Baseball – 1953

Baseball in 1953

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January

January 8The Cleveland Indians bar night games with the Browns due to St. Louis owner Bill Veeck‘s refusal to share receipts of the telecasts.
January 17The Dodgers sell OF Andy Pafko to the Braves for Roy Hartsfield and $50‚000. The veteran Pafko hit .287 for Brooklyn and will up that by 10 points in Milwaukee.

Martin Aarjan Jole‚ a Dutch player‚ gets a tryout with a Reds farm club in Columbia‚ SC. The 22-year-old‚ reputed to be a power hitter‚ wrote to Rogers Hornsby‚ the new Reds manager‚ asking for a tryout.
January 19The Augusta‚ GA club (South Atlantic League) announces that it is changing its nickname from the Tigers to the Ikes, in honor of the current U.S. president Dwight D. (Ike) Eisenhower. When fans uniformly reject the name‚ team owners will again change it on February 9 to the Rams.
January 21The Hall of Fame passes over Joe DiMaggio in his first year of eligibility and elects P Dizzy Dean and OF Al Simmons to Cooperstown. Dean gathers 209 votes while Simmons’ total of 199 is one more than needed. Also joining DiMag‚ who finished 8th in the voting‚ are in order Bill Terry‚ Bill Dickey‚ Rabbit Maranville‚ Dazzy Vance‚ Ted Lyons‚ Chief Bender (9th) and Gabby Hartnett (10th). All will eventually make it.
January 22U.S. Immigration Commissioner Mackey warns that alien players who jump U.S. pro contracts face deportation under the McCarran-Walter Act.
January 27In another deal that GM Lane pulls over the protests of Paul Richards‚ the White Sox send slugging 1B Eddie Robinson along with OF Ed McGhee and SS Joe DeMaestri to the A’s for two-time batting champ Ferris Fain and infielder Robert Wilson.
January 28Owner Fred Saigh of the Cardinals is found guilty of income tax evasion and is sentenced to a 15-month jail term. He plans to sell the club. Cardinal Vice President W. Walsingham‚ Jr.‚ is the acting president until Saigh can divest himself of his stock.
January 30The Little League names Peter J. McGovern as its first full-time president. Its office is moved to Williamsport‚ PA.
January 31New York‚ Cleveland‚ and Boston retaliate at Bill Veeck‚ forcing the Browns to play afternoon games. Veeck takes his plan to the AL office to make them pay. The plan is rejected.

February

February 10The White Sox send pitchers Marv Grissom‚ Bill Kennedy and Hal Brown to the Red Sox for 33-year-old infielder Vern Stephens. A perennial All-Star in the 1940s‚ Stephens’ best years are behind him.
February 13The Athletics change the name of Shibe Park to Connie Mack Stadium‚ in honor of their longtime owner and manager.
February 16The Braves send 1B Earl Torgeson to the Phils for P Russ Meyer. They then send Meyer to Brooklyn for Rocky Bridges and Jim Pendleton‚ and complete the day’s activities by sending Bridges to the Reds for slugger Joe Adcock.

Ted Williams safely crash-lands his damaged Panther jet after flying a combat mission in Korea. The plane was hit by enemy fire.
February 17The Reds sell veteran Johnny Schmitz to the New York Yankees. It’s his 2nd time in pinstripes.
February 20August A. Busch buys the Cardinals from Fred Saigh for $3.75 million and pledges not to move the team from St. Louis.

The U.S. Court of Appeals rules that organized baseball is a sport and not a business‚ affirming the 25-year-old Supreme Court ruling. This effectively dismisses the antitrust suits of Jack Corbett and former Dodger farm hand Walter Kowalski. The $300‚000 suit of Corbett‚ the owner of the Texas League El Paso club‚ is based on his belief that he lost money when ML baseball prohibited him from signing several players suspended for participation in the Mexican League. Kowalski’s $150‚000 suit is based on the general principles of the antitrust and restraint-of-trade laws. Their lawyer in these cases is Frederic Johnson‚ who also represents Danny Gardella in his suit against ML baseball.

March

March 3The Boston Braves‚ who own the Milwaukee minor league franchise‚ block the Browns’ attempt to shift their franchise to Milwaukee. Lou Perini‚ Braves owner‚ invokes his territorial privilege‚ stating he has not been offered enough.
March 11Lou Perini‚ the owner of the Braves‚ proposes a ban on the move of any ML franchise to that of a minor league city until October 1st.
March 13The NL weighs the offer by the Braves to move its franchise to Milwaukee.

Baltimore Mayor Tom D’Alesandro reports that negotiations with Veeck are underway to move the Browns to Maryland.
March 14Mayor Joseph Darst of St. Louis vows to fight the move of the Browns to Baltimore.
March 16The AL rejects Veeck’s request to move the Browns to Baltimore because he is in control of the team. Spearheaded by Washington owner Clark Griffith‚ the vote is 6-2 against. The rejection is designed to force Veeck out of the AL.
March 17Veeck says that he will accept an offer of $2.475 million for his 80 percent of the stock. Baltimore Mayor D’Alesandro seeks a syndicate to buy Veeck out. The group will eventually purchase 206‚250 shares at $12 per share‚ a total purchase price of $2‚475‚000.

The Braves club gets the use of Milwaukee County Stadium at a low rental.
March 18The Boston Braves become the Milwaukee Braves‚ the first franchise shift in baseball since 1903 when Baltimore moved to New York. The Braves have been in Boston for 77 years. Milwaukee assumes Pittsburgh’s place in the Western Division for scheduling purposes and night games. The Brewers move to Toledo.
March 20Senator Edwin C. Johnson offers a bill to give clubs the sole right to ban radio-TV broadcasts of ML games in their own territory. The Antitrust Division of the Justice Department outlawed this practice in 1949. Johnson believes that it started the decline of baseball in small towns and cities throughout the country. His bill will restore the equity between large communities and the small areas.
March 24Larry Raines‚ on leave from military service‚ plays his first game for the Hankyu Braves. He will stay for the 1954 season‚ return in 1962‚ and will end his Japanese career with a batting average of .302.
March 25The Browns sign free agent Bob Elliott. The veteran third baseman will play just 48 games before being dealt to the White Sox.

April

April 4At San Diego‚ Hollywood (PCL) beats San Diego‚ 6-5‚ as Ted Beard of Hollywood drives in all the runs with 4 home runs.
April 5In the 6th inning of a PCL game against Hollywood‚ San Diego Padres OF Herb Gorman suffers a heart attack and dies on the way to the hospital. He was 2-for-2‚ both doubles‚ in the game before suffering the fatal blood clot. Gorman was 1-for-1 last year with the St. Louis Cards. The 2nd game of the DH is postponed (as noted by Joey Beretta).
April 9August Busch buys Sportsman’s Park for $800‚000 from Browns owner Bill Veeck. Busch gives a 5-year lease to the Browns‚ turning the tables in a manner of speaking‚ since the Cardinals had been tenants of the Browns since 1920. Busch initially renames the stadium Budweiser Park‚ but in response to protests about the commercialization of his ballpark‚ he renames Budweiser Park‚ Busch Stadium. The following season his company comes out with a new beer‚ Busch Bavarian Beer.

In an exhibition game at Forbes Field‚ Mickey Mantle crunches a Bill MacDonald curve and hits it over the RF roof‚ joining the Babe and Ted Beard as the only hitters to accomplish that since the upper deck was added in 1925. Ruth’s homer over the roof was the 714th and last of his career.

The Cincinnati club officially changes its name from Reds to Redlegs‚ in response to McCarthy era pressure. The name “Reds” will appear on the uniforms until 1956.
April 11At Fenway the Red Sox top the Milwaukee Braves‚ 4-1‚ before 9‚000‚ but the Braves receive more applause than the Sox. In thematch tomorrow the Braves will reverse today’s score.
April 13In Cincinnati‚ over 30‚000 see the Milwaukee Braves win their first game 2-0 behind Max Surkont‘s 3-hitter. Rookie Billy Bruton singles‚ steals 2B‚ and scores the 1st run.

Rain cancels the presidential opener in Washington with the Senators facing the Yankees.
April 14In a 3-2 victory‚ Braves Billy Bruton‚ generously listed as 24-years-old‚ hits the first ML HR in Milwaukee’s County Stadium‚ in the 10th inning off Gerry Staley of the Cards. Bruton had hit a triple and scored earlier in the game‚ but the Cards score a pair in the 9th off Spahn to tie. Bruton’s homer tips off Enos Slaughter‘s glove and is first ruled a double: Bruton won’t homer again for a year and a half. This is the first game for the home crowd since 1901 when the Milwaukee Brewers were charter members of the AL.

In the opener at Cleveland‚ Bob Lemon of the Indians one-hits the White Sox‚ 6-0. Minnie Minoso‘s single in the first is the only safety for Chicago. Jim Rivera almost breaks the shutout in the 2nd frame when he walks‚ steals 2B‚ reaches 3B on a ground out and is out at home on an attempted steal. Avila homers as does WP Lemon‚ both off Rogovin‚ who lasts 4 innings.

In Philadelphia‚ the A’s Alex Kellner shuts out the Yankees‚ 5-0‚ on five singles. Catcher Ray Murray and Allie Clark hit 5th inning HRs for the A’s. Vic Raschi pitches six innings and takes the loss.

In his first start for the Browns‚ Virgil Trucks fires a 4-hitter to stop his old team‚ the Tigers‚ 10-0. The loss goes to former Brownie‚ Ned Garver. The Opener‚ seen by 11‚804‚ is the first night opener in Browns history.
April 16Connie Ryan has 6 consecutive hits‚ but the Phils lose 14-12 to Pittsburgh. The Phillies score 9 runs in the top of the 5th‚ and the Pirates come back with 6 in the bottom to tie the NL record for runs in the inning. Ryan will be 5-for-5 against the Bucs on the 26th.

In the home opener at Comiskey‚ lefty Billy Pierce of the White Sox throws a one-hitter against the Browns. Bobby Young‘s double in the 7th is the only St. Louis safety in the 1-0 shutout. Young also had the lone hit last year against Feller. In his Browns debut‚ Harry Brecheen allows the White Sox just 2 hits in losing.

