1964 Major League Baseball season

Last updated

1964 MLB season
League American League (AL)
National League (NL)
Sport Baseball
DurationRegular season:
  • April 13 – October 4, 1964
World Series:
  • October 7–15, 1964
Number of games162
Number of teams20 (10 per league)
TV partner(s) NBC, CBS
Regular season
Season MVP AL: Brooks Robinson (BAL)
NL: Ken Boyer (STL)
AL champions New York Yankees
  AL runners-up Chicago White Sox
NL champions St. Louis Cardinals
  NL runners-up Philadelphia Phillies and Cincinnati Reds
World Series
Champions St. Louis Cardinals
  Runners-up New York Yankees
World Series MVP Bob Gibson (STL)
MLB seasons

The 1964 major league baseball season began on April 13, 1964. The regular season ended on October 4, with the St. Louis Cardinals 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 60th World Series on October 7 and ended with Game 7 on October 15. In the fifth iteration of this World Series matchup, the Cardinals defeated the Yankees, four games to three, capturing their seventh championship in franchise history, since their previous in 1946. As of 2024, the Cardinals are the only National League team to have an edge over the Yankees in series played (3–2), despite holding a losing record in World Series games against them (13–15).

Contents

The 5th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, was played on July 7, hosted by the New York Mets in Queens New York, New York, with the National League winning, 7–4.

This season is often remembered for the end of the New York Yankees' third dynasty, as they won their 29th American League Championship in 44 seasons.

Schedule

The 1964 schedule consisted of 162 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had ten teams. Each team was scheduled to play 18 games against the other nine teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place by the American League since the 1961 season and by the National League since the 1962 season, and would be used until 1969.

Opening Day took place on April 13, featuring the four teams. The final day of the regular season was on October 4, which saw 18 teams play. The World Series took place between October 7 and October 15.

Teams

LeagueTeamCityStadiumCapacityManager
American League Baltimore Orioles Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore Memorial Stadium 51,991 Hank Bauer
Boston Red Sox Boston, Massachusetts Fenway Park 33,357 Johnny Pesky,
Billy Herman
Chicago White Sox Chicago, Illinois White Sox Park 46,550 Al López
Cleveland Indians Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Stadium 73,811 Birdie Tebbetts,
George Strickland
Detroit Tigers Detroit, Michigan Tiger Stadium 53,089 Chuck Dressen
Kansas City Athletics Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Stadium 34,165 Ed Lopat,
Mel McGaha
Los Angeles Angels Los Angeles, California Dodger Stadium [a] 56,000 Bill Rigney
Minnesota Twins Bloomington, Minnesota Metropolitan Stadium 40,073 Sam Mele
New York Yankees New York, New York Yankee Stadium 67,337 Yogi Berra
Washington Senators Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Stadium 43,500 Gil Hodges
National League Chicago Cubs Chicago, Illinois Wrigley Field 36,755 Bob Kennedy
Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati, Ohio Crosley Field 29,603 Fred Hutchinson,
Dick Sisler
Houston Colt .45s Houston, Texas Colt Stadium 33,010 Harry Craft,
Lum Harris
Los Angeles Dodgers Los Angeles, California Dodger Stadium 56,000 Walter Alston
Milwaukee Braves Milwaukee, Wisconsin Milwaukee County Stadium 43,768 Bobby Bragan
New York Mets New York, New York Shea Stadium 55,300 Casey Stengel
Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Connie Mack Stadium 33,608 Gene Mauch
Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Forbes Field 35,500 Danny Murtaugh
San Francisco Giants San Francisco, California Candlestick Park 42,553 Alvin Dark
St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis, Missouri Busch Stadium 30,500 Johnny Keane

Standings

American League

American League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
New York Yankees 9963.61150314932
Chicago White Sox 9864.605152294635
Baltimore Orioles 9765.599249324833
Detroit Tigers 8577.5251446353942
Los Angeles Angels 8280.5061745363744
Cleveland Indians 7983.4882041403843
Minnesota Twins 7983.4882040413942
Boston Red Sox 7290.4442745362754
Washington Senators 62100.3833731503150
Kansas City Athletics 57105.3524226553150

National League

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
St. Louis Cardinals 9369.57448334536
Philadelphia Phillies 9270.568146354635
Cincinnati Reds 9270.568147344536
San Francisco Giants 9072.556344374635
Milwaukee Braves 8874.543545364338
Pittsburgh Pirates 8082.4941342393843
Los Angeles Dodgers 8082.4941341403942
Chicago Cubs 7686.4691740413645
Houston Colt .45s 6696.4072741402556
New York Mets 53109.3274033482061

Postseason

Bracket

World Series
         
AL New York Yankees 5 82*3 2 85
NL St. Louis Cardinals 93 1 45103 7

*Denotes walk-off

Managerial changes

Off-season

TeamFormer ManagerNew Manager
Baltimore Orioles Billy Hitchcock Hank Bauer
New York Yankees Ralph Houk Yogi Berra

In-season

TeamFormer ManagerNew Manager
Boston Red Sox Johnny Pesky Billy Herman
Cincinnati Reds Fred Hutchinson Dick Sisler
Cleveland Indians Birdie Tebbetts George Strickland
Houston Colt .45s Harry Craft Lum Harris
Kansas City Athletics Ed Lopat Mel McGaha

