1951 Major League Baseball season

February 2024 1951 1951 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 17 – September 30, 1951 (AL) April 16 – October 3, 1951 (NL)World Series: October 4–10, 1951 154 16 (8 per league) Regular season AL: Yogi Berra (NYY)NL: Roy Campanella (BRO) Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award AL New York Yankees Cleveland Indians NL New York Giants Brooklyn Dodgers World Series 1951 World Series New York Yankees New York Giants Phil Rizzuto (NYY) Babe Ruth Award List of MLB seasons MLB 1950 Major League Baseball season 1950 1952 Major League Baseball season 1952 The 1951 major league baseball season began on April 16, 1951. The regular season ended on October 3, with the New York Giants and New York Yankees as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The Giants defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in a regular season best-of-three tiebreaker, for the National League title, after both teams finished their 154-game schedules with identical 96–58 records. This was the third regular season tie-breaker, and saw a reversion from the single-game tie-breaker featured in 1948 to the three-game format featured in the 1946 tie-breaker series. After splitting the first two games, the stage was set for a decisive third game, won in dramatic fashion on a walk-off home run from the bat of Giant Bobby Thomson, one of the most famous moments in the history of baseball, commemorated as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" and "The Miracle at Coogan's Bluff". The postseason began with Game 1 of the 48th World Series on October 4 and ended with Game 6 on October 10. In the sixth iteration of this Subway Series World Series matchup, the Yankees defeated the Giants, four games to two, capturing their 14th championship in franchise history, and their third in a five-run World Series. This would be the final Subway Series matchup between the two teams, as the next World Series between the two in 1962 would see a relocated Giants franchise in San Francisco, California. The 18th All-Star Game was held on July 10 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, home of the Detroit Tigers. The National League won, 8–3. On May 1, the Chicago White Sox become the sixth team in professional baseball to break the color line when they fielded future Hall-of-Famer Minnie Miñoso.These players integrated each MLB team https://www.mlb.com/news/players-who-broke-color-barrier-for-every-team 2024-11-14 MLB.com en This was Happy Chandler's last season of his 5½-tenure as Commissioner of Baseball, as he resigned on July 15, after team owner voted against renewing his contract which expired in April 1952. National League president Ford Frick would be elected as commissioner, officially taking the position September 20, just days before the end of the regular season. Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1951 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 1904 season (except for 1919) and would be used until 1961 in the American League and 1962 in the National League. National League Opening Day took place on April 16, with a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds, while American League Opening Day took place the following day, featuring all eight teams. This was the first season since 1943 that both leagues opened on different days. The final day of the scheduled regular season was on September 30, which saw all sixteen teams play, continuing the trend from 1946. Due to the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants finishing with the same record of 96–58, a best-of-three tie-breaker was scheduled, to be considered an extension of the regular season, and took place between October 1 and October 3. The World Series took place between October 4 and October 10. Rule changes The 1951 season saw the following rule changes: The bonus rule, which stated that any player signed to a contract greater than $4,000 (US 4000 1951 eq -2) had to stay on the team's 25-man roster for two years, was abolished.Klopsis Nick 1950 Winter Meetings: The Happy Dagger – Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1950-winter-meetings-the-happy-dagger/ 2025-06-03 en-US In the event of a walk, hit by pitch, or other plays with the bases loaded which forces the runners to advance bases which wins the game for the team batting in the bottom of the final inning, the runner on third must touch home base and the hitter of the current at bat must reach first base.Rules History https://www.retrosheet.org/rules/rules.htm 2025-07-17 www.retrosheet.org Following a dead ball, play shall resume only when the pitcher, with the current ball, takes his place on the pitcher's mound. If a pitcher must come into a game to relieve the previous pitcher with no opportunity to warm up, he is allowed to throw as many warmup pitches on the field until the umpire feels the pitcher is properly prepared to face batters. If interference occurs by the catcher or fielder, and if so a batter or baserunner is awarded their next base, the catcher or fielder is charged with an error. Caught stealing became a trackable statistic. Official rules surrounding caught stealing would not be codified until 1963. Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1951 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1951-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com enAmerican League American LeagueBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park35,200Steve O'NeillChicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park47,400Paul Richards baseballCleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium73,811Al LópezDetroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000Red RolfeNew York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium67,000Casey StengelPhiladelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,166Jimmy DykesSt. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,000Zack Taylor baseballWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium29,731Bucky WaltersNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBoston BravesBoston, MassachusettsBraves Field37,106Billy SouthworthTommy HolmesBrooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field32,111Chuck DressenChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field36,755Frankie FrischPhil CavarrettaCincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field29,980Luke SewellNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds54,500Leo DurocherPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,166Eddie SawyerPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field33,730Billy MeyerSt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,000Marty Marion Standings start American League New York Yankees break National League New York Giants end The New York Giants defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in best-of-three playoff series to earn the National League pennant. Tie games 4 tie games (1 in AL, 3 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season. start American League Chicago White Sox, 1 Cleveland Indians, 1 break National League Boston Braves, 1 Brooklyn Dodgers, 1 Chicago Cubs, 1 Cincinnati Reds, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 St. Louis Cardinals, 1 end Postseason 1951 Major League Baseball postseason The postseason began on October 1 and ended on October 10 with the New York Yankees defeating the New York Giants in the 1951 World Series in six games. Bracket National League playoff World Series AL NY Yankees 4 NL Brooklyn 1 NL NY Giants 2 NL NY Giants 2 Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBrooklyn DodgersBurt ShottonChuck DressenChicago White Sox Red CorridenPaul RichardsCleveland Indians Lou BoudreauAl LópezPhiladelphia AthleticsConnie MackJimmy DykesSt. Louis CardinalsEddie DyerMarty Marion In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston BravesBilly SouthworthTommy HolmesChicago CubsFrankie FrischPhil Cavarretta League leaders Any team shown in small text indicates a previous team a player was on during the season. American League start + Hitting leaders1951 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1951-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com en Stat Player Total AVG Ferris Fain (PHA) .344 OPS Ted Williams (BOS) 1.019 HR Gus Zernial (PHA/CWS) 33 RBI Gus Zernial (PHA/CWS) 129 R Dom DiMaggio (BOS) 113 H George Kell (DET) 191 SB Minnie Miñoso (CWS/CLE) 31 break + Pitching leaders1951 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1951-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com en Stat Player Total W Bob Feller (CLE) 22 L Ted Gray (DET)Alex Kellner (PHA)Bob Lemon (CLE)Billy Pierce (CWS)Duane Pillette (SLB)Dizzy Trout (DET) 14 ERA Saul Rogovin (CWS/DET) 2.78 K Vic Raschi (NYY) 164 IP Early Wynn (CLE) 274.1 SV Ellis Kinder (BOS) 16 WHIP Eddie Lopat (NYY) 1.193 end National League start + Hitting leaders1951 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1951-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com en Stat Player Total AVG Stan Musial (STL) .355 OPS Ralph Kiner (PIT) 1.079 HR Ralph Kiner (PIT) 42 RBI Monte Irvin (NYG) 121 R Ralph Kiner (PIT)Stan Musial (STL) 124 H Richie Ashburn (PHI) 221 SB Sam Jethroe (BSN) 35 break + Pitching leaders1951 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1951-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com en Stat Player Total W Larry Jansen (NYG)Sal Maglie (NYG) 23 L Paul Minner (CHC)Ken Raffensberger (CIN)Willie Ramsdell (CIN) 17 ERA Chet Nichols Jr. (BSN) 2.88 K Don Newcombe (BRO)Warren Spahn (BSN) 164 IP Robin Roberts (PHI) 315.0 SV Ted Wilks (PIT/STL) 13 WHIP Ken Raffensberger (CIN) 1.086 end Milestones Batters Cycles List of Major League Baseball players to hit for the cycle Gus Bell (PIT): Bell hit for his first cycle and 17th in franchise history, on June 4 against the Philadelphia Phillies.http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1951/B06040PHI1951.htm Pittsburgh Pirates 12, Philadelphia Phillies 4 June 4, 1951 Retrosheet.org September 10, 2011 September 24, 2015 https://web.archive.org/web/20150924130524/http://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1951/B06040PHI1951.htm live Other batting accomplishments Eddie Gaedel (SLB): In his only plate appearance in the major leagues, Gaedel debuts as the shortest player in major league history at 3 ft 7 in cm, drawing a walk when he pinch-hit in game two of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers on August 19. Other batting accomplishments Bob Nieman (SLB): Became the only player in history to hit two home runs in his first two plate appearances of his Major League debut on September 14, hitting home runs in the second and third innings against the Boston Red Sox.St. Louis Browns vs Boston Red Sox Box Score: September 14, 1951 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS195109140.shtml 2026-04-22 Baseball-Reference.com en He is the second to hit two in his first Major