At Washington‚ President Dwight Eisenhower tosses out the first ball and then watches as the Senators lose‚ 6-3‚ to the Yankees in a scheduled day-night DH. The night game is canceled because of cold weather. Sain is the winner over Bob Porterfield.
April 17In New York’s 7-3 win‚ Mickey Mantle clouts the longest HR in Griffith Stadium history‚ a 565-feet shot off lefty Chuck Stobbs of the Washington Senators. The 5th inning blow‚ with Berra on first base‚ clears the stadium in left center‚ just ticking off the huge Ballantine scoreboard‚ standing 60 feet higher than the grand stand bleachers. The ball lands in the backyard of Perry Cool‚ a block away from the ball park. The Mick adds a stolen base to his day’s total.

The Milwaukee Braves drop their first game‚ losing 10-9 to the Reds. Rookie Billy Bruton has 3 hits for the Braves‚ and is 8-for-14 for the short season.

With the temperature at 36 degrees in St. Louis‚ the Browns edge the White Sox‚ 6-4.
April 18The White Sox collect 4 hits‚ one more than the Indians‚ but the 2 teams combine for 26 walks‚ 4 short of the ML record set on May 9‚ 1916. Six errors and 2 HBP indicate something was in the air. Sox win 7-6.

The Browns sweep a pair from the Tigers‚ winning 8-7 in 11 innings and 3-2 in Detroit. Vic Wertz ties the opener‚ 6-6‚ with a 2-out 2 strike 3-run homer in the 9th. Rookie Don Larsen makes his ML debut in the opener‚ and at the plate is 2-for-2‚ without the decision. Larsen will later have a streak of 7 straight hits.
April 19Alex Kellner of the A’s blanks the Yankees‚ 3-0 on 2 hits. Kellner shut out the Bombers on Opening Day and is the first pitcher to shutout New York on consecutive starts since Schoolboy Rowe in 1934.
April 20At Boston first baseman Dick Gernert raps 3 homers in a twin sweep of the Senators‚ 4-2 and 11-4. He hits 2 homers in the a.m. Patriot’s Day game‚ the home opener in Boston‚ then another + 3-run double off the CF flagpole in the afternoon game. Parnell runs his record to 19-3 vs. Washington in the opener. McDermott beats Porterfield in the p.m. game.
April 22Making his first start since breaking his finger March 16‚ Hank Sauer hits a HR‚ triple and single off Max Surkont‚ but the Brave still beat the Cubs‚ 15-6. Eddie Mathews has a double and a pair of homers‚ good for 6 RBIs. Jack Dittmar homers and Sid Gordon follows Mathews 2nd HR with another round tripper.

The Giants Bobby Hofman‚ subbing at 3B‚ hits a single‚ double and 2 HRs to give Jim Hearn his 12th straight win over the Pirates‚ 4-2. Hearn last lost to the Bucs‚ September 7‚ 1948.

The Red Sox sell veteran Clyde Vollmer back to the Senators.
April 23At Yankee Stadium‚ Mantle breaks a 3-3 with a two out 9th-inning three-run homer off Red Sox relief ace Ellis Kinder.
April 24Jackie Robinson walks twice in the 6th inning‚ as the Dodgers score 6 runs en route to a 12-4 pasting of the Giants.
April 25Browns pinch hitter Dick Kryhoski belts a grand slam off Chicago reliever Harry Dorish‚ but it is not enough as the Browns lose 6-4. Nellie Fox has a 2-run dinger for the Chisox.
April 26Feasting again on Pirates pitching‚ the Phillies Connie Ryan goes 5-for-5 in a 7-5 win in the first game of a doubleheader. Robin Roberts celebrates his “Day” with a win. The ace is given a Cadillac and other gifts by Delaware fans. The Phils take the nitecap‚ 8-1‚ behind Karl Drews to stretch the league leaders win streak to 8 games.
April 28A wild fight occurs after Browns Clint “Scrap Iron” Courtney lines a ball off the wall and comes into to 2B spikes high on Phil Rizzuto in the 10th inning in St. Louis. In the brawl‚ umpire John Stevens dislocates his collarbone. Six players are fined for their actions. Courtney retaliated after being knocked over in the top of the 10th when Gil McDougald scored the go-ahead run in an eventual 7-6 Yankee win. New York took a 5-0 lead on a 3-run homer by Mantle off Bob Cain in the 3rd‚ a moon shot that cleared the LF wall of the newly renamed Busch Stadium. The Browns tie the game at 6-6 to set the stage for the brawl that ends with a shower of bottles from angry fans. Outside the stadium‚ the Yankees need a police escort to board their bus. Courtney will be fined $250 for the fisticuffs‚ with five other players receiving lesser fines. The total of $850 in fines is the most ever for a brawl.
April 29Joe Adcock becomes the first ML player to homer into the CF bleacher seats in the Polo Grounds‚ over 475 feet away. His homer in the 3rd‚ with Pafko on‚ comes off a Jim Hearn fast ball. Luke Easter‚ in a 1948 Negro League game‚ and Schoolboy Rowe‚ in batting practice before a 1933 exhibition game‚ also accomplished the feat. Lou Brock and Hank Aaron will match it is as well in 1962. The Braves win the game 3-2 on a 9th-inning knuckler by Hoyt Wilhelm that eludes Sal Yvars for a wild pitch. Billy Bruton’s perfect throw cuts down Monte Irvin for the final out. After the game‚ manager Charlie Grimm buys Adcock’s homer for $25 from the fan who caught it.

An 11th inning double by Billy Johnson‚ along with an error‚ allows the Cards to beat the first-place Phils‚ 1-0. Curt Simmons is the loser‚ despite allowing just three hits. Joe Presko pitches 9.1 innings‚ with Al Brazle the winner.
April 30The Little-Bigger League changes its name to the Babe Ruth League.

At Chicago‚ the Yankees beat the White Sox‚ 6-1‚ as Mantle takes Gene Bearden deep. The ball might not have cleared the fence except for a fan’s interference‚ and Paul Richards protestations about it earn him a shower. Bill Renna adds his first ML homer‚ a triple‚ and single to back Whitey Ford.

At the Polo Grounds‚ the Giants Sal Maglie stops the Braves‚ 1-0‚ as Bobby Thomson’s 9th inning 280-foot homer off Vern Bickford is the only score. Thomson’s clout hits the screen on the LF foul pole.

May

May 1The Pirates defeat the Reds‚ 8-3‚ for their 3rd win in a row‚ their longest win streak since August 24-26‚ 1951. Bonus baby Paul Pettit is the winner in his first ML start‚ with relief help. It’ll prove to be his only ML win. Pete Castiglione has 2 HRs and a single.

The U.S. Court of Appeals denies the $450‚000 suit of former pitcher Boyd Tepler made in 1951 against organized baseball‚ the Cubs‚ and William Wrigley for an arm injury suffered in 1944. He had contended that negligent coaching‚ in effect‚ ended his career prematurely.
May 2Pirates OF Carlos Bernier hits 3 consecutive triples in a 12-4 win over the Redlegs‚ the Corsairs 4th straight win. Bernier adds a single and a stolen base. Kiner and Jim Greengrass match homers. In a stretch of 11 at bats‚ Carlos will hit 4 triples‚ 2 doubles‚ and 2 singles.
May 3Johnny Lindell‚ the converted outfielder‚ pitches the Pirates to their 5th straight win‚ beating the Cards‚ 6-2. Lindell drives in the 4th run with a double to beat Harvey Haddix and earn his first win since 1942.
May 4Busch Stadium bans bottles from the park during a game due to fans tossing soda bottles during a 7-6 Browns loss to the Yankees on April 28th. Meanwhile‚ at Pittsburgh‚ the Cards Vinegar Bend Mizell shuts out the Bucs‚ 5-0.
May 5Pitcher Bob Porterfield of the Senators hits his first ML homer‚ a 4th inning grand slam off Bill Wight of Detroit‚ and the Nats add six more in the 8th to roll to a 14-4 win.

In Cleveland‚ the Yanks send 13 batters to the plate in the 4th and score 8 to roll to an 11-1 win over Bob Lemon. Winner Whitey Ford scores two runs and is lifted in the 8th after Wally Westlake spoils his shutout with a homer. The loss drops the Indians a half game behind the leading Yanks.
May 6Bobo Holloman of the St. Louis Browns pitches a no-hitter in his first ML start-his 5th appearance‚ only the 3rd rookie to do so‚ in a 6-0 win over the A’s Morris Martin. Bobo also drives home three runs on a pair of singles‚ his only 2 ML hits. Within 3 months he will be out of the majors for good‚ the winner of just 3 games‚ the fewest by a no-hit pitcher.

The NY Giants tie the NL record for the fewest number of assists in a 9-inning game with just one‚ in a 8-5 win over Chicago. Al Corwin takes the win over Bob Kelly.
May 8After 13 straight losses to New York‚ the Red Sox win a dramatic 11-inning 2-1 thriller at Fenway. Billy Goodman‘s homer off starter Sain gives starter Brown the win. Gernert’s 2nd inning HR is the other Boston score. In Boston’s last win over New York‚ August 9‚ 1952‚ all the scores came on solo homers.
May 9At Boston‚ the first place Yanks beat the Red Sox‚ 6-4. Mantle hits one homer off Bill Werle and is robbed of another when Jimmy Piersall makes a sensational catch at the Sox bullpen in right-center field.
May 10Pittsburgh IF Eddie and Johnny O’Brien become the first twins to play for the same team in the same game‚ when Johnny enters the nitecap of a Giants game on defense and Eddie later pinch runs. But the Giants take the twinbill‚ 4-0‚ behind Sal Maglie‘s 3-hitter‚ and 3-2. In game 2‚ Jim Hearn comes within 2 outs of his 13th straight over the Pirates‚ but falters and Hiller wins in relief. Bobby Hofman‘s pinch HR in the 9th wins it.

