More 1954 Baseball Season Highlights

Check out more 1954 baseball season highlights, including Karl Spooner's major league record and Ted Kluszewski's many hits:

  • The sacrifice fly rule is reinstated once again.
  • Cincy's Ted Kluszewski breaks Johnny Mize's National League record when he scores at least one run in 17 straight games.
  • Karl Spooner of the Dodgers hurls shutouts in his first two major league starts.
  • Spooner sets a major league record by fanning 15 batters in his big league debut.
  • Jim Wilson of Milwaukee no-hits the Phils on June 12.

    Duke Snider made his debut in the big leagues at age 20.
    Duke Snider made his
    debut in the big leagues
    in 1947 -- at age 20.

  • After the 1954 baseball season, the Yankees and Baltimore make a record 18-player swap.
  • On May 2, Stan Musial becomes the first player to hit five homers in a doubleheader.
  • Bobby Thomson's injury frees a spot in the Braves outfield for rookie second baseman Hank Aaron, who hits .280.
  • Duke Snider leads the National League in runs (120) and total bases (378).
  • Ted Kluszewski tops the National League in homers (49) and RBI (141).
  • Musial leads the National League in doubles (41) and ties in runs (120).
  • Ray Jablonski of the Cards becomes the second player in major league history to drive in 100 runs in first two seasons.
  • After the season, St. Louis trades Ray Jablonski and Gerry Staley to Cincinnati for Frank Smith.
  • Baltimore trades Roy Sievers to Washington for Gil Coan.
  • The Cards deal Enos Slaughter to the Yankees for Bill Virdon, Mel Wright, and Emil Tellinger.
  • The Orioles ship Vic Wertz to Cleveland for Bob Chakales.
  • In August, the Yanks buy Jim Konstanty from the Phils.
  • Prior to the season, the Braves trade Johnny Antonelli, Don Liddle, and two other players to the Giants for Bobby Thomson and Sam Calderon.
  • Cass Michaels of the White Sox is beaned and his skull is fractured; he's forced to retire at age 28.
  • Gil Hodges of the Dodgers sets a major league record with 19 sacrifice flies.
  • Only three American League teams win more than 69 games -- Cleveland, New York, and Chicago (94).
  • Cleveland is only 22-22 against New York and Chicago, but goes 89-21 against the rest of the American League.
  • The Yankees' 103 wins are the most ever by an American League -- also ran.
  • The Red Sox finish fourth in the American League with a .448 win pet.
  • The Pirates lose 100 or more games for the third year in a row.
  • The 1954 World Series winner's share tops $10,000 per player for the first time.
  • Joe Bauman of Roswell in the Longhorn League hits an OB record 72 home runs.

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