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.