Behind Billy Loes and Roy Campanella the Dodgers move into first place with 5-0 win over the Phillies. Loes tosses his only shutout of the year‚ while Campy drives in all 5 runs with a double and homer. Campanella collects 44 RBIs in his first 30 games: not until Tino Martinez in 1997‚ will anyone else reach 40 in the first 30.

Vic Raschi makes his 1st relief appearance in 2 years‚ limiting the Red Sox to 3 hits in 4 innings‚ as the Yankees win‚ 7-4. Billy Goodman sustains a freak rib accident‚ which will keep him out of action for 3 weeks‚ when Piersall picks him up and lugs him from the field to break up Goody’s argument with umpire Duffy. Del Wilber hits his 2nd consecutive pinch homer in the 8th; his first came on May 6th.
May 12Whitey Ford of the New York Yankees allows only rival pitcher Early Wynn‘s infield single in the 6th in beating the Indians 7-0. New York increases its lead to 2 games over the 2nd-place Indians.

In Boston‚ P Ellis Kinder walks 2 White Sox batters in the 10th inning‚ and they come around to score. The Red Sox lose 9-7‚ Kinder’s first loss to Chicago after 18 straight victories‚ stretching back to June 24‚ 1948. His 18 straight wins over one club is a Red Sox record.

After 10 straight losses to Bobby Shantz going back to May 15‚ 1951‚ the Browns top the A’s lefty‚ 7-3. Rookie Don Larsen‚ with 7+ innings of relief and an RBI triple‚‚ is the winner.

At age 36‚ Red Sox outfielder Dom “the Little Professor” DiMaggio retires. The younger DiMaggio hit .294 last year‚ but had just three pinch-hitting appearances this year.

The White Sox pick up P Sandy Consuegra from the Senators for cash. Consuegra‚ who had winning seasons in each of his 3 years with Washington‚ will post a 16-3 record in 1954 and pitch in the All-Star game.
May 13The Senators pick up Johnny Schmitz on waivers from the Yankees.
May 15At St. Louis‚ the Cardinals pound Preacher Row for 6 runs in the 2nd enroute to a 9-3 win over the Dodgers. It is the Cards first win against Roe after 10 straight losses: they last beat him August 28‚ 1950. Last night they beat Erskine after losing 7 straight to the lefty.
May 16At Yankee Stadium‚ White Sox lefty pitcher Tommy Byrne pinch-hits for slugger Vern Stephens and hits a grand slam off Yankees reliever Ewell Blackwell to climax a 5-run 9th inning and give Chicago the 5-3 win. Stephens has 10 career grand slams: Byrne now has two.

After the Braves’ Billy Bruton’s leadoff single in the first‚ Phillies P Curt Simmons retires the next 27 batters to win‚ 3-0 at Milwaukee. The loss snaps the Braves six-game win streak.
May 17In a 10-inning 6-5 win over the visiting Browns‚ the Yanks and Browns use 41 players to set a new ML record. New York uses 23. The 3 hr.: 33 minute game necessitates the nite game being called after 3 1/2 scoreless innings. The Browns jump on Whitey Ford‚ threatening to hand the lefty his first defeat ever as a starter‚ but 3 relievers bail him out. Don Larsen goes 9 1/3 for the Browns‚ with Blyzka losing.

In the first game of a doubleheader‚ the Reds outslug the Dodgers‚ 13-5. In game 2‚ Carl Erskine of the Dodgers allows only one hit-Gus Bell’s 6th-inning bunt single-in a 10-0 victory over the Redlegs.
May 18Redlegs P Bud Podbielan walks 13 batters in 10 innings against Brooklyn‚ but holds on to win 2-1 on a Ted Kluszewski homer off starter Preacher Roe. No one has walked 13 in the NL since 1918. The Dodgers strand 18 against the former Dodger pitcher‚ tying the NL mark.

The Tigers and Red Sox split a pair‚ with Detroit winning the opener 5-2 behind Ned Garner. Walt Dropo has a single‚ double and triple against his old teammates. His first inning single‚ off the Green monster‚ drives in his AL-leading 26th run. The Sox win the nitecap‚ 8-5 behind Mel Parnell (5-0) and Ellis Kinder.
May 19At Milwaukee‚ the Dodgers down the Braves‚ 4-1‚ before a crowd of 36‚439‚ the largest paid attendance for any sports event in Milwaukee history. The Braves have drawn 279‚227 for 12 home dates‚ surpassing last year’s attendance in Boston.
May 20Paced by Red Schoendienst‘s 6 RBIs‚ on a HR‚ 2 doubles‚ and a single‚ the Cards sink the Pirates 11-6. Solly Hemus scores 5 runs for the Birds‚ as Joe Presko beats Bob Friend.
May 21At Fenway‚ Bosox C Del Wilber hits his 3rd pinch homer of the year‚ this one a 14th inning solo homer to beat the reliever Don Larsen and the Browns‚ 3-2. Former Red Sox Don Lenhardt takes Skinny Brown downtown with a CF shot just left of the flagpole and the last upright of the screen.
May 22Yanks OF Irv Noren ends the game by lining back to P Bob Porterfield‚ who starts a triple play‚ as the Senators beat the Yankees 12-4. The Nats score five in the 1st inning off Allie Reynolds. Washington tallies 18 hits including a 3-run homer and 2-run double by Clyde Vollmer. Johnny Mize hits pinch single in the 9th‚ his 5th pinch single in a row‚ breaking a mark set by Cleveland’s Les Fleming in 1947. Mize has had a walk and been hit by a pitch in his last 7 pinch appearances.

The Red Sox add two more 3-2 wins to move within 2 1/2 games of the Yankees. Unbeaten Mel Parnell wins his 6th in the opener as George Kell homers and singles in the winner. The Red Sox take the nitecap in 12 innings as Freeman beats Carl Scheib.
May 24A year and 3 days after scoring 15 runs in an inning‚ the Dodgers explode again. Against the Phillies they score 12 runs in the 8th inning before making an out. Their two bases-loaded triples in the 8th ties a ML record for a game and sets it for an inning. The half inning takes 44 minutes to play. The final score is 16-2.
May 25The Yankees and Red Sox play the longest 9-inning game to date‚ lasting 3 hours and 52 minutes. Boston lefty Mickey McDermott take 2 hours‚ 45 minutes to pitch 6 of the innings‚ as Boston outlasts New York‚ 14-10. Mantle hits an opposite field homer off McDermott.

Ralph Kiner becomes just the 12th player to hit 300 HRs with a blast at Forbes Field against the Giants. He has played only 7 1?3 seasons. The Giants win anyway‚ 6-3.

Russ Meyer of the Dodgers is fined $100 and suspended 3 days for obscene gestures and abusive language picked up by TV close-ups. NL President Warren Giles and Commissioner Ford Frick oppose dugout shots by TV cameras.

The U.S. Supreme Court announces that it will review all the antitrust suits under the Sherman Act with regard to baseball‚ with the focal point being the reserve clause.

Max Surkont of the Braves fans 8 Reds in a row‚ establishing a new ML mark‚ as the Braves win 10-3 in game 2 of a doubleheader. Surkont strikes out 7 in a row before rain delays the game and then he strikes out Andy Seminick to start the 5th. Surkont fans 13 on the way to his 6th straight win. The Braves take the opener‚ 5-1‚ behind Don Liddle.
May 27Eddie Lopat beats the Senators for the 8th straight time as he allows 3 hits in a 3-1 Yankee win. Collins‚ Martin‚ and Berra hit solo homers for New York. Vernon has a pair of hits to extend his hitting streak to 20 games. The win starts the Yankees on an 18-game winning streak‚ the 3rd longest AL streak of the century.
May 28Bob Elliott drives in 6 runs-4 on a grand slam-to lead the Browns to a 7-5 win over the Indians. Paige picks up his 2nd save in 2 nights.

Steve Bilko ties his 2nd ML record in less than 24 hours. Bilko struck out 5 times in a row at Cincy last night‚ and today hits a record-tying 2 doubles (last done by the Braves Thorpe last season) in Cards 10-run 4th inning against the Braves. Gerry Staley still needs help in the 9th to win‚ 11-7.
May 293B Bob Elliott lines a double in the Browns 6-run 11th inning‚ as they beat the Tigers 11-5. For Elliot it is his 2‚000th ML hit. Harry Brecheen (1-6) wins his first.
May 30Boston and Washington split a doubleheader‚ with Boston taking the opener‚ 4-3. Maurie McDermott win his 5th game in the opener‚ though he goes 0-for-3 while batting 6th. The Senators take the nitecap‚ breaking a 1-1 9th inning tie when Wayne Terwilliger‘s pop fly with the bases loaded falls in front of CF Jimmy Piersall for an error‚ The Senators win‚ 2-1. Attendance is 16‚000 as baseball draws 175‚000 total today.

June

June 3Congress cites the research of New York City librarian Robert Henderson in proving that Alexander Cartwright “founded” baseball and not Abner Doubleday. His 1947 book Bat‚ Ball and Bishop documents Cartwright’s contributions to the origins of the game of baseball.
June 4After batting practice at Forbes Field the Pirates and Cubs announce a shocking trade. Pittsburgh sends slugger Ralph Kiner‚ along with C Joe Garagiola‚ P Howie Pollet‚ and OF Catfish Metkovich to Chicago for C Toby Atwell‚ P Bob Schultz‚ 1B Preston Ward‚ 3B George Freese‚ OF Bob Addis‚ OF Gene Hermanski‚ and $150‚000. The Pirates defeat the Cubs‚ 6-1‚ with Kiner getting a double in four at bats for the Cubs.

Phillies P Curt Simmons cuts off part of his left big toe with a power lawn mower. He will not make a pitching start for a month‚ but will still win 16 games.

At Chicago‚ Mantle’s homer in the 4th‚ off Billy Pierce‚ gives the Yankees a 5-0 lead‚ but Chicago comes back to tie. Mick’s leadoff single in the 10th inning ignites a New York rally‚ and they win 9-5.
June 5The Giants use a Caribbean battery in their 11-1 win over the Cubs. Cuban Ray Noble is behind the plate while Puerto Rican Ruben Gomez is on the mound. Gomez drives in 2 runs as well as picking up the win.

