Major-league baseball was confined to the Northeast and Midwest for nearly a century, finally breaking its geographic restraints after the 1957 season.
The Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants headed west that winter, supposedly following a master plan devised by Dodgers owner Walter O’Malley.
The relocation actually was so haphazard that O’Malley even failed to line up a stadium before arriving in California. “The move was about as well thought-out as a panty raid by a bunch of college freshmen who’d had too many beers,” admitted Harold Parrott, the ticket manager for the Dodgers.
The club’s problems were sadly compounded in January 1958, when star catcher Roy Campanella was paralyzed from the chest down by a car accident.
The transfer from Brooklyn to Los Angeles, of course, would pay off for O’Malley in the long run. But there were real questions about his wisdom between 1957 and 1959, the three-year span we’re covering today.
The Dodgers’ move is central to my new book, A Brand New Ballgame: Branch Rickey, Bill Veeck, Walter O’Malley, and the Transformation of Baseball, 1945-1962, which has been published by McFarland & Co.
The book focuses on the front-office machinations that reshaped the game during that postwar period, but I’m taking the time here to remember baseball’s corresponding on-field highlights. Below is the fifth of my six three-year installments.
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Headlines: 1957
Liner destroys career of budding star
Herb Score seemed to be the second coming of Bob Feller. The young fireballer led the major leagues in strikeouts in 1955 and 1956, inspiring the Boston Red Sox to offer the Indians $1 million for him in March 1957. Cleveland declined the offer. “I’m really very flattered,” said Score. But hopes for a Hall of Fame career were extinguished on May 7, when a line drive struck Score in the eye. He would be gone from the major leagues before his 29th birthday.
Reds fans stuff All-Star ballot box
The public was allowed to elect the starting lineups for the 1957 All-Star Game, an opportunity eagerly embraced by one National League city. Cincinnati voters generated a tsunami of 500,000 ballots, propelling seven Reds into the NL’s batting order. Commissioner Ford Frick condemned the “terrible” election results, tossing out two Reds in favor of Willie Mays and Henry Aaron.
Aaron’s blast locks up NL crown for Braves
The Milwaukee Braves, who had fallen one game short of a National League pennant in 1956, ran away from the competition in 1957. Henry Aaron’s 11th-inning home run against the St. Louis Cardinals on September 23 clinched Milwaukee’s first title. Time magazine was moved to quote Exodus 8:17: “For Aaron stretched out his hand with his rod, and smote the dust of the earth.”
Milwaukee celebrates World Series triumph
The Braves kept rolling in the World Series, outdueling the New York Yankees in seven games. Lew Burdette tossed three complete games for Milwaukee and secured three wins, including a 5-0 triumph in Game Seven. One hundred thousand fans jammed the airport to welcome their heroes back from Yankee Stadium. “I was in New York on V-J night,” said Braves traveling secretary Donald Davidson, “but I’ve never seen a city pitch a party to compare with Milwaukee’s victory ball.”
Headlines: 1958
Williams blasts ‘space helmets’
Ted Williams hated the new rule requiring batters to wear protective headgear. “I don’t like those space helmets,” he said angrily, insisting that a plastic cap’s weight threw off his timing. But what could he do? “If I have to wear them, I guess I will,” said the Boston Red Sox left fielder, who persevered to hit .328, winning his sixth American League batting crown at age 40.
Musial lines 3,000th career hit
Stan Musial joined an exclusive club on May 13, becoming the eighth big leaguer with 3,000 career hits. The Cardinals first baseman lined a double against the Chicago Cubs in Wrigley Field, making him the first player to reach 3,000 since Paul Waner in 1942. Waner quickly extended congratulations, hailing Musial as “the best all-round ballplayer I’ve ever seen.”
Dodgers collapse in L.A. debut
The Dodgers notched 93 more victories than any other National League team during their final 10 years in Brooklyn. But they struggled in their first Los Angeles season, languishing in last place as late as August 12 and finishing 12 games below .500. Losing Roy Campanella “was a terrible psychological blow,” said catcher Rube Walker. Poor play by old-timers Pee Wee Reese (.224), Gil Hodges (.259), and Don Newcombe (7.86 ERA) also hurt.
Yankees stage World Series comeback
The Braves were in a celebratory mood after surging to a World Series lead of three games to one. “I’d like to get the Yankees in the National League,” hooted Milwaukee pitcher Lew Burdette. But New York roared back with victories in Games Five and Six, then broke a 2-2 tie with a four-run eighth inning in Game Seven. “I guess we can now play in the National League,” snorted Casey Stengel after his Yanks secured their seventh title in 10 years.
Headlines: 1959
Haddix loses game despite perfection
Pittsburgh’s Harvey Haddix pitched one of history’s greatest games, yet he took a loss on May 26. Haddix retired 36 straight Milwaukee batters — a 12-inning perfect game — but the Braves eked out a 1-0 win in the 13th on an error, a sacrifice, a walk, and a double. Pirates outfielder Bill Virdon shook his head. “A pitcher does this once in a lifetime,” he said, “and we can’t win the game for him.”
Boston becomes last team to integrate
Pumpsie Green’s big-league debut on July 21 was unexceptional at first glance. Green entered Boston’s game against Chicago as a pinch runner, anchoring himself to first base as the next three batters made outs. But the color of his skin rendered his appearance historic. Green was the first black player for the Red Sox, the 16th and final big-league team to integrate.
Dodgers derail Braves’ drive for third title
Milwaukee was a heavy favorite to win a third consecutive National League title, yet it finished the season in a first-place tie with the Dodgers. Braves slugger Henry Aaron saw no reason to worry. “We were sure — everybody in Milwaukee was sure — that we were the superior team,” he recalled. But Los Angeles swept a best-of-three playoff to win the NL crown.
Los Angeles unexpectedly prevails in World Series
The Chicago White Sox won their first American League pennant in 40 years, then exploded for an 11-0 victory in Game One of the World Series. But they scored only 12 runs in the subsequent five games. The Dodgers rolled to an unlikely title, despite the weakest regular-season record (88-68) for any world champion between 1903 and 1974. “It was the worst club ever to win a World Series,” admitted Buzzie Bavasi. “But it’s also my favorite club. Those kids won on sheer courage.”