Champions
Major League Baseball
*
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
:
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
over
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
(4-0)
*
All-Star Game
An all-star game is an exhibition game that purports to showcase the best players (the "stars") of a sports league. The exhibition is between two teams organized solely for the event, usually representing the league's teams based on region or div ...
, July 13 at
Cleveland Stadium
Cleveland Stadium, commonly known as Municipal Stadium, Lakefront Stadium or Cleveland Municipal Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium located in Cleveland, Ohio. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball an ...
: American League, 11-9
Other champions
*
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was a professional women's baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. The AAGPBL is the forerunner of women's professional league sports in the Uni ...
:
Kalamazoo Lassies
The Kalamazoo Lassies were a team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The team represented Kalamazoo, Michigan. Home games were initially played at Lindstrom Field, but later games were played at th ...
*
College World Series
The College World Series (CWS), officially the NCAA Men's College World Series (MCWS), is an annual baseball tournament held in June in Omaha, Nebraska. The MCWS is the culmination of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Divisi ...
:
Missouri
Missouri is a U.S. state, state in the Midwestern United States, Midwestern region of the United States. Ranking List of U.S. states and territories by area, 21st in land area, it is bordered by eight states (tied for the most with Tennessee ...
*
Japan Series
The Japan Series ( , officially the Japan Championship Series, ), also the Nippon Series, :File:2014_JS_logo.png is the annual championship series in Nippon Professional Baseball, the top baseball league in Japan. It is a best-of-seven series ...
:
Chunichi Dragons
The are a professional baseball team based in Nagoya, the chief city in the Chūbu region of Japan. The team plays in the Central League of Nippon Professional Baseball. They have won the Central League pennant nine times (most recently in 2011) ...
over
Nishitetsu Lions
The are a professional baseball team in Japan's Pacific League based north of Tokyo in Tokorozawa, Saitama Prefecture. Before 1979, they were based in Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture in Kyushu. The team is owned by a subsidiary of Seibu Railway, wh ...
(4–3)
*
Little League World Series
The Little League World Series is an annual baseball tournament for children—typically boys—aged 10 to 12 years old, held in the Eastern United States. Originally called the National Little League Tournament, it was later renamed for the Wor ...
: National,
Schenectady, New York
Schenectady () is a city in Schenectady County, New York, United States, of which it is the county seat. As of the 2020 census, the city's population of 67,047 made it the state's ninth-largest city by population. The city is in eastern New Y ...
Winter Leagues
*
1954 Caribbean Series
The sixth edition of the Caribbean Series (''Serie del Caribe'') was played in 1954. It was held from February 18 through February 23, featuring the champion baseball teams from Cuba ( Alacranes del Almendares), Panama ( Carta Vieja Yankees), Pue ...
:
Criollos de Caguas
*
Cuban League
The Cuban League was one of the earliest and longest lasting professional baseball leagues outside the United States, operating in Cuba from 1878 to 1961. The schedule usually operated during the winter months, so the league was sometimes known a ...
:
Alacranes del Almendares
*
Dominican Republic League:
Estrellas Orientales
Estrellas Orientales (English: Eastern Stars), also known as Estrellas de Oriente, is a baseball team in the Dominican Winter League. Based in San Pedro de Macorís, the team has historically struggled, winning championships only in 1936, 1954, 19 ...
*
Mexican Pacific League
The Mexican Pacific League (), known as Liga ARCO Mexicana del Pacífico for sponsorship reasons or simply LMP for its acronym in Spanish, is a professional baseball winter league based in Northern Mexico. The ten-team regular season schedule run ...
:
Venados de Mazatlán
Venados de Mazatlán ( en, Mazatlán Deer) are a professional baseball team in the Mexican Pacific League based in Mazatlan, Sinaloa.
In 2016, the team won the Mexican Pacific League Championship and went on to win their second Caribbean Series ...
*
Panamanian League:
Carta Vieja Yankees
The Panamanian Professional Baseball League ( es, Béisbol Profesional de Panamá, links=no), currently known as Probeis, is a professional baseball winter league consisting of three teams based in Panama. Since 2019, the league's winner takes p ...
*
Puerto Rican League
Puerto, a Spanish word meaning ''seaport'', may refer to:
Places
* El Puerto de Santa María, Andalusia, Spain
*Puerto, a seaport town in Cagayan de Oro City, Philippines
* Puerto Colombia, Colombia
* Puerto Cumarebo, Venezuela
* Puerto Galera, O ...
:
Criollos de Caguas
*
Venezuelan League
The Venezuelan Professional Baseball League or Liga Venezolana de Béisbol Profesional (LVBP) is the professional baseball league in Venezuela. The league's champion takes part in the Caribbean Series each year.
History Early years
Baseball exp ...
:
Pastora de Occidente
Awards and honors
*
Baseball Hall of Fame
The National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum is a history museum and hall of fame in Cooperstown, New York, operated by private interests. It serves as the central point of the history of baseball in the United States and displays baseball-r ...
**
Rabbit Maranville
Walter James Vincent "Rabbit" Maranville (November 11, 1891 – January 6, 1954) was an American professional baseball shortstop, second baseman and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Ch ...
**
Bill Dickey
William Malcolm Dickey (June 6, 1907 – November 12, 1993) was an American professional baseball catcher and manager. He played in Major League Baseball with the New York Yankees for 19 seasons. Dickey managed the Yankees as a player-manager in ...
**
Bill Terry
William Harold Terry (October 30, 1898 – January 9, 1989) was an American professional baseball first baseman and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Giants from 1923 to 1936 and managed the Giants from 1932 to 19 ...
*
MLB Most Valuable Player Award The Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award (MVP) is an annual Major League Baseball (MLB) award given to one outstanding player in the American League and one in the National League. Since 1931, it has been awarded by the Baseball Writers' ...
**
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra (May 12, 1925 – September 22, 2015) was an American professional baseball catcher who later took on the roles of Manager (baseball), manager and Coach (baseball), coach. He played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball ...
,
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
, C
**
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays Jr. (born May 6, 1931), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid" and "Buck", is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Regarded as one of the greatest players ever, Mays ranks second behind only Babe Ruth on most all-tim ...
,
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
, OF
*
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is given annually to two outstanding rookie players, one each for the American League (AL) and National League (NL), as voted on by the Baseball Writers' Association of America (BBWAA). The aw ...
**
Bob Grim,
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
, P
**
Wally Moon
Wallace Wade MoonSteve Springer"Dodgers' Moon found success in Coliseum" ''Los Angeles Times'', March 23, 2008. (April 3, 1930 – February 9, 2018) was an American professional baseball outfielder in Major League Baseball. Moon played his 12-yea ...
,
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
, OF
*
The Sporting News Player of the Year Award
''Sporting News'' Player of the Year Award refers to a set of awards given to the player of the year in various sports as adjudged by '' Sporting News'':
Awards include:
* ''Sporting News'' College Football Player of the Year, beginning in 1942
...
**
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays Jr. (born May 6, 1931), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid" and "Buck", is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Regarded as one of the greatest players ever, Mays ranks second behind only Babe Ruth on most all-tim ...
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
*
The Sporting News Pitcher of the Year Award
'' Sporting News'' established the Pitcher of the Year Award in 1944 to recognize the most outstanding pitchers in Major League Baseball (MLB). It was given annually (except in 1946 and 1947) to one pitcher each in the American League and National ...
**
Bob Lemon
Robert Granville Lemon (September 22, 1920 – January 11, 2000) was an American right-handed pitcher and manager (baseball), manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Lemon was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, National Ba ...
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive F ...
**
Johnny Antonelli
John August Antonelli (April 12, 1930 – February 28, 2020) was an American professional baseball player, a left-handed starting pitcher who played for the Boston / Milwaukee Braves, New York / San Francisco Giants, and Cleveland Indians betw ...
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
*
The Sporting News Manager of the Year Award
The ''Sporting News'' Manager of the Year Award was established in 1936 by ''The Sporting News'' and was given annually to one manager in Major League Baseball. In 1986 it was expanded to honor one manager from each league. In 2021 the winners we ...
**
Leo Durocher
Leo Ernest Durocher (French spelling Léo Ernest Durocher) (; July 27, 1905 – October 7, 1991), nicknamed "Leo the Lip" and "Lippy", was an American professional baseball player, manager (baseball), manager and coach (baseball), coach. He playe ...
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
Statistical leaders
Major League Baseball final standings
American League final standings
National League final standings
Events
January
*January 12 – The
International League
The International League (IL) is a Minor League Baseball league that operates in the United States. Along with the Pacific Coast League, it is one of two leagues playing at the Triple-A level, which is one grade below Major League Baseball ...
makes two franchise shifts, as the Triple-A
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
team is transferred to
Richmond, Virginia
(Thus do we reach the stars)
, image_map =
, mapsize = 250 px
, map_caption = Location within Virginia
, pushpin_map = Virginia#USA
, pushpin_label = Richmond
, pushpin_m ...
, becoming the
Richmond Virginians
The Richmond Virginians was the name of a minor league baseball franchise that played in Richmond, Virginia, from 1954 through 1964. The team competed at the Triple-A level as members of the International League, and were affiliated with the ...
, while the
Springfield Cubs
The Springfield Cubs, based in Springfield, Massachusetts, were a minor league baseball franchise that served as a farm team of the Chicago Cubs of Major League Baseball from 1948 to 1953. The team was a member of the Class B New England Leagu ...
moves to
Havana, Cuba
Havana (; Spanish: ''La Habana'' ) is the capital and largest city of Cuba. The heart of the La Habana Province, Havana is the country's main port and commercial center. , becoming the
Havana Sugar Kings
The Havana Sugar Kings were a Cuban-based minor league baseball team that played from 1946 to 1960. From 1954 until 1960, they belonged in the Class Triple-A (baseball), AAA International League, affiliated with Major League Baseball's 1960 Cinc ...
.
*January 14 – Former
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
great
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul DiMaggio (November 25, 1914 – March 8, 1999), nicknamed "Joltin' Joe", "The Yankee Clipper" and "Joe D.", was an American baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career in Major League Baseball for the New York Yank ...
marries actress
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe (; born Norma Jeane Mortenson; 1 June 1926 4 August 1962) was an American actress. Famous for playing comedic " blonde bombshell" characters, she became one of the most popular sex symbols of the 1950s and early 1960s, as wel ...
in San Francisco.
*January 20 – The Cleveland Indians and Washington Senators trade veteran catchers, with
Joe Tipton going to Washington in exchange for
Mickey Grasso.
February
*February 18 – The
Washington Senators obtained All-Star first baseman
Roy Sievers
Roy Edward Sievers (November 18, 1926 – April 3, 2017) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman and left fielder from through . A five-time All-Star, Sievers was the American L ...
from the
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
in exchange for left fielder
Gil Coan.
*February 19 – The
Brooklyn Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...
signed 19-year-old
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker (; August 18, 1934 – December 31, 1972) was a Puerto Rican professional baseball right fielder who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After his early death, he was pos ...
to a one year deal with $5,000, including a $10,000 signing bonus. The Dodgers thus beat out a number of other clubs in the Clemente sweepstakes, as they outspent their cross-river rivals
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
and
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
, who had already intention on inking Clemente. Besides, the Dodgers also beat the
Milwaukee Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in Bost ...
to the punch, as they offered Clemente more money to sign there. He was assigned immediately to Triple A
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team in Montreal, Quebec, during 1897–1917 and 1928–1960. A member of the International League, the Royals were the top farm club (Class AAA) of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1939; pi ...
