Wikipedia

1955 in baseball

See also: 1955 Major League Baseball season and 1955 Nippon Professional Baseball season

The following are the baseball events of the year 1955 throughout the world.

List of years in baseball

Champions

Major League Baseball

Other champions

Winter Leagues

Awards and honors

MLB statistical leaders

American League National League
AVG Al Kaline DET .340 Richie Ashburn PHI .338
HR Mickey Mantle NYY 37 Willie Mays NYG 51
RBI Ray Boone DET &
Jackie Jensen BOS		 116 Duke Snider BKN 136
Wins Whitey Ford NYY,
Bob Lemon CLE
& Frank Sullivan BOS		 18 Robin Roberts PHI 23
ERA Billy Pierce CHW 1.97   Bob Friend PIT 2.83  
Ks Herb Score CLE 245 Sam Jones CHC 198

Major league baseball final standings

Events

Before the Athletics arrive in town, the Kansas City Monarchs move their base of operations to Grand Rapids, Michigan. They retain the name "Kansas City Monarchs" and continue in the Negro American League as a barnstorming team.

January

January 24 – In an effort to speed up the game, Major League Baseball announces a new rule which requires a pitcher to deliver the ball within 20 seconds after taking a pitching position.

February

  • February 17 – - The Baltimore Orioles obtained pitcher Erv Palica from the Brooklyn Dodgers in exchange for first baseman Frank Kellert and cash considerations. This replaces the previous Preacher Roe deal, which fell through when the Brooklyn pitcher announced his retirement.
  • February 28 – The National League fines the Milwaukee Braves $500 for opening their spring training camp before the official March 1 date.

March

April

  • April 12 – After a big civic parade, the Athletics open their first season in Kansas City with a win over the Detroit Tigers, 6–2, before a crowd of 32,844.
  • April 14 – Elston Howard becomes the first African-American to wear the New York Yankees uniform. Howard singles in his first-at-bat, against the Boston Red Sox, as the Yankees win 8–4.
  • April 23: The Chicago White Sox tallied a franchise record 29 runs and 29 hits against the host Kansas City Athletics, including seven home runs, in a 29–6 ripping. Sherm Lollar was 5-for-6 with a pair of home runs and five RBI, and became the only player in the decade to get two hits in one inning twice in the same game (2nd and 6th innings). Chico Carrasquel hit 5-for-6, and Bob Nieman paced the attack with two homers and seven RBI. Walt Dropo added a homer and seven RBI, while pitcher Jack Harshman and Minnie Miñoso also homered. Carrasquel and Miñoso each scored five runs. Kansas City had homers from Vic Power and Bill Renna. Bobby Shantz was the losing pitcher.

May

June

July

August

  • August 20 – The Chicago White Sox rally to edge the Detroit Tigers‚ 8–7. Nellie Fox and Jim Rivera pace the attack with four hits apiece‚ while Chico Carrasquel adds a home run. George Kell drives in five runs for the White Sox. The win leaves Chicago (71-46) tied in second place with Cleveland (73-48)‚ and a game in back of New York (74-47).

September

  • September 8 – The Brooklyn Dodgers clinch the National League pennant by beating the Milwaukee Braves, 10–2, for their 8th NL title. The Dodgers also break their own Major League Baseball record for the earliest clinching, set in 1953.
  • September 16 – The Kansas City Athletics score seven runs in the first inning and roll to a 13–7 win over the faltering Chicago White Sox. The third place Sox lose their 10th in 17 games. Héctor López hits a three-run home run in the first to start the scoring and later in the game Joe Astroth adds another three-run homer. George Kell and Chico Carrasquel hits solo homers for Chicago. In the 8th inning, 16-year-old shortstop Alex George debuts for Kansas City‚handling two chances in the field flawlessly and making out in his one at bat. George will go 1-for-10 in this his only Major League season.
  • September 14 – Cleveland Indians pitcher Herb Score breaks a rookie record of 235 strikeouts in a season set by Grover Cleveland Alexander in 1911. Score would finish the season with an American League-best 245 strikeouts, along with a 16-10 record and 2.86 earned run average, en route to the American League Rookie of the Year Award.

