More 1949 Baseball Season Highlights

Check out more highlights of the 1949 baseball season, including a 34-game hitting streak by Dom DiMaggio and Dan Newcombe being voted Rookie of the Year:

  • The A's and Phils both finish above .500 for the first time since 1913.
  • The Cards have only 17 stolen bases, a record low for a National League team.
  • Boston's Dom DiMaggio has a 34-game hitting streak.
  • The Red Sox collect a major league record 835 walks.
  • Ralph Kiner hits 25 homers on the road, a new National League record.
  • Stan Musial tops the National League in hits (207), doubles (41), total bases (382), and OBP (.438), and ties in triples (13).
  • Kiner paces National League in RBI (127), walks (117), and SA (.658).
  • Warren Spahn tops the National League in wins (21), innings (302), CGs (25), and Ks (151).
  • Ted Williams and Vern Stephens combine for 499 runs produced, most since 1932 by pair of teammates.
  • Roy Sievers of the Browns wins the American League Rookie of the Year honor.
  • The Cards finish second, 1 game back of Brooklyn, after losing four games in the final week.
  • Phillie Eddie Waitkus is shot and nearly killed in a Chicago hotel room by a female admirer.
  • Brooklyn's Pee Wee Reese leads the National League in runs (132).
  • Dale Mitchell leads the American League in hits (203).
  • Ellis Kinder leads the American League in win pct. (.793) and ties for top in shutouts (six).
  • Cleveland rookie Mike Garcia leads the American League in ERA at 2.35.
  • Detroit's Virgil Trucks tops the majors in Ks with 153.
  • The Yankees yield an American League record 812 walks.
  • Brooklyn's Don Newcombe is voted National League Rookie of the Year.
  • On July 6, Cincinnati's Walker Cooper goes 6-for-7 and hits three homers in a nine-inning game.
  • A record 59 minor leagues begin season, and the minors attract a record 40 million fans.
  • The A's trade Nellie Fox to the White Sox for Joe Tipton.
  • The Reds send Hank Sauer and Frankie Baumholtz to the Cubs for Harry Walker and Peanuts Lowrey.
  • The Braves ship Al Dark and Eddie Stanky to the Giants for Sid Gordon, Willard Marshall, and two others.
  • The Cards sell Murry Dickson to the Pirates for $125,000.
  • Jimmy Stewart stars as Monty Stratton in The Stratton Story.
  • Howie Judson of the White Sox loses 14 games in a row.
  • Paul Calvert of Washington also loses 14 games in a row.
  • Rookie Alex Kellner of the A's wins 20 games.

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