The 1957 major league baseball season began on April 15, 1957. The regular season ended on September 29, with the Milwaukee Braves and New York Yankees as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 54th World Series on October 2 and ended with Game 7 on October 10. The Braves defeated the Yankees, four games to three, capturing their second championship in franchise history, their first since 1914, and first in Milwaukee. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the New York Yankees from the 1956 season.
The 1957 schedule consisted of 154 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had eight teams. Each team was scheduled to play 22 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place since the 1904 season (except for 1919) and would be used until 1961 in the American League and 1962 in the National League.
American League Opening Day took place on April 15, featuring the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Senators, while National League Opening Day took place the following day, featuring all eight NL teams. This was the first season since 1953 that both leagues opened on different days. The final day of the regular season was on September 29, which saw all sixteen teams play, continuing the trend from 1955. The World Series took place between October 2 and October 10.
Rule changes
The 1957 season saw the following rule changes:
The American League changed its rules involving a first-place tie at the end of the season. Matching the system already in place by the National League, there would be a best-of-three series to determine the winner of the pennant. This was to be considered an extension to the regular season. Previously, there would be a one-game extension to the regular season to decide who won the pennant.[2]
If a postponed game (after a team's final visit to the opposing city) was necessary to play to determine the pennant winner, the final game(s) were to be played in the opposing city (if possible).[2]
The 30-player roster which was permitted from Opening Day until June 15 was cut to 28-players.[2]
The 1955 rule restricting teams from signing a college player, who at a minimum started sophomore year, was under 21, and whose class hadn't yet graduated, was lifted. Now, any college player could be signed.[2]
If an infield fly rule was declared, and the ball bounced foul and was untouched, it was a foul ball.[3]
Regarding end-of-game situations where the runner on third refuses to come home in a timely manner, the umpire can call said runner out, and the same goes for the batter-runner getting to first base. In the case of the batter-runner, if there are less than two outs and a run scores, that run will count. If there are two outs, a run home will not count.[3]
Any pitcher using a foreign substance on a ball will result in a 10-day suspension. Previously, the league president would impose fines and the suspension to his discretion.[3]
Originally introduced in 1955, the rule that when a bases on balls occurs due to a wild pitch, where baserunners took at least one additional base than what was already guaranteed by a bases on balls, was changed. Now, instead of the pitcher an error, the pitcher is charged with a wild pitch.[3]
Teams
An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at
The 1957 season marked the first time that both the American and National League leader in Complete Games had less than 20 Complete Games to lead their league.[9]
↑ Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.106, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York, ISBN978-0-451-22363-0
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