1955 Major League Baseball season

Schedule

The 1955 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 season (except for ) and would be used until in the American League and in the National League.

Opening Day took place on April 11, featuring four teams. The final day of the regular season was on September 25, which saw all sixteen teams play, the first time since . The World Series took place between September 28 and October 4.

Rule changes

The 1955 season saw the following rule changes:

• A rule regarding a pitcher's necessity to deliver a pitch within 20 seconds of the pitcher taking the rubber was adjusted. Now, pitchers must pitch the ball within 20 seconds of having the ball returned. To enforce this, the third-base umpire used a stopwatch to monitor the time passed. However, this predecessor to the modern-day pitch clock was hardly ever enforced, and it wouldn't be until 68 years later in that a strictly enforced pitch clock was introduced.
• The catcher's triangle (created by extending the foul lines behind the home plate) was removed. Due to this, the rules on intentional base on balls required change, and so now, the catcher was required to remain behind the batter's box during an intentional walk.
• Rules surrounding lineup card submissions were adjusted to make up for an oversight. When there were obvious errors (such as duplicate names) occurring before a game, umpires were give the right to change said lineup to correct errors.
• Rules regarding catcher interference were amended. Not only was the batter still rewarded first base, but now, and additional runners on base, regardless of whether or not there was a runner on the preceding base was occupied, were also rewarded an extra base.
• The use of laminated bats was approved.
• A new rule prohibiting anyone maintaining ownership interests in multiple teams was approved by club owners.
• A few requests by players regarding player-team relations were approved:
  • The deadline to issue player contracts was moved up from February 1 to January 15.
  • Teams will serve dinner to players on trains after night games.
  • When players were housed in private homes during spring training, they will be compensated with the existing hotel rate.
• To allow major-league teams to select players from minor-league team rosters at the end of the season, major-league teams would pay various amounts to minor-league teams—Class-B at $3,500 (), Class-C at $3,000 (), and Class-D at $2,500 ()
  • In addition, minor-league teams now had the cost of spring training, including transportation, as well as manager's salary underwritten by their respective major-league teams affiliate.
• Teams were now barred from signing a college player who had finished freshman year, was under 21, or, given he dropped out following freshman year, his class had not yet graduated.
• Rules regarding balks were amended; if a ball is put in play and all runners on base advance at least one base, the play overrides the balk call.
• If a bases on balls occurs due to a wild pitch, and the baserunners take an additional base than what is already guaranteed by a bases on balls, the pitcher is charged with an error.

Teams

Standings

American League

National League

Tie games

3 tie games (2 in AL, 1 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season.

American League

The Baltimore Orioles had two tie games. The Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Athletics had one tie game each.

• June 25, Kansas City Athletics vs. Baltimore Orioles, tied at 3 after top of the 11th inning.
• August 7, Chicago White Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles, tied at 2 after 12 innings.

National League

The Brooklyn Dodgers and Chicago Cubs had one tie game each.

• September 10, Brooklyn Dodgers vs. Chicago Cubs, tied at 3 after only 6 innings.

Postseason

The postseason began on September 28 and ended on October 4 with the Brooklyn Dodgers defeating the New York Yankees in the 1955 World Series in seven games.

Bracket

| RD1-seed1=AL | RD1-team1=New York Yankees | RD1-score1=3 | RD1-seed2=NL | RD1-team2=Brooklyn Dodgers | RD1-score2=4

Managerial changes

Off-season

In-season

League leaders

American League

National League

Awards and honors

Regular season

Other awards

• Sport Magazine's World Series Most Valuable Player Award: Johnny Podres (BRO)

Baseball Hall of Fame

Main article: National Baseball Hall of Fame and Museum

• Joe DiMaggio
• Ted Lyons
• Dazzy Vance
• Gabby Hartnett
• Frank Baker
• Ray Schalk

Home field attendance

Venues

With the relocation of the Philadelphia Athletics from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Kansas City, Missouri as the Kansas City Athletics, they leave Connie Mack Stadium (where they played 46 seasons) and move into Municipal Stadium. They would go on to play there for 13 seasons through , before again relocating.

Television coverage

The Game of the Week moved from ABC to CBS (the rights were actually set up through the Falstaff Brewing Corporation).

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

References

References

1. "These players integrated each MLB team".
2. Felber, Bill. "1954 Winter Meetings: Looking West – Society for American Baseball Research".
3. Lindbergh, Ben. (2023-03-29). "The Forgotten History of MLB’s Pitch Clock".
4. "Rules History".
5. "1955 Major League Managers".
6. "Kansas City Athletics vs Baltimore Orioles Box Score: June 25, 1955".
7. "Chicago White Sox vs Baltimore Orioles Box Score: August 7, 1955".
8. "Brooklyn Dodgers vs Chicago Cubs Box Score: September 10, 1955".
9. "1955 American League Batting Leaders".
10. "1955 American League Pitching Leaders".
11. "1955 National League Batting Leaders".
12. "1955 National League Pitching Leaders".
13. "Major League Player of the Year Award by The Sporting News {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
14. "Pitcher of the Year Award by The Sporting News {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
15. "Rookie of the Year Award by The Sporting News {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
16. "Manager of the Year Award by The Sporting News {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
17. "MLB Executive of the Year Award {{!}} Baseball Almanac".
18. "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
19. "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
20. "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
21. "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
22. "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
23. "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
24. "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
25. "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
26. "Philadelphia Phillies Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
27. "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
28. "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
29. "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
30. "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
31. "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
32. "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
33. "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". [[Baseball-Reference.com]].
34. (2008). "Center field shot: a history of baseball on television". University of Nebraska Press.
35. "Falstaff Newspaper Ads 1950-60's".
36. (March 6, 1954). "SPORTS BRIEFS". [[Los Angeles Times]].
37. (May 8, 2015). "TV Radio Movies 1/16/15".