. The future Hall of Famer put up decent but not spectacular numbers for them, posting a .257/.286/.372
batting line with ten
extra base hit
In baseball, an extra-base hit (EB, EBH or XBH), also known as a long hit, is any base hit on which the batter is able to advance past first base without the benefit of a fielder either committing an error or opting to make a throw to retire anot ...
s and one
stolen base
In baseball, a stolen base occurs when a runner advances to a base to which they are not entitled and the official scorer rules that the advance should be credited to the action of the runner. The umpires determine whether the runner is safe or ...
in 155
plate appearances
In baseball statistics, a player is credited with a plate appearance (denoted by PA) each time he completes a turn batting. Under Rule 5.04(c) of the Official Baseball Rules, a player completes a turn batting when he is put out or becomes a runner ...
. Unfortunately for the Dodgers, Clemente would never play a game in the organization. At the end of the season, Brooklyn left him exposed to the
Rule V Draft, where he was selected by the
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
. Clemente would never play another game in the Minor Leagues.
March
*March 13 – Milwaukee Braves outfielder
Bobby Thomson
Robert Brown Thomson (October 25, 1923 – August 16, 2010) was a Scottish Americans, Scottish-born American professional baseball player, nicknamed the "Staten Island Scot". He was an outfielder and right-handed batter for the New York Giants ( ...
breaks his ankle while sliding into a base during a spring training game. Thomson, whose pennant-winning three-run home run for the New York Giants in 1951 is known as the ''
Shot Heard 'Round the World'', will be out until July 14. In between, he is immediately replaced by a promising prospect named
Hank Aaron
Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 – January 22, 2021), nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1954 through 1976. One of the gre ...
.
*March 29 –
Chicago Cubs
The Chicago Cubs are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The Cubs compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as part of the National League (NL) Central division. The club plays its home games at Wrigley Field, which is located ...
manager
Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business.
Management includes the activities o ...
Phil Cavarretta
Philip Joseph Cavarretta (July 19, 1916 – December 18, 2010) was an American Major League Baseball first baseman, outfielder, and manager. He was known to friends and family as "Phil" and was also called "Philibuck", a nickname bestowed by ...
gives team owner
Phil Wrigley
Philip Knight Wrigley (December 5, 1894 – April 12, 1977), often called P. K. Wrigley, was an American chewing gum manufacturer and a Major League Baseball executive, inheriting both of those roles as the quiet son of his much more flamboyant fa ...
an honest assessment of the chances for the Cubs during the season, and is then dismissed for his defeatist attitude. As a result, Cavarreta became the first manager ever to be given the gate during
spring training
Spring training is the preseason in Major League Baseball (MLB), a series of practices and exhibition games preceding the start of the regular season. Spring training allows new players to try out for Schedule (workplace), roster and position spo ...
.
Stan Hack
Stanley Camfield Hack (December 6, 1909 – December 15, 1979), nicknamed "Smiling Stan", was an American third baseman and manager in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Chicago Cubs and was the National League's top t ...
replaces him, even though Cavarretta is right: the Cubs will finish in seventh place this year.
April
*April 11 – To make room for promising rookie outfielder
Wally Moon
Wallace Wade MoonSteve Springer"Dodgers' Moon found success in Coliseum" ''Los Angeles Times'', March 23, 2008. (April 3, 1930 – February 9, 2018) was an American professional baseball outfielder in Major League Baseball. Moon played his 12-yea ...
, the
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Since the 2006 season, the Cardinals ha ...
trade longtime great
Enos Slaughter
Enos Bradsher Slaughter (April 27, 1916 – August 12, 2002), nicknamed "Country", was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) right fielder. He played for 19 seasons on four major league teams from 1938 to 1942 and 1946 to 1959. He is noted prima ...
to the
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the Boroughs of New York City, New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Amer ...
in exchange for four minor leaguers, including future National League Rookie of the Year
Bill Virdon
William Charles Virdon (June 9, 1931 – November 23, 2021) was an American professional baseball outfielder, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball (MLB). Virdon played in MLB for the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates from 1955 t ...
.
*April 13
**The brand new
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are an American professional baseball team based in Baltimore. The Orioles compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League East, East division. As one of the American L ...
open in Detroit and lose to the host
Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers are an American professional baseball team based in Detroit. The Tigers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the American League (AL) Central division. One of the AL's eight charter franchises, the club was f ...
, 3-0.
Don Larsen
Don James Larsen (August 7, 1929 – January 1, 2020) was an American professional baseball pitcher. During a 15-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career, he pitched from 1953 to 1967 for seven different teams: the St. Louis Browns / Baltimore O ...
takes the loss against
Steve Gromek
Stephen Joseph Gromek (January 15, 1920 – March 12, 2002) was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for 17 seasons in the American League with the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers. In 447 career games, Gromek ...
. The Tigers start fast and will win 12 of their first 18 games.
**First baseman
Tom Alston
Thomas Edison Alston (January 31, 1926 – December 30, 1993) was a Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1954 to 1957, the first African-American to do so. A native of Greensboro, North Carolina, he ...
becomes the first black player in St. Louis Cardinals history.
**Second baseman
Curt Roberts
Curtis Benjamin Roberts (August 16, 1929 – November 14, 1969) was an American baseball second baseman who played three seasons for the Pittsburgh Pirates in Major League Baseball from 1954 to 1956. He was signed by the Boston Braves as a ...
becomes the first black player in
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are an American professional baseball team based in Pittsburgh. The Pirates compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) Central division. Founded as part of the American Associati ...
history.
*April 15 –
Clint Courtney
Clinton Dawson Courtney (March 16, 1927 – June 16, 1975), nicknamed Scrap Iron, was an American professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees (1951), St. Louis Browns / Baltimore Orioles (1952 ...
of the Baltimore Orioles hits the first home run in Baltimore's
Memorial Stadium. Following a 90-minute parade, the Orioles draw an opening day record of 46,354 in a 3–1 afternoon win over the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
.
Bob Turley
Robert Lee Turley (September 19, 1930 – March 30, 2013), known as Bullet Bob, was an American professional baseball player and financial planner. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a pitcher from 1951 through 1963. After his retir ...
strikes out nine in besting
Virgil Trucks
Virgil Oliver "Fire" Trucks (April 26, 1917 – March 23, 2013) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher with the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Browns, Chicago White Sox, Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees between 1941 and 1958. He batted ...
.
Vern Stephens
Vernon Decatur Stephens (October 23, 1920 – November 3, 1968) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop from through . An eight-time All-Star, Stephens was notable for being the American L ...
also homers for Baltimore.
*April 17 – OF/1B
Nino Escalera
Saturnino Escalera Cuadrado (December 1, 1929 – July 3, 2021) was a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player and scout whose playing career extended for 14 seasons (1949–1962). The outfielder and first baseman appeared for one f ...
becomes the first black player in
Cincinnati Reds
The Cincinnati Reds are an American professional baseball team based in Cincinnati. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) National League Central, Central division and were a charter member of ...
history.
*April 23 – At
Sportsman's Park
Sportsman's Park was the name of several former Major League Baseball ballpark structures in St. Louis, Missouri. All but one of these were located on the same piece of land, at the northwest corner of Grand Boulevard and Dodier Street, on the ...
,
Hank Aaron
Henry Louis Aaron (February 5, 1934 – January 22, 2021), nicknamed "Hammer" or "Hammerin' Hank", was an American professional baseball right fielder who played 23 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), from 1954 through 1976. One of the gre ...
of the
Milwaukee Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in Bost ...
hits his first Major League home run, off St. Louis Cardinals pitcher
Vic Raschi
Victor John Angelo Raschi (March 28, 1919 – October 14, 1988) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. Nicknamed "The Springfield Rifle," he was one of the top pitchers for the New York Yankees in the late 1940s and early 1950s, forming (w ...
. His first Major League hit, a double, had also been hit off Raschi, eight days earlier. Aaron will go on to break
Babe Ruth
George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Su ...
's record of 714 career home runs in and retire with 755, a record that will stand until
Barry Bonds
Barry Lamar Bonds (born July 24, 1964) is an American former professional baseball left fielder who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). Bonds was a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1986 to 1992 and the San Francisco Giants f ...
breaks it in .
May
*May 2 – At Sportsman's Park,
Stan Musial
Stanley Frank Musial (; born Stanislaw Franciszek Musial; November 21, 1920 – January 19, 2013), nicknamed "Stan the Man", was an American baseball outfielder and first baseman. Widely considered to be one of the greatest and most consis ...
of the St. Louis Cardinals hits five home runs in a doubleheader against the
New York Giants
The New York Giants are a professional American football team based in the New York metropolitan area. The Giants compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member club of the league's National Football Conference (NFC) East division. ...
. He hits three in the first game, won by the Cardinals 10-6, and adds two in the nightcap, won by the Giants 9-7.
Nate Colbert
Nathan Colbert Jr. (April 9, 1946 – January 5, 2023) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a first baseman from 1966 to 1976, most prominently as a member of the newly formed San Diego Padre ...
of the
San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professional baseball team based in San Diego. The Padres compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Founded in 1969, the club has won two NL penna ...
will tie Musial's record by hitting five home runs in a doubleheader; coincidentally, he had been in attendance to watch Musial's feat.
June
*June 12 – At
Milwaukee County Stadium
Milwaukee County Stadium was a multi-purpose stadium in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Opened in 1953, it was primarily a baseball park for Major League Baseball's Milwaukee Braves and later the Milwaukee Brewers. It was also used for Green Bay Packers ...
,
Jim Wilson of the
Milwaukee Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American professional baseball team based in the Atlanta metropolitan area. The Braves compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) East division. The Braves were founded in Bost ...
no-hits the
Philadelphia Phillies
The Philadelphia Phillies are an American professional baseball team based in Philadelphia. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member of the National League (NL) National League East, East division. Since 2004, the team's home sta ...
2-0, besting
Robin Roberts in the one-hour, 43-minute contest. The Braves score both runs on solo home runs: in the first inning by
Johnny Logan and the fifth by Wilson's catcher,
Del Crandall
Delmar Wesley Crandall (March 5, 1930May 5, 2021) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He was born in Ontario, California. Crandall played as a catcher in Major League Baseball and spent most of his career with the Boston / ...
. The no-hitter is the first in the Braves'
Milwaukee
Milwaukee ( ), officially the City of Milwaukee, is both the most populous and most densely populated city in the U.S. state of Wisconsin and the county seat of Milwaukee County. With a population of 577,222 at the 2020 census, Milwaukee is ...
history; the franchise had moved from
Boston
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- mo ...
after the season.
July
*July 13 – The
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
makes an eighth-inning comeback at
Cleveland Municipal Stadium
Cleveland Stadium, commonly known as Municipal Stadium, Lakefront Stadium or Cleveland Municipal Stadium, was a multi-purpose stadium located in Cleveland, Ohio. It was one of the early multi-purpose stadiums, built to accommodate both baseball an ...
to win the
All–Star Game, 11–9.
Washington Senators rookie
A rookie is a person new to an occupation, profession, or hobby. In sports, a ''rookie'' is a professional athlete in their first season (or year).
In contrast with a veteran who has experience and expertise, a rookie is usually inexperienced ...
left-hander
Dean Stone is the winning pitcher without officially facing a batter, as he throws out
Red Schoendienst
Albert Fred "Red" Schoendienst (; February 2, 1923 – June 6, 2018) was an American professional baseball second baseman, coach, and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB), and is largely known for his coaching, managing, and playing years wi ...
trying to
steal home in the top of the 8th, ending that half of the inning.
*July 19 –
Mickey Owen
Arnold Malcolm "Mickey" Owen (April 4, 1916 – July 13, 2005) was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played as a catcher for 13 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) between and for the St. Louis Cardinals, Brookly ...
of the
Boston Red Sox
The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight ...
hit a two-out,
walk-off grand slam off
Mike Blyzka
Michael John Blyzka (December 25, 1928 – October 13, 2004) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Browns / Baltimore Orioles (–). Listed at , 190 lb., Blyzka batted and threw right-handed. He served in the ...
to cap a five-run ninth inning and beat the Baltimore Orioles, 9–7, in the first game of a double header at
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball stadium located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, near Kenmore Square. Since 1912, it has been the home of the Boston Red Sox, the city's American League baseball team, and since 1953, its only Major League Base ...