October

November

December

Births

January

  • January   1 – LaMarr Hoyt
  • January   1 – Bob Owchinko
  • January   6 – Doe Boyland
  • January   9 – Pat Rockett
  • January 11 – Dan Norman
  • January 12 – Chuck Porter
  • January 18 – Dave Geisel
  • January 21 – Dave Smith
  • January 21 – Mike Smithson
  • January 24 – Ted Cox
  • January 26 – Joe Pettini
  • January 28 – Joe Beckwith
  • January 31 – Ted Power

February

March

April

May

June

July

August

  • August   2 – Jim Dorsey
  • August   6 – Ron Davis
  • August   6 – Steve Nicosia
  • August   6 – Jim Pankovits
  • August   7 – Steve Senteney
  • August 11 – Bryn Smith
  • August 13 – Odie Davis
  • August 18 – Bruce Benedict
  • August 19 – Terry Harper
  • August 19 – Silvio Martínez
  • August 22 – Larry Vanover
  • August 27 – Pat Kelly
  • August 29 – Phil Cuzzi
  • August 30 – Renie Martin

September

  • September 2 – Kazuhiro Yamakura
  • September 3 – Don Kainer
  • September 5 – Gil Patterson
  • September 13 – Mike Fischlin
  • September 16 – Joe Edelen
  • September 16 – Robin Yount
  • September 17 – Marshall Brant
  • September 18 – Don McCormack
  • September 18 – Ray Smith
  • September 22 – Jeffrey Leonard
  • September 24 – Gorman Heimueller
  • September 25 – Jim Wessinger
  • September 27 – Bob Veselic
  • September 28 – Terry Bogener
  • September 29 – Byron McLaughlin
  • September 30 – Carlos Lezcano

October

November

December

  • December   6 – Luis Rosado
  • December   7 – Scot Thompson
  • December 13 – Paul Boris
  • December 18 – Jim Clancy
  • December 19 – Kevin Stanfield
  • December 22 – Lonnie Smith
  • December 23 – Keith Comstock
  • December 27 – Gary Weiss
  • December 30 – Keith MacWhorter
  • December 31 – Jim Tracy

Deaths

January

  • January 13 – Bill Dinneen, 78, pitching star of the 1903 World Series, while winning three games for the champion Boston Americans against the Pittsburgh Pirates, including the first two shutouts in World Series history.
  • January 18 – Phil Morrison
  • January 22 – Bob Wicker
  • January 23 – Elmer Brown
  • January 24 – Monte Beville
  • January 25 – Harry Barton
  • January 26 – Austin Walsh
  • January 28 – Bill Calhoun

February

  • February   3 – Fred Brown, 75, outfielder over parts of two seasons for the Boston Beaneaters in 1901 and 1902, and later a politician who served as Governor of New Hampshire and also in the United States Senate.
  • February   6 – Rosey Rowswell, 71, radio sportscaster best known for being the first full-time play-by-play announcer for the Pittsburgh Pirates.
  • February   6 – Hank Thormahlen, 58, pitcher for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Brooklyn Robins between 1917 and 1925.
  • February 10 – Cuke Barrows, 71, outfielder who played from 1909 to 1912 for the Chicago White Sox.
  • February 10 – Ray Hartranft, 64, pitcher for the 1913 Philadelphia Phillies.
  • February 10 – Allie Strobel, 70, second baseman who saw action with the Boston Beaneaters in 1905 and 1906.
  • February 15 – Lynn Nelson, 49, who pitched for the Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago Cubs and Detroit Tigers in part of seven seasons from 1930–1940.
  • February 15 – Tom Tennant, 72, pinch-hitter who appeared in just two games for the St. Louis Browns in the 1912 season.
  • February 23 – Bill Tozer, 72, pitcher in four games for the 1908 Cincinnati Reds.
  • February 25 – Ike Kamp, 54, pitcher who played for the Boston Braves in 1924 and 1925.

