# 1959 Major League Baseball season

The 1959 major league baseball season began on April 9, 1959. The regular season ended on September 29, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Chicago White Sox as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The Dodgers swept the Milwaukee Braves in a regular season best-of-three tiebreaker, for the National League title, after both teams finished their 154-game schedules with identical 86–68 records. This was the fourth regular season tie-breaker. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 56th World Series on October 1 and ended with Game 6 on October 8. The Dodgers defeated the White Sox, four games to two, capturing their second championship in franchise history, their first since in 1955, and first in Los Angeles. This was the first appearance of the White Sox in the "Fall Classic" since the infamous Black Sox Scandal of the 1919 World Series and interrupted a Yankees' dynasty that dominated the American League between 1949 and 1964. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the New York Yankees from the 1958 season.
For the first time in professional baseball history, there were two separate All-Star Games played. The first, the 26th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, was held on July 7 at Forbes Field in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, home of the Pittsburgh Pirates. The National League won, 5–1. The second, the 27th Major League Baseball All-Star Game, was held on August 3 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California, home of the Los Angeles Dodgers. The American League won, 5–3.
In the National League, the Cincinnati Redlegs reverted to their 1890–1952 name, the Cincinnati Reds.
On July 21, the Boston Red Sox became the 16th and final team in professional baseball to break the color line when they fielded Pumpsie Green, 12 years after Jackie Robinson of the Brooklyn Dodgers broke the professional baseball color line in 1947. The Red Sox were notably resistant to integration due to team owner Tom Yawkey, and only did so following a lawsuit charging Yawkey and general manager Bucky Harris with discrimination and the deliberate barring of black players from the Red Sox. The NAACP issued charges of "following an anti-Negro policy", and the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination announced a public hearing on racial bias against the Red Sox.
The season is notable as the only one between 1950 and 1981 where no pitcher pitched a no-hitter.

## Schedule

The 1959 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.
Opening Day took place on April 9, featuring four teams. The final day of the scheduled regular season was on September 27, which saw all sixteen teams play, the first time since 1957. Due to the Los Angeles Dodgers and Milwaukee Braves finishing with the same record of 86–68, a best-of-three tie-breaker was scheduled, to be considered an extension of the regular season. The World Series took place between October 1 and October 8.

## Rule change

The 1959 season saw the following rule change:
* The minimum outfield dimensions for all new ballparks are to be 325 feet down the left and right field foul lines, and 400 feet in center field.

## Teams

| League | Team | City | Stadium | Capacity | Manager |
| American League | Baltimore Orioles | Baltimore, Maryland | Baltimore Memorial Stadium | 47,778 | Paul Richards |
| American League | Boston Red Sox | Boston, Massachusetts | Fenway Park | 34,819 | Pinky Higgins |
| American League | Boston Red Sox | Boston, Massachusetts | Fenway Park | 34,819 | Rudy York |
| American League | Boston Red Sox | Boston, Massachusetts | Fenway Park | 34,819 | Billy Jurges |
| American League | Chicago White Sox | Chicago, Illinois | Comiskey Park | 46,550 | Al López |
| American League | Cleveland Indians | Cleveland, Ohio | Cleveland Stadium | 73,811 | Joe Gordon |
| American League | Detroit Tigers | Detroit, Michigan | Briggs Stadium | 58,000 | Bill Norman |
| American League | Detroit Tigers | Detroit, Michigan | Briggs Stadium | 58,000 | Jimmy Dykes |
| American League | Kansas City Athletics | Kansas City, Missouri | Municipal Stadium | 30,296 | Harry Craft |
| American League | New York Yankees | New York, New York | Yankee Stadium | 67,205 | Casey Stengel |
| American League | Washington Senators | Washington, D.C. | Griffith Stadium | 28,669 | Cookie Lavagetto |
| National League | Chicago Cubs | Chicago, Illinois | Wrigley Field | 36,755 | Bob Scheffing |
| National League | Cincinnati Reds | Cincinnati, Ohio | Crosley Field | 30,322 | Mayo Smith |
| National League | Cincinnati Reds | Cincinnati, Ohio | Crosley Field | 30,322 | Fred Hutchinson |
| National League | Los Angeles Dodgers | Los Angeles, California | Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum | 94,600 | Walter Alston |
| National League | Milwaukee Braves | Milwaukee, Wisconsin | Milwaukee County Stadium | 43,768 | Fred Haney |
| National League | Philadelphia Phillies | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Connie Mack Stadium | 33,359 | Eddie Sawyer |
| National League | Pittsburgh Pirates | Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania | Forbes Field | 34,249 | Danny Murtaugh |
| National League | San Francisco Giants | San Francisco, California | Seals Stadium | 22,900 | Bill Rigney |
| National League | St. Louis Cardinals | St. Louis, Missouri | Busch Stadium | 30,500 | Solly Hemus |