. The Red Sox also won the night game 8–5.
*July 25 –
Jack Harshman
John Elvin Harshman (July 12, 1927 – August 17, 2013) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher with the New York Giants, Chicago White Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, and Cleveland Indians between 1948 and 1960. He batted and threw ...
of the
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. The team is owned by Jerry Reinsdorf, and p ...
set a team record by striking out 16 in a 5–2 complete game victory over the Boston Red Sox. The previous White Sox 15-strikeout mark was shared by
Eddie Cicotte
Edward Victor Cicotte (; June 19, 1884 – May 5, 1969), nicknamed "Knuckles", was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball best known for his time with the Chicago White Sox. He was one of eight players permanently ineligible f ...
,
Ed Walsh
Edward Augustine "Big Ed" Walsh (May 14, 1881 – May 26, 1959) was an American pitcher and manager in Major League Baseball. From 1906 to 1912, he had several seasons where he was one of the best pitchers in baseball. Injuries shortened his car ...
and
Jim Scott Jim or Jimmy Scott may refer to:
Music
* Jimmy Scott (1925–2014), American jazz vocalist
* Jim Scott (producer), music engineer and producer
* Jim Scott (musician), acoustic guitar player and songwriter
* Jimmy Scott (songwriter), British-born mu ...
. At the time it was the most strikeouts in
Fenway Park
Fenway Park is a baseball stadium located in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, near Kenmore Square. Since 1912, it has been the home of the Boston Red Sox, the city's American League baseball team, and since 1953, its only Major League Base ...
history. The park record would stand for 32 years until
Roger Clemens
William Roger Clemens (born August 4, 1962), nicknamed "Rocket", is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 24 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the Boston Red Sox. Clemens was one of the most dominant pi ...
strike outs 20
Seattle Mariners
The Seattle Mariners are an American professional baseball team based in Seattle. They compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) American League West, West division. The team joined the American League ...
and becomes the first pitcher in major league history to strike out 20 players in a game.
*July 31 –
Joe Adcock
Joseph Wilbur Adcock (October 30, 1927 – May 3, 1999) was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played in Major League Baseball as a first baseman from 1950 to 1966, most prominently as a member of the Milwaukee Braves team ...
of the Milwaukee Braves hits
four home runs successfully in a game, becoming the seventh player to do so in Major League history. The Braves beat the Brooklyn Dodgers, 15–7.
August
September
*September 5 – During what turned out to be the
All-American Girls Professional Baseball League
The All-American Girls Professional Baseball League (AAGPBL) was a professional women's baseball league founded by Philip K. Wrigley which existed from 1943 to 1954. The AAGPBL is the forerunner of women's professional league sports in the Uni ...
's final game,
Kalamazoo Lassies
The Kalamazoo Lassies were a team who played from through in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. The team represented Kalamazoo, Michigan. Home games were initially played at Lindstrom Field, but later games were played at th ...
'
June Peppas
June Peppas (June 16, 1929 – March 14, 2016) was a first basewoman and pitcher who played from 1948 through 1954 in the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League. Listed at , , she batted and threw left-handed.
Early life
Peppas was b ...
pitches a complete game and drives in four runs in an 8–5 victory against the
Fort Wayne Daisies
The Fort Wayne Daisies were a women's professional baseball team based in Fort Wayne, Indiana that played from through as members of the All-American Girls Professional Baseball League.
History
The Daisies represented Fort Wayne, Indiana, and ...
, to clinch the championship title. The league folds after twelve years of uninterrupted activities.
*September 6 – Cuban outfielder
Carlos Paula becomes the first black player in
Washington Senators history.
*September 29 – In Game One of the
1954 World Series
The 1954 World Series matched the National League champion New York Giants against the American League champion Cleveland Indians. The Giants swept the Series in four games to win their first championship since , defeating the heavily favored Ind ...
, with the score tied 2–2 and two base runners in the 8th inning, New York Giants
center fielder
A center fielder, abbreviated CF, is the outfielder in baseball who plays defense in center field – the baseball and softball fielding position between left field and right field. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the c ...
Willie Mays
Willie Howard Mays Jr. (born May 6, 1931), nicknamed "the Say Hey Kid" and "Buck", is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball (MLB). Regarded as one of the greatest players ever, Mays ranks second behind only Babe Ruth on most all-tim ...
makes one of the greatest catches in series history, when he races back in the
Polo Grounds
The Polo Grounds was the name of three stadiums in Upper Manhattan, New York City, used mainly for professional baseball and American football from 1880 through 1963. The original Polo Grounds, opened in 1876 and demolished in 1889, was built fo ...
to make an over-the-head catch of
Vic Wertz
Victor Woodrow Wertz (February 9, 1925 – July 7, 1983) was an American professional baseball first baseman and outfielder. He had a 17-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career from 1947 to 1963. He played for the Detroit Tigers, St. Louis Brown ...
' 462-foot drive. Wertz, who had
driven in the Cleveland Indians' two runs in the first inning, would finish the day 4-for-5, including a double and a triple. The Giants went on to win the game in extra innings, 5–2, thanks to a
pinch-hit
In baseball, a pinch hitter is a substitute Batting (baseball), batter. Batters can be substituted at any time while the dead ball (baseball), ball is dead (not in active play); the manager (baseball), manager may use any player who has not yet ...
three-run
home run
In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...
by
Dusty Rhodes
Virgil Riley Runnels Jr. (October 11, 1945 – June 11, 2015), better known as "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes, was an American professional wrestler, booker, and trainer who most notably worked for the National Wrestling Alliance, Jim Crocket ...
off
Bob Lemon
Robert Granville Lemon (September 22, 1920 – January 11, 2000) was an American right-handed pitcher and manager (baseball), manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Lemon was elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum, National Ba ...
in the bottom of the 11th inning. Since then, ''
The Catch The Catch may refer to:
Film and television
* ''The Catch'' (U.S. TV series), 2016-2017 American mystery television series
* ''The Catch'' (UK TV series), 2023 British family drama television series
* ''The Catch'' (1961 film), 1961 film by Nagisa ...
'' is a term used to refer to the memorable defensive play executed by Mays.
October
*October 2 – The New York Giants defeat the Cleveland Indians, 7-4, in Game 4 of the 1954 World Series to win their fifth
World Championship
A world championship is generally an international competition open to elite competitors from around the world, representing their nations, and winning such an event will be considered the highest or near highest achievement in the sport, game, ...
, four games to none. Cleveland finished the season with an
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the American League (AL), is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league ...
record 111 wins which they will hold for
44 years, but failed to win a Series game. This is the first title for the
Giants
A giant is a being of human appearance, sometimes of prodigious size and strength, common in folklore.
Giant(s) or The Giant(s) may also refer to:
Mythology and religion
*Giants (Greek mythology)
*Jötunn, a Germanic term often translated as 'gi ...
in
21 years. They would not win another
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) in the United States and Canada, contested since 1903 between the champion teams of the American League (AL) and the National League (NL). The winner of the World ...
until 2010, more than 50 years after they moved to San Francisco.
*October 28 – The Major League owners vote down the sale of the
Athletics
Athletics may refer to:
Sports
* Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking
** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport
* Athletics (physical culture), competi ...
to a
Philadelphia
Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...
syndicate. A week later,
Arnold Johnson buys a controlling interest in the Athletics from the
Connie Mack
Cornelius McGillicuddy (December 22, 1862 – February 8, 1956), better known as Connie Mack, was an American professional baseball catcher, manager, and team owner. The longest-serving manager in Major League Baseball history, he holds untoucha ...
family for 3.5 million dollars and moves the team to
Kansas City
The Kansas City metropolitan area is a bi-state metropolitan area anchored by Kansas City, Missouri. Its 14 counties straddle the border between the U.S. states of Missouri (9 counties) and Kansas (5 counties). With and a population of more ...
.
November
*November 22 – The Pittsburgh Pirates draft outfielder
Roberto Clemente
Roberto Enrique Clemente Walker (; August 18, 1934 – December 31, 1972) was a Puerto Rican professional baseball right fielder who played 18 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Pittsburgh Pirates. After his early death, he was pos ...
from the Triple-A roster of the
Brooklyn Dodgers
The Brooklyn Dodgers were a Major League Baseball team founded in 1884 as a member of the American Association (19th century), American Association before joining the National League in 1890. They remained in Brooklyn until 1957, after which the ...
. Although Clemente hit only .257 for the
Montreal Royals
The Montreal Royals were a minor league professional baseball team in Montreal, Quebec, during 1897–1917 and 1928–1960. A member of the International League, the Royals were the top farm club (Class AAA) of the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1939; pi ...
, he will become a Hall of Fame member with the Pirates.
December
*December 1 – The New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles complete the largest trade in major league history which include 17 players. The first phase of the transaction began November 18 and will conclude today after the major league draft. Baltimore send pitchers
Mike Blyzka
Michael John Blyzka (December 25, 1928 – October 13, 2004) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Browns / Baltimore Orioles (–). Listed at , 190 lb., Blyzka batted and threw right-handed. He served in the ...
, Don Larsen and
Bob Turley
Robert Lee Turley (September 19, 1930 – March 30, 2013), known as Bullet Bob, was an American professional baseball player and financial planner. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a pitcher from 1951 through 1963. After his retir ...
; catcher
Darrell Johnson
Darrell Dean Johnson (August 25, 1928 – May 3, 2004) was an American Major League Baseball catcher, coach, manager and scout. As a manager, he led the 1975 Boston Red Sox to the American League pennant, and was named "Manager of the Year" b ...
; outfielder
Jim Fridley
James Riley Fridley (September 6, 1924 – February 28, 2003) was an American professional baseball player. During his Major League Baseball career, he was a backup outfielder, playing mostly at left field for three different teams between 1952 an ...
, and infielders
Billy Hunter and
Dick Kryhoski
Richard David Kryhoski (March 24, 1925 – April 10, 2007) was an American professional baseball first baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for four different franchises between 1949 and 1955. Listed at and , he batted and threw lef ...
to the Yankees, in exchange for pitchers
Harry Byrd,
Jim McDonald and
Bill Miller; catchers
Hal Smith and
Gus Triandos
Gus Triandos (July 30, 1930 – March 28, 2013) was a Greek American professional baseball player and scout (sport), scout. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher and a first baseman for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, and the D ...
; infielders
Don Leppert
Donald George Leppert (born October 19, 1931) is an American former professional baseball player and coach.
A catcher, he appeared in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1961 to 1964 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and Washington Senators. Leppert ...
,
Willy Miranda
Guillermo "Willy" Miranda Perez (May 24, 1926 — September 7, 1996) was a Cuban-born professional baseball player who played shortstop in the Major Leagues from 1951–1959. Though he was often dazzling in the field, he was a notoriously light ...
and
Kal Segrist
Kal Hill Segrist (April 14, 1931 – June 26, 2015) was a utility infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees (1952) and Baltimore Orioles (1955). Listed at 6' 0", 180 lb., Segrist batted and threw right-handed. He ...
; outfielder
Gene Woodling
Eugene Richard Woodling (August 16, 1922 – June 2, 2001) was an American professional baseball player, coach and scout. He played in Major League Baseball as an outfielder between and , most prominently as a member of the New York Yankees dynas ...
, and minor leaguer
Ted Del Guercio. Del Guercio, an outfielder who played 12 minor league seasons, was the only member of the group not to make the Majors.
Births
January
*January 5 –
John Littlefield
John Andrew Littlefield (born January 5, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched two seasons in the major leagues, for the St. Louis Cardinals and for the San Diego Padres
The San Diego Padres are an American professi ...
*January 8 –
Yasushi Tao
is a Japanese retired Nippon Professional Baseball player. He was raised in Osaka. After playing, Tao managed the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles
The , often shortened as the , are a baseball team based in Sendai, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It ...
