The 1954 International League was a Class AAA baseball season played between April 20 and October 2. Eight teams played a 154-game schedule, with the top four teams qualifying for the post-season.
The Syracuse Chiefs won the Governors' Cup, defeating the Montreal Royals in the final round of the playoffs.
Team changes The Baltimore Orioles relocated to Richmond, Virginia and were renamed the Richmond Virginians. The club also ended their affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies. The Springfield Cubs fold. The Havana Sugar Kings join the league as an expansion team. The Syracuse Chiefs ended their affiliation with the New York Yankees and began an affiliation with the Philadelphia Phillies.
Teams 1954 International League Team City MLB Affiliate Stadium Buffalo Bisons Buffalo, New York Detroit Tigers Offermann Stadium Havana Sugar Kings Havana, Cuba None Gran Stadium Montreal Royals Montreal, Quebec Brooklyn Dodgers Delorimier Stadium Ottawa Athletics Ottawa, Ontario Philadelphia Athletics Lansdowne Park Richmond Virginians Richmond, Virginia None Parker Field Rochester Red Wings Rochester, New York St. Louis Cardinals Red Wing Stadium Syracuse Chiefs Syracuse, New York Philadelphia Phillies MacArthur Stadium Toronto Maple Leafs Toronto, Ontario None Maple Leaf Stadium
Map of teams
Regular season Summary The Toronto Maple Leafs finished with the best record in the regular season for the first time since 1943. The Syracuse Chiefs and Havana Sugar Kings played a one-game tie-breaking game in Syracuse, New York for the final playoff position. The Chiefs defeated the Sugar Kings 13-4.
Standings 1954 IL Standings at stats-crew.com, URL accessed November 2, 2024 International League Team Win Loss % GB Toronto Maple Leafs 97 57 – Montreal Royals 88 66 9 Rochester Red Wings 86 68 11 Syracuse Chiefs 79 76 18.5 Havana Sugar Kings 78 77 19.5 Buffalo Bisons 71 83 26 Richmond Virginians 60 94 37 Ottawa Athletics 58 96 39
League Leaders Batting leaders 1954 IL Batting Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed November 2, 2024 Stat Player Total AVG Bill Virdon, Rochester Red Wings .333 H Sam Jethroe, Toronto Maple Leafs 181 R Sam Jethroe, Toronto Maple Leafs 113 2B Chico Fernández, Montreal Royals 44 3B Elston Howard, Toronto Maple Leafs 16 HR Rocky Nelson, Montreal Royals 31 RBI Ed Stevens, Toronto Maple Leafs 113 SB Don Nicholas, Havana Sugar Kings 37
Pitching leaders 1954 IL Pitching Leaders at baseball-reference.com, URL accessed November 2, 2024 Stat Player Total W Jack Faszholz, Rochester Red Wings Ken Lehman, Montreal Royals Ed Roebuck, Montreal Royals 18 ERA Jim Owens, Syracuse Chiefs 2.87 CG Ed Roebuck, Montreal Royals 20 SHO Ken Johnson, Buffalo Bisons Jim Owens, Syracuse Chiefs Ed Roebuck, Montreal Royals 5 SO Jack Meyer, Syracuse Chiefs 173 IP Jack Faszholz, Rochester Red Wings 225.0
Playoffs The Syracuse Chiefs won their fifth Governors' Cup, defeating the Montreal Royals in seven games.
Playoff bracket
Awards Player awards Award name Recipient Most Valuable Player Elston Howard, Toronto Maple Leafs Pitcher of the Year Jim Owens, Syracuse Chiefs Rookie of the Year Jim Owens, Syracuse Chiefs
See also 1954 Major League Baseball season
References
External links Minor League Baseball official website