## Standings
### American League

vteAmerican League :
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
| Chicago White Sox | 94 | 60 | .610 | — | 47‍–‍30 | 47‍–‍30 |
| Cleveland Indians | 89 | 65 | .578 | 5 | 43‍–‍34 | 46‍–‍31 |
| New York Yankees | 79 | 75 | .513 | 15 | 40‍–‍37 | 39‍–‍38 |
| Detroit Tigers | 76 | 78 | .494 | 18 | 41‍–‍36 | 35‍–‍42 |
| Boston Red Sox | 75 | 79 | .487 | 19 | 43‍–‍34 | 32‍–‍45 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 74 | 80 | .481 | 20 | 38‍–‍39 | 36‍–‍41 |
| Kansas City Athletics | 66 | 88 | .429 | 28 | 37‍–‍40 | 29‍–‍48 |
| Washington Senators | 63 | 91 | .409 | 31 | 34‍–‍43 | 29‍–‍48 |

### National League

vteNational League :
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB | Home | Road |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 88 | 68 | .564 | — | 46‍–‍32 | 42‍–‍36 |
| Milwaukee Braves | 86 | 70 | .551 | 2 | 49‍–‍29 | 37‍–‍41 |
| San Francisco Giants | 83 | 71 | .539 | 4 | 42‍–‍35 | 41‍–‍36 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 78 | 76 | .506 | 9 | 47‍–‍30 | 31‍–‍46 |
| Chicago Cubs | 74 | 80 | .481 | 13 | 38‍–‍39 | 36‍–‍41 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 74 | 80 | .481 | 13 | 43‍–‍34 | 31‍–‍46 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 71 | 83 | .461 | 16 | 42‍–‍35 | 29‍–‍48 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 64 | 90 | .416 | 23 | 37‍–‍40 | 27‍–‍50 |
* The Los Angeles Dodgers defeated the Milwaukee Braves in best-of-three playoff series to earn the National League pennant.

## Postseason
### Bracket

| World Series | World Series | World Series |
| AL | Chicago White Sox | 2 |
| NL | Los Angeles Dodgers | 4 |

## Managerial changes
### Off-season

| Team | Former Manager | New Manager |
| Cincinnati Reds | Jimmy Dykes | Mayo Smith |
| St. Louis Cardinals | Stan Hack | Solly Hemus |

### In-season

| Team | Former Manager | New Manager |
| Boston Red Sox | Pinky Higgins | Rudy York |
| Boston Red Sox | Rudy York | Billy Jurges |
| Cincinnati Reds | Mayo Smith | Fred Hutchinson |
| Detroit Tigers | Bill Norman | Jimmy Dykes |

## League leaders
### American League

Hitting leaders :
| Stat | Player | Total |
| AVG | Harvey Kuenn (DET) | .353 |
| OPS | Al Kaline (DET) | .940 |
| HR | Rocky Colavito (CLE) Harmon Killebrew (WSH) | 42 |
| RBI | Jackie Jensen (BOS) | 112 |
| R | Eddie Yost (DET) | 115 |
| H | Harvey Kuenn (DET) | 198 |
| SB | Luis Aparicio (CWS) | 56 |
Pitching leaders :
| Stat | Player | Total |
| W | Early Wynn (CWS) | 22 |
| L | Pedro Ramos (WSH) | 19 |
| ERA | Hoyt Wilhelm (BAL) | 2.19 |
| K | Jim Bunning (DET) | 201 |
| IP | Early Wynn (CWS) | 255.2 |
| SV | Turk Lown (CWS) Gerry Staley (CWS) | 15 |
| WHIP | Art Ditmar (NY) | 1.030 |

### National League

Hitting leaders :
| Stat | Player | Total |
| AVG | Hank Aaron (MIL) | .355 |
| OPS | Hank Aaron (MIL) | 1.037 |
| HR | Eddie Mathews (MIL) | 46 |
| RBI | Ernie Banks (CHC) | 143 |
| R | Vada Pinson (CIN) | 131 |
| H | Hank Aaron (MIL) | 223 |
| SB | Willie Mays (SF) | 27 |
Pitching leaders :
| Stat | Player | Total |
| W | Lew Burdette (MIL) Sam Jones (SF) Warren Spahn (MIL) | 21 |
| L | Bob Friend (PIT) | 19 |
| ERA | Sam Jones (SF) | 2.83 |
| K | Don Drysdale (LA) | 242 |
| IP | Warren Spahn (MIL) | 292.0 |
| SV | Lindy McDaniel (STL) | 16 |
| WHIP | Harvey Haddix (PIT) | 1.061 |