*January 13 –
Steve Comer
*January 14 –
Danny Boone
Daniel Hugh Boone (born January 14, 1954) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of three seasons in Major League Baseball, appearing in 1981, 1982, and 1990. He is probably best known for the eight-year gap between his major ...
*January 15 –
George Cappuzzello
George Angelo Cappuzzello (born January 15, 1954) is a former American baseball player who pitched for the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros. He played with two different teams over two seasons and ended his playing career in 1982.
Early yea ...
*January 16 –
Dave Stapleton
*January 17 –
Jerry Turner Jerry Turner may refer to:
* Jerry Turner (theater director)
Jerry Turner (1927–2004) served as artistic director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival from 1971 to 1991. He transformed the festival from a summer program for semi-professional acto ...
*January 18 –
Scott McGregor
*January 19 –
Rich Gale
Richard Blackwell Gale (born January 19, 1954) is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played with four teams between and . Listed at and , Gale batted and threw right-handed. During 1992 and 1993, he served as pitching c ...
*January 23 –
Garry Hancock
Ronald Garry Hancock (January 23, 1954 – October 10, 2015) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox and Oakland Athletics in parts of six seasons spanning 1978–1984, primar ...
*January 24 –
Timothy Jones
*January 26 –
Blake Doyle
Blake Doyle (born January 26, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He was the hitting coach of the Colorado Rockies from 2013 to 2016.
Doyle was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth round of the 1972 Majo ...
*January 26 –
Brian Doyle
*January 30 –
Joe Kerrigan
Joseph Thomas Kerrigan (born January 30, 1954) is an American former Major League Baseball (MLB) relief pitcher, manager, and longtime pitching coach. He played for the Montreal Expos and Baltimore Orioles from 1976 to 1980, and managed the Bos ...
*January 30 –
Dave Stegman
David William Stegman (born January 30, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played all or part of six seasons in the majors for the Detroit Tigers (1978–1980), New York Yankees (1982) and Chicago White Sox (1983–1984). Duri ...
February
*February 1 –
Mark Souza
Kenneth Mark Souza (born February 1, 1955) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Souza pitched in for the Oakland Athletics, throwing 7 innings over 5 games.
Souza was originally drafted in the first round of the 1974 Major League Baseball ...
*February 2 –
Puchy Delgado
Luis Felipe "Puchy" Delgado Robles (born February 2, 1954, in Hatillo, Puerto Rico) is a retired professional baseball player who spent seven seasons in professional baseball, including part of a season (1977) in Major League Baseball with the Sea ...
*February 2 –
Rob Dressler
Robert Alan Dressler (born February 2, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the San Francisco Giants, St. Louis Cardinals, and Seattle Mariners.
Dressler was drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 1st round (19th ove ...
*February 2 –
John Tudor
*February 4 –
Al Javier
*February 8 –
Joe Maddon
Joseph John Maddon (born February 8, 1954) is an American former professional baseball manager and coach. He has managed the Tampa Bay Rays, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Angels of Major League Baseball.
Maddon began his coaching career in MLB ...
*February 10 –
Larry McWilliams
Larry Dean McWilliams (born February 10, 1954) is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves (twice), Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies, and Kans ...
*February 13 –
Donnie Moore
Donnie Ray Moore (February 13, 1954 – July 18, 1989) was an American relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for the Chicago Cubs (1975, 1977–79), St. Louis Cardinals (1980), Milwaukee Brewers (1981), Atlanta Braves (1982–8 ...
*February 17 –
Mike Macha
Michael William Macha (born February 17, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves and Toronto Blue Jays.
Career
At first, he was drafted in the 5th round (103rd over ...
*February 24 –
Dave Edwards
*February 25 –
Bob Brenly
Robert Earl Brenly (born February 25, 1954) is an American baseball sportscaster and a former professional baseball player, coach and manager. He played the majority of his Major League Baseball career as a catcher with the San Francisco Gian ...
*February 26 –
Jeff Yurak
Jeffrey Lynn Yurak (born February 26, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player. He played five games in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Milwaukee Brewers in 1978.
Career
Yurak was drafted out of Citrus Junior College in the 24 ...
*February 28 –
John Poloni
John Paul Poloni (born February 28, 1954) is a left-handed former Major League Baseball pitcher who appeared in two games for the Texas Rangers in 1977.
Career
Poloni was originally drafted out of Lutheran West High School in Detroit, Michigan ...
March
*March 4 –
Mark Wagner
*March 7 –
Mike Armstrong
*March 7 –
Nyls Nyman
*March 8 –
Win Remmerswaal
Wilhelmus Abraham Remmerswaal (March 8, 1954 – July 24, 2022) was a relief pitcher in Major League Baseball. Born in The Hague, Netherlands, Remmerswaal was the first European-trained player to reach the majors. He was the second Dutch-b ...
*March 12 –
Larry Rothschild
Lawrence Lee Rothschild (born March 12, 1954) is an American professional baseball pitcher, coach, and manager.
Rothschild played for the Detroit Tigers of Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1981 and 1982. He has coached for the Cincinnati Reds, A ...
*March 13 –
Randy Bass
Randy William Bass (born March 13, 1954) is an American politician and former baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) and Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB), and served in the Oklahoma Senate.
Bass made his MLB debut in 1977, a ...
*March 13 –
Terry Leach
*March 16 –
Dan Duran
*March 20 –
Steve McCatty
*March 20 –
Paul Mirabella
Paul Thomas Mirabella (born March 20, 1954) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Mirabella, who threw left-handed, played all or parts of 13 seasons in Major League Baseball for the Texas Rangers (1978 and 1982), New York Yankees ...
*March 29 –
Mike Ramsey
*March 29 –
Tom Tellmann
Thomas John Tellmann (born March 29, 1954) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Diego Padres from 1979 to 1980, the Milwaukee Brewers from 1983 to 1984, and the Oakland Athletics ...
April
*April 3 –
Larry Littleton
*April 6 –
Ken Clay
Kenneth Earl Clay (born April 6, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball right-handed pitcher. Following his brief major league career, Clay had several run ins with the law. Most recently, he was sentenced to five years in jail for grand theft fo ...
*April 8 –
Gary Carter
Gary Edmund Carter (April 8, 1954 – February 16, 2012) was an American professional baseball catcher whose 19-year Major League Baseball (MLB) career was spent primarily with the Montreal Expos and New York Mets.
Nicknamed "the Kid" for his y ...
*April 11 –
Willie Royster
*April 14 –
Craig Mitchell
*April 14 –
Casey Parsons
Casey Robert Parsons is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played parts of four seasons in the majors, between and , for the Seattle Mariners, Chicago White Sox, and Cleveland Indians. In four seasons, he played in just 63 games, and ...
*April 16 –
Bruce Robinson
Bruce Robinson (born 2 May 1946) is an English actor, director, screenwriter and novelist. He wrote and directed the cult classic ''Withnail and I'' (1987), a film with comic and tragic elements set in London in the late 1960s, which drew on hi ...
*April 17 –
Denny Walling
Dennis Martin Walling (born April 17, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball player. Walling played all or parts of 18 seasons in the majors, from 1975 to 1992. His most frequent position was third base, but he also saw significant time as an out ...
*April 20 –
Doug Clarey
Doug Clarey (born April 20, 1954) is an American former professional baseball infielder. He played one season in Major League Baseball (MLB), appearing in nine games for the 1976 St. Louis Cardinals. Listed at and , he batted and threw right-ha ...
*April 20 –
Mike O'Berry
Preston Michael O'Berry (born April 20, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player and minor league manager. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1979 to 1985.
Major league career
O'Berry was drafted at the age o ...
*April 22 –
Dan O'Brien
Daniel Dion O'Brien (born July 18, 1966) is an American former decathlete and Olympic gold medalist. He won the Olympic title in 1996, three consecutive world championships (1991, 1993, 1995), and set the world record in 1992.
Early life
O'Br ...
*April 22 –
Bill Paschall
William Herbert Paschall (born April 22, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Paschall pitched in 11 games over three seasons for the Kansas City Royals between 1978 and 1981, all as a relief pitcher. On the final day of the 1978 regu ...
*April 25 –
Craig Minetto
*April 25 –
Greg Wells
Greg Wells is a Canadian musician, record producer, songwriter and audio engineer. Wells has songs on over 130 million albums sold. He has worked with John Legend, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ariana Grande, Jazmine Sullivan, Kid Cudi, Adele, Rufus Wai ...
*April 29 –
Danny Garcia
*April 30 –
Joe Strain
Joseph Allan Strain (born April 30, 1954) is a former a professional baseball player who was an infielder in the Major Leagues from to for the San Francisco Giants and Chicago Cubs.
Strain currently resides in the home rule municipality of Cen ...
May
*May 1 –
Roy Lee Jackson
Roy Lee Jackson (born May 1, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher likely best remembered for his stint with the Toronto Blue Jays in the early 80s.
Early years
Jackson was born in Opelika, Alabama. He was drafted by the Houston Astros ...
*May 2 –
Keith Moreland
Bobby Keith Moreland (born May 2, 1954), nicknamed "Zonk", is a former outfielder, catcher and infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago Cubs, and San Diego Padres. In 1989, the final year of his career, ...
*May 2 –
Steve Rippley
*May 6 –
Albert Williams
*May 9 –
Tom Chism
*May 9 –
George Enright
*May 19 –
Rick Cerone
Richard Aldo Cerone (born May 19, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player, television sports color commentator and minor league baseball team owner. He played in Major League Baseball as a catcher from to with the Cleveland Ind ...
*May 22 –
Mark Mercer
Mark Kenneth Mercer (born May 22, 1954) is an American former professional baseball pitcher from Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He appeared in seven games in Major League Baseball for the 1981 Texas Rangers.
Mercer was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pi ...
*May 24 –
Bobby Brown
Robert Barisford Brown (born February 5, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter and dancer. Brown, alongside frequent collaborator Teddy Riley, is noted as one of the pioneers of new jack swing: a fusion of hip hop and R&B. Brown started h ...
*May 25 –
Bob Knepper
Robert Wesley Knepper (born May 25, 1954) is an American former Major League Baseball pitcher. From 1976 to 1990, he pitched 15 seasons for the San Francisco Giants and Houston Astros, earning two All-Star appearances as well as the 1981 NL Come ...
*May 26 –
Kevin Kennedy
*May 31 –
Greg Erardi
June
*June 5 –
Dennis Blair
*June 8 –
Lenn Sakata
Lenn Haruki Sakata (born June 8, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player who played in the Major Leagues primarily as a utility player from 1977 to 1987 and was a member of the Baltimore Orioles 1983 World Series Championship tea ...
*June 19 –
Johnnie LeMaster
Johnnie Lee LeMaster (born June 19, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball infielder. He played for four teams over a 12 year (– and ) MLB career, including 10 seasons with the San Francisco Giants. He batted and threw right-handed.
Career
On ...
*June 20 –
Tony Chévez
Tony Chévez (born June 20, 1954) is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Baltimore Orioles in their 1977 season. Listed at 5' 11" , 177 lb. , Chévez batted and threw right-handed. He was born Silvio Antonio Aguilera Ch ...
*June 25 –
Bob Shirley
Robert Charles Shirley (born June 25, 1954) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played all or parts of 11 seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1977 to 1987, for the San Diego Padres, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Yanke ...
*June 29 –
Rick Honeycutt
Frederick Wayne Honeycutt (born June 29, 1954) is an American former professional baseball coach and pitcher. Honeycutt pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for six different teams over 21 years, from 1977 to 1997. He pitched in 30 post-season ...
July
*July 4 –
Jim Beattie
*July 4 –
Dan Larson
Daniel James Larson is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Larson pitched in all or parts of seven seasons from and .
