1955 Major League Baseball season

February 2024 1955 MLB season American League (AL)National League (NL) Baseball Regular season: April 11 – September 25, 1955World Series: September 28 – October 4, 1955 154 16 (8 per league) NBC, CBS Regular season AL: Yogi Berra (NYY)NL: Roy Campanella (BRO) Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award AL New York Yankees Cleveland Indians NL Brooklyn Dodgers Milwaukee Braves World Series 1955 World Series Brooklyn Dodgers New York Yankees Johnny Podres (BRO) World Series Most Valuable Player Award List of MLB seasons MLB 1954 Major League Baseball season 1954 1956 Major League Baseball season 1956 1955 thumb|right|300px|alt=Kansas City Municipal Stadium, black and white, with a full crowd in the stands.|Kansas City Athletics first game in Municipal Stadium, 1955. The 1955 major league baseball season began on April 11, 1955. The regular season ended on September 25, with the Brooklyn 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 52nd World Series on September 28 and ended with Game 7 on October 4. In the sixth iteration of this Subway Series World Series matchup, The Dodgers defeated the Yankees, four games to three, capturing their first championship in franchise history. This was the first World Series between the two teams to see the Dodgers win over the Yankees. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the New York Giants from the 1954 season. The 22nd All-Star Game was held on July 12 at Milwaukee County Stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, home of the Milwaukee Braves. The National League won, 6–5. In a continuation of the relocation trend that began in 1953, a team moved for the third consecutive year. The Athletics moved from Philadelphia to Kansas City, Missouri, leaving Philadelphia as a one-team city. On April 14, the New York Yankees became the 13th team to break baseball's color line when they called up Elston Howard.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 Schedule Major League Baseball schedule The 1955 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. Opening Day took place on April 11, featuring four teams. The final day of the regular season was on September 25, which saw all sixteen teams play, the first time since 1953. The World Series took place between September 28 and October 4. Rule changes The 1955 season saw the following rule changes: A 1901 rule regarding a pitcher's necessity to deliver a pitch within 20 seconds of the pitcher taking the rubber was adjusted. Now, pitchers must pitch the ball within 20 seconds of having the ball returned. To enforce this, the third-base umpire used a stopwatch to monitor the time passed. However, this predecessor to the modern-day pitch clock was hardly ever enforced, and it wouldn't be until 68 years later in 2023 that a strictly enforced pitch clock was introduced.Felber Bill 1954 Winter Meetings: Looking West – Society for American Baseball Research https://sabr.org/journal/article/1954-winter-meetings-looking-west/ 2025-06-11 en-USLindbergh Ben 2023-03-29 The Forgotten History of MLB's Pitch Clock https://www.theringer.com/2023/03/29/mlb/the-forgotten-history-of-the-pitch-clock-in-baseball 2025-06-11 www.theringer.com en The catcher's triangle (created by extending the foul lines behind the home plate) was removed. Due to this, the rules on intentional base on balls required change, and so now, the catcher was required to remain behind the batter's box during an intentional walk. Rules surrounding lineup card submissions were adjusted to make up for an oversight. When there were obvious errors (such as duplicate names) occurring before a game, umpires were give the right to change said lineup to correct errors. Rules regarding catcher interference were amended. Not only was the batter still rewarded first base, but now, any additional runners on base, regardless of whether or not there was a runner on the preceding base was occupied, were also rewarded an extra base. The use of laminated bats was approved. A new rule prohibiting anyone maintaining ownership interests in multiple teams was approved by club owners. A few requests by players regarding player-team relations were approved: The deadline to issue player contracts was moved up from February 1 to January 15. Teams will serve dinner to players on trains after night games. When players were housed in private homes during spring training, they will be compensated with the existing hotel rate. To allow major-league teams to select players from minor-league team rosters at the end of the season, major-league teams would pay various amounts to minor-league teams—Class-B at $3,500 (US 3500 1955 eq -2), Class-C at $3,000 (US 3000 1955 eq -2), and Class-D at $2,500 (US 2500 1955 eq -2) In addition, minor-league teams now had the cost of spring training, including transportation, as well as manager's salary underwritten by their respective major-league teams affiliate. Teams were now barred from signing a college player who had finished freshman year, was under 21, or, given he dropped out following freshman year, his class had not yet graduated. Rules regarding balks were amended; if a ball is put in play and all runners on base advance at least one base, the play overrides the balk call.Rules History https://www.retrosheet.org/rules/rules.htm 2025-07-17 www.retrosheet.org If a bases on balls occurs due to a wild pitch, and the baserunners take an additional base than what is already guaranteed by a bases on balls, the pitcher is charged with an error. Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManager1955 Major League Managers https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/majors/1955-managers.