1958 Major League Baseball season

Last updated

1958 MLB season
League American League (AL)
National League (NL)
Sport Baseball
DurationRegular season:
  • April 14 – September 28, 1958 (AL)
  • April 15 – September 28, 1958 (NL)
World Series:
  • October 1–9, 1958
Number of games154
Number of teams16 (8 per league)
TV partner(s) NBC, CBS
Regular season
Season MVP AL: Jackie Jensen (BOS)
NL: Ernie Banks (CHC)
AL champions New York Yankees
  AL runners-up Chicago White Sox
NL champions Milwaukee Braves
  NL runners-up Pittsburgh Pirates
World Series
Champions New York Yankees
  Runners-up Milwaukee Braves
World Series MVP Bob Turley (NY)
MLB seasons
Locations of teams for the 1955–1960 American League seasons
ButtonRed.svg American League
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     Redlegs
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      Phillies
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Pirates   
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   Giants
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Locations of teams for the 1958 National League season
ButtonBlue.svg National League

The 1958 major league baseball season began on April 14, 1958. The regular season ended on September 28, with the Milwaukee Braves and New York Yankees as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. In a rematch of the previous season, the postseason began with Game 1 of the 55th World Series on October 1 and ended with Game 7 on October 9. The Yankees defeated the Braves, four games to three, capturing the 18th championship in franchise history.

Contents

The 25th Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played on July 8, hosted by the Baltimore Orioles in Baltimore, Maryland, with the American League winning, 4–3.

Following the relocation trend that began in 1953, the National League's Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants moved from New York, New York (Brooklyn and Manhattan, respectively) to California (Los Angeles and San Francisco, respectively), becoming the fourth and fifth teams to relocate in the relocation era and leaving New York a one-team city. The moves to California marked the first time major-league teams played on the West Coast. The National League exodus from New York would go on to inspire the proposed Continental League the folloinwg year, which pressured the two existing leagues to begin expansion. [1] New York went without a National League team for four seasons, until the expansion New York Mets began play in 1962.

On June 6, the Detroit Tigers became the 15th team in professional baseball to break the color line when they fielded Ozzie Virgil Sr.. [2]

Schedule

The 1958 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 14, featuring the Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators, while National League Opening Day took place the following day, featuring all eight NL teams. This continued the trend from the previous season which saw both leagues opened on different days. The final day of the regular season was on September 28, which saw fourteen teams play. The World Series took place between October 1 and October 9.

Teams

LeagueTeamCityStadiumCapacityManager
American League Baltimore Orioles Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore Memorial Stadium 47,778 Paul Richards
Boston Red Sox Boston, Massachusetts Fenway Park 34,819 Pinky Higgins
Chicago White Sox Chicago, Illinois Comiskey Park 46,550 Al López
Cleveland Indians Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Stadium 73,811 Bobby Bragan, Joe Gordon
Detroit Tigers Detroit, Michigan Briggs Stadium 58,000 Jack Tighe, Bill Norman
Kansas City Athletics Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Stadium 30,296 Harry Craft
New York Yankees New York, New York Yankee Stadium 67,205 Casey Stengel
Washington Senators Washington, D.C. Griffith Stadium 28,669 Cookie Lavagetto
National League Chicago Cubs Chicago, Illinois Wrigley Field 36,755 Bob Scheffing
Cincinnati Redlegs Cincinnati, Ohio Crosley Field 29,584 Birdie Tebbetts, Jimmy Dykes
Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles, California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum 93,000 Walter Alston
Milwaukee Braves Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee County Stadium 43,768 Fred Haney
Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Connie Mack Stadium 33,359 Mayo Smith, Eddie Sawyer
Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Forbes Field 34,249 Danny Murtaugh
San Francisco Giants San Francisco, California Seals Stadium 22,900 Bill Rigney
St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis, Missouri Busch Stadium 30,500 Fred Hutchinson, Stan Hack