The Yankees beat up on rookie Bobo Holloman‚ beating the Browns‚ 5-0. Mantle’s two-run centerfield homer at Sportsman’s Park is the big blow for New York‚ and extends Mickey’s hitting streak to ten games.

Gus Bell hits 2 homers and a double to pace the Reds to a 7-4 win over Pittsburgh. Herm Wehmeier posts his only 1953 win.
June 6The Pirates score 6 runs in the 8th to tie the Reds‚ 7-7‚ but Cincinnati notches 8 runs in the top of the 9th to win‚ 15-7. Gridder Vic Janowicz makes his O.B. debut behind the plate‚ but leaves in the 5th after being bowled over by Seminick.
June 9The refusal of the NL owners to allow the Pirates to remove Greenberg Gardens after the trade of Ralph Kiner proves a boon to the Bucs in their 7-4 win over the Cards. Eddie Pellagrini belts a 3-run pinch HR into the shortened gardens in the 8th‚ and P Dick Hall lofts a solo shot in the 4th into the same spot.
June 10RF Jimmy Piersall of the Red Sox goes 6-for-6 (5 singles-3 infield-and a double) against 5 different pitchers to tie a ML mark in a 11-2 win over the Browns in the first game of a doubleheader. The Sox welcome Lanier to the AL by handing him his first loss. Piersall is hitless in game 2‚ a 3-2 Sox win‚ and gets decked by Satchel Paige. Piersall made fun of Satchel during a game last year.
June 11Behind the pitching of Jim McDonald and Allie Reynolds‚ first-place New York beats Detroit 6-3 to run their win streak to 14 games. New York gets a game winner from Mantle off Art Houtteman that crowns the roof in right center at Detroit. Mantle has now hit in 16 straight games‚ but will go hitless tomorrow‚ when he pulls a thigh muscle. Hitting .353 at the end of today‚ Mantle will hit just .255 the rest of the year. The Yankees get another tape-measure blast when Joe Collins hits a 2-out 7th inning homer that lands on the 98-foot high press box over the 370-foot sign.
June 12The Cubs acquire Cub-killer Bubba Church‚ winner of his last 10 decisions versus Chicago‚ from the Reds for P Fred Baczewski and Bob Kelly.
June 13The Yankees overwhelm the Indians‚ 9-4‚ for their 16th straight win. The Tribe now trails by 8 1/2 lengths. Eddie Lopat is on his way to his 7th straight win when the Yankees rout Bob Feller in the 4th inning‚ running the ace’s record to 29-37 versus New York‚ the only team against whom he has a losing record.

The Braves score a run in the 9th to trip the Pirates‚ 5-4‚ and tie for the lead with the idle Dodgers. Lew Burdette‚ in relief of Warren Spahn wins his 5th game‚ defeating Paul LaPalme.
June 14White Sox hurlers Billy Pierce and Sandy Consuegra throw shutouts at the Red Sox in a doubleheader‚ winning 6-0 and 1-0. Pierce’s gem is a 2-hitter. Chicago also picks up 2 players from the Browns‚ getting veterans 3B Bob Elliott and P Virgil Trucks for P Lou Kretlow‚ C Darrell Johnson‚ and $75‚000. St. Louis had obtained Trucks only 6 months ago from Detroit.

The Yankees sweep the Indians 6-2 and 3-0 before 74‚708 to extend their winning streak to 18 games. Berra paces the pinstripers with a homer in the opener and a triple in game 2. New York has now won 18 straight and leads the Indians by 10 1/2 games.

At Brooklyn‚ the Cubs Ralph Kiner belts a 2-out 9th inning grand slam to tie the Brooks‚ 6-6. The game is called after 9 because of darkness. The Dodgers win the opener‚ 6-3‚ but the tie drops them out a deadlock for 1st place with the Braves. Kiner’s slam is his 12th‚ tying him with Hornsby for the NL record.

The Phils and Reds split a pair at Philadelphia‚ with the Reds managing just 4 hits off Robin Roberts in the opener‚ but winning‚ 2-1. Ken Raffensberger is the winner. Grady Hatton hits a leadoff homer off Roberts (10-4)‚ and adds a HR in the nitecap‚ a 4-1 win by Karl Drews. Phils 2B Connie Ryan plays the entire 18 innings without a putout‚ tying a ML mark.
June 15The Tigers trade pitchers Art Houtteman and Bill Wight‚ C Joe Ginsberg‚ and infielder Owen Friend to Cleveland for 3B Ray Boone and pitchers Steve Gromek‚ Al Aber‚ and Dick Weik. Weik developed a sore arm in spring training and has not yet made an appearance.

The Braves drop to second place behind the idle Dodgers when reliever Lew Burdette plunks Danny O’Connell to force in the winning run. The Pirates win 4-3 in the 10th inning‚ as Cal Abrams tallies the winner. Bob Friend goes all the way for his first win in his last 8 decisions‚ beating Earl Wilson.

The Giants sell catcher Sal Yvars to the Cards for $30‚000‚ then beat the Redbirds‚ 3-2. Some of the Giants don’t know Yvars is gone till they see him in a Redbirds uniform. Jim Hearn is the winner for New York‚ giving up 6 hits including a Solly Hemus homer.
June 16With relief help from Satchel Paige‚ Duane Pillette of the Browns ends the Yankee win streak at 18 games and the Browns team record 14-game losing streak with a 3-1 victory at Yankee Stadium (The 14 straight losses ties the team record). Johnny Mize becomes the 93rd player in baseball history to get 2‚000 hits when he singles in the lone Yankee run in the 5th.
June 17The Red Sox wallop Detroit‚ 17-1‚ collecting 20 hits. Dick Gernert has two homers and four RBIs‚ while Tom Umphlett and Billy Goodman combine for 7 hits to beat Dick Marlowe. The Tigers finally score in the 9th to stop Willard Nixon‘s consecutive streak of 21 innings without allowing a run.
June 18Red Sox rookie OF Gene Stephens becomes the only AL player to get 3 hits in the same inning‚ as Boston tallies 17 runs in the 7th inning in a 23-3 romp over Detroit. The Red Sox send 23 to the plate in the 7th‚ getting 14 hits and 6 walks‚ 20 runners in succession‚ before 3B George Kell flies out to end it. Steve Gromek‚ making his first appearance for Detroit‚ Dick Weik and Earl Harrist are the offending Tiger pitchers‚ but the loss goes to Ned Garver‚ who exits before the 7th. Ellis Kinder picks up the win‚ and contributes two singles and 2 RBI in the big inning‚ the second time that Kinder has accomplished this: he was hitless last year. Dick Gernert and Walt Dropo hit the only homers for Boston‚ but the Red Sox set a slew of records‚ including the following:

in an inning: most hits (14); most runs (17); most batters reaching 1B (20)

tied the ML record for an inning: most batters facing a pitcher (23); most batters facing a pitcher 3 times (5); most batters reaching 1B (3); most singles (11); most runs in an inning (3‚ by Sammy White).

At Yankee Stadium‚ Ed Lopat and Jim McDonald of the Yanks shut out the hapless St. Louis Browns 5-0 and 3-0 in a doubleheader. Mantle cracks a two-run HR in the opener‚ off Bob Cain‚ for all the scoring Lopat needs.
June 21In the opener of a twinbill‚ Mantle hits a first inning homer‚ off Hal Newhouser‚ to break out of his hitting slump. The Yanks win 6-3 and Mantle will add another four hits on the afternoon‚ but the Yankees will lose game 2 by a score of 10-3. This loss is the first in a streak of nine straight.
June 22Senators C Ed Fitzgerald pulls off an unassisted DP against Cleveland in a in the first game of a doubleheader. The Tribe win both games by the same 5-2 scores as Lemon‚ Doby‚ and Mitchell smash HRs in the 6th of the nitecap. Doby also homers in the opener. Lemon wins the nitecap‚ beating Masterson‚ who had a string of 22 straight scoreless innings.
June 23At Chicago‚ the Yanks lose to the White Sox‚ 11-3. Mantle starts the scoring in the first when he muscles an inside pitch from Virgil Trucks for a home run‚ but the Yanks do little more.

Grady Hatton‘s 2-run pinch homer in the 9th gives the Reds a 3-2 win over the Dodgers.
June 24The Braves add $20‚000 bonus baby Joey Jay to their roster. The 18-year-old pitcher is the first Little League player to make it to the majors.

The Dodgers get beat in the 9th again as Gus Bell hits a 3-run homer to give the Reds a 7-4 win.
June 25White Sox manager Paul Richards uses ML-record 5 first basemen in beating the Yankees 4-2. He brings in Harry Dorish to face 2 batters‚ moving lefty pitcher Billy Pierce to 1B. The combined 6 first baseman in a game sets a ML mark. The Sox 3-game sweep still leaves New York 9 games up on the Indians and 9 1?2 on Chicago.

The Dodgers pound the Reds‚ 12-3‚ hitting 5 home runs in the process.
June 27The White Sox beat the Red Sox‚ pinning the loss on reliever Ellis Kinder. It is Kinder’s 3rd loss in three games; he lost to Cleveland on the 25th and 26th. In his 3 appearances‚ “Ol Folks” pitches just 4 2/3 innings.

The Reds drop 10 runs on the Pirates in the 7th inning to sink the Bucs‚ 15-5.
June 30Braves slugger Eddie Mathews has 5 straight hits in a 10 inning 6-4 win over the Redlegs.

At New York‚ the Pirates get a leadoff inside-the-park homer from Cal Abrams and go on to beat the Giants‚ 3-1. Murry Dickson wins the 6-hitter over Preston Gomez.

July

July 1Boston’s Mel Parnell shuts out the Yanks‚ 4-0‚ for his 100th career win. The lefty becomes the 5th pitcher to win 100 games in a Red Sox uniform (Young‚ Wood‚ Grove‚ Dobson).