## Awards and honors
### Regular season

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards :
| BBWAA Award | National League | American League |
| Rookie of the Year | Willie McCovey (SF) | Bob Allison (WSH) |
| Cy Young Award | — | Early Wynn (CWS) |
| Most Valuable Player | Ernie Banks (CHC) | Nellie Fox (CWS) |
| Gold Glove Awards |||
| Position | National League | American League |
| Pitcher | Harvey Haddix (PIT) | Bobby Shantz (NY) |
| Catcher | Del Crandall (MIL) | Sherm Lollar (CWS) |
| 1st Base | Gil Hodges (LA) | Vic Power (CLE) |
| 2nd Base | Charlie Neal (LA) | Nellie Fox (CWS) |
| 3rd Base | Ken Boyer (STL) | Frank Malzone (BOS) |
| Shortstop | Roy McMillan (CIN) | Luis Aparicio (CWS) |
| Left field | Jackie Brandt (SF) | Minnie Miñoso (CLE) |
| Center field | Willie Mays (SF) | Al Kaline (DET) |
| Right field | Hank Aaron (MIL) | Jackie Jensen (BOS) |

### Other awards

* Sport Magazine's World Series Most Valuable Player Award: Larry Sherry (LA)
* Babe Ruth Award (BBWAA World Series MVP): Larry Sherry (LA)
The Sporting News Awards :
| Award | National League | American League |
| Player of the Year | — | Early Wynn (CWS) |
| Pitcher of the Year | Sam Jones (SF) | Early Wynn (CWS) |
| Rookie of the Year | Willie McCovey (SF) | Bob Allison (WSH) |
| Manager of the Year | Walter Alston (LA) | — |
| Executive of the Year | Buzzie Bavasi (LA) | — |

### Monthly awards
#### Player of the Month

| Month | National League |
| May | Hank Aaron (MIL) Harvey Haddix (PIT) |
| June | Roy Face (PIT) |
| July | Don Drysdale (LA) |
| August | Vern Law (PIT) Willie McCovey (SF) |
| September | Eddie Mathews (MIL) |

### Baseball Hall of Fame

* Zack Wheat

## Home field attendance

| Team name | Wins | %± | Home attendance | %± | Per game |
| Los Angeles Dodgers | 88 | 23.9% | 2,071,045 | 12.2% | 26,552 |
| Milwaukee Braves | 86 | −6.5% | 1,749,112 | −11.3% | 22,141 |
| New York Yankees | 79 | −14.1% | 1,552,030 | 8.7% | 20,156 |
| Cleveland Indians | 89 | 15.6% | 1,497,976 | 125.7% | 19,454 |
| Chicago White Sox | 94 | 14.6% | 1,423,144 | 78.5% | 18,245 |
| San Francisco Giants | 83 | 3.8% | 1,422,130 | 11.7% | 18,469 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates | 78 | −7.1% | 1,359,917 | 3.7% | 17,661 |
| Detroit Tigers | 76 | −1.3% | 1,221,221 | 11.1% | 15,860 |
| Boston Red Sox | 75 | −5.1% | 984,102 | −8.6% | 12,781 |
| Kansas City Athletics | 66 | −9.6% | 963,683 | 4.2% | 12,515 |
| St. Louis Cardinals | 71 | −1.4% | 929,953 | −12.6% | 12,077 |
| Baltimore Orioles | 74 | 0.0% | 891,926 | 7.5% | 11,435 |
| Chicago Cubs | 74 | 2.8% | 858,255 | −12.4% | 11,146 |
| Philadelphia Phillies | 64 | −7.2% | 802,815 | −13.8% | 10,293 |
| Cincinnati Reds | 74 | −2.6% | 801,298 | 1.6% | 10,406 |
| Washington Senators | 63 | 3.3% | 615,372 | 29.5% | 7,992 |

## Highlights

* April 22 – In the course of a 20–6 victory over the Kansas City Athletics, the Chicago White Sox scored 11 runs in the seventh inning on ten walks, a hit batter, three errors and just one hit.

## Events

* 1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (first game)
* 1959 Major League Baseball All-Star Game (second game)
* Baseball Hall of Fame balloting, 1959
* 1959 National League tie-breaker series
* 1959 World Series

## Television coverage

CBS and NBC aired weekend Game of the Week broadcasts. The All-Star Game and World Series also aired on NBC. The rights to air the 1959 National League tie-breaker series were awarded to ABC.