, leaving St. Louis a one-team city, and seeing the return of American League baseball to Baltimore after 52 seasons. The previous American League relocation involved the same franchise, when the Milwaukee Brewers moved to St. Louis as the Browns, 53 seasons earlier. The season would also prove to be the last season of the Athletics franchise in Philadelphia, moving to Kansas City, Missouri the following season as the Kansas City Athletics.
During the 1953 Winter Meetings, the National League relaxed requirements for relocation, changing the necessary votes from unanimous between the eight teams to 75% (effectively six). This eased the eventual relocation of the Giants and Dodgers to California in .
On Opening Day, April 13, the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals became the ninth and tenth teams in professional baseball to break the color line when they fielded Curt Roberts and Tom Alston, respectively; the Cincinnati Redlegs became the 11th team just four days later when they fielded future Nino Escalera and Chuck Harmon, while the Washington Senators became the 12th team on September 6 when they fielded Carlos Paula.
Schedule
The 1954 schedule consisted of 154 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had eight teams. Each team was scheduled to play 22 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place since the season (except for ) and would be used until in the American League and in the National League.
Opening Day took place on April 13, featuring all sixteen teams, the first time since . The final day of the regular season was on September 26, which saw fourteen teams play, and was the first time since that the scheduled regular season didn't end with all sixteen teams. The World Series took place between September 29 and October 2.
Rule changes The 1954 season saw the following rule changes: During half innings where a team was batting, all players of that team must remove their gloves from the field. In addition, any equipment not on a player was to be removed from the field. Rules regarding a defensive interference offense expanded to include all fielders on the field, not just changed from a catcher. Fielders who were in the batter's vision could no longer deliberately distract the batter. The sacrifice fly rule was brought back, having been previously used in . This time, the rule was considered when a player scored after the catch only. Sacrifice bunts and flies were listed separately in official averages. Both leagues banned twilight-night doubleheaders and Spring night games. The American League banned night games on getaway days if either team had to play the next afternoon. If a balk occurs, and a batter hits the pitch on said balk call, the manager can choose between the two outcomes, either the balk, or the result of the results of the play by the batter hitting the ball in play.
Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandBaltimore Memorial Stadium47,866Boston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park34,824Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park46,550Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium73,811Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium67,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaConnie Mack Stadium33,166Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium29,023Brooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field32,111Chicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field36,755Cincinnati RedlegsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field29,439Milwaukee BravesMilwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee County Stadium44,091New York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds54,500Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaConnie Mack Stadium33,166Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field34,249St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriBusch Stadium30,500
Standings
American League
National League
Tie games 5 tie games (5 in AL, 0 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season.
American League The Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, and Philadelphia Athletics had two tie games each, while the Chicago White Sox, Detroit Tigers, New York Yankees, and Washington Senators each had one each. May 9 (game 2), Detroit Tigers vs. Chicago White Sox, scoreless tie after 10 innings on account of darkness. May 9 (game 2), Philadelphia Athletics vs. New York Yankees, tied at 1 after nine innings on account of darkness. July 20, Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox, tied at 5 after 16 innings at 12:57 a.m. due to curfew. July 21, Cleveland Indians vs. Boston Red Sox, tied at 7 after a shortened game of eight innings due to rain. August 22 (game 2), Washington Senators vs. Philadelphia Athletics, tied at 4 after nine innings due to curfew.