The Red Sox send P Marv Grissom to the Giants for cash. Grissom will win 10 games in 1954 and stay with the Giants for 5 years. He will also team up in 1954 with his nephew Jim Davis‚ the first time this has happened.
July 5At Pittsburgh‚ the Phils’ Robin Roberts shuts out the Pirates 2-0 for his 28th consecutive complete game over 2 seasons. Roberts double in the 10th inning helps him post his 13th win. It’s also his 13th straight win over Pittsburgh going back to August 26‚ 1950. The Pirates lead in the nitecap‚ 7-0‚ in a game halted by curfew‚ in the 7th.

The Giants overwhelm the Dodgers with 16 hits‚ including 5 homers‚ to win‚ 20-6. Hank Thompson clouts two homers‚ good for 7 runs‚ Alvin Dark hits a 3-run homer in the 2nd‚ and Bobby Thomson legs out an inside-the-park homer. Spencer’s homer in the 7th‚ his team-high 14th‚ completes the scoring‚ and Maglie coasts home the winner over Clem Labine. The loss leaves the Dodgers a game and a half ahead of Milwaukee.

The Cubs win the opener with the Reds‚ 8-4‚ then lose a slugfest‚ 8-6. Bubba Church wins the opener‚ allowing two hits through 8 innings. The Cubs hit 4 homers in the nitecap‚ including two by Ralph Kiner‚ and one by Bill Serena and Hank Sauer. Andy Seminick answers for the Reds in the 5-run 7th inning. Clyde King wins over Johnny Klippstein. Dutch Leonard‚ who relieves in both games‚ is honored in between games and receives a Cadillac and other gifts.
July 6The Giants Al Worthington shuts out the Pirates 6-0 in his first ML start.

In Philadelphia‚ the Yankees break out of their slump (4-11) by sweeping the A’s. New York wins the opener‚ 10-5‚ when Mantle follows walks to Martin‚ Rizzuto‚ and Johnny Sain with a pinch grand slam in the 6th. The ball clears the roof in left-center field of Connie Mack Stadium (Shibe Park) and is never found. Lefty Frank Fanovich serves up what proves to be Mickey’s only career pinch slam.
July 7The Browns set the ML mark for consecutive home defeats‚ as they drop their 20th in succession‚ 6-3 to the Indians. The streak dates back to June 3rd.

In Philadelphia‚ the bus carrying the Yankees to the train station is involved in an accident‚ and Allie Reynolds injures his back. He will suffer chronic pain as a result.

The Dodgers establish a new NL record by hitting a HR in their 21st consecutive game‚ sweeping a pair from the Pirates‚ 5-4 and 9-5. Hodges‚ Snider and Robinson go deep in the opener‚ while game 2 features a pair of HRs by Billy Cox and a dinger from Preacher Roe. It is Roe’s only homer in his O.B. career. Preston Ward has a game 1 homer‚ a grand slam‚ while Frank Thomas hit a 3-run HR in game 2‚ both coming in the 9th.
July 8Cardinals rookie 3B Ray Jablonski goes 5-for-5 against the Reds in a 7-2 win.

In the White Sox 14-4 win over the Tigers‚ teenager Al Kaline records his first hit‚ a single off Luis Aloma.

At Pittsburgh‚ Monte Irvin hits a 3-run double in the 1st inning and finishes with a grand slam in the 11th to power the Giants to a 10-7 win over the Bucs. The win goes to Jansen after starter Jim Hearn fails in his bid to win his 13th straight over Pittsburgh.
July 9Robin Roberts is lifted after giving up 2 runs in the 8th inning to Brooklyn‚ the first time in 29 games he has failed to go the distance. Bob Miller relieves Roberts and picks up a win‚ 6-5‚ for the Phils. Roberts completed his last 8 starts in 1952 and his first 20 in 1953. Reliever Jim Hughes is the loser.
July 10The Red Sox beat the A’s‚ 3-2‚ in the 12th when Mariano Fricano walks Jim Piersall with the sacks full. Piersall’s homer in the 9th ties the game. Ellis Kinder is the winner.

The first-place Dodgers set an NL record by hitting a HR in their 24th straight game‚ with this roundtripper by Roy Campanella coming off the Giants Sal Maglie. The Bums have hit 39 HRs in the streak. The homer is the only run Maglie allows‚ besting the Dodgers‚ 6-1‚ for New York’s 7th win in a row. Maglie is 18-3 against the Dodgers since returning from the Mexican League.

The Pirates and Phils combine for 10 errors‚ but the Phils find Pirate hurling for 12 hits in a 13-3 thrashing. Curt Simmons wins over Murry Dickson.

The Dodgers waive pitcher Ralph Branca‚ to the Tigers. Branca‚ who appeared in just 7 games this year‚ never recovered from an off-season pelvic injury.
July 11In his 2nd ML start‚ Al Worthington shuts out Brooklyn 6-0 for his 2nd shutout. Worthington stops the Dodgers’ consecutive-game HR streak. With the two whitewashes in first two games‚ Al ties a ML record‚ last accomplished by Boo Ferriss of the Red Sox in 1945. It is the first time this century it’s been done in the NL‚ but Karl Spooner of the Dodgers will match it next year‚
July 12Braves slugger Eddie Mathews hits the first grand slam in the history of the Milwaukee franchise‚ as the Braves sweep 2 from the Cardinals 10-1 and 4-3 in St. Louis.

The Yomiuri and Mainichi newspaper chains inaugurate a program of regular visits by American ML clubs to Japan. The program will be sponsored by the Yomiuri chain alone from 1966.
July 14The NL wins its 4th All-Star Game in a row‚ 5-1 in Cincinnati’s Crosley Field behind the stellar pitching of Robin Roberts and Warren Spahn. Cardinal OF Enos Slaughter gets 2 hits‚ scores twice‚ and robs Harvey Kuenn of an extra-base blow.
July 16The Browns tie a record with 3 successive HRs-by Clint Courtney‚ Dick Kryhoski‚ and Jim Dyck-in the first inning‚ and their 5 bases-empty HRs in 3 innings establishes a new mark. It’s enough to beat the Yankees‚ 8-6.
July 17The Yankees use a triple play and 4 DPs to stop the Browns‚ 6-4. CF Irv Noren starts the TP with a tumbling catch in the 2nd inning. Gil McDougald scores 4 times on a single‚ double‚ triple and walk. Reynolds gets the win in relief.
July 18Dodger backup 1B Wayne Belardi scores 2 runs in the 8th inning‚ one on a pinch-hit grand slam. His slam in the 8th is the 3rd Dodger grand slam in 3 games (Gil Hodges connected on the 16th‚ and Billy Cox‚ on the 17th). The Dodgers’ 8-6 win over the Cardinals puts Brooklyn 3 games ahead of Milwaukee.

1B Whitey Lockman‚ 3B Hank Thompson‚ and CF Bobby Thomson hit first inning HRs‚ as the Giants beat the Cubs 12-7 to move into 4th place.
July 19The Giants Whitey Lockman leads off the game with a HR for the 2nd day in a row‚ as the Giants whip the Braves 7-5. Henry Thompson’s 2-run homer in the 9th is the winner for Ruben Gomez. Dave Jolly is the loser. Milwaukee takes the nitecap‚ 2-1‚ in 5 innings as Al Worthington is scored upon for the first time in his 3 ML games. Max Surkont wins‚ giving up just two hits‚ both to Al Dark. One of Dark’s hits is a home run.

Boston lefty Mickey McDermott and relief P Ellis Kinder (1 inn.)combine for a one-hitter against Cleveland to win‚ 2-0. OF Al Smith’s 4th-inning single is the only Tribe safety.
July 21The 2nd-place Milwaukee Braves suffer their worst shutout loss in the short history of the franchise‚ losing to the Phils 10-0. Robin Roberts wins his 16th. Milwaukee wins game 2 by a 7-3 score‚ with Johnny Antonelli winning.
July 22Led by Hodges and Snider‚ the Dodgers sweep a pair from Chicago‚ winning 9-3 and 11-1‚ to lead the NL by 5 1/2 games. The pair belt 9 hits‚ including 3 homers‚ and drive in 13 runs. Podres and Erskine both win and each strike out 10 batters.

The Tigers release former ace Hal Newhouser‚ the only pitcher to win two consecutive MVP awards.
July 23The Browns give up on Bobo Holloman‚ selling the no-hit rookie to Toronto (IL). He’ll never appear in the majors again‚ and his 3 wins are the fewest by a no-hit pitcher since 1900.
July 24The Red Sox sweep the Browns as both Boston pitchers‚ Mickey McDermott and Bill Henry‚ hurl 6-0 and 8-0 shutouts.

Granny Hamner smashes 2 homers to give the Phils a 2-1 win over the Cardinals. St. Louis scores in the 6th when Musial steals home for the first time in his career. Cards manager Stanky fans as the lead off batter in the game‚ and when Hemus then singles‚ the Cards protest that the 2 batted out of order (the lineup card has them reversed) The umps void the hit and Musial‚ hitting 3rd‚ is called out.
July 26At Briggs Stadium‚ the crowd of 49‚717 is treated to a pair of Tiger victories over the Yankees-5-3 and 14-4-as well as a fight between Billy Martin and Detroit’s Matt Batts. Mantle connects on two homers for New York‚ reaching Al Aber in the first game and Steve Gromek in the nitecap.
July 27Dizzy Dean and Al Simmons are inducted into the Hall of Fame at Cooperstown. Along with them‚ the veterans committee enshrines Chief Bender‚ Bobby Wallace‚ 19th-century manager Harry Wright‚ executive Ed Barrow‚ and umpires Bill Klem and Tom Connolly.
July 29At Fenway‚ the White Sox spoil Ted Williams homecoming from the Marines by scoring 8 runs in the 9th to beat Boston‚ 8-3. Williams watches the game from the bench.
July 30The Giants Monte Irvin grounds into 3 DPs‚ tying a NL record‚ as Milwaukee wins 5-0.

The St. Louis Browns purchase veteran infielder Vern Stephens from the White Sox.