Larson was drafted in the first round of the 1972 Major League Baseball Draft by the St. Louis Cardinals, while at Alham ...
*July 6 –
Willie Randolph
William Larry Randolph (born July 6, 1954) is an American former professional baseball second baseman, coach, and manager. During an 18-year career in Major League Baseball (MLB), he played from 1975 to 1992 for six different teams, most notabl ...
*July 6 –
Jason Thompson
*July 10 –
Andre Dawson
Andre Nolan Dawson (born July 10, 1954), nicknamed "The Hawk" and "Awesome Dawson", is an American former professional baseball player and inductee into the Baseball Hall of Fame. During a 21-year baseball career, he played for four different tea ...
*July 14 –
Chuck Rainey
Charles Walter Rainey III (born June 17, 1940) is an American bass guitarist who has performed and recorded with many well-known acts, including Aretha Franklin, Steely Dan, and Quincy Jones. Rainey is credited for playing bass on more than 1,00 ...
*July 16 –
Jim Lentine
James Matthew Lentine is a former Major League Baseball (MLB) outfielder. He played all or part of three seasons in the major leagues, from to , for the St. Louis Cardinals and Detroit Tigers. He is based in San Clemente, California, and working ...
*July 18 –
Harry Spilman
William Harry Spilman (born July 18, 1954) is a retired Major League Baseball first baseman for the Cincinnati Reds (1978–81), Houston Astros (1981–85, 1988–89), Detroit Tigers (1986), and San Francisco Giants (1986–88). He was also known ...
*July 19 –
Dan Graham
Daniel Graham (March 31, 1942 – February 19, 2022) was an American visual artist, writer, and curator in the writer-artist tradition. In addition to his visual works, he published a large array of critical and speculative writing that spanned ...
*July 20 –
Gary Woods
*July 27 –
Brian Kingman
Brian Paul Kingman (born July 27, 1953) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher from 1979 to 1983 for the Oakland Athletics and San Francisco Giants.
He attended the University of California, Santa Barbara before signing with the Athletics in ...
*July 30 –
Ellis Valentine
Ellis Clarence Valentine (born July 30, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball right fielder. He is remembered for having one of the all-time great throwing arms. "There's a plateau where you can't throw the ball any harder and you can't be any m ...
August
*August 1 –
Roger Miller
Roger Dean Miller Sr. (January 2, 1936 – October 25, 1992) was an American singer-songwriter, widely known for his honky-tonk-influenced novelty songs and his chart-topping Country music, country and pop hits "King of the Road (song), Ki ...
*August 6 –
Ken Phelps
Kenneth Allan Phelps (born August 6, 1954) is an American former professional baseball designated hitter and first baseman. He played for six different Major League Baseball (MLB) teams from 1980 to 1990, primarily with the Seattle Mariners. Baseb ...
*August 7 –
Steve Kemp
Steven F. Kemp (born August 7, 1954) is an American former professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Texas Rangers.
Profession ...
*August 7 –
Yasuyuki Nakai
*August 8 –
Mark Ross
Mark Joseph Ross (born August 8, 1954) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He pitched parts of six seasons in Major League Baseball between 1982 until 1990.
Career
Ross was originally drafted by the Houston Astros in the 7th round of the ...
*August 11 –
Gary Holle
Gary Charles Holle (born August 11, 1954) is an American former professional baseball first baseman who played for the Texas Rangers of the Major League Baseball (MLB) in 1979.
Career
Prior to playing professionally, he attended Catholic Centra ...
*August 14 –
Mark Fidrych
Mark Steven Fidrych ( ; August 14, 1954 – April 13, 2009), nicknamed "The Bird", was an American Major League Baseball (MLB) baseball pitcher. He pitched his entire career for the Detroit Tigers (1976–1980).
Known for his quirky antics ...
*August 19 –
Reggie Baldwin
*August 19 –
Ned Yost
Edgar Frederick Yost III (; born August 19, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager of the Milwaukee Brewers and Kansas City Royals. He played for the Brewers, Texas Rangers, and Montreal Expos.
Early life
Yost was born o ...
*August 21 –
Bruce Berenyi
Bruce Michael Berenyi (born August 21, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball starting pitcher from 1980 to 1986.
Early years
Berenyi's uncle was MLB pitcher Ned Garver.
Berenyi played basketball as well as baseball at Fairview High School in ...
*August 24 –
Chris Batton
Christopher Sean Batton (born August 24, 1954) is a former professional baseball pitcher. He played part of one season in Major League Baseball for the Oakland Athletics.
Batton was drafted by the Athletics in the 12th round of the 1972 Major Lea ...
*August 25 –
Pete Redfern
Peter Irvine Redfern (born August 25, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He had a seven-season career in the majors, from until , all with the Minnesota Twins.
Redfern was the Twins' first-round pick, and the first pick overall in ...
*August 31 –
Jack Perconte
John Patrick "Jack" Perconte (born August 31, 1954) is an American former professional baseball second baseman. Perconte played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1980 to 1986.
Career
At the age of 26, on September 13, 1980, he made his MLB d ...
*August 31 –
Claudell Washington
Claudell Washington (August 31, 1954June 10, 2020) was an American baseball outfielder who played seventeen seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Oakland Athletics, Texas Rangers, Chicago White Sox, New York Mets, Atlanta B ...
September
*September 2 –
John Flinn
John Richard Flinn (born September 2, 1954) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. Flinn pitched in all or part of four seasons between and . He had two separate stints with the Baltimore Orioles, the first in 1978-, and the secon ...
*September 2 –
Rick Manning
Richard Eugene Manning (born September 2, 1954) is a former center fielder and current broadcaster in Major League Baseball (MLB), who played for the Cleveland Indians (1975-) and Milwaukee Brewers (1983–1987), and has been a color commentator ...
*September 6 –
Steve Macko
*September 7 –
Craig Eaton
*September 7 –
John Hirschbeck
John Francis Hirschbeck (born September 7, 1954) is a former umpire for Major League Baseball. He worked in the American League from 1984 to 1999 and worked in both leagues from 2000 to 2016. He was a crew chief at the time of his retirement, and ...
*September 8 –
*September 8 –
Jim Smith
*September 10 –
Craig Cacek
Craig Thomas Cacek (born September 10, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball first baseman who played for the Houston Astros in .
References
External links
1954 births
Baseball players from Los Angeles
Houston Astros players
Living pe ...
*September 10 –
Preston Hanna
Preston Lee Hanna (born September 10, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He played all or parts of eight seasons in the major leagues from 1975 until 1982. He was drafted by the Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are an American ...
*September 13 –
John Harris
*September 13 –
Billy Smith
*September 16 –
Dave Koza
*September 17 –
Wayne Krenchicki
Wayne Richard Krenchicki (September 17, 1954 – October 16, 2018) was a Major League Baseball (MLB) third baseman. He played all or parts of eight seasons in the majors from until . He was a past manager of the Evansville Otters of the indepen ...
*September 20 –
Bob Detherage
*September 20 –
Mickey Klutts
Gene Ellis "Mickey" Klutts (born September 20, 1954) is an American former professional baseball third baseman, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1976 to 1983 with the New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, and Toronto Blue Jays. An inf ...
*September 21 –
Frank MacCormack
Frank Louis MacCormack (born September 21, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Detroit Tigers () and Seattle Mariners ().
Born in Jersey City, New Jersey, MacCormack was raised in Secaucus, New Jersey and played prep baseb ...
*September 22 –
Hal Dues
Hal Joseph Dues (September 22, 1954 - October 20, 2020) was an Americans, American professional baseball baseball player, player and former Major League Baseball, Major League pitcher. The , right-handed, right-hander played for the Montreal Expo ...
*September 27 –
Len Matuszek
October
*October 3 –
Dennis Eckersley
Dennis Lee Eckersley (born October 3, 1954), nicknamed "Eck", is an American professional baseball pitcher and former color commentator. Between 1975 and 1998, he pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, ...
*October 3 –
Joe Gates
Joseph Daniel Gates (October 3, 1954 – March 28, 2010) was an American professional baseball player. He played parts of two seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Chicago White Sox.
His only extra base hit was a triple on May 13, 19 ...
*October 3 –
Bert Roberge
Bertrand Roland Roberge (born October 3, 1954) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball for the Houston Astros, Chicago White Sox, and Montreal Expos from 1979 through 1986.
Amateur career
A native ...
*October 4 –
Bill Atkinson
Bill Atkinson (born March 17, 1951) is an American computer engineer and photographer. Atkinson worked at Apple Computer from 1978 to 1990.
Atkinson was the principal designer and developer of the graphical user interface (GUI) of the Apple ...
*October 4 –
Dennis Littlejohn
Dennis Gerald Littlejohn (October 4, 1954), is a former Major League Baseball player who played catcher from to . He would play for the San Francisco Giants. Littlejohn attended the University of Southern California
, mottoeng = "Let whoeve ...
*October 6 –
Roger Weaver
*October 9 –
Randy Lerch
Randy Louis Lerch (born October 9, 1954), is an American former professional baseball pitcher, who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Phillies, Milwaukee Brewers, Montreal Expos, and San Francisco Giants, from to .
Early ...
*October 12 –
Garth Iorg
Garth Ray Iorg ( ; born October 12, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player who played his entire career (1978, 1980–1987) for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has also worked as the first base coach for ...
*October 12 –
Gil Kubski
Gilbert Thomas Kubski (born October 12, 1954) is an American former professional baseball baseball player, player who appeared in 22 games played, games as an outfielder in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, Califo ...
*October 13 –
George Frazier
George Francis Frazier Jr. (June 10, 1911 – June 13, 1974) was an American journalist. Frazier was raised in South Boston, attended the Boston Latin School, and was graduated from Harvard College (where he won the Boylston Prize for Rhetoric) in ...
*October 14 –
Willie Aikens
Willie Mays Aikens (born October 14, 1954) is an American professional baseball first baseman who played in Major League Baseball for the California Angels, Kansas City Royals, and Toronto Blue Jays between 1977 and 1985. He had established hims ...
*October 15 –
Glenn Gulliver
*October 16 –
Chris Bourjos
Christopher Bourjos (born October 16, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player who played part of one season for the San Francisco Giants of Major League Baseball. He has worked as an Arizona-based scout.
Playing career
Bourjos ...
*October 16 –
Mike Dimmel
Michael Wayne Dimmel (born October 16, 1954) is a retired professional baseball player who played 3 seasons in Major League Baseball. He was originally drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 6th round of the 1973 Major League Baseball Draft. ...
*October 21 –
Keith Drumright
Keith Alan Drumright (October 21, 1954 – August 7, 2010) was an American Major League Baseball second baseman. He played parts of two seasons in the major leagues. He played for the Houston Astros in 1978 and the Oakland Athletics in 1981.
D ...
*October 22 –
Jamie Quirk
James Patrick Quirk (; born October 22, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player and coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball from 1975 to 1992. Quirk was a member of the world champion 1985 Kansas City Royals team. ...
*October 23 –
John Castino
John Anthony Castino (born October 23, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball player. Castino played as an infielder, primarily at third base and second base, with the Minnesota Twins from 1979 through 1984.
Professional career
Castino graduat ...
*October 25 –
Tito Landrum
Terry Lee Landrum (born October 25, 1954) is a former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball (MLB) primarily as an outfielder from 1980 to 1988.
Biography
Landrum was born in Joplin, Missouri. He graduated from Highlan ...
*October 28 –
Gary Rajsich
Gary Louis Rajsich ( ; born October 28, 1954) is an American Major League Baseball (MLB) scout and a former professional baseball outfielder. He played all or parts of four seasons in the Majors from until , then played three additional seasons f ...
*October 28 –
Sammy Stewart
Samuel Lee Stewart (October 28, 1954 – March 2, 2018) was an American professional baseball player. He pitched in Major League Baseball (MLB) from 1978 to 1987. Stewart had the best earned run average (ERA) in the American League (AL) in 1981 ...