Postseason The postseason began on September 29 and ended on October 2 with the New York Giants sweeping the Cleveland Indians in the 1954 World Series in four games.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBaltimore Orioles Marty Marion(St. Louis Browns)Jimmy DykesBrooklyn DodgersChuck DressenWalter AlstonChicago CubsPhil CavarrettaStan HackCincinnati RedlegsBuster MillsBirdie TebbettsPhiladelphia AthleticsJimmy DykesEddie Joost
In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerChicago White SoxPaul RichardsMarty MarionPhiladelphia PhilliesSteve O'NeillTerry Moore
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Bobby Ávila (CLE) .341 OPS Ted Williams (BOS) 1.148 HR Larry Doby (CLE) 32 RBI Larry Doby (CLE) 126 R Mickey Mantle (NYY) 129 H Nellie Fox (CWS)Harvey Kuenn (DET) 201 SB Jackie Jensen (BOS) 22
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Bob Lemon (CLE)Early Wynn (CLE) 23 L Don Larsen (BAL) 21 ERA Mike Garcia (CLE) 2.64 K Bob Turley (BAL) 185 IP Early Wynn (CLE) 270.2 SV Johnny Sain (NYY) 26 WHIP Mike Garcia (CLE) 1.125
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Willie Mays (NYG) .345 OPS Willie Mays (NYG) 1.078 HR Ted Kluszewski (CIN) 49 RBI Ted Kluszewski (CIN) 141 R Stan Musial (STL)Duke Snider (BRO) 120 H Don Mueller (NYG) 212 SB Bill Bruton (MIL) 34
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Robin Roberts (PHI) 23 L Murry Dickson (PHI) 20 ERA Johnny Antonelli (NYG) 2.30 K Robin Roberts (PHI) 185 IP Robin Roberts (PHI) 336.2 SV Jim Hughes (BRO) 24 WHIP Robin Roberts (PHI) 1.025
Milestones Batters Four home runs in one game
Joe Adcock (MIL): Became the seventh player and second in franchise history to hit four home runs in one game in a 15–7 win against the Brooklyn Dodgers on July 31.
Cycles
Don Mueller (NYG): Mueller hit for his first cycle and 13th in franchise history, in game one of a doubleheader on July 11 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Pitchers No-hitters
Jim Wilson (MIL): Wilson threw his first career no-hitter and eighth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 2–0 on June 12. Wilson walked two and struck out six.
Miscellaneous Bill McGowan: Set a Major League record by officiating in his 2,541st consecutive game.Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.42, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York,
Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the Year Wally Moon (STL) Billy Martin (NYY)Most Valuable Player Willie Mays (NYG) Yogi Berra (NYY)Babe Ruth Award(World Series MVP) Dusty Rhodes (NYG) —
Other awards The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League Player of the Year Willie Mays (NYG) — Pitcher of the Year Johnny Antonelli (NYG) Bob Lemon (CLE) Rookie of the Year Wally Moon (STL) Bob Grim (NYY) Manager of the Year Leo Durocher (NYG) — Executive of the Year Horace Stoneham (NYG) —
Baseball Hall of Fame
Rabbit Maranville Bill Dickey Bill Terry
Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceMilwaukee Braves89 −3.3%2,131,38816.7%27,680New York Yankees1034.0%1,475,171 −4.1%18,912Cleveland Indians11120.7%1,335,47224.9%17,344Chicago White Sox945.6%1,231,6293.4%15,790New York Giants9738.6%1,155,06742.3%15,198Detroit Tigers6813.3%1,079,84722.1%14,024Baltimore Orioles540.0%1,060,910256.9%13,778St. Louis Cardinals72 −13.3%1,039,69818.1%13,503Brooklyn Dodgers92 −12.4%1,020,531 −12.3%13,254Boston Red Sox69 −17.9%931,127 −9.3%11,786Chicago Cubs64 −1.5%748,183 −2.0%9,717Philadelphia Phillies75 −9.6%738,991 −13.4%9,474Cincinnati Redlegs748.8%704,16728.5%9,145Washington Senators66 −13.2%503,542 −15.5%6,456Pittsburgh Pirates536.0%475,494 −17.0%6,175Philadelphia Athletics51 −13.6%304,666 −15.9%3,957
Venues With the relocation of the St. Louis Browns from St. Louis, Missouri to Baltimore, Maryland as the Baltimore Orioles, they leave Busch Stadium (where they played 52 seasons) and move into Baltimore Memorial Stadium. They would go on to play there for 38 seasons through .
The Philadelphia Athletics would play their last game at Connie Mack Stadium on September 19 against the New York Yankees, relocating to Kansas City, Missouri at Municipal Stadium as the Kansas City Athletics for the start of the season.
Media Television ABC aired the Saturday Game of the Week for the second consecutive year. The All-Star Game and World Series aired exclusively on NBC.
Retired numbers Billy Meyer had his No. 1 retired by the Pittsburgh Pirates. This was the second number retired by the team.
See also 1954 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) 1954 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season 1954 Nippon Professional Baseball season
Notes
References
External links
1954 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference