1965 Major League Baseball season

Last updated

1965 MLB season
League American League (AL)
National League (NL)
Sport Baseball
DurationRegular season:
  • April 12 – October 3, 1965
World Series:
  • October 6–14, 1965
Number of games162
Number of teams20 (10 per league)
TV partner(s) NBC, CBS, ABC
Draft
Top draft pick Rick Monday
Picked by Kansas City Athletics
Regular season
Season MVP AL: Zoilo Versalles (MIN)
NL: Willie Mays (SF)
AL champions Minnesota Twins
  AL runners-up Chicago White Sox
NL champions Los Angeles Dodgers
  NL runners-up San Francisco Giants
World Series
Champions Los Angeles Dodgers
  Runners-up Minnesota Twins
World Series MVP Sandy Koufax (LAD)
MLB seasons

The 1965 major league baseball season began on April 12, 1965. The regular season ended on October 3, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Minnesota Twins as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 61st World Series on October 6 and ended with Game 7 on October 14. The Dodgers defeated the Twins, four games to three, capturing their fourth championship in franchise history, since their previous in 1963. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the St. Louis Cardinals from the 1963 season.

Contents

The 36th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, was held on July 13 at Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, Minnesota, home of the Minnesota Twins. The National League won, 6–5.

The Houston Colt .45s became the Houston Astros, as they moved from Colt Stadium to the new Astrodome, becoming the first team to play their home games indoors, rather than outdoors. It was also the final season for the Milwaukee Braves, before relocating to Atlanta, Georgia and becoming the Atlanta Braves for the 1966 season. The Los Angeles Angels officially changed their name to California Angels on September 2, 1965, with only 28 games left in the season, in advance of their pending 1966 move to a new stadium in Anaheim, California.

In June, the first Major League Baseball draft was held in New York City. Teams chose players in reverse order of the previous season's standings, with picks alternating between American League and National League teams. [1] With the first pick of the 1965 MLB draft, the Kansas City Athletics took Rick Monday, an outfielder from Arizona State University. [2]

Schedule

The 1965 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 12, featuring 16 teams. The final day of the regular season was on October 3, which saw all 20 teams play. The World Series took place between October 6 and October 14.

Rule change

The 1965 season saw the following rule change: [3]

Teams

LeagueTeamCityStadiumCapacityManager [4]
American League Baltimore Orioles Baltimore, Maryland Baltimore Memorial Stadium 52,184 Hank Bauer
Boston Red Sox Boston, Massachusetts Fenway Park 33,524 Billy Herman
Chicago White Sox Chicago, Illinois White Sox Park 46,550 Al López
Cleveland Indians Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Stadium 73,811 Birdie Tebbetts
Detroit Tigers Detroit, Michigan Tiger Stadium 53,089 Bob Swift
Chuck Dressen
Kansas City Athletics Kansas City, Missouri Municipal Stadium 34,165 Mel McGaha
Haywood Sullivan
Los Angeles / California Angels Los Angeles, California Dodger Stadium [a] 56,000 Bill Rigney
Minnesota Twins Bloomington, Minnesota Metropolitan Stadium 45,182 Sam Mele
New York Yankees New York, New York Yankee Stadium 67,000 Johnny Keane
Washington Senators Washington, D.C. District of Columbia Stadium 43,500 Gil Hodges
National League Chicago Cubs Chicago, Illinois Wrigley Field 36,644 Bob Kennedy
Lou Klein
Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati, Ohio Crosley Field 29,603 Dick Sisler
Houston Astros Houston, Texas Houston Astrodome 42,217 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
Wes Westrum
Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Connie Mack Stadium 33,608 Gene Mauch
Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Forbes Field 35,500 Harry Walker
San Francisco Giants San Francisco, California Candlestick Park 42,500 Herman Franks
St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis, Missouri Busch Stadium 30,500 Red Schoendienst

Standings

American League

American League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Minnesota Twins 10260.63051305130
Chicago White Sox 9567.586748334734
Baltimore Orioles 9468.580846334835
Detroit Tigers 8973.5491347344239
Cleveland Indians 8775.5371552303545
New York Yankees 7785.4752540433742
Los Angeles / California Angels 7587.4632746342953
Washington Senators 7092.4323236453447
Boston Red Sox 62100.3834034472853
Kansas City Athletics 59103.3644333482655

National League

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Los Angeles Dodgers 9765.59950314734
San Francisco Giants 9567.586251304437
Pittsburgh Pirates 9072.556749324140
Cincinnati Reds 8973.549849324041
Milwaukee Braves 8676.5311144374239
Philadelphia Phillies 8576.52811½45354041
St. Louis Cardinals 8081.49716½42393842
Chicago Cubs 7290.4442540413249
Houston Astros 6597.4013236452952
New York Mets 50112.3094729522160

Postseason

Bracket

World Series
   
AL Minnesota Twins 3
NL Los Angeles Dodgers 4

Managerial changes

Off-season

TeamFormer ManagerNew ManagerNotes
Cleveland Indians George Strickland Birdie Tebbetts
Detroit Tigers Chuck Dressen Bob Swift Dressen replaced temporarily by Swift while recovering from a heart attack.
New York Yankees Yogi Berra Johnny Keane
Pittsburgh Pirates Danny Murtaugh Harry Walker
San Francisco Giants Alvin Dark Herman Franks
St. Louis Cardinals Johnny Keane Red Schoendienst

In-season

TeamFormer ManagerNew Manager
Chicago Cubs Bob Kennedy Lou Klein
Detroit Tigers Bob Swift Chuck Dressen
Kansas City Athletics Mel McGaha Haywood Sullivan
New York Mets Casey Stengel Wes Westrum

League leaders

American League

Pitching leaders [6]
StatPlayerTotal
W Mudcat Grant (MIN)21
L Bill Monbouquette (BOS)18
ERA Sam McDowell (CLE)2.18
K Sam McDowell (CLE)325
IP Mel Stottlemyre (NYY)291.0
SV Ron Kline (WSH)29
WHIP Eddie Fisher (CWS)0.974
Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax Sandy Koufax.jpg
Hall of Famer Sandy Koufax

National League

Hitting leaders [7]
StatPlayerTotal
AVG Roberto Clemente (PIT).329
OPS Willie Mays (SF)1.043
HR Willie Mays (SF)52
RBI Deron Johnson (CIN)130
R Tommy Harper (CIN)126
H Pete Rose (CIN)209
SB Maury Wills (LAD)94
Pitching leaders [8]
StatPlayerTotal
W Sandy Koufax 1 (LAD)26
L Jack Fisher (NYM)24
ERA Sandy Koufax 1 (LAD)2.04
K Sandy Koufax 1 (LAD)382
IP Sandy Koufax (LAD)335.2
SV Ted Abernathy (CHC)31
WHIP Sandy Koufax (LAD)0.855

1 National League Triple Crown pitching winner

Awards and honors

Regular season

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Rookie of the Year Jim Lefebvre (LAD) Curt Blefary (BAL)
Cy Young Award Sandy Koufax (LAD)
Most Valuable Player Willie Mays (SF) Zoilo Versalles (MIN)
Gold Glove Awards
PositionNational LeagueAmerican League
Pitcher Bob Gibson (STL) Jim Kaat (MIN)
Catcher Joe Torre (MIL) Bill Freehan (DET)
1st Base Bill White (STL) Joe Pepitone (NYY)
2nd Base Bill Mazeroski (PIT) Bobby Richardson (NYY)
3rd Base Ron Santo (CHC) Brooks Robinson (BAL)
Shortstop Leo Cárdenas (CIN) Zoilo Versalles (MIN)
Outfield Roberto Clemente (PIT) Al Kaline (DET)
Curt Flood (STL) Tom Tresh (NYY)
Willie Mays (SF) Carl Yastrzemski (BOS)

Other awards

The Sporting News Awards
AwardNational LeagueAmerican League
Player of the Year [9] Sandy Koufax (LAD)
Pitcher of the Year [10] Sandy Koufax (LAD) Mudcat Grant (MIN)
Fireman of the Year [11]
(Relief pitcher)
Ted Abernathy (CHC) Eddie Fisher (CWS)
Rookie Player of the Year [12] Joe Morgan (HOU) Curt Blefary (BAL)
Rookie Pitcher of the Year [13] Frank Linzy (SF) Marcelino López (LAA)
Comeback Player of the Year [14] Vern Law (PIT) Norm Cash (DET)
Manager of the Year [15] Sam Mele (MIN)
Executive of the Year [16] Calvin Griffith (MIN)

Monthly awards

Player of the Month

MonthNational League
May Joe Torre (MIL)
June Vern Law (PIT)
Willie Stargell (PIT)
July Pete Rose (CIN)
August Willie Mays (SF)