The vacant Braves Field is sold to Boston University for $500‚000.
July 31At St. Louis‚ Carl Erskine fans 11‚ giving him 31 in his last 3 games‚ as the first-place Dodgers beat the Cards‚ 2-1. The OF has just 3 putouts. Erskine finishes the month at 6-0.

August

August 1Ben Flowers of the Boston Red Sox sets a ML record with 8 consecutive games pitched in relief‚ a mark that will later be surpassed. Flowers finishes walking Matt Batts in the 9th and Kinder relieves and loses‚ 4-3‚ in 10 innings.

Warren Spahn of the Braves allows just an infield hit to Richie Ashburn in the 4th in beating Philadelphia‚ 5-0. It is Spahn’s 31st career shutout.
August 3After Lew Burdette twice knocks down Roy Campanella and yells “racial epithets” at him‚ Campy strikes out and then charges the mound. Umpires and Braves’ players restrain Campanella before he reaches Burdette‚ who loses to the Dodgers‚ 1-0.

Chicago White Sox 1B Ferris Fain brawls in a Maryland cafe and fractures a finger. The team fines him $600.
August 4Yankees hurler Vic Raschi sets the ML record for RBIs by a pitcher with 7‚ as the Yanks roll over Detroit 15-0. Raschi singles in 2 in the 2nd‚ doubles home 3 in the 3rd‚ and singles home the last 2 in the 8th. Four pitchers held the mark of 6 ribbies. His record will stand in the AL‚ but Braves pitcher Tony Cloninger will top Raschi’s mark. Vic’s teammates fill his locker with bats after the game.
August 5Ben Flowers of the Red Sox shuts out the Browns 5-0 in his first ML start. Don Larsen is the loser‚ though it’s not for lack of effort as he goes 3-for-3 at bat. Larsen has 7 hits in his last 7 at bats.
August 6Ted Williams is back in a Red Sox uniform after military duty in Korea. He pinch-hits for Tom Umphlett in the bottom of the 9th and pops up. But he will finish with 13 homers in just 91 at bats-a record-and a .407 mark. The Browns win‚ 8-7‚ in the 10th on Bobby Young‘s HR.

At St. Louis‚ Harvey Haddix holds the Phils hitless for 8 innings before Richie Ashburn singles in the 9th. It is the 2nd time in 6 days he’s spoiled a no-hit bid. Ennis also singles as Haddix ends with a 2-hit‚ 2-0‚ win against Simmons.
August 7The Yankees turn back the 2nd place White Sox with a 6-1 win at the Stadium. Mantle’s line drive in the 3rd goes for a 3-run inside-the-park homer‚ and Berra follows with one out of the park.
August 8Yankee southpaws Whitey Ford and Bob Kuzava hurl 1-0 and 3-0 shutouts against the White Sox. Kuzava gives up only Bob Boyd‘s double in the 9th. The Sox now trail New York by 8 1/2 games.
August 9At Fenway‚ Ted Williams pinch-hits again‚ this time for Johnny Lipon‚ and this time with different results. He clouts an 8th inning homer off the Indians Mike Garcia‚ but the Red Sox lose‚ 9-3. Williams last hit a pinch home run in 1941.

The White Sox salvage the finale of their series‚ beating New York‚ 5-0‚ behind Pierce’s 3-hitter. The Sox trail New York by 7 games.
August 10On his 29th birthday‚ Bob Porterfield of the Senators has his 2nd one-hitter of the season‚ as he masters the Red Sox 2-0. Piersall has the only hit and the only walk for Boston.
August 12Playing without the injured Mantle-out for 10 days with a sprained knee-the Yankees explode for 28 hits off Washington pitching‚ 2 hits shy of the AL-record 30. New York rolls to a 22-1 victory. Rookie Kraly‚ relieving Whitey Ford‚ gives up a run to avert the largest shutout win in history. Ford has 4 hits‚ and Berra and Martin each have 5 RBIs. Hank Bauer scores 5 runs.

The Braves and Cards draw 36‚241‚ a record crowd for a twi-night doubleheader in Milwaukee’s County Stadium. The Braves don’t disappoint‚ taking both games‚ 8-2 and 5-3. Mathews drives in a pair in the opener to reach 100 RBIs.

Brooklyn slugger Duke Snider hits his 2nd grand slam in 3 days‚ accounting for all the runs in the Dodgers 4-0 win over the Giants. Carl Erskine allows New York just 2 hits.

At Wrigley‚ Andy Seminick belts a grand slam in the top of the 9th to break a 6-6 tie and give the Reds a 10-6 win over the Cubs.

At St. Louis‚ Ray Boone smashes his 4th grand slam of the year to tie a ML record‚ as the Tigers win‚ 7-3.

In an 8-4 Phils win at Pittsburgh‚ Robin Roberts wins his 20th of the year and his 15th straight over the Bucs stretching back to May 20‚ 1951. It is Roberts 4th consecutive 20-game year. He scatters 12 hits‚ walks none‚ and strikes out 9. He also triples in a run.
August 15Third baseman Ransom Jackson of the Cubs grounds into 3 DPs against the Braves as the Cubs lose 2-0. Jackson ties a NL record‚ later eclipsed by Joe Torre.
August 16Paced by Snider’s 3 homers‚ the Dodgers extend their win streak to 9 with 3-1 and 9-5 wins over the Pirates. Vic Janowicz hits his 1st ML HR to account for the only run off Roe in the opener.

At Cincy‚ Ted Kluszewski hits his 35th and 36th homers‚ breaking the club mark set by Hank Sauer in 1948. The Reds split with the Cards‚ winning 3-2 and losing 6-2.

In the Negro League all-star game at Comiskey Park, the West beats the East, 5-1, behind the pitching of Sammy (Buddy) Woods. Willie Gaines takes the loss.
August 17Bob Kuzava of the Yanks shuts out the Athletics‚ 9-0‚ allowing 11 hits along the way.

After breaking Billy Pierce‘s streak of 40 straight scoreless innings with 2 tainted tallys in the 6th‚ the Browns then snap the Sox southpaw’s streak of 50 innings without an earned run. They score 2 in the 10th to win‚ 4-3. Vic Wertz‘s surprise bunt scores the winning run. Bob Turley‚ on leave from the army‚ is the winner.
August 20Carl Erskine shuts out the Giants‚ 10-0‚ for Brooklyn’s 13th consecutive win and his 2nd successive shutout over the Polo Grounders. The Dodgers are 9 up on the Braves.

At Philadelphia‚ the Pirates take advantage of 4 errors to beat Robin Roberts‚ 5-2. Roberts had beaten the Bucs 15 straight times beginning on August 26‚ 1950. The winner is 19-year-old Jim Waugh.

Bill Veeck brings the Browns to Baltimore to play an exhibition game against the minor-league Orioles. Eastern Shore attorney Clarence W. Miles‚ a well-known figure in Baltimore political‚ civic‚ and business circles‚ leads a local group of nearly 100 investors who plan to buy the Browns from Veeck.
August 21ML player reps Ralph Kiner (NL) and Allie Reynolds (AL) hire labor leader John Norman Lewis at $15‚000 per annum to give legal advice to players in their negotiations with the owners. NL prexy Warren Giles intones‚ “The players can do more for themselves than any outside representative‚ no matter how able that outsider may be.”

At St. Louis‚ rookie Haddix wins his 16th‚ defeating the Reds on 4 hits. For the 2nd time in a month Stanky is involved in a batting-out-of-turn incident‚ but this time it works to his advantage. After Bilko strikes out in the 2nd‚ Stanky realizes that it should have been Jablonski’s turn and notifies the umps. Bilko gets another chance and belts a homer.

After 13 straight wins‚ the Dodgers finally lose‚ going down to Murry Dickson and the last-place Pirates‚ 7-1. Brooklyn still leads the Braves by 8 games.
August 22Lewis contends that the players have no desire to form a union‚ and that he is merely giving legal advice.
August 23The Red Sox bat pitcher Mel Parnell in the 6th spot against the Senators‚ where he collects 2 hits before exiting in the 7th. Ted Williams homers in the 7th and his replacement‚ Olson‚ doubles in the winner in the 9th. Sox win‚ 4-3.

Phil Paine‚ a former Boston Braves pitcher on military service with the U.S. Air Force in Japan‚ becomes the first ex-ML player to play in Japan. He pitches in 9 games for the Nishitetsu Lions: 4 wins‚ 3 losses‚ ERA 1.77.

Chattanooga OF Don Grate betters his 1952 record by throwing a baseball 443 feet 31?2 inches. Glen Gorbous will beat it in 1957.
August 24At Charleston‚ Macon (South Atlantic League) beats Charleston 8-5 scoring 5 runs off Paul Almonte in the second inning. The runs are the first off Almonte since July 15‚ a total of 64 innings. Because of relief appearances‚ he only has 3 consecutive shutouts.
August 26Giants OF Dusty Rhodes‚ hitting just .167‚ connects for 3 HRs in a row at the Polo Grounds in a 13-4 win over the Cardinals. Teammate Al Dark goes 5-for-5 with his own HR.
August 30The Dodgers rip St. Louis 20-4 with the help of 2 big innings. Dodger Jackie Robinson fans twice in the 3rd inning‚ while Gil Hodges walks twice in the 7th‚ when a record-tying dozen runs score. Roy Campanella‘s 5 RBIs ties the NL season mark of most RBIs by a catcher (122).

Led by OF Jim Pendleton‘s 3 HRs and 5 runs scored‚ the visiting Braves tie the Yankees’ 1939 ML record for the most HRs in a game with 8 in their 19-4 blasting of Pittsburgh in the first game of a doubleheader. Eddie Mathews (2)‚ Del Crandall‚ Jack Dittmer‚ and Johnny Logan also homer. Pendleton is only the 2nd rookie in history to hit 3 HRs in one game. In game 2 of the doubleheader‚ the Braves continue to take advantage of Kiner’s legacy-shortened fences-and hit 4 more HRs to win 11-5. The Braves will add four more on September 3rd for another mark (16 homers in 4 games). Eddie Mathews‘ 4 HRs for the day give him an NL-leading 43; he will end the season with 47 HRs‚ 30 of them on the road to set an ML record.