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com enAmerican League American LeagueBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandBaltimore Memorial Stadium47,866Paul Richards baseballBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park34,824Pinky HigginsChicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park46,550Marty MarionCleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium73,811Al LópezDetroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000Bucky HarrisKansas City AthleticsKansas City, MissouriMunicipal Stadium30,296Lou BoudreauNew York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium67,000Casey StengelWashington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium29,023Chuck DressenNational League National League (baseball) National LeagueBrooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field31,902Walter AlstonChicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field36,755Stan HackCincinnati RedlegsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field29,439Birdie TebbettsMilwaukee BravesMilwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee County Stadium44,091Charlie GrimmNew York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds54,500Leo DurocherPhiladelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaConnie Mack Stadium33,166Mayo SmithPittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field34,249Fred HaneySt. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriBusch Stadium30,500Eddie StankyHarry Walker Standings start American League New York Yankees break National League Brooklyn Dodgers end Tie games 3 tie games (2 in AL, 1 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season. start American League The Baltimore Orioles had two tie games. The Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Athletics had one tie game each. June 25, Kansas City Athletics vs. Baltimore Orioles, tied at 3 after top of the 11th inning due to rain.Retrosheet Boxscore: Baltimore Orioles 3, Kansas City Athletics 3 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1955/B06250BAL1955.htm 2026-04-28 www.retrosheet.org August 7, Chicago White Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles, tied at 2 after 3 batters in the top of the 13th inning due to rain.Retrosheet Boxscore: Baltimore Orioles 2, Chicago White Sox 2 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1955/B08070BAL1955.htm 2026-04-28 www.retrosheet.org break National League The Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs had one tie game each. September 10, Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs, tied at 3 after a shortened game of six innings following a 40 minute rain delay.Retrosheet Boxscore: Chicago Cubs 3, Brooklyn Dodgers 3 https://www.retrosheet.org/boxesetc/1955/B09100CHN1955.htm 2026-04-28 www.retrosheet.org end Postseason The postseason began on September 28 and ended on October 4 with the Brooklyn Dodgers defeating the New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series in seven games. Bracket World Series AL New York Yankees 3 NL Brooklyn Dodgers 4 Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBaltimore Orioles Jimmy DykesPaul RichardsBoston Red Sox Lou BoudreauPinky HigginsDetroit TigersFred HutchinsonBucky HarrisKansas City AthleticsEddie JoostLou BoudreauPhiladelphia PhilliesTerry MooreMayo SmithWashington SenatorsBucky HarrisChuck Dressen In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerSt. Louis CardinalsEddie StankyHarry Walker League leaders American League start + Hitting leaders1955 American League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1955-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com en Stat Player Total AVG Al Kaline (DET) .340 OPS Mickey Mantle (NYY) 1.042 HR Mickey Mantle (NYY) 37 RBI Ray Boone (DET)Jackie Jensen (BOS) 116 R Al Smith (CLE) 123 H Al Kaline (DET) 200 SB Jim Rivera (CWS) 25 break + Pitching leaders1955 American League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/AL/1955-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com en Stat Player Total W Whitey Ford (NYY)Bob Lemon (CLE)Frank Sullivan (BOS) 18 L Jim Wilson (BAL) 18 ERA Billy Pierce (CWS) 1.97 K Herb Score (CLE) 245 IP Frank Sullivan (BOS) 260.0 SV Ray Narleski (CLE) 19 WHIP Billy Pierce (CWS) 1.099 end National League start + Hitting leaders1955 National League Batting Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1955-batting-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com en Stat Player Total AVG Richie Ashburn (PHI) .338 OPS Willie Mays (NYG) 1.059 HR Willie Mays (NYG) 51 RBI Duke Snider (BRO) 136 R Duke Snider (BRO) 126 H Ted Kluszewski (CIN) 192 SB Bill Bruton (MIL) 25 break + Pitching leaders1955 National League Pitching Leaders https://www.baseball-reference.com/leagues/NL/1955-pitching-leaders.shtml 2025-02-05 Baseball-Reference.com en Stat Player Total W Robin Roberts (PHI) 23 L Sam Jones (CHC) 20 ERA Bob Friend (PIT) 2.83 K Sam Jones (CHC) 198 IP Robin Roberts (PHI) 305.0 SV Jack Meyer (PHI) 16 WHIP Don Newcombe (BRO) 1.113 end Milestones Batters Norm Zauchin (BOS): Became the seventh player to hit at least 10 runs batted in (RBI) in a single game as a part of the Washington Senators, hitting 10 against the Washington Senators on May 27.https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS195505270.shtml May 27, 1955 Washington Senators at Boston Red Sox Play by Play and Box Score Baseball-Reference.com Sports Reference LLC May 27, 1955 May 13, 2014 September 13, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140913170645/http://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/BOS/BOS195505270.shtml livehttps://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zauchno01.shtml Norm Zauchin Statistics and History Baseball-Reference.com Sports Reference LLC May 13, 2014 July 5, 2014 https://web.archive.org/web/20140705210405/http://www.baseball-reference.com/players/z/zauchno01.shtml live Willie Mays (NYG): Tied a Major League record by becoming the fifth player and third National League player to hit home runs in six consecutive games between August 28 and September 1.Eagle Ed Most consecutive games with a home run https://www.mlb.com/news/consecutive-home-run-games-c265322182 2026-04-28 MLB.com en Pitchers No-hitters List of Major League Baseball no-hitters Sam Jones (CHC): Jones threw his first career no-hitter and seventh no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates 4–0 on May 12. Jones walked seven and struck out six.Pittsburgh Pirates vs Chicago Cubs Box Score: May 12, 1955 https://www.baseball-reference.com/boxes/CHN/CHN195505120.shtml 2026-04-28 Baseball-Reference.com en Other pitching accomplishments Herb Score (CLE): Breaks a rookie record of 235 strikeouts previously set by Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1911 on September 14. He would finish the season with 245 strikeouts. Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the Year Bill Virdon (STL) Herb Score (CLE)Most Valuable Player Roy Campanella (BRO) Yogi Berra (NYY)Babe Ruth Award(World Series MVP) Johnny Podres (BRO) — Other awards Sport Magazine's World Series Most Valuable Player Award: Johnny Podres (BRO) 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 Duke Snider (BRO) — 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 Robin Roberts (PHI) Whitey Ford (NYY) 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 Bill Virdon (STL) Herb Score (CLE) 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 Walter Alston (BRO) — 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 Walter O'Malley (BRO) — Baseball Hall of Fame National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum Joe DiMaggio Ted Lyons Dazzy Vance Gabby Hartnett Frank Baker Ray Schalk 1955 Baseball Hall of Fame balloting Home field attendance Team nameWins%± Percent changeHome attendance%± Percent changePer game Average home attendance per gameMilwaukee Braveshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/ATL/attend.shtml Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com85 −4.5%2,005,836 −5.9%26,050New York Yankeeshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/NYY/attend.shtml New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com96 −6.8%1,490,1381.0%19,352Kansas City Athleticshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/OAK/attend.shtml Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com6323.5%1,393,054357.2%18,330Cleveland Indianshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CLE/attend.shtml Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com93 −16.2%1,221,780 −8.5%15,867Boston Red Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BOS/attend.shtml Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com8421.7%1,203,20029.2%15,426Detroit Tigershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/DET/attend.shtml Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com7916.2%1,181,8389.4%15,349Chicago White Soxhttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHW/attend.shtml Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com91 −3.2%1,175,684 −4.5%15,269Brooklyn Dodgershttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/LAD/attend.shtml Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com986.5%1,033,5891.3%13,423Philadelphia Phillieshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PHI/attend.shtml Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com772.7%922,88624.9%11,986Chicago Cubshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CHC/attend.shtml Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com7212.5%875,80017.1%11,374Baltimore Orioleshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/BAL/attend.shtml Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com575.6%852,039 −19.7%10,785St. Louis Cardinalshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/STL/attend.shtml St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com68 −5.6%849,130 −18.3%11,028New York Giantshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/SFG/attend.shtml San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com80 −17.5%824,112 −28.7%10,432Cincinnati Redlegshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/CIN/attend.shtml Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com751.4%693,662 −1.5%9,009Pittsburgh Pirateshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/PIT/attend.shtml Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com6013.2%469,397 −1.3%6,259Washington Senatorshttps://www.baseball-reference.com/teams/MIN/attend.shtml Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors September 8, 2020 Baseball-Reference.com53 −19.7%425,238 −15.6%5,523 Venues With the relocation of the Philadelphia Athletics from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Kansas City, Missouri as the Kansas City Athletics, they leave Connie Mack Stadium (where they played 46 seasons) and move into Municipal Stadium. They would go on to play there for 13 seasons through 1967, before again relocating. Media Television The Game of the Week moved from ABC to CBSCenter field shot: a history of baseball on television https://books.google.com/books?id=6kPQhpS-X8YC&q=Major+League+Baseball+on+ABC&pg=PA103 James R. Walker Robert V. Bellamy University of Nebraska Press 103 2008 978-0803248250 (the rights were actually set up through the Falstaff Brewing Corporation).http://a-falstaff-collector.com/Media%20ads/falstaffnewspapb.html Falstaff Newspaper Ads 1950-60's A Falstaff Collector October 1, 2023 April 17, 2022 https://web.archive.org/web/20220417090359/http://a-falstaff-collector.com/Media%20ads/falstaffnewspapb.html deadSPORTS BRIEFS Los Angeles Times B3 March 6, 1954http://www.tvradiomovies.com/wp-content/themes/raindrops/images/011615pic8.jpg TV Radio Movies 1/16/15 Sieler Pete May 8, 2015 TRM – TVRadioMovies.com https://web.archive.org/web/20150518094409/http://www.tvradiomovies.com/wp-content/themes/raindrops/images/011615pic8.jpg May 18, 2015 dead The All-Star Game and World Series aired on NBC. See also 1955 in baseball (Events, Births, Deaths) 1955 Nippon Professional Baseball season References External links 1955 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference Category:Major League Baseball seasons Category:1955 in baseball