1950 Major League Baseball season

This article is about the 1950 Major League Baseball season only. For information on all of baseball, see 1950 in baseball.
1950 MLB season
LeagueAmerican League (AL)
National League (NL)
SportBaseball
DurationRegular season:
  • April 18 – October 1, 1950
World Series:
  • October 4–7, 1950
Number of games154
Number of teams16 (8 per league)
Regular season
Season MVPAL: Phil Rizzuto (NYY)
NL: Jim Konstanty (PHP)
AL championsNew York Yankees
  AL runners-upDetroit Tigers
NL championsPhiladelphia Phillies
  NL runners-upBrooklyn Dodgers
World Series
ChampionsNew York Yankees
  Runners-upPhiladelphia Phillies
Finals MVPJerry Coleman (NYY)
MLB seasons
Locations of teams for the 1942–1953 American League seasons
American League
Locations of teams for the 1943–1952 National League seasons
National League

The 1950 major league baseball season began on April 18, 1950. The regular season ended on October 1, with the Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 47th World Series on October 4 and ended with Game 4 on October 7. The Yankees swept the Phillies in four games, capturing the 13th championship in franchise history.

The 17th Major League Baseball All-Star Game was played on July 11, hosted by the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park in Chicago, Illinois, with the National League winning, 4–3.

On April 18, the Boston Braves become the fifth team in MLB to break the color line when they fielded Sam Jethroe.[1]

The only no-hitter of the season was pitched by Vern Bickford on August 9, in the Boston Braves 7–0 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers.[2][3] This season saw the first use of a bullpen car, by the Cleveland Indians.[4]

On Opening Day, April 18, the Boston Braves become the fifth team in professional baseball to break the color line when they fielded Sam Jethroe.[5]

Schedule

See also: Major League Baseball schedule

The 1950 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 18, featuring all sixteen teams, the first time since 1947. The final day of the regular season was on October 1, which also saw all sixteen teams play, continuing the trend from 1946. This was the first time since 1947 that all sixteen teams played their first and last games on the same days. The World Series took place between October 4 and October 7.

Rule changes

The 1950 season saw the following rule changes:[6]

  • Home team must bat second, in the bottom of the inning. This replaced the previous rule which would give the manager or captain of the home team preference to whether the home team would bat first or second. A major league game did not feature a home team in the top of the inning since 1914.[7]
  • Mount must be 15 inches high. The previous rule stated that the maximum height was 15 inches, but gave no minimum.[8]
  • Rules for determining winning and losing pitcher established.[9]
  • The size of all glove, aside from first baseman and catcher's gloves, are regulated to be no more than 8 inches wide and 12 inches long. The size and shape of the webbing between the thumb and index finger was also regulated.[10]
  • Strike zone redefined and shrunk to be from the armpits to top of the knees.[11]

Teams

League Team City Stadium Capacity Manager
American League Boston Red Sox Boston, Massachusetts Fenway Park 35,200 Joe McCarthy, Steve O'Neill
Chicago White Sox Chicago, Illinois Comiskey Park 47,400 Jack Onslow, Red Corriden
Cleveland Indians Cleveland, Ohio Cleveland Stadium 73,811 Lou Boudreau
Detroit Tigers Detroit, Michigan Briggs Stadium 58,000 Red Rolfe
New York Yankees New York, New York Yankee Stadium 67,000 Casey Stengel
Philadelphia Athletics Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Shibe Park 33,166 Connie Mack
St. Louis Browns St. Louis, Missouri Sportsman's Park 34,000 Zack Taylor
Washington Senators Washington, D.C. Griffith Stadium 29,731 Bucky Harris
National League Boston Braves Boston, Massachusetts Braves Field 37,106 Billy Southworth
Brooklyn Dodgers New York, New York Ebbets Field 32,111 Burt Shotton
Chicago Cubs Chicago, Illinois Wrigley Field 38,690 Frankie Frisch
Cincinnati Reds Cincinnati, Ohio Crosley Field 30,101 Luke Sewell
New York Giants New York, New York Polo Grounds 54,500 Leo Durocher
Philadelphia Phillies Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Shibe Park 33,166 Eddie Sawyer
Pittsburgh Pirates Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Forbes Field 33,730 Billy Meyer
St. Louis Cardinals St. Louis, Missouri Sportsman's Park 34,000 Eddie Dyer