Baseball Hall of Fame

Home field attendance

Team nameWinsHome attendancePer game
Los Angeles Dodgers [17] 9721.3%2,553,57714.6%31,526
Houston Astros [18] 65−1.5%2,151,470196.4%26,561
New York Mets [19] 50−5.7%1,768,3892.1%21,566
San Francisco Giants [20] 955.6%1,546,0752.8%19,087
Minnesota Twins [21] 10229.1%1,463,25821.2%18,065
St. Louis Cardinals [22] 80−14.0%1,241,2018.6%15,323
New York Yankees [23] 77−22.2%1,213,552−7.1%14,621
Philadelphia Phillies [24] 85−7.6%1,166,376−18.2%14,580
Chicago White Sox [25] 95−3.1%1,130,519−9.6%13,957
Cincinnati Reds [26] 89−3.3%1,047,82421.5%12,936
Detroit Tigers [27] 894.7%1,029,64526.2%12,712
Cleveland Indians [28] 8710.1%934,78643.1%11,400
Pittsburgh Pirates [29] 9012.5%909,27919.7%11,089
Baltimore Orioles [30] 94−3.1%781,649−30.0%9,894
Boston Red Sox [31] 62−13.9%652,201−26.2%8,052
Chicago Cubs [32] 72−5.3%641,361−14.7%7,727
Los Angeles / California Angels [33] 75−8.5%566,727−25.5%7,084
Washington Senators [34] 7012.9%560,083−6.7%6,915
Milwaukee Braves [35] 86−2.3%555,584−39.0%6,859
Kansas City Athletics [36] 593.5%528,344−17.8%6,523

Events

January–April

May–August

September–December

Television coverage

In 1965, ABC provided the first-ever nationwide baseball coverage with weekly Saturday broadcasts on a regional basis. ABC paid $5.7 million for the rights to the 28 Saturday/holiday Games of the Week . ABC's deal [37] [38] covered all of the teams except the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies [39] (who had their own television deals) and called for two regionalized games on Saturdays, Independence Day, and Labor Day. [40] Each Saturday, ABC broadcast two 2 p.m. ET games and one game for the Pacific Time Zone at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m local time.

Although MLB ended the Game of the Week blackouts in cities with MLB clubs, ABC blacked out the games in the home cities of the clubs playing those games. [41]

Meanwhile, CBS continued to air its own slate of Games of the Week with the rights to individual teams, with its New York Yankees games in particular beating ABC in the ratings. At the end of the season, ABC declined to exercise its $6.5 million option for 1966, citing poor ratings, [42] [43] especially in New York.

Although it did not air Games of the Week this season, NBC continued to air the All-Star Game and World Series.

Retired numbers

See also

Notes

  1. Dodger Stadium was referred to as "Chavez Ravine Stadium" by the Angels during their tenure.

References

  1. Koppett, Leonard (February 28, 1965). "Baseball's New Draft" (PDF). The New York Times. p. 2-S. Retrieved August 28, 2015.
  2. "826 Players Picked in Baseball Draft". The Burlington Free Press. Burlington, Vermont. AP. June 10, 1965. p. 26. Retrieved August 7, 2018 via newspapers.com.
  3. "MLB Rule Changes | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved June 3, 2024.
  4. "1965 Major League Managers". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  5. "1965 American League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  6. "1965 American League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  7. "1965 National League Batting Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  8. "1965 National League Pitching Leaders". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved March 6, 2025.
  9. "Major League Player of the Year Award by The Sporting News | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  10. "Pitcher of the Year Award by The Sporting News | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  11. "Fireman of the Year Award / Reliever of the Year Award by The Sporting News | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  12. "Rookie Player of the Year Award by The Sporting News | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  13. "Rookie Pitcher of the Year Award by The Sporting News | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  14. "The Sporting News Comeback Player of the Year Award | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  15. "Manager of the Year Award by The Sporting News | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  16. "MLB Executive of the Year Award | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved March 7, 2025.
  17. "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  18. "Houston Astros Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  19. "New York Mets Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  20. "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  21. "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  22. "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  23. "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  24. "Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  25. "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  26. "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  27. "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  28. "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  29. "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  30. "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  31. "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  32. "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  33. "Los Angeles Angels Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  34. "Texas Rangers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  35. "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  36. "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com . Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  37. "Television Package is Baseball's Aim". The Tuscaloosa News. Associated Press. December 11, 1964. p. 7.
  38. "ABC Signs $12.2 Million Baseball Pact". Reading Eagle. Associated Press. December 15, 1964. p. 14.
  39. New York Times (April 8, 1965). "ABC Plans on 'Instant Replays'". The Miami News. p. 6B.
  40. "Tele-Log". Deseret News. April 14, 1965. p. 2B.
  41. Dubrow, Rick (April 16, 1965). "Baseball in New Venture". Beaver County Times . United Press International. p. 7.
  42. Adams, Val (August 19, 1965). "ABC Doubtful About Televising Baseball in '66". New York Times. p. 61.
  43. Reichler, Joe (August 22, 1965). "TV Baseball Has Problems". The Herald-Tribune. Associated Press. p. 4D.