Standings

American League

American League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
New York Yankees 9262.597—44‍–‍3348‍–‍29
Chicago White Sox 8272.5321047‍–‍3035‍–‍42
Boston Red Sox 7975.5131349‍–‍2830‍–‍47
Cleveland Indians 7776.50314½42‍–‍3435‍–‍42
Detroit Tigers 7777.5001543‍–‍3434‍–‍43
Baltimore Orioles 7479.48417½46‍–‍3128‍–‍48
Kansas City Athletics 7381.4741943‍–‍3430‍–‍47
Washington Senators 6193.3963133‍–‍4428‍–‍49

National League

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Milwaukee Braves 9262.597—48‍–‍2944‍–‍33
Pittsburgh Pirates 8470.545849‍–‍2835‍–‍42
San Francisco Giants 8074.5191244‍–‍3336‍–‍41
Cincinnati Redlegs 7678.4941640‍–‍3736‍–‍41
Chicago Cubs 7282.4682035‍–‍4237‍–‍40
St. Louis Cardinals 7282.4682039‍–‍3833‍–‍44
Los Angeles Dodgers 7183.4612139‍–‍3832‍–‍45
Philadelphia Phillies 6985.4482335‍–‍4234‍–‍43

Postseason

Bracket

World Series
         
AL New York Yankees 3 5 40 74106
NL Milwaukee Braves 410*130 30 3 2

*Denotes walk-off

Managerial changes

Off-season

TeamFormer ManagerNew Manager
Chicago White Sox Marty Marion Al López
Cleveland Indians Kerby Farrell Bobby Bragan

In-season

TeamFormer ManagerNew Manager
Cincinnati Redlegs Birdie Tebbetts Jimmy Dykes
Cleveland Indians Bobby Bragan Joe Gordon
Detroit Tigers Jack Tighe Bill Norman
Philadelphia Phillies Mayo Smith Eddie Sawyer
St. Louis Cardinals Fred Hutchinson Stan Hack

League leaders

American League

Hitting leaders
StatPlayerTotal
AVG Ted Williams (BOS).328
OPS Ted Williams (BOS)1.042
HR Mickey Mantle (NY)42
RBI Jackie Jensen (BOS)122
R Mickey Mantle (NYY)127
H Nellie Fox (CWS)187
SB Luis Aparicio (CWS)29
Pitching leaders
StatPlayerTotal
W Bob Turley (NY)21
L Pedro Ramos (WSH)18
ERA Whitey Ford (NY)2.01
K Early Wynn (CWS)179
IP Frank Lary (DET)260.1
SV Ryne Duren (NY)
Dick Hyde (WSH)		19
WHIP Whitey Ford (NY)1.076

National League

Hitting leaders
StatPlayerTotal
AVG Richie Ashburn (PHI).350
OPS Willie Mays (SF)1.002
HR Ernie Banks (CHC)47
RBI Ernie Banks (CHC)129
R Willie Mays (SF)121
H Richie Ashburn (PHI)215
SB Willie Mays (SF)31
Pitching leaders
StatPlayerTotal
W Bob Friend (PIT)
Warren Spahn (MIL)		22
L Ron Kline (PIT)16
ERA Stu Miller (SF)2.47
K Sam Jones (STL)225
IP Warren Spahn (MIL)290.0
SV Roy Face (PIT)20
WHIP Warren Spahn (MIL)1.148

