More 1959 Baseball Season Highlights

In 1959, Harvey Kuenn and Hank Aaron led their leagues in hits. See more highlights of the 1959 baseball season below:

  • Joe Cronin named American League president-first ex-player to reach that pinnacle.

  • Cleveland's Rocky Colavito hits four homers on June 10.

  • Bill Veeck buys the White Sox.

  • Elroy Face wins a season record 17 straight games in relief (22 games over two-year period).

  • Face finishes 18-1 with a win pct. of .947.

  • Baltimore's Dave Philley collects a record nine consecutive pinch hits.

  • Detroit's Eddie Yost tops American League in runs (115), walks (135), and OBP (.437).

  • Yogi Berra's record streak of 148 consecutive errorless games at catcher ends.

  • Baltimore beats Chicago 2-1 on May 19 on a 120-foot homer by pitcher Billy O'Dell.

  • Washington's Harmon Killebrew ties Colavito for American League lead in homers (42).

  • Kuenn leads American League in hits (198) and doubles (42).

  • Aaron leads National League in hits (223), total bases (400), SA (.636), and runs produced (200).

  • Finally getting a chance to play, Cleveland's Tito Francona hits .363. but lacks enough at-bats to qualify for BA title.

  • Ted Williams and Stan Musial both hit below .300 for the first time in their careers.

  • A record crowd of 93,103 attends the LA Coliseum for a Yankees-Dodgers exhibition, which is also Roy Campanella Night.

  • The Phils' Sparky Anderson has just 119 total bases, fewest in history by a player with 500 or more at-bats.

  • Warren Spahn leads the National League in CGs (21) and ties in wins (21).

  • Sam Jones of the Giants leads the National League in ERA (2.82) and ties in wins (21).

  • LA's Don Drysdale leads the majors in Ks with 242.

  • On April 22 vs. KC, the White Sox score 11 runs on just one hit in the seventh inning.

  • Pittsburgh deals Frank Thomas, Whammy Douglas, Jim Pendleton, and Johnny Powers to the Reds for Haddix, Don Hoak, and Smoky Burgess.

  • With interleague trading now allowed, the Giants send Jackie Brandt and two others to Baltimore for Billy Loes and Billy O'Dell.

  • Cleveland sends Minnie Minoso and three other players to the White Sox for John Romano, Bubba Phillips, and Norm Cash.

  • The Yankees ship Jerry Lumpe, Johnny Kucks, and Tom Sturdivant to KC for Hector Lopez and Ralph Terry.

  • Cleveland trades Billy Martin, Cal McLish, and Gordy Coleman to the Reds for Johnny Temple.

  • On Sept. 22, the Dodgers collect nine pinch hits.

  • Red Schoendienst is shelved for the season by TB, possibly costing the Braves a pennant.

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