September

September 1The Cards hit 5 HRs‚ all of them solo shots‚ but lose to the Dodgers’ Preacher Roe‚ 12-5. The Dodgers collect 17 hits in the win. The 5 solo HRs-one each by Musial‚ Harry Elliot‚ and Rip Repulski‚ and 2 by Steve Bilko-tie a NL record.

Chicago’s Virgil Trucks surrenders a homer to Mantle in the 7th that proves to be the game-winner‚ as the White Sox lose to the Yankees‚ 3-2.
September 2The Cardinals overcome a 3-run inside-the-park homer by SS Ted Kazanski to beat the Phillies‚ 10-7. Rip Repulski hits his 20th HR‚ breaking the team’s rookie record set by John Mize in 1936. The Cards hammer 10 hits off Robin Roberts to hand him his 12th loss.
September 4Despite consecutive homers by Wes Westrum‚ Al Corwin‚ and Whitey Lockman in the 3rd‚ the Giants lose to the Dodgers 8-6 in a game marred by beanballs and disagreements on calls. Following a Clem Labine brushback on Giants IF Bobby Hofman‚ Larry Jansen throws at Duke Snider and Roy Campanella in the 8th.
September 5Dick Kokos breaks up a scoreless pitching duel between Bob Turley and Ralph Branca by hitting a homer in the 12th to give the Brows a 1-0 win over Detroit.
September 6The feuding continues‚ as the Dodgers beat the Giants 6-3 but lose Carl Furillo‚ the NL’s leading hitter at .344‚ for the rest of the regular season. Furillo is hit on the wrist by a Ruben Gomez pitch in the 2nd and‚ is restrained from charging the mound. He goes to first base and‚ with a 3-2 count on the next batter‚ Furillo races from 1B into the dugout to swing at Leo Durocher.‚ who ordered the beaning. In the melee‚ a Giants player steps on Furillo’s left hand‚ breaking a finger. Furillo will not play again till the World Series‚ but his .344 will lead the NL in hitting. Roy Campanella homers in the 2nd inning and sets the ML mark for HRs by a catcher. His 38th tops the NL high of 37 hit by Cubs C Gabby Hartnett in 1930.

The Chicago Cubs win a doubleheader from the Cincinnati Reds, by scores of 7-6 and 7-2. In the first game, Cubs first baseman Dee Fondy hits one of his team’s four homers and then scores the game-winning run with a two-out, two-strike steal of home in the 9th inning. Fondy’s teammates Ransom Jackson, Ralph Kiner, and Hank Sauer also homer, Kiner and Sauer back-to-back.

The Chicago Cubs win a doubleheader from the Cincinnati Reds, by scores of 7-6 and 7-2. In the first game, Cubs first baseman Dee Fondy hits one of his team’s four homers and then scores the game-winning run with a two-out, two-strike steal of home in the 9th inning. Fondy’s teammates Ransom Jackson, Ralph Kiner, and Hank Sauer also homer, Kiner and Sauer back-to-back.

The Chicago Cubs win a doubleheader from the Cincinnati Reds, by scores of 7-6 and 7-2. In the first game, Cubs first baseman Dee Fondy hits one of his team’s four homers and then scores the game-winning run with a two-out, two-strike steal of home in the 9th inning. Fondy’s teammates Ransom Jackson, Ralph Kiner, and Hank Sauer also homer, Kiner and Sauer back-to-back.

The Chicago Cubs win a doubleheader from the Cincinnati Reds, by scores of 7-6 and 7-2. In the first game, Cubs first baseman Dee Fondy hits one of his team’s four homers and then scores the game-winning run with a two-out, two-strike steal of home in the 9th inning. Cubs Ransom Jackson, Ralph Kiner, and Hank Sauer also homer, Kiner and Sauer back-to-back.
September 7Campanella sets the ML record for RBI by a catcher when he smacks a 3-run HR in a 6-3 Dodgers’ win over the Phils. Campy’s 125 breaks Yogi Berra‘s ML record of 124 set in 1950‚ and he will finish the season with 142.

The Senators sweep a pair from the A’s‚ 13-2 and 6-3. Eddie Yost scores 5 runs in the opener.

In Boston‚ Mel Parnell surrenders a homer to Mickey Mantle but the Red Sox ace tops New York‚ 7-4. in the first game of a doubleheader. New York comes back to win the nitecap‚ 5-3.

At New York‚ the Pirates sweep a doubleheader for the first time this year‚ beating the Giants‚ 9-7 and 5-3. Eddie Pellagrini has 4 hits‚ including a HR‚ to back Bob Friend in the opener. Paul LaPalme is the winner in the nitecap as the Bucs beat Jim Hearn for the 1st time after 12 straight defeats to him. His last lost to Pittsburgh was exactly 6 years ago today.
September 9Mantle’s 2-run HR off Chicago’s Billy Pierce caps a 7-run 5th inning‚ as New York wins 9-3 at Yankee Stadium. Returning to CF after the 5th‚ Mantle is photographed blowing a huge bubble with a wad of gum. Manager Stengel will publicly rebuke the Mick‚ who will apologize for the indiscretion. However‚ Mantle does get an endorsement fee from the Bowman Gum company.
September 10Giants rookie Al Worthington walks 11 Cardinals to lose‚ 7-6‚ his 8th straight loss since winning his first two games by shutouts. Enos Slaughter‘s homer helps the Cards score 3 in the 8th inning to win.
September 11At Crosley Field‚ Ted Kluszewski hits his 39th HR‚ off Robin Roberts‚ to give the Reds a 6-5 win over the Phils.

Bob Porterfield‚ of the 5th place Senators‚ becomes the AL’s first 20-game winner‚ beating the Indians‚ 4-3. He’s the first 20-game winner for the Nats since Wolff in 1945.
September 12Carl Erskine defeats the Braves 5-2‚ as the Dodgers clinch the pennant earlier than any other NL team (see 9/9/36) in history. Da Bums will break their own record in 1955.

At New York‚ the Yankees take a 4-3 lead into the 7th inning‚ then score 8 runs to coast past Detroit‚ 13-4. The inning’s big blow is Mantle’s 20th homer of the year‚ a 3-run shot off Billy Hoeft that is rising when it hits the LF upper deck.
September 13The White Sox lose the Red Sox‚ 7-6‚ when Harry Dorish walks in a run with the sacks full. Sullivan is the winner in relief of Parnell. Red Sox C Sammy White makes an unassisted DP.

P Bob Trice becomes the first black to appear in a ML game for the Philadelphia Athletics‚ but his debut is spoiled by the Browns‚ winners 5-2 in the opener of 2. Trice goes 8 innings‚ giving up 5 runs on 8 hits in losing to Don Larsen. Larsen helps with a homer. Harry Byrd (11-19) wins the nitecap for the A’s‚ 2-0‚ his first win after 9 straight defeats.
September 14The Yanks clinch their 5th straight pennant‚ spotting the Indians 5 runs before winning‚ 8-5. 2B Billy Martin has 4 RBI‚ and Berra chips in with a two-run homer.

Johnny Klippstein of the Cubs stops Duke Snider‘s hitting streak at 27 consecutive games‚ the longest in the NL in 1953. The Cubs top the Series-bound Dodgers‚ 3-1‚ for their 10th win in a row.
September 16A special American League committee studying the Browns financial status recommends the franchise be transferred to another city.
September 17Ellis Kinder of the Red Sox sets the AL record for most appearances with 67‚ breaking Ed Walsh’s 1908 record. The Red Sox win‚ 2-1‚ on Ted Williams HR‚ his 13th since returning on August 6.

Bob Porterfield wins his 21st‚ 3-2 over the White Sox. It’s the most wins by a Nats pitcher since Crowder (24) and Whitehill (22) for the 1933 pennant winners.

Ernie Banks becomes the first black player for the Cubs but goes 0-for-3 and makes an error in his first ML game‚ as the Phillies win 16-4. Banks replaces Roy Smalley‚ sidelined with a rib injury‚ and starts his streak of 424 straight games played.

With a record of 64-82‚ the Cincinnati Redlegs fire Rogers Hornsby as their manager with 8 games left in the season. Coach Buster Mills replaces him for the remainder of the year.

Ferris Fain of the White Sox is sued for $50‚000 for his part in an August brawl in a Maryland café.
September 18The St. Louis Cardinals appeal the U.S. claim for $215‚025 in back taxes from 1947-49.
September 19Pirates 3B Danny O’Connell hits safely in his 26th game‚ a 4-1 loss to the Giants.

Lefty Mel Parnell shuts out the Yankees‚ 3-0‚ at Fenway Park to win his 20th of the year. It is Parnell’s 3rd shut out over the Yankees this year. Raschi loses to the Sox for the 1st time since September 5‚ 1951.

Negro righty Bob Trice wins his first ML game as the A’s outslug the Senators‚ 13-9. Zernial socks his 40th and 41st homers and Eddie Robinson drives in 5 runs. Both sluggers pass the 100 mark in RBIs.
September 20Ernie Banks of the Cubs hits his first ML HR‚ against Gerry Staley‚ but the Cards win 11-6.
September 22The Dodgers tie the record for the most wins in a home park‚ beating Pittsburgh 5-4. They go an incredible 60-17 at Ebbets Field‚ tying the record of the St. Louis Cardinals in 1942. Only the 61 wins of the San Francisco Giants in 1962 in an 81-game home season will surpass the mark. The Dodgers will also lead the majors in scoring for the 3rd straight year: the Red Sox of 2003-05 will be the next team to do that.

