The 1951 major league baseball season began on April 16, 1951. The regular season ended on October 3, with the New York Giants and New York Yankees as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The Giants defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in a regular season best-of-three tiebreaker, for the National League title, after both teams finished their 154-game schedules with identical 96–58 records. This was the third regular season tie-breaker, and saw a reversion from the single-game tie-breaker featured in 1948 to the three-game format featured in the 1946 tie-breaker series. After splitting the first two games, the stage was set for a decisive third game, won in dramatic fashion on a walk-off home run from the bat of Giant Bobby Thomson, one of the most famous moments in the history of baseball, commemorated as the "Shot Heard 'Round the World" and "The Miracle at Coogan's Bluff". The postseason began with Game 1 of the 48th World Series on October 4 and ended with Game 6 on October 10. In the sixth iteration of this Subway Series World Series matchup, the Yankees defeated the Giants, four games to two, capturing their 14th championship in franchise history, and their third in a five-run World Series. This would be the final Subway Series matchup between the two teams, as the next World Series between the two in would see a relocated Giants franchise in San Francisco, California.
The 18th All-Star Game was held on July 10 at Briggs Stadium in Detroit, Michigan, home of the Detroit Tigers. The National League won, 8–3.
On May 1, the Chicago White Sox become the sixth team in professional baseball to break the color line when they fielded future Hall-of-Famer Minnie Miñoso.
This was Happy Chandler's last season of his 5½-tenure as Commissioner of Baseball, as he resigned on July 15, after team owner voted against renewing his contract which expired in April 1952. National League president Ford Frick would be elected as commissioner, officially taking the position September 20, just days before the end of the regular season.
Schedule
The 1951 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 season (except for ) and would be used until in the American League and in the National League.
National League Opening Day took place on April 16, with a game between the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds, while American League Opening Day took place the following day, featuring all eight teams. This was the first season since that both leagues opened on different days. The final day of the scheduled regular season was on September 30, which saw all sixteen teams play, continuing the trend from . Due to the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants finishing with the same record of 96–58, a best-of-three tie-breaker was scheduled, to be considered an extension of the regular season, and took place between October 1 and October 3. The World Series took place between October 4 and October 10.
Rule changes The 1951 season saw the following rule changes: The bonus rule, which stated that any player signed to a contract greater than $4,000 () had to stay on the team's 25-man roster for two years, was abolished. In the event of a walk, hit by pitch, or other plays with the bases loaded which forces the runners to advance bases which wins the game for the team batting in the bottom of the final inning, the runner on third must touch home base and the hitter of the current at bat must reach first base. Following a dead ball, play shall resume only when the pitcher, with the current ball, takes his place on the pitcher's mound. If a pitcher must come into a game to relieve the previous pitcher with no opportunity to warm up, he is allowed to throw as many warmup pitches on the field until the umpire feels the pitcher is properly prepared to face batters. If interference occurs by the catcher or fielder, and if so a batter or baserunner is awarded their next base, the catcher or fielder is charged with an error. Caught stealing became a trackable statistic. Official rules surrounding caught stealing would not be codified until .
Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBoston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park35,200Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park47,400Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium73,811Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium67,000Philadelphia AthleticsPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,166St. Louis BrownsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,000Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium29,731Boston BravesBoston, MassachusettsBraves Field37,106Brooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field32,111Chicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field36,755Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field29,980New York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds54,500Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaShibe Park33,166Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field33,730St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriSportsman's Park34,000
Standings
American League
National League
The New York Giants defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers in best-of-three playoff series to earn the National League pennant.
Tie games 4 tie games (1 in AL, 3 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season.
American League Chicago White Sox, 1 Cleveland Indians, 1
National League Boston Braves, 1 Brooklyn Dodgers, 1 Chicago Cubs, 1 Cincinnati Reds, 1 Pittsburgh Pirates, 1 St. Louis Cardinals, 1
Postseason
The postseason began on October 1 and ended on October 10 with the New York Yankees defeating the New York Giants in the 1951 World Series in six games.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBrooklyn DodgersBurt ShottonChuck DressenChicago White Sox Red CorridenPaul RichardsCleveland Indians Lou BoudreauAl LópezPhiladelphia AthleticsConnie MackJimmy DykesSt. Louis CardinalsEddie DyerMarty Marion
In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerBoston BravesBilly SouthworthTommy HolmesChicago CubsFrankie FrischPhil Cavarretta
League leaders Any team shown in indicates a previous team a player was on during the season.