Standings

American League

American League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
New York Yankees 98 56 .636 — 53‍–‍24 45‍–‍32
Detroit Tigers 95 59 .617 3 50‍–‍30 45‍–‍29
Boston Red Sox 94 60 .610 4 55‍–‍22 39‍–‍38
Cleveland Indians 92 62 .597 6 49‍–‍28 43‍–‍34
Washington Senators 67 87 .435 31 35‍–‍42 32‍–‍45
Chicago White Sox 60 94 .390 38 35‍–‍42 25‍–‍52
St. Louis Browns 58 96 .377 40 27‍–‍47 31‍–‍49
Philadelphia Athletics 52 102 .338 46 29‍–‍48 23‍–‍54

National League

National League
Team W L Pct. GB Home Road
Philadelphia Phillies 91 63 .591 — 48‍–‍29 43‍–‍34
Brooklyn Dodgers 89 65 .578 2 48‍–‍30 41‍–‍35
New York Giants 86 68 .558 5 44‍–‍32 42‍–‍36
Boston Braves 83 71 .539 8 46‍–‍31 37‍–‍40
St. Louis Cardinals 78 75 .510 12½ 48‍–‍28 30‍–‍47
Cincinnati Reds 66 87 .431 24½ 38‍–‍38 28‍–‍49
Chicago Cubs 64 89 .418 26½ 35‍–‍42 29‍–‍47
Pittsburgh Pirates 57 96 .373 33½ 33‍–‍44 24‍–‍52

Postseason

Bracket

World Series
      
AL New York Yankees 1 210 3* 5
NL Philadelphia Phillies 0 1 2 2

*Denotes walk-off

Managerial changes

Off-season

Team Former Manager New Manager
Boston Braves Johnny Cooney Billy Southworth
Washington Senators Joe Kuhel Bucky Harris

In-season

Team Former Manager New Manager
Boston Red Sox Joe McCarthy Steve O'Neill
Chicago White Sox Jack Onslow Red Corriden

League leaders

American League

Hitting leaders
Stat Player Total
AVG Billy Goodman (BRS) .354
HR Al Rosen (CLE) 37
RBI Walt Dropo (BRS)
Vern Stephens (BRS)		 144
R Dom DiMaggio (BRS) 131
H George Kell (DET) 218
SB Dom DiMaggio (BRS) 15
Pitching leaders
Stat Player Total
W Bob Lemon (CLE) 23
L Alex Kellner (PHA) 20
ERA Early Wynn (CLE) 3.20
K Bob Lemon (CLE) 170
IP Bob Lemon (CLE) 288.0
SV Mickey Harris (WSH) 15

National League

Hitting leaders
Stat Player Total
AVG Stan Musial (SLC) .346
HR Ralph Kiner (PIT) 47
RBI Del Ennis (PHP) 126
R Earl Torgeson (BSB) 120
H Duke Snider (BKN) 199
SB Sam Jethroe (BSB) 35
Pitching leaders
Stat Player Total
W Warren Spahn (BSB) 21
L Bob Rush (CHC) 20
ERA Sal Maglie (NYG) 2.71
K Warren Spahn (BSB) 191
IP Vern Bickford (BSB) 311.2
SV Jim Konstanty (PHP) 22

Awards and honors

Regular season

Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards
BBWAA Award National League American League
Rookie of the Year Sam Jethroe (BSB) Walt Dropo (BRS)
Most Valuable Player Jim Konstanty (PHP) Phil Rizzuto (NYY)