Awards and honors

Regular season

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Rookie of the Year Orlando Cepeda (SF) Albie Pearson (WSH)
Cy Young Award — Bob Turley (NY)
Most Valuable Player Ernie Banks (CHC) Jackie Jensen (BOS)
Gold Glove Awards
PositionNational LeagueAmerican League
Pitcher Harvey Haddix (CIN) Bobby Shantz (NY)
Catcher Del Crandall (MIL) Sherm Lollar (CWS)
1st Base Gil Hodges (LA) Vic Power (CLE/ KC )
2nd Base Bill Mazeroski (PIT) Frank Bolling (DET)
3rd Base Ken Boyer (STL) Frank Malzone (BOS)
Shortstop Roy McMillan (CIN) Luis Aparicio (CWS)
Left field Frank Robinson (CIN) Norm Siebern (NY)
Center field Willie Mays (SF) Jimmy Piersall (BOS)
Right field Hank Aaron (MIL) Al Kaline (DET)

Other awards

The Sporting News Awards
AwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Player of the Year [3] — Bob Turley (NY)
Pitcher of the Year [4] Warren Spahn (MIL) Bob Turley (NY)
Rookie of the Year [5]
(Player)		 Orlando Cepeda (SF) Albie Pearson (WSH)
Rookie of the Year [5]
(Pitcher)		 Carl Willey (MIL) Ryne Duren (NY)
Manager of the Year [6] — Casey Stengel (NY)
Executive of the Year [7] Joe L. Brown (PIT)—

Monthly awards

Player of the Month

MonthNational League
May Willie Mays (SF)
Stan Musial (STL)
June Frank Thomas (PIT)
July Joey Jay (MIL)
August Lew Burdette (MIL)
September Willie Mays (SF)

Home field attendance

Team nameWins%±Home attendance%±Per game
Milwaukee Braves [8] 92−3.2%1,971,101−11.0%25,599
Los Angeles Dodgers [9] 71−15.5%1,845,55679.5%23,968
New York Yankees [10] 92−6.1%1,428,438−4.6%18,313
Pittsburgh Pirates [11] 8435.5%1,311,98854.2%17,039
San Francisco Giants [12] 8015.9%1,272,62594.6%16,528
Detroit Tigers [13] 77−1.3%1,098,924−13.6%14,272
Boston Red Sox [14] 79−3.7%1,077,047−8.8%13,988
St. Louis Cardinals [15] 72−17.2%1,063,730−10.1%13,815
Chicago Cubs [16] 7216.1%979,90446.1%12,726
Philadelphia Phillies [17] 69−10.4%931,110−18.8%12,092
Kansas City Athletics [18] 7323.7%925,0902.7%11,860
Baltimore Orioles [19] 74−2.6%829,991−19.4%10,641
Chicago White Sox [20] 82−8.9%797,451−29.8%10,357
Cincinnati Redlegs [21] 76−5.0%788,582−26.4%10,241
Cleveland Indians [22] 771.3%663,805−8.1%8,734
Washington Senators [23] 6110.9%475,2884.0%6,093

Events

January–March

April–June

July–September

October–December

Television coverage

CBS and NBC aired weekend Game of the Week broadcasts. NBC began airing a special regional feed of its games in the southeast. The All-Star Game and World Series also aired on NBC.

Movies

Births

Deaths

See also

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References

  1. ↑ Longley, Neil (December 12, 2013). An Absence of Competition: The Sustained Competitive Advantage of the Monopoly Sports Leagues. New York: Springer Publishing. p. 50. ISBN   9781461494850.
  2. ↑ "These players integrated each MLB team". MLB.com. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  3. ↑ "Major League Player of the Year Award by The Sporting News | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  4. ↑ "Pitcher of the Year Award by The Sporting News | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  5. 1 2 "Rookie of the Year Award by The Sporting News | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  6. ↑ "Manager of the Year Award by The Sporting News | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  7. ↑ "MLB Executive of the Year Award | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved January 14, 2025.
  8. ↑ "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  9. ↑ "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  10. ↑ "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  11. ↑ "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  12. ↑ "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  13. ↑ "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  14. ↑ "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  15. ↑ "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  16. ↑ "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  17. ↑ "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  18. ↑ "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  19. ↑ "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  20. ↑ "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  21. ↑ "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  22. ↑ "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  23. ↑ "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
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