League leaders

American League

Hitting leaders
StatPlayerTotal
AVG Tony Oliva (MIN).323
OPS Mickey Mantle (NYY)1.015
HR Harmon Killebrew (MIN)49
RBI Brooks Robinson (BAL)118
R Tony Oliva (MIN)109
H Tony Oliva (MIN)217
SB Luis Aparicio (BAL)57
Pitching leaders
StatPlayerTotal
W Dean Chance (LAA)
Gary Peters (CWS)
20
L Diego Seguí (KC)17
ERA Dean Chance (LAA)1.65
K Al Downing (NYY)217
IP Dean Chance (LAA)278.1
SV Dick Radatz (BOS)29
WHIP Joe Horlen (CWS)0.935

National League

Hitting leaders
StatPlayerTotal
AVG Roberto Clemente (PIT).339
OPS Willie Mays (SF).990
HR Willie Mays (SF)47
RBI Ken Boyer (STL)119
R Hank Aaron (MIL)125
H Roberto Clemente (PIT)
Curt Flood (STL)
211
SB Maury Wills (LAD)53
Pitching leaders
StatPlayerTotal
W Larry Jackson (CHC)24
L Tracy Stallard (NYM)20
ERA Sandy Koufax (LAD)1.74
K Bob Veale (PIT)250
IP Juan Marichal (SF)321.1
SV Hal Woodeshick (HOU)23
WHIP Sandy Koufax (LAD)0.928

Awards and honors

Regular season

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Rookie of the Year Dick Allen (PHI) Tony Oliva (MIN)
Cy Young Award Dean Chance (LAA)
Most Valuable Player Ken Boyer (STL) Brooks Robinson (BAL)
Gold Glove Awards
PositionNational LeagueAmerican League
Pitcher Bobby Shantz (PHI/ CHC/STL ) Jim Kaat (MIN)
Catcher Johnny Edwards (CIN) Elston Howard (NYY)
1st Base Bill White (STL) Vic Power ( PHI [b] / LAA/MIN )
2nd Base Bill Mazeroski (PIT) Bobby Richardson (NYY)
3rd Base Ron Santo (CHC) Brooks Robinson (BAL)
Shortstop Rubén Amaro (PHI) Luis Aparicio (BAL)
Outfield Roberto Clemente (PIT) Vic Davalillo (CLE)
Curt Flood (STL) Al Kaline (DET)
Willie Mays (SF) Jim Landis (CWS)

Other awards

The Sporting News Awards
AwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Player of the Year [2] Ken Boyer (STL)
Pitcher of the Year [3] Sandy Koufax (LAD) Dean Chance (LAA)
Fireman of the Year [4]
(Relief pitcher)
Al McBean (PIT) Dick Radatz (BOS)
Rookie Player of the Year [5] Dick Allen PHI) Tony Oliva (MIN)
Rookie Pitcher of the Year [6] Billy McCool (CIN) Wally Bunker (BAL)
Manager of the Year [7] Johnny Keane (STL)
Executive of the Year [8] Bing Devine (STL)

Monthly awards

Player of the Month

MonthNational League
May Billy Williams (CHC)
June Jim Bunning (PHI)
July Ron Santo (CHC)
August Frank Robinson (CIN)
September Bob Gibson (STL)

Baseball Hall of Fame

Home field attendance

Team nameWinsHome attendancePer game
Los Angeles Dodgers [9] 80−19.2%2,228,751−12.2%27,515
New York Mets [10] 533.9%1,732,59760.4%21,129
San Francisco Giants [11] 902.3%1,504,364−4.3%18,572
Philadelphia Phillies [12] 925.7%1,425,89157.2%17,604
New York Yankees [13] 99−4.8%1,305,638−0.3%16,119
Chicago White Sox [14] 984.3%1,250,0537.9%15,433
Minnesota Twins [15] 79−13.2%1,207,514−14.2%14,726
St. Louis Cardinals [16] 930.0%1,143,294−2.3%14,115
Baltimore Orioles [17] 9712.8%1,116,21544.1%13,612
Milwaukee Braves [18] 884.8%910,91117.8%11,246
Boston Red Sox [19] 72−5.3%883,276−6.3%10,905
Cincinnati Reds [20] 927.0%862,4660.4%10,518
Detroit Tigers [21] 857.6%816,139−0.7%9,953
Los Angeles Angels [22] 8217.1%760,439−7.4%9,388
Pittsburgh Pirates [23] 808.1%759,496−3.1%9,376
Chicago Cubs [24] 76−7.3%751,647−23.3%9,280
Houston Colt .45s [25] 660.0%725,7730.9%8,960
Cleveland Indians [26] 790.0%653,29316.1%7,967
Kansas City Athletics [27] 57−21.9%642,478−15.7%7,932
Washington Senators [28] 6210.7%600,10612.0%7,409

Retired numbers

Events

January–April

May–August

Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax Sandy Koufax.jpg
Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax

September–December

Television coverage

CBS and NBC aired weekend Game of the Week broadcasts. Although it had been three years since the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 was passed to authorize sports leagues to enter into television contracts that "pooled" the TV rights of all their teams, MLB still operated under the older system where the networks purchased the regular season rights to individual clubs. By 1964, CBS paid $895,000 total for the rights to six teams, with the New York Yankees getting a $550,000 share. The six clubs that exclusively played nationally televised games on NBC were paid $1.2 million total. [31]

The All-Star Game and World Series aired on NBC.

See also

Notes

  1. Dodger Stadium was referred to as "Chavez Ravine Stadium" by the Angels during their tenure.
  2. Power was traded from the Angels to NL team Philadelphia Phillies on September 9, 1964. [1]

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