Other awards

The Sporting News awards

Home field attendance

Team name Wins %± Home attendance %± Per game
New York Yankees[19] 98 1.0% 2,081,380 −8.9% 27,031
Detroit Tigers[20] 95 9.2% 1,951,474 7.2% 24,092
Cleveland Indians[21] 92 3.4% 1,727,464 −22.7% 22,435
Boston Red Sox[22] 94 −2.1% 1,344,080 −15.8% 17,456
Philadelphia Phillies[23] 91 12.3% 1,217,035 48.5% 15,603
Brooklyn Dodgers[24] 89 −8.2% 1,185,896 −27.4% 15,204
Pittsburgh Pirates[25] 57 −19.7% 1,166,267 −19.5% 15,146
Chicago Cubs[26] 64 4.9% 1,165,944 2.0% 14,948
St. Louis Cardinals[27] 78 −18.8% 1,093,411 −23.6% 14,387
New York Giants[28] 86 17.8% 1,008,878 −17.2% 13,275
Boston Braves[29] 83 10.7% 944,391 −12.7% 11,954
Chicago White Sox[30] 60 −4.8% 781,330 −16.6% 9,890
Washington Senators[31] 67 34.0% 699,697 −9.2% 8,970
Cincinnati Reds[32] 66 6.5% 538,794 −23.9% 7,089
Philadelphia Athletics[33] 52 −35.8% 309,805 −62.1% 4,023
St. Louis Browns[34] 58 9.4% 247,131 −8.8% 3,340

See also

References

  1. ^ "These players integrated each MLB team". MLB.com. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  2. ^ "American League No Hitters". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  3. ^ "National League No Hitters". Baseball Almanac. Retrieved October 1, 2012.
  4. ^ Lukas, Paul (October 19, 2007). "Lukas: Long live the bullpen car - ESPN Page 2". Espn.com. Retrieved February 24, 2018.
  5. ^ "These players integrated each MLB team". MLB.com. Retrieved November 14, 2024.
  6. ^ "MLB Rule Changes | Baseball Almanac". www.baseball-almanac.com. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  7. ^ Andrews, Davy. "The Death and Rebirth of the Home Team Batting First – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  8. ^ "Pitching Mound History–balance between pitchers and batters". BoSox Injection. December 13, 2013. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  9. ^ admin. "Origin of the Modern Pitching Win – Society for American Baseball Research". Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  10. ^ Holmes, Dan (February 7, 2021). "1950 rule forced Joe DiMaggio to ditch his favorite glove". Baseball Egg. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  11. ^ "A guide to rules changes in MLB (and sports) history". MLB.com. Retrieved May 28, 2024.
  12. ^ "The Hutch Award, Lou Gehrig Award, Babe Ruth Award & Roberto Clemente Award Winners". Baseball-Reference.com. Archived from the original on May 31, 2020. Retrieved October 4, 2011.
  13. ^ "1950 World Series". Baseball-Reference. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved September 20, 2009.
  14. ^ "Phil Rizzuto Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac.
  15. ^ "Jim Konstanty Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  16. ^ "Jim Konstanty Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac.
  17. ^ "Bob Lemon Statistics". Baseball-Reference.com.
  18. ^ "Bob Lemon Baseball Almanac Awards". Baseball Almanac.
  19. ^ "New York Yankees Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  20. ^ "Detroit Tigers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  21. ^ "Cleveland Indians Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  22. ^ "Boston Red Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  23. ^ "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  24. ^ "Los Angeles Dodgers Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  25. ^ "Pittsburgh Pirates Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  26. ^ "Chicago Cubs Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  27. ^ "St. Louis Cardinals Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  28. ^ "San Francisco Giants Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  29. ^ "Atlanta Braves Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  30. ^ "Chicago White Sox Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  31. ^ "Minnesota Twins Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  32. ^ "Cincinnati Reds Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  33. ^ "Oakland Athletics Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.
  34. ^ "Baltimore Orioles Attendance, Stadiums and Park Factors". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved September 8, 2020.