*October 29 –
Kip Young
Kip Lane Young (born October 29, 1954) is a former baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, Young played Major League Baseball with the Detroit Tigers in 1978 and 1979. As a rookie in 1978, he pitched complete-game victories in his first four st ...
November
*November 1 –
Miguel Diloné
Miguel Ángel Diloné Reyes (born November 1, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball switch hitting outfielder. He played 12 seasons with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Oakland Athletics, Chicago Cubs, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Montreal Exp ...
*November 8 –
Gary Lucas
Gary Lucas (born June 20, 1952) is an American guitarist/songwriter/composer who was a member of Captain Beefheart's band. He formed the band Gods and Monsters in 1989.
Lucas has released more than 50 albums to date as a solo artist or band l ...
*November 9 –
Al Greene
*November 10 –
Bob Stanley
*November 11 –
Bob Long
Robert Andrew Long (born June 16, 1941) is a former American football wide receiver in the National Football League who played in the 1960s and 1970s and earned two Super Bowl rings. He attended suburban Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Pittsburgh's ...
*November 11 –
Ron Musselman
Ralph Ronald Musselman (born November 11, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher for the Seattle Mariners () and Toronto Blue Jays (-). Prior to turning professional, he played for the Clemson Tigers. Musselman was mostly a relief pitche ...
*November 14 –
Willie Hernández
Guillermo Hernández Villanueva (born November 14, 1954) is a Puerto Rican former baseball relief pitcher. He won both the American League Cy Young Award and the American League Most Valuable Player Award in 1984 after leading the Detroit Tig ...
*November 18 –
Craig Stimac
Craig Steven Stimac (November 18, 1954 – January 15, 2009) was an American professional baseball catcher who played in Major League Baseball.
Stimac attended Morton West High School in Illinois and played college baseball at the University ...
*November 21 –
Alan Hargesheimer
Alan Robert Hargesheimer (born November 21, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. He pitched in parts of four seasons between and for three different teams. Since his retirement, Hargesheimer has worked as a scout for several teams, i ...
*November 21 –
Gary Wilson
*November 23 –
Glenn Brummer
Glenn Edward Brummer (born November 23, 1954, in Olney, Illinois) is an American former Major League Baseball catcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and the Texas Rangers.
Brummer was born in Olney, Illinois. His father, Bob Brummer, br ...
*November 23 –
Broderick Perkins
Broderick Phillip Perkins (born November 23, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player. He played all or parts of seven seasons in Major League Baseball, from 1978 until 1984, for the San Diego Padres and Cleveland Indians, primaril ...
*November 23 –
Ken Schrom
Kenneth Marvin Schrom (born November 23, 1954) is a former major league baseball pitcher and current minor league executive.
Selected in the 17th round of the 1976 MLB amateur draft by the California Angels, Schrom pitched for seven seasons in ...
*November 30 –
Juan Berenguer
Juan Bautista Berenguer (born November 30, 1954) is a former Panamanians, Panamanian Long reliever, long relief pitcher in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played for eight teams from 1978 to 1992. Listed at 5'11 , 200 lb. , Berenguer batted and ...
December
*December 1 –
Dan Schatzeder
Daniel Ernest Schatzeder (born December 1, 1954) is a former professional baseball player who pitched in the major leagues from – for nine different teams. Schatzeder attended Willowbrook High School in Villa Park, Illinois then played college ...
*December 2 –
Julio Cruz
*December 4 –
Tucker Ashford
Thomas Steven Ashford (born December 4, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball third baseman. He was drafted second overall (to Roy Smalley III) in the January Draft by the San Diego Padres. In addition to the Padres, Ashford also played for th ...
*December 5 –
Gary Roenicke
Gary Steven Roenicke (born December 5, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball outfielder for the Montreal Expos (1976), Baltimore Orioles (1978–85), New York Yankees (1986) and Atlanta Braves (1987–88).
Early career
He was originally drafted ...
*December 6 –
Mike Parrott
Michael Everett Arch Parrott (born December 6, 1954), nicknamed "Bird," is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Parrott graduated from Adolfo Camarillo High School in Camarillo, California in 1973. He was drafted by the Baltimore Orioles in th ...
*December 11 –
Bob Sykes
*December 22 –
Sheldon Burnside
Sheldon John Burnside (born December 22, 1954) is a former Major League Baseball player who pitched for the Detroit Tigers and the Cincinnati Reds.
Burnside was born in South Bend, Indiana but moved to the Greater Toronto Area at about five mont ...
*December 22 –
Ken Landreaux
Kenneth Francis Landreaux (born December 22, 1954) is an American former professional baseball center fielder. He played in Major League Baseball for the California Angels, Minnesota Twins, and Los Angeles Dodgers from 1977 through 1987.
Pla ...
*December 25 –
Jeff Little
Donald Jeffrey Little is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. Little played in two seasons: for the St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are an American professional baseball team based in St. Louis. The Cardinals compete in Maj ...
*December 26 –
Ozzie Smith
Osborne Earl Smith (born December 26, 1954) is an American former professional baseball player. Nicknamed "the Wizard of Oz", Smith played shortstop for the San Diego Padres and St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball, winning the National ...
Deaths
January
*January 5 –
Rabbit Maranville
Walter James Vincent "Rabbit" Maranville (November 11, 1891 – January 6, 1954) was an American professional baseball shortstop, second baseman and manager. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, Ch ...
, 62, Hall of Fame shortstop and second baseman for five National League clubs over 23 years between 1912 and 1935, a diminutive and rambunctious character who had the range to top middle infielders in
putout
In baseball statistics, a putout (denoted by ''PO'' or ''fly out'' when appropriate) is awarded to a defensive player who (generally while in secure possession of the ball) records an out by one of the following methods:
* Tagging a runner wit ...
s (six times),
assists (four),
double play
In baseball and softball, a double play (denoted as DP in baseball statistics) is the act of making two outs during the same continuous play. Double plays can occur any time there is at least one baserunner and fewer than two outs.
In Major Leag ...
s (five), and
fielding average
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball. It is calculated by the sum of putouts and assists, divi ...
(three), as well as the
cleanup hitter
In baseball, a cleanup hitter is the fourth hitter in the batting order. The cleanup hitter is traditionally the team's most powerful hitter. His job is to "clean up the bases", i.e., drive in base runners.
Theory
The thinking behind the us ...
of the ''
1914 Boston Braves Miracle Team'', who after being in last place on the
Fourth of July
Independence Day (colloquially the Fourth of July) is a federal holiday in the United States commemorating the Declaration of Independence, which was ratified by the Second Continental Congress on July 4, 1776, establishing the United States ...
, rallied and posted a 68–19 record to win the National League pennant and then, as heavy underdogs, swept the
heavily favored Philadelphia Athletics in four straight games to clinch the
1914 World Series
The 1914 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's 1914 season. The 11th edition of the World Series, it was played between the American League champion and defending World Series champion Philadelphia Athletics and t ...
.
*January 7 –
Red Schillings, 53, relief pitcher in four games for the 1922 Philadelphia Athletics.
*January 9 –
Skeeter Shelton
Andrew Kemper "Skeeter" Shelton (June 29, 1888 – January 9, 1954) was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He was born and died in Huntington, West Virginia.
Shelton played for the New York Yankees in the season, appearing in 10 consecutiv ...
, 65, outfielder who played the New York Yankees in the 1915 season, and later served as a baseball coach in
West Virginia University
West Virginia University (WVU) is a public land-grant research university with its main campus in Morgantown, West Virginia. Its other campuses are those of the West Virginia University Institute of Technology in Beckley, Potomac State College ...
from 1918 to 1920 and at
Marshall University
Marshall University is a public research university in Huntington, West Virginia. It was founded in 1837 and is named after John Marshall, the fourth Chief Justice of the United States.
The university is currently composed of nine colleges: L ...
from 1922 to 1923.
*January 11 –
Sumner Bowman, 86, pitcher who played from 1890 to 1891 for the Philadelphia Phillies, Pittsburgh Alleghenys and Philadelphia Athletics.
*January 16 –
Clay Perry
Clair Willard Perry (1887–1961), called Clay Perry, was an American writer and outdoorsman. He coined the term " spelunker".
Biography
Born in 1887 in Waupaca, Wisconsin, Perry moved to western Massachusetts as a young man. A novelist, short sto ...
, 72, third baseman for the Detroit Tigers in their 1908 season.
*January 16 –
Fred Payne, 73, catcher who played from 1906 through 1911 for the Detroit Tigers and Chicago White Sox.
*January 20 –
Bunny Madden, 71, catcher for the Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies between 1909 and 1911.
February
*February 1 –
Norman Plitt
Norman William Plitt (February 21, 1893 in York, Pennsylvania – February 1, 1954 in New York City) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He pitched in one game for the Brooklyn Robins during the 1918 baseball season and then nine years later ...
, 60, pitcher who played with the Brooklyn Robins and New York Giants in part of two seasons spanning 1918–1927.
*February 4 –
Ollie Smith, 88, outfielder who played for the Louisville Colonels in the 1894 season.
*February 5 –
Ed Warner, 64, pitcher for the 1912 Pittsburgh Pirates.
*February 10 –
Heinie Berger, 72, one of the many German baseball players in the early part of the 20th century, who pitched from 1905 through 1910 for the
Cleveland Naps
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive ...
of the American League.
*February 13 –
Walter Ancker
Walter Ancker (April 10, 1893 – February 13, 1954) was a professional baseball player whose career spanned two seasons, including one in Major League Baseball with the Philadelphia Athletics (1915). He also played in the minor leagues with the ...
, 60, pitcher who played briefly for the Philadelphia Athletics in the 1915 season.
*February 15 –
John Callahan, 79, pitcher for the St. Louis Browns of the National League in the 1898 season.
*February 15 –
John Gillespie, 53, pitcher who appeared in 31 games for the Cincinnati Reds during the 1922 season.
*February 16 –
Red Parnell, 48, All-Star left fielder and manager in the Negro leagues, most notably for the
Philadelphia Stars club from 1936 to 1943.
*February 20 –
Sadie McMahon
John Joseph "Sadie" McMahon (September 19, 1867 – February 20, 1954) was a professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1889 to 1897. McMahon played for the Philadelphia Athletics, Baltimore Orioles, and the Brookly ...
, 86, 19th century pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Athletics, Baltimore Orioles and Brooklyn Bridegrooms in a span of nine seasons from 1889 through 1897, sporting a 173-127 record and a 3.51 ERA in 351 games, while leading the American Association in wins (36), strikeouts (291), games pitched (60) and innings (509) during the 1890 season.
*February 22 –
Chief Wilson
John Owen "Chief" Wilson (August 21, 1883 – February 22, 1954) was an American professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball from 1908 to 1916 for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals.
Wilson played minor le ...
, 70, outfielder best known for setting the single-season record for triples in 1912 with 36,
a record that still stands, who played for the Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals during nine seasons from 1908–1916, and was also a member of the
1909 World Series Champion Pirates.
March
*March 1 –
Marv Gudat, 50, utility first baseman and outfielder in 69 games for the Cincinnati Reds in the 1929 season and the Chicago Cubs in 1932.
*March 10 –
George Textor, 67, catcher who played for the
Indianapolis Hoosiers Indianapolis Hoosiers was the name of three major league and at least three minor league baseball clubs based in Indianapolis.
* Indianapolis Hoosiers (American Association), which played in 1884
* Indianapolis Hoosiers (National League), which pla ...
and
Newark Peppers
The Newark Peppers, originally known as the Indianapolis Hoosiers, were a Federal League baseball team from 1913–1915. The Federal League (FL), founded in 1913, was a third major league in 1914 and 1915.
History
The Federal League began as an in ...
of the outlaw
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that played its first season as a minor league in 1913 and operated as a "third major league", in competition with the e ...
over parts of two seasons from 1914–1915.