League game.Players to homer twice in their regular-season debuts https://www.mlb.com/news/players-to-hit-two-home-runs-in-mlb-debuts 2026-04-22 MLB.com enMackin Bob The Unofficial Guide to Baseball's Most Unusual Records 2004 Greystone Books Canada 9781553650386 240 Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Cliff Chambers (STL/PIT): Chambers threw his first career no-hitter and second no-hitter in franchise history as a player on the Pittsburgh Pirates, by defeating the Boston Braves 3–0 in game two of a doubleheader on May 6. Chambers walked eight and struck out four.Pittsburgh Pirates vs Boston Braves Box Score: May 6, 1951 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BSN/BSN195105062.shtml 2026-04-17 Baseball-Reference.com en Bob Feller (CLE): Feller threw his third career no-hitter and 10th no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Detroit Tigers 2–1 in game one of a doubleheader on July 1. Feller walked three and struck out five.Detroit Tigers vs Cleveland Indians Box Score: July 1, 1951 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE195107011.shtml 2026-04-17 Baseball-Reference.com en Allie Reynolds (NYY): Reynolds threw his first career no-hitter and fourth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Cleveland Indians 1–0 on July 12. Reynolds walked three struck out four.New York Yankees vs Cleveland Indians Box Score: July 12, 1951 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CLE/CLE195107120.shtml 2026-04-17 Baseball-Reference.com en Reynolds threw his second career no-hitter and fifth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Boston Red Sox 8–0 in game one of a doubleheader on September 28. Reynolds four and struck out nine.Boston Red Sox vs New York Yankees Box Score: September 28, 1951 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/NYA/NYA195109281.shtml 2026-04-17 Baseball-Reference.com en Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the Year Willie Mays (NYG) Gil McDougald (NYY)Most Valuable Player Roy Campanella (BRO) Yogi Berra (NYY)Babe Ruth Award(World Series MVP) — Phil Rizzuto (NYY) Other awards The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League Player of the YearMajor League Player of the Year Award by The Sporting News Baseball Almanac https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snml.shtml 2025-01-14 www.baseball-almanac.com Stan Musial (STL) — Pitcher of the YearPitcher of the Year Award by The Sporting News Baseball Almanac https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snpy2.shtml 2025-01-14 www.baseball-almanac.com Preacher Roe (BRO) Bob Feller (CLE) Rookie of the YearRookie of the Year Award by The Sporting News Baseball Almanac https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snrp3.shtml 2025-01-14 www.baseball-almanac.com Willie Mays (NYG) Minnie Miñoso (CWS) Manager of the YearManager of the Year Award by The Sporting News Baseball Almanac https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_snmy.shtml 2025-01-14 www.baseball-almanac.com Leo Durocher (NYG) — Executive of the YearMLB Executive of the Year Award Baseball Almanac https://www.baseball-almanac.com/awards/aw_sney.shtml 2025-01-14 www.baseball-almanac.com — George Weiss (NYY) Baseball Hall of Fame National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Mel Ott Jimmie Foxx 1951 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting Home field attendance Team nameWins%± Percent changeHome attendance%± Percent changePer game Average home attendance per gameNew York Yankeeshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/attend.shtml New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com980.0%1,950,107 −6.3%25,001Cleveland Indianshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com931.1%1,704,984 −1.3%22,143Chicago White Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com8135.0%1,328,23470.0%17,029Boston Red Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com87 −7.4%1,312,282 −2.4%17,497Brooklyn Dodgershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com979.0%1,282,6288.2%16,444Detroit Tigershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/attend.shtml Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com73 −23.2%1,132,641 −42.0%14,710New York Giantshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com9814.0%1,059,5395.0%13,584St. Louis Cardinalshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com813.8%1,013,429 −7.3%12,828Pittsburgh Pirateshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com6412.3%980,590 −15.9%12,572Philadelphia Phillieshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com73 −19.8%937,658 −23.0%12,177Chicago Cubshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com62 −3.1%894,415 −23.3%11,616Washington Senatorshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com62 −7.5%695,167 −0.6%9,147Cincinnati Redshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com683.0%588,2689.2%7,640Boston Braveshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com76 −8.4%487,475 −48.4%6,250Philadelphia Athleticshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com7034.6%465,46950.2%5,892St. Louis Brownshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com52 −10.3%293,79018.9%3,815 See also 1951 in baseball (Events, Movies, Births, Deaths) 1951 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season 1951 Nippon Professional Baseball season References External links 1951 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1951 in baseball