Satchel Paige celebrates his official 46th birthday by starting against the Tigers and going 7 innings to win‚ 7-3‚ in what will be his final ML victory. Paige gives up a Hatfield HR in the 1st‚ then holds the Bengals hitless until the 8th‚ when he’s kayoed. Don Larsen save it for Satch. The loss goes to Tigers bonus baby Bob Miller‚ making his 1st start. Miller leaves in the 5th inning after being hit on the head by a Les Moss line drive. Coach Bob Swift is activated and plays in his 1‚000th game. He’ll make an appearance in one more.
September 25Bob Porterfield‚ named TSN’s pitcher of the year‚ posts his 22nd win and 9th shutout in hurling the Nats to a 1-0 win over the A’s. Three singles in the 9th beats Fricano.

At Yankee Stadium‚ the Red Sox win 5-0 behind Mel Parnell‘s 4th shutout of the Yankees this year. It is the lefty’s 21st win and his 5th this year against New York.
September 26Billy Hunter becomes the last St. Louis Browns player to homer in a game. The Browns lose anyway 6-3 to Chicago.
September 27Washington’s Mickey Vernon goes into the last game of the season still fighting for the batting title with Cleveland’s Al Rosen. Near the end of the game‚ a 9-2 loss to the A’s‚ Vernon is hitting .337 when word arrives that Rosen’s game is over and Vernon is ahead by .0011 points. The possibility of Vernon coming up to bat again and maybe losing a point is scotched when his teammates contrive to make an out to end the game. Rosen just misses beating out an infield hit in his last at bat in a 7-3 loss to the Tigers.

The St. Louis Browns play both their last game in Sportsman’s Park and the last game in the franchise’s 52-year history. Fittingly‚ they lose 2-1 to Billy Pierce and the Chicago White Sox in 11 innings for their 100th defeat of the season. Reserve 1B Ed Mickelson drives in Johnny Groth in the 4th inning for the last run of the Browns franchise. The losing pitcher is Duane Pillette‚ who goes the distance.

The AL owners convene at the Hotel Commodore in New York to vote on the transfer. It ends in a (4 to 4) tie. Washington‚ not wanting to alienate its Maryland fans‚ votes this time for the move to Baltimore. Tomorrow‚ the owners convene and Miles puts an offer of $2‚475‚000 on the table for control of Veeck’s 79 percent of the Browns stock.
September 29The AL adopts a constitutional amendment calling for expansion to 10 teams.

A Baltimore syndicate headed by Baltimore Mayor Tom D’Alesandro buys Bill Veeck‘s interest in the Browns for $2.475 million. The AL then approves the shift of the Browns to Baltimore without Bill Veeck.

The Reds name Birdie Tebbetts as their new manager‚ replacing the fired Hornsby.
September 30The Yanks defeat Brooklyn 9-5 in the first game of the WS. Carl Erskine is ineffective‚ walking the first 3 batters‚ and all score on a Hank Bauer triple. The Dodgers tie it up 5-5‚ and Clem Labine gets the loss in relief.

October

October 1The Yankees go 2 up as Eddie Lopat beats Preacher Roe 4-2‚ despite the Dodgers’ 9-5 edge in hits. Mantle’s 2-run shot in the 8th inning breaks a 2-2 tie.

Bill Veeck resigns as Browns president.
October 2The WS moves to Ebbets Field as Carl Erskine establishes a new Series strikeout record by fanning 14 Yanks‚ including Mickey Mantle and Joe Collins 4 times each. Roy Campanella breaks a 2-2 tie with a game-winning solo HR in the 8th for a 3-2 Brooklyn win
October 3The Dodgers even up the WS at 2 games apiece‚ as Duke Snider drives in 4 runs in a 7-3 victory.
October 4In Game 5‚ Mickey Mantle hits a 3rd inning grand slam off Russ Meyer‚ and the Yanks hold on to win 11-7 in a game that features 25 hits and 47 total bases.
October 5The Yanks end the WS in 6 as Billy Martin‘s 12th WS hit‚ a record-breaking single to CF in the bottom of the 9th‚ gives the Yankees their 5th championship in a row. Carl Furillo had tied it up in the 9th with a 2-run HR.
October 7Bill Veeck tells stockholders that he faces bankruptcy unless they drop their suit to block the move to Baltimore. The Browns stockholders will drop their suit against Veeck.
October 8Cuba defeats Venezuela 4-0 before 32‚000 partisan fans in Caracas’s University Stadium.

The city of Birmingham‚ AL‚ bars Jackie Robinson‘s Negro-White All-Stars from playing there. Robinson gives in and drops the white players from his group.
October 13The Yankees buy the contracts of black players Elston Howard and Vic Power from the Kansas City Blues. Power hit .349 for the Yankee farm club‚ while Howard hit .286. Howard will spend next year in Toronto (International League) while Power is trade bait.
October 14The Dodgers force Charley Dressen’s resignation as manager when he refuses to sign anything less than a two-year contract. The club reportedly offered him a $7‚500 raise‚ but on the insistence of his wife he tried for a 2-year contract and lost. Dressen immediately signs to manage the Oakland Oaks in the PCL.
October 17Bill Veeck wastes no time getting a new job. He becomes a special adviser to Phil Wrigley of the Cubs.
October 18The Orioles agree to pay the International League $48‚749 for its territorial rights in Baltimore.

The Giants leave on a one-month tour of Japan‚ Korea‚ and the Philippines.
October 22Red Sox pitcher Mickey McDermott opens a two-week singing engagement at Stauban’s dining and dance spot in downtown Boston. The tenor gets paid $300 a week.
October 28The “Old Redhead‚” Red Barber‚ resigns from the Dodger broadcast booth and takes a job with the rival New York Yankees.
October 31After touring Japan with the Giants‚ Commissioner Ford Frick says that Japanese baseball is the equivalent of Class A in the U.S.

November

November 3The rules committee restores the 1939 rule‚ which says a sacrifice ?y is not charged as a time at bat. Also‚ the committee votes for “no gloves on the field rule.” Hank Greenberg‚ who proposed the change‚ says “Aside from the possibility of hindering the play‚ gloves on the field look sloppy.” The committee also makes a rule that any runner will be called out for deliberately running the bases backwards or even taking a lead off the base in the wrong direction. A new balk rule is instituted which gives the batter an option; if he gets a hit after a balk is called‚ he has the option of accepting the outcome of the pitch‚ instead of being limited to the advance of the runner(s). Rule suggestions rejected‚ as noted by Bob Timmerman‚ include: the legalization of the spitball‚ two bases for an intentional walk‚ and the option of declining ball four.
November 4Eddie Joost succeeds Jimmy Dykes as the manager of the Philadelphia Athletics.
November 9The U.S. Supreme Court decides 7-2 that baseball is a sport and not a business and therefore not subject to antitrust laws. The ruling is made in a case involving Yankee farmhand George Toolson‚ who refused to move from AAA to AA.
November 10The Giants end their tour of Japan. It is reported that each player received just $331 of the $3‚000 they were promised.
November 11Jimmy Dykes‚ recently released as the manager of the Athletics‚ succeeds Marty Marion as the manager of the Baltimore Orioles.
November 17The St. Louis Browns‘ name officially becomes the Baltimore Baseball Club Inc. The Baltimore franchise board officially changes its name to the “Orioles.”
November 24The Dodgers sign the relatively unknown Walter Alston to a one-year pact as their manager for 1954.
November 27Indians 3B Al Rosen is unanimously named the AL’s MVP with a record 336 votes. In the NL‚ Dodgers C Roy Campanella is named MVP.
November 30The player reps reject Commissioner Ford Frick‘s plan for a conference on their pension after he bars their attorney’s presence.

The Cubs sell C Carl Sawatski to the White Sox.

December

December 1The Red Sox trade for hard-hitting Jackie Jensen‚ sending Maury McDermott and Tommy Umphlett to Washington. Jensen will average 25 HRs a year for his 7 seasons in Fenway‚ lead the AL in RBIs 3 times‚ and win the MVP in 1958. A fear of flying will end his career early.
December 9The leagues meet and adopt a resolution to set up a committee to weigh ending the pension fund in November of 1955. Hank Greenberg and John Galbreath are on the committee. Broadcast revenues from WS and All-Star games are in dispute.

The leagues raise the minimum salary to $6‚000.
December 10Dodgers President Walter O’Malley unveils plans for a new stadium in Brooklyn.

The Reds trade OF Willard Marshall to the White Sox for IFs Rocky Krsnich‚ Connie Ryan and P Saul Rogovin. The Sox also pick up Cass Michaels from the A’s.
December 14Detroit’s Harvey Kuenn is voted AL Rookie of the Year. Kuenn hit .308 for the season.
December 16In a ten-player trade‚ the Yankees send 1B Vic Power‚ infielders Jim Finigan and Don Bollweg‚ OF Bill Renna‚ C Jim Robertson‚ and P John Gray to the A’s. Philadelphia packs veteran 1B Eddie Robinson‚ Loren Babe‚ P Harry Byrd‚ and outfielders Tom Hamilton and Carmen Mauro to New York. Byrd‚ who won 26 games in 2 years for the A’s‚ will never match his wins in New York. The stylish Power‚ the American Association batting leader in 1953‚ will win 7 Gold Gloves and make the All-Star team 4 times.
December 17In a tax-avoidance scheme‚ the New York Yankees sell Yankee Stadium and Kansas City properties for $6.5 million in a deal with Johnson Corp and the Knights of Columbus‚ who immediately lease the property back to the Yanks.
December 22Jack Dunn III‚ whose family successfully owned and operated the Baltimore Orioles for years in the International League‚ officially turns the old team name over to the Orioles
December 23Dodgers 2B Jim “Junior” Gilliam easily wins NL Rookie of the Year honors over Harvey Haddix and Ray Jablonski. Meanwhile, Satchel Paige remains unclaimed on the AL waiver list.
December 28Pittsburgh sends flashy infielder Danny O’Connell to Milwaukee for 3B Sid Gordon‚ OF Sam Jethroe‚ P Max Surkont‚ and minor league pitchers‚ Fred Waters‚ Curt Raydon‚ and Larry Lasalle. They also get $100‚000 from the Braves. According to historian Sean Lehman‚ this is the only six-for-one trade in major league history and surpassed only by the 7-for-1 deal that will send Vida Blue from Oakland to San Francisco in 1978.