*March 11 –
Bill Bradley
William Warren Bradley (born July 28, 1943) is an American politician and former professional basketball player. He served three terms as a Democratic U.S. senator from New Jersey (1979–1997). He ran for the Democratic Party's nomination f ...
, 76, third baseman for the
Cleveland Bluebirds
The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...
in the
inaugural game of the American League in 1901, who was recognized as one of the best third basemen in baseball prior to 1950, along with
Jimmy Collins
James Joseph Collins (January 16, 1870 – March 6, 1943) was an American professional baseball player. He played 14 seasons in Major League Baseball. Collins was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1945.
Collins was especially regarded for ...
and
Pie Traynor
Harold Joseph "Pie" Traynor (November 11, 1898 – March 16, 1972) was an American third baseman, manager, scout and radio broadcaster in Major League Baseball (MLB) who played his entire career between 1920 and 1937 for the Pittsburgh Pirates. ...
, while leading during the first seven years of the league in
fielding average
In baseball statistics, fielding percentage, also known as fielding average, is a measure that reflects the percentage of times a defensive player properly handles a batted or thrown ball. It is calculated by the sum of putouts and assists, divi ...
four times, three times in
double play
In baseball and softball, a double play (denoted as DP in baseball statistics) is the act of making two outs during the same continuous play. Double plays can occur any time there is at least one baserunner and fewer than two outs.
In Major Leag ...
s, twice in
putout
In baseball statistics, a putout (denoted by ''PO'' or ''fly out'' when appropriate) is awarded to a defensive player who (generally while in secure possession of the ball) records an out by one of the following methods:
* Tagging a runner wit ...
s, and once in
assists, setting a league record of seven putouts in one game in both 1901 and 1909, also batting .300 or better three consecutive years and becoming the first player to hit
one home run in four straight games in 1902, a record not matched until
Babe Ruth
George Herman "Babe" Ruth Jr. (February 6, 1895 – August 16, 1948) was an American professional baseball player whose career in Major League Baseball (MLB) spanned 22 seasons, from 1914 through 1935. Nicknamed "the Bambino" and "the Su ...
did it in the 1918 season.
*March 12 –
J. A. Robert Quinn, 84, executive; principal owner of the Boston Red Sox from 1923 to 1933 and the Boston Braves from 1936 to 1945; also served as business manager of St. Louis Browns and general manager of Brooklyn Dodgers; patriarch of a four-generation baseball family.
*March 16 –
George Grantham George Grantham may refer to:
* George Grantham (baseball)
* George Grantham (musician)
George Grantham (born January 20, 1947) is an American drummer and vocalist best known for his work with pioneering country rock band Poco.
Grantham and p ...
, 53, second baseman for the Chicago Cubs, Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants in a span of 13 seasons from 1922–1934, who hit over .300 every season from 1924 to 1931, and also was a member of the Pirates teams that won the
World Series in 1925 and the
National League pennant in 1927.
*March 19 –
Charlie Babb
Charles David Babb (born February 4, 1950) is a former Safety (American football position), safety for the Miami Dolphins (1972–1979). He is a graduate of Charleston High School (Missouri), Charleston High School in Charleston, Missouri.
Refe ...
, 81, shortstop who played from 1903 through 1905 for the New York Giants and Brooklyn Superbas, managing later in the Minor Leagues from 1906 to 1913.
*March 19 –
Frank Fahey, 58, left fielder and pitcher for the 1918 Philadelphia Athletics.
*March 22 –
Harry LaRoss, 66, outfielder who played for the Cincinnati Reds in 1914.
*March 24 –
Chubby Snyder
Alfred Joseph "Chubby" Snyder (August 20, 1890 – March 24, 1954), born Alfred Joseph Schneider, was a Danish and German American professional baseball player who played one game with the Major League Baseball (MLB) Buffalo Buffeds. In that gam ...
, 63, Danish and German American catcher who appeared in just one game in 1914 with the
Buffalo Buffeds of the Federal League.
April
*April 15 –
Chick Holmes, 58, pitcher for the Philadelphia Athletics during the 1918 season.
*April 19 –
Red Gunkel, 60, pitcher who played in 1916 for the Cleveland Indians.
May
*May 4 –
Otto McIvor, 69, outfielder for the 1911 St. Louis Cardinals.
*May 7 –
Les Channell, 68, backup outfielder who played with the New York Highlanders in the 1910 season and for the New York Yankees in 1914.
*May 10 –
Eddie Files
Charles Edward Files (May 19, 1883 – May 10, 1954) was an American baseball pitcher with the Philadelphia Athletics during the Major League Baseball season. A Maine native, Files was born in Portland
Portland most commonly refers to:
* Portla ...
, 70, pitcher who played with the Philadelphia Athletics during the 1908 season.
*May 11 –
Dorsey Riddlemoser, 78, pitcher for the 1899 Washington Senators.
*May 17 –
Roy Parker, 58, pitcher who played briefly for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1919 season, just after serving in the United States Navy during
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...
.
*May 17 –
Earl Tyree, 64, catcher for the 1914 Chicago Cubs.
*May 22 –
Chief Bender
Charles Albert "Chief" Bender (May 5, 1884There is uncertainty about Bender's birth-date. He was voted the SABR "Centennial Celebrity" of 1983, as the best baseball player or figure born in 1883. However, the SABR ''Baseball Research Journal'' fo ...
, 70, Hall of Fame Native American pitcher who won 212 games and hurled a
no-hitter
In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...
, while starring for three Philadelphia Athletics World Series Champion teams, being also the first pitcher in a
World Series of six games to throw three complete games.
*May 23 –
Bill Davidson, 70, outfielder who played with the Chicago Cubs in 1909, and for the Brooklyn Superbas and Dodgers teams from 1910 to 1911.
*May 24 –
Charlie Biggs
Charles Orval Biggs (September 15, 1906 – May 24, 1954) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played for the Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox compete in ...
, 47, pitcher who played for the Chicago White Sox in 1932.
June
*June 1 –
George Caithamer, 43, catcher for the 1934 Chicago White Sox.
*June 1 –
Vern Duncan
Vernon Van Duke Duncan (January 6, 1890 – June 1, 1954) was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He began his major league career late in the season with the Philadelphia Phillies, then jumped to the new Federal League during the offseason. He ...
, 64, center fielder who played with the Philadelphia Phillies in 1913 and for the Baltimore Terrapins from 1914 to 1915.
*June 3 –
Zaza Harvey
Ervin King "Zaza" Harvey (January 5, 1879 – June 3, 1954) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball who played from 1900 to 1902 for the Chicago Orphans, Chicago White Sox, and Cleveland Bronchos.
Pro career
Zaza Harvey made his professional ...
, 75, outfielder who played from 1900 through 1902 for the Chicago Orphans, Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Bronchos.
*June 8 –
Tom O'Hara, 73, outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals in the 1906 and 1907 seasons.
*June 15 –
Lew Carr
Lewis Smith Carr (August 15, 1872 – June 15, 1954) was a shortstop and third baseman in Major League Baseball. In 1901, he played "alongside Honus Wagner for a championship Pittsburgh Pirates team."
Carr attended and played baseball at Syracus ...
, 81, utility infielder for the 1901 Pittsburgh Pirates.
*June 23 –
Red Massey, 63, outfielder who played with the Boston Braves in the 1918 season.
*June 26 –
Charlie Pick, 66, infielder who played with four different teams in part of six seasons spanning 1914–1920, most notably for the 1918 National League champion Chicago Cubs.
July
*July 8 –
Wiley Taylor, 66, pitcher who played from 1911 through 1914 for the Detroit Tigers, Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Browns.
*July 13 –
Ed Porray
Edmund Joseph Porray (December 5, 1888 – July 13, 1954) was a major league pitcher. A right-handed pitcher, he had a brief Major League career in which he pitched in 3 games for the Buffalo Buffeds of the Federal League, compiling a 0–1 rec ...
, 65, pitcher for the
Buffalo Buffeds, who is best known as being the only Major League player born at sea.
*July 13 –
Grantland Rice
Henry Grantland "Granny" Rice (November 1, 1880July 13, 1954) was an early 20th-century American sportswriter known for his elegant prose. His writing was published in newspapers around the country and broadcast on the radio.
Early years
Rice wa ...
, 73, sportswriter.
*July 15 –
Chris Mahoney, 69, pitcher and outfielder for the 1910 Boston Red Sox.
*July 16 –
Jack Bracken, 73, pitcher who played for the Cleveland Blues in 1901.
*July 28 –
Jim Bagby, 64, Cleveland Indians star pitcher who led the American League with 31 victories in 1920, defeating the Detroit Tigers, 10–1, in a clinching game for the pennant, then defeating the Brooklyn Robins in the
1920 World Series, 8–1, while hitting the first home run by a pitcher in World Series history, en route to a world championship for the Indians.
*July 29 –
Babe Borton
William Baker "Babe" Borton (August 14, 1888 – July 29, 1954) was a Major League Baseball first baseman. Borton played for the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, St. Louis Terriers, and St. Louis Browns from 1912 to 1916. He stood .
Biograph ...
, 65, first baseman who played for the Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, St. Louis Terriers and St. Louis Browns in part of four seasons between 1912 and 1916.
August
*August 3 –
Art Hoelskoetter, 71, utility man who played all nine positions in his four seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals from 1905–1908, though he played at least 15 games at all the positions, except only one game in left field.
*August 14 –
Fabian Kowalik
Fabian Lorenz Kowalik (April 22, 1908 – August 14, 1954), was a professional baseball pitcher. He played in the Major League Baseball from 1932 to 1936 for the Chicago Cubs, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies, and Boston Bees.
Kowalik ...
, 46, who pitched with four teams in a span of three seasons from 1932–1936, mainly for the
1935 NL Champion Chicago Cubs.
*August 29 –
Jack Ferry, 67, pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1910 to 1913.
September
*September 1 –
Wimpy Quinn, 36, pitcher for the Chicago Cubs in 1941, who later played and managed in the Minor Leagues with the
Bakersfield Indians
Bakersfield is a city in Kern County, California, United States. It is the county seat and largest city of Kern County. The city covers about near the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley and the Central Valley region. Bakersfield's populat ...
.
*September 2 –
Fred Osborn, 70, center fielder for the Philadelphia Phillies over parts of three seasons from 1907–1909.
*September 5 –
Maurice Archdeacon, 55, center fielder who played from 1923 through 1925 for the Chicago White Sox; as a minor-leaguer, scored 166, 151 and 162 runs in successive International League seasons (1921–1923).
*September 13 –
Roy Grimes, 61, twin brother of first baseman
Ray Grimes
Oscar Ray Grimes Sr. (September 11, 1893 – May 25, 1953) was a first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Boston Red Sox (1920), Chicago Cubs (1921–1924) and Philadelphia Phillies (1926). Grimes batted and threw right-handed. ...
, who played briefly for the New York Giants in their 1920 season.
*September 21 –
Herbie Moran
John Herbert "Herbie" Moran (February 16, 1884 – September 21, 1954) was an American professional baseball outfielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Philadelphia Athletics, Boston Doves, Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Reds, ...
, 70, right fielder who played with four clubs in a span of seven seasons from 1908–1915, most prominently for the ''
1914 Boston Braves Miracle Team'', who, as heavy underdogs, won the National League pennant and later swept the
heavily favored Philadelphia Athletics in four straight games to clinch the
1914 World Series
The 1914 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's 1914 season. The 11th edition of the World Series, it was played between the American League champion and defending World Series champion Philadelphia Athletics and t ...
.
*September 23 –
John Wilson, 64, who pitched in three games for the Washington Senators during its 1913 season.
October
*October 5 –
Oscar Charleston
Oscar McKinley Charleston (October 14, 1896 – October 5, 1954) was an American center fielder and manager in Negro league baseball. Over his 43-year baseball career, Charleston played or managed with more than a dozen teams, including the Home ...