March

  • March   4 – Doc Reisling
  • March 10 – Rick Adams
  • March 13 – Buck Sweeney
  • March 13 – Joe Vernon
  • March 16 – Red Booles
  • March 18 – Morrie Aderholt
  • March 18 – Ty Helfrich
  • March 19 – Ed Hovlik
  • March 19 – George Stultz
  • March 27 – Frank Roth
  • March 28 – Tom Lynch

April

  • April   2 – Reggie Grabowski
  • April 10 – Curt Bernard
  • April 16 – Louis Graff
  • April 28 – Felix Chouinard

May

  • May   3 – Newt Randall
  • May   4 – Fredrick Westervelt
  • May 13 – Lefty George
  • May 18 – Harry Wood
  • May 24 – Bob Cone
  • May 29 – Ray Brown
  • May 31 – Henry Jones

June

  • June   2 – Harry Eccles, 61, pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Athletics during the 1915 season.
  • June   6 – Mike Kelley, 79, first baseman for the 1899 Louisville Colonels, later became a long time minor league baseball owner and manager.
  • June 16 – Mike Morrison, 88, pitcher who played for the Cleveland Spiders, Syracuse Stars and Baltimore Orioles in part of three seasons between 1887 and 1890.
  • June 18 – Jack Katoll, 82, German pitcher who played for the Chicago Orphans, Chicago White Sox and Baltimore Orioles in a span of four seasons from 1898–1902.
  • June 22 – Frankie Hayes, 40, highly regarded defensive catcher and a five-time All-Star while playing for the Philadelphia Athletics, St. Louis Browns, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox and Boston Red Sox, who led the American League three times in total chances per game, twice each in fielding average, putouts, double plays and errors, and once in assists. Besides, his 29 double plays in 1945 is the second-highest total ever for a catcher. Additionally, he caught 312 consecutive games between October 1943 and April 1946, a Major League record, and was durable enough to catch all 155 Athletics games in 1945, as he set a still-standing American League season record.[2]
  • June 27 – Harry Agganis, 26, Boston Red Sox first baseman and former Boston University football star, who compiled outstanding records as a quarterback in his student heyday, becoming the first person in BU history to receive All-American honors.[3]
  • June 29 – Horace Milan, 61, outfielder who played with the Washington Senators in the 191 and 1917 seasons.

July

  • July 12 – Dan McGeehan
  • July 12 – Jesse Stovall
  • July 12 – Harry Taylor
  • July 20 – Joe Shannon
  • July 22 – Lafayette Henion
  • July 28 – Rudy Bell
  • July 30 – Dave Rowan

August

  • August   2 – Peaches O'Neill
  • August   3 – Mule Shirley
  • August   4 – Mike Balenti
  • August   5 – Norm Glockson
  • August   6 – Hooks Cotter
  • August 11 – Jerry Byrne
  • August 11 – Babe Ellison
  • August 24 – John Raleigh
  • August 25 – Jimmy Hudgens
  • August 26 – Sol White

September

  • September   1 – Jim Oglesby
  • September   3 – Hal Schwenk
  • September   4 – Gus Weyhing
  • September   8 – Dode Criss
  • September 10 – Shano Collins
  • September 12 – Dick Adkins
  • September 16 – Dan Sherman
  • September 20 – Art Herman
  • September 22 – Louis Drucke
  • September 23 – Gary Fortune
  • September 27 – Fred Walden

October

  • October   4 – Stan Baumgartner, 60, relief pitcher who spent eight seasons in the majors with the Philadelphia Phillies and Philadelphia Athletics between 1914 and 1926.
  • October   5 – Lyman Lamb, 60, third baseman for the St. Louis Browns during two seasons from 1920–1921.
  • October   9 – Howie Fox, 34, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds, Philadelphia Phillies and Baltimore Orioles from 1944 to 1954.
  • October   9 – Jim Jackson, 77, utility outfielder who played for the Baltimore Orioles, New York Giants and Cleveland Naps over four seasons from 1901–1906.
  • October 13 – Fred Lear, 61, third baseman who played for the Philadelphia Athletics, Chicago Cubs and New York Giants in part of four seasons between 1915 and 1920.
  • October 18 – George Murray, 57, who pitched from 1922 to 1933 for the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Washington Senators and Chicago White Sox.
  • October 26 – Jack Bushelman, 70, pitcher who played with the Cincinnati Reds in the 1909 season and for the Boston Red Sox from 1911 to 1912.
  • October 27 – Clark Griffith, 85, Hall of Fame pitcher and manager, and owner of the Washington Senators since 1920.[4]