, 57, Hall of Fame Negro leagues outfielder and manager, a powerful hitter who could hit to all fields and bunt, steal a hundred bases a year, hit over .300 consistently, and cover center field as well as anyone.
*October 6 –
Josh Devore
Joshua M. Devore (November 13, 1887 – October 6, 1954), was a professional baseball player who played outfielder in the major leagues from –. He would play for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants, and Boston Braves. ...
, 66, outfielder for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies, New York Giants and Boston Braves during seven season from 1908 to 1914, who arrived in time for the ''
Miracle Braves'' stretch run which saw them win the National League pennant and the
1914 World Series
The 1914 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's 1914 season. The 11th edition of the World Series, it was played between the American League champion and defending World Series champion Philadelphia Athletics and t ...
.
*October 12 –
Walter Holke
Walter Henry Holke (December 25, 1892 – October 12, 1954) was a first baseman in Major League Baseball. He played for the New York Giants, Boston Braves, Philadelphia Phillies, and Cincinnati Reds. Holke holds the record for the most put-outs by ...
, 61, first baseman for the New York Giants, Boston Braves, Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds in part of 11 seasons spanning 1914–1925, who holds the record for the
most fielding chances by a player in a game with 43, 42
put-out
In baseball statistics, a putout (denoted by ''PO'' or ''Types of batted balls in baseball, fly out'' when appropriate) is awarded to a defensive player who (generally while in secure possession of the ball) records an out (baseball), out by one ...
s and one
assist
Assist or ASSIST may refer to:
Sports
Several sports have a statistic known as an "assist", generally relating to action by a player leading to a score by another player on their team:
*Assist (basketball), a pass by a player that facilitates a ba ...
during a 26-inning, 1–1 tie game between the Boston Braves and the Brooklyn Robins on May 1, 1920.
*October 14 –
Bill Swanson, 66, backup infielder for the 1914 Boston Red Sox.
*October 19 –
Dave Davenport, 64, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Terriers and St. Louis Browns from 1914 through 1919, who posted a 22-18 record and 2.20
ERA
An era is a span of time defined for the purposes of chronology or historiography, as in the regnal eras in the history of a given monarchy, a calendar era used for a given calendar, or the geological eras defined for the history of Earth.
Comp ...
while playing for the Terriers of the
Federal League
The Federal League of Base Ball Clubs, known simply as the Federal League, was an American professional baseball league that played its first season as a minor league in 1913 and operated as a "third major league", in competition with the e ...
in 1915, leading also the league in games (55),
starts (46),
complete game
In baseball, a complete game (CG) is the act of a pitcher pitching an entire game without the benefit of a relief pitcher. A pitcher who meets this criterion will be credited with a complete game regardless of the number of innings played—pitche ...
s (30),
shutout
In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball.
Shutouts are usuall ...
s (10),
strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is deno ...
s (229) and
inning
In baseball, softball, and similar games, an inning is the basic unit of play, consisting of two halves or frames, the "top" (first half) and the "bottom" (second half). In each half, one team bats until three outs are made, with the other team ...
s (392).
*October 19 –
Hugh Duffy
Hugh Duffy (November 26, 1866 – October 19, 1954) was an American outfielder and manager in Major League Baseball. He was a player or player-manager for the Chicago White Stockings, Chicago Pirates, Boston Reds, Boston Beaneaters, Milwaukee ...
, 87, Hall of Fame center fielder who batted a record .438 average in 1894, one of the top hitters of the 1890s that recorded more hits, home runs and runs batted in than any other player in the game, while also teaming with fellow Hall of Famer
Tommy McCarthy Thomas McCarthy (also Tom and Tommy) may refer to:
Academia
* Thomas A. McCarthy (born 1940), American professor of philosophy
* Thomas J. McCarthy (born 1956), American professor of polymer chemistry at the University of Massachusetts
* J. Thomas ...
to form the called ''Heavenly Twins'' outfield tandem for the
Boston Beaneaters
Boston (), officially the City of Boston, is the state capital and most populous city of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as well as the cultural and financial center of the New England region of the United States. It is the 24th- most po ...
, which captured two National League pennants and a pre-modern World Series Championship
in 1892 and 1893.
*October 21 –
Art Gardiner
Arthur Cecil Gardiner (December 26, 1899 – October 21, 1954) was a Major League Baseball pitcher who played in one game for the Philadelphia Phillies on September 25, .
On September 25, 1923, the Phillies were playing the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ga ...
, 54, pitcher who appeared in just one game with the Philadelphia Phillies in the 1923 season.
*October 22 –
Earl Whitehill
Earl Oliver Whitehill (February 7, 1899 – October 22, 1954) was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Detroit Tigers for the most significant portion of his career (1923–1932), and later with the Washington Senators (1933 ...
, 55, dominant left-handed pitcher with four teams from 1923 to 1939, while helping the Washington Senators win the American League pennant in 1933, whose 218 career wins ranks him
79th in Major League history.
November
*November 7 –
Art Bues
Arthur Frederick Bues was a Major League Baseball third baseman. He was born on March 3, 1888, in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. He batted and threw right-handed, weighed , and was . Bues was considered one of the best third basemen in the country during h ...
, 66, third baseman who played with the Boston Braves in the 1913 season and for the Chicago Cubs in 1914.
*November 7 –
Charlie Frisbee
Charles Augustus Frisbee (February 2, 1874 – November 7, 1954) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball. He played for the Boston Beaneaters and the New York Giants (NL), New York Giants of the National League (baseball), National League in ...
, 80, backup outfielder for the Boston Beaneaters and New York Giants between 1899 and 1900.
*November 20 –
Hod Fenner
Horace Alfred "Hod" Fenner (July 12, 1897 – November 20, 1954) was a pitcher in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Chicago. The White Sox co ...
, 57, pitcher who played for the Chicago White Sox in the 1921 season.
*November 21 –
Uel Eubanks
Uel Melvin Eubanks (born in Quinlan, Texas on February 14, 1903; died in Dallas, Texas, November 21, 1954) was a pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throws ("pitches") the baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher t ...
, 51, pitcher for the 1922 Chicago Cubs.
*November 22 –
Charlie Gibson
Charles deWolf Gibson (born March 9, 1943) is an American broadcast television anchor, journalist and podcaster. Gibson was a host of '' Good Morning America'' from 1987 to 1998 and again from 1999 to 2006, and the anchor of ''World News with Ch ...
, 75, catcher who played in 1905 for the Philadelphia Athletics.
*November 26 –
Bill Doak
William Leopold Doak (January 28, 1891 – November 26, 1954) was an American Major League Baseball pitcher who played for three teams between 1912 and 1929. He spent portions of 13 seasons with the St. Louis Cardinals. He was nicknamed "Spi ...
, 63, pitcher for three different clubs in a span of sixteen seasons from 1912–1929, eleven of them with the St. Louis Cardinals, who won 20 games in 1920 and twice led the National League in
ERA
An era is a span of time defined for the purposes of chronology or historiography, as in the regnal eras in the history of a given monarchy, a calendar era used for a given calendar, or the geological eras defined for the history of Earth.
Comp ...
in 1914 and 1921.
* November 27 –
Nick Maddox
Nicholas Maddox (November 9, 1886 – November 27, 1954) was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a right-handed pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates from 1907 through 1910. Maddox is one of the few pitcher ...
, 68, pitcher who posted a 43-20 record and 2.29
earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average (ERA) is the average of earned runs allowed by a pitcher per nine innings pitched (i.e. the traditional length of a game). It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number ...
from 1907–1910 for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who threw a two-hit, 14-
strikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout (or strike-out) occurs when a batter accumulates three strikes during a time at bat. It usually means that the batter is out. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters, and is deno ...
4–0
shutout
In team sports, a shutout ( US) or clean sheet ( UK) is a game in which one team prevents the other from scoring any points. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball.
Shutouts are usuall ...
in his debut against the St. Louis Cardinals, and later in the season hurled a 2–1
no-hitter
In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...
against the Brooklyn Superbas, becoming the youngest pitcher ever to throw a no-hitter in Major League history at the age of 20 years and ten months, which was also the first no-hit game ever thrown by a Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher.
*November 29 –
Al Lawson
Alfred James Lawson Jr. (born September 23, 1948) is an American businessman and politician who was the U.S. representative for Florida's 5th congressional district from 2017 to 2023. The district, which was eliminated following redistricting du ...
, 85, pitcher for the Boston Beaneaters and Pittsburgh Alleghenys during the 1890 season, who later went on to play a pioneering role in the U.S. aircraft industry.
December
*December 1 –
Kid O'Hara
James Francis "Kid" O'Hara (December 19, 1875 – December 1, 1954) was an outfielder in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball (MLB) is a professional baseball organization and the oldest major professional sports league in the wo ...
, 78, outfielder for the Boston Beaneaters in the 1904 season.
*December 4 –
Tony Madigan, 86, pitcher for the 1886 Washington Nationals of the National League.
*December 5 –
Russ Christopher
Russell Ormand Christopher (September 12, 1917 – December 5, 1954) was a professional baseball pitcher who played in Major League Baseball for seven seasons with the Philadelphia Athletics (1942-1947) and Cleveland Indians (1948). In 241 care ...
, 37, pitcher who played from 1942 through 1948 with the Philadelphia Athletics and Cleveland Indians, including the
1948 World Champion Indians.
*December 9 –
Bill McGowan
William Aloysius McGowan (January 18, 1896 – December 9, 1954) was an American umpire in Major League Baseball who worked in the American League from 1925 to 1954. McGowan founded the second umpire school in the United States. He was inducted ...
, 58, Hall of Fame American League
umpire
An umpire is an official in a variety of sports and competition, responsible for enforcing the rules of the sport, including sportsmanship decisions such as ejection.
The term derives from the Old French nonper, ''non'', "not" and ''per'', ...
who officiated over 30 years and worked in eight World Series, including a string of 2,541 consecutive games in which he did not miss a single inning between 1925 and 1942.
[''Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures'', 2008 Edition, p.42, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, ]
*December 11 –
Harry Courtney
Henry Seymour Courtney (born November 19, 1898 – December 11, 1954), was a professional baseball pitcher who played in the Major Leagues from – for the Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox.
He also played for the Washington Senato ...
, 56, who pitched from 1919 to 1922 for the Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox.
*December 17 –
Red Proctor, 54, pitcher who saw action in two games with the Chicago White Sox in 1923.
*December 19 –
Big Jeff Pfeffer
Francis Xavier "Big Jeff" Pfeffer (March 31, 1882 – December 19, 1954) was a Major League pitcher from 1905 to 1911. He threw a no-hitter in 1907. He was the older brother of Jeff Pfeffer.
Pfeffer attended the University of Illinois. He made ...
, 72, National League pitcher for the Chicago Cubs and the Boston Beaneaters/Doves/Rustlers teams, who pitched his way into baseball history by throwing a
no-hitter
In baseball, a no-hitter is a game in which a team was not able to record a hit. Major League Baseball (MLB) officially defines a no-hitter as a completed game in which a team that batted in at least nine innings recorded no hits. A pitcher wh ...
against the
Cincinnati Reds on May 8, 1907.
*December 31 –
Tom Raftery
Tom Raftery (born 15 August 1933) is an Irish former Fine Gael politician and university professor. He was elected to the European Parliament at the 1984 European election for the Munster constituency. He lost his seat at the 1989 European e ...
, 73, outfielder who appeared in eight games for the Cleveland Naps in the 1909 season.
Sources
External links
Major League Baseball official websiteMinor League Baseball official websiteBaseball Reference – 1954 MLB Season SummaryBaseball Almanac - Major League Baseball Players Who Were Born in 1954Baseball Almanac - Major League Baseball Players Who Died in 1954
{{DEFAULTSORT:1954 In Baseball