November

  • November   3 – John Merritt, 61, backup outfielder who appeared in just one game with the New York Giants in the 1913 season.
  • November   4 – Cy Young, 88, Hall of Fame pitcher who won a record 511 games over a 22-year career with five clubs from 1890 to 1911, being a 30-game winner five seasons, a 20-game victor sixteen times, pitching a perfect game, two no-hitters, and while being a member of the 1903 Boston Americans hurling the first pitch in a World Series game.[5]
  • November   5 – Frank Gregory, 67, pitcher for the Cincinnati Reds in their 1912 season.
  • November 12 – Sam Crane, 61, shortstop who played for the Philadelphia Athletics, Washington Senators, Cincinnati Reds and Brooklyn Robins in part of seven seasons spanning 1914–1922.
  • November 19 – Otto Jacobs, 66, catcher for the 1918 Chicago White Sox.
  • November 22 – Danny Murphy, 51, catcher who played briefly for the New York Giants in the 1892 season.
  • November 23 – Fred Tauby, 49, part-time outfielder who played with the Chicago White Sox in the 1935 season and for the Philadelphia Phillies in 1937.
  • November 30 – John Stone, 50, outfielder for the Detroit Tigers and Washington Senators from 1928 to 1938, who hit over .300 in seven of his eleven seasons, with a career-high .341 in 1936.

December

  • December   6 – Honus Wagner, 81, legendary Hall of Fame shortstop of the Pittsburgh Pirates who won eight National League batting crowns and led the league in runs batted in, stolen bases, doubles and slugging average at least five times each in a 21-year career, posting an overall batting line of .328/.391/.467, having scored 1,739 runs, connect 3,420 hits and stolen 723 bases.[6]
  • December   8 – Buck Washer, 73, pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies during the 1905 season.
  • December   9 – Curt Walker, 59, right fielder who played twelve seasons from 1919–1930 for the Philadelphia Phillies, New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds and New York Giants, compiling a slash line of.304/.374/.440 and 1,475 hits in 1,359 games, while batting a .300 or better average in seven seasons.
  • December 17 – Rube DeGroff, 76, backup outfielder for the St. Louis Cardinals during two seasons from 1905 to 1906.
  • December 18 – George Caster, pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Athletics, St. Louis Browns and Detroit Tigers during twelve seasons from 1934–1946, as well as a member of the 1945 World Champion Tigers.
  • December 18 – Francisco José Cróquer, 35, Venezuelan sportscaster specialized in baseball and boxing, who achieved international renown and became a household name in Latino communities after joining the Gillette Cavalcade of Sports in the late 1940s.
  • December 19 – Moxie Divis, 61, outfielder who played for the Philadelphia Athletics during the 1916 season.
  • December 22 – Queenie O'Rourke, 71, outfielder who played in 1908 with the New York Highlanders.
  • December 23 – Joe McManus, 68, who pitched in 1913 for the Cincinnati Reds.
  • December 24 – Jake Boultes, 71, who played from 1907 through 1909 for the Boston Doves, mostly as a pitcher, although he also played a handful of games as a shortstop and third baseman.
  • December 27 – Lord Byron, 83, National League umpire from 1913 to 1919, while officiating 1,012 games and the 1914 World Series.
  • December 27 – Jim Fairbank, 74, pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Athletics during the 1903 and 1904 seasons.
  • December 31 – Clint Brown, 52, relief pitcher for the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox in a span of fifteen seasons from 1928–1942, who posted a career 89-93 W-L record with 64 saves and 4.26 ERA, leading the American League relievers in 1939 in appearances (61), games finished (56), saves (18) and innings (1181/3), ending 11th in the voting for the American League MVP Award.[7]

Sources

  1. ^ "Frick Favors Return of "the Old Spitter"". Milwaukee Journal. 1955-03-08. p. 2. Retrieved May 26, 2013.
  2. ^ Iron Man Catchers. Encyclopedia of Baseball Catchers.Retrieved on March 3, 2018.
  3. ^ Harry Agganis article. SABR Biography Project. Retrieved on March 3, 2018.
  4. ^ Clark Griffith article. Baseball Hall of Fame website. Retrieved on March 3, 2018.
  5. ^ Cy Young article. Baseball Hall of Fame website. Retrieved on March 3, 2018.
  6. ^ Honus Wagner article. Baseball Hall of Fame website. Retrieved von March 3, 2018.
  7. ^ 1939 American League MVP voting. Baseball Reference. Retrieved on March 4, 2018.

External links


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