American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Ferris Fain (PHA) .344 OPS Ted Williams (BOS) 1.019 HR Gus Zernial (PHA/) 33 RBI Gus Zernial (PHA/) 129 R Dom DiMaggio (BOS) 113 H George Kell (DET) 191 SB Minnie Miñoso (CWS/) 31
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Bob Feller (CLE) 22 L Ted Gray (DET)Alex Kellner (PHA)Bob Lemon (CLE)Billy Pierce (CWS)Duane Pillette (SLB)Dizzy Trout (DET) 14 ERA Saul Rogovin (CWS/) 2.78 K Vic Raschi (NYY) 164 IP Early Wynn (CLE) 274.1 SV Ellis Kinder (BOS) 16 WHIP Eddie Lopat (NYY) 1.193
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Stan Musial (STL) .355 OPS Ralph Kiner (PIT) 1.079 HR Ralph Kiner (PIT) 42 RBI Monte Irvin (NYG) 121 R Ralph Kiner (PIT)Stan Musial (STL) 124 H Richie Ashburn (PHI) 221 SB Sam Jethroe (BSN) 35
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Larry Jansen (NYG)Sal Maglie (NYG) 23 L Paul Minner (CHC)Ken Raffensberger (CIN)Willie Ramsdell (CIN) 17 ERA Chet Nichols Jr. (BSN) 2.88 K Don Newcombe (BRO)Warren Spahn (BSN) 164 IP Robin Roberts (PHI) 315.0 SV Ted Wilks (PIT/) 13 WHIP Ken Raffensberger (CIN) 1.086
Milestones Batters Cycles
Gus Bell (PIT): Bell hit for his first cycle and 17th in franchise history, on June 4 against the Philadelphia Phillies.
Other batting accomplishments Eddie Gaedel (SLB): In his only plate appearance in the major leagues, Gaedel debuts as the shortest player in major league history at , drawing a walk when he pinch-hit in game two of a doubleheader against the Detroit Tigers on August 19.
Other batting accomplishments Bob Nieman (SLB): Became the only player in history to hit two home runs in his first two plate appearances of his Major League debut on September 14, hitting home runs in the second and third innings against the Boston Red Sox. He is the second to hit two in his first Major League game.
Pitchers No-hitters
Cliff Chambers (STL/): Chambers threw his first career no-hitter and second no-hitter in franchise history as a player on the Pittsburgh Pirates, by defeating the Boston Braves 3–0 in game two of a doubleheader on May 6. Chambers walked eight and struck out four. Bob Feller (CLE): Feller threw his third career no-hitter and 10th no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Detroit Tigers 2–1 in game one of a doubleheader on July 1. Feller walked three and struck out five. Allie Reynolds (NYY): Reynolds threw his first career no-hitter and fourth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Cleveland Indians 1–0 on July 12. Reynolds walked three struck out four. Reynolds threw his second career no-hitter and fifth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Boston Red Sox 8–0 in game one of a doubleheader on September 28. Reynolds four and struck out nine.
Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the Year Willie Mays (NYG) Gil McDougald (NYY)Most Valuable Player Roy Campanella (BRO) Yogi Berra (NYY)Babe Ruth Award(World Series MVP) — Phil Rizzuto (NYY)
Other awards The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League Player of the Year Stan Musial (STL) — Pitcher of the Year Preacher Roe (BRO) Bob Feller (CLE) Rookie of the Year Willie Mays (NYG) Minnie Miñoso (CWS) Manager of the Year Leo Durocher (NYG) — Executive of the Year — George Weiss (NYY)
Baseball Hall of Fame
Mel Ott Jimmie Foxx
Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceNew York Yankees980.0%1,950,107 −6.3%25,001Cleveland Indians931.1%1,704,984 −1.3%22,143Chicago White Sox8135.0%1,328,23470.0%17,029Boston Red Sox87 −7.4%1,312,282 −2.4%17,497Brooklyn Dodgers979.0%1,282,6288.2%16,444Detroit Tigers73 −23.2%1,132,641 −42.0%14,710New York Giants9814.0%1,059,5395.0%13,584St. Louis Cardinals813.8%1,013,429 −7.3%12,828Pittsburgh Pirates6412.3%980,590 −15.9%12,572Philadelphia Phillies73 −19.8%937,658 −23.0%12,177Chicago Cubs62 −3.1%894,415 −23.3%11,616Washington Senators62 −7.5%695,167 −0.6%9,147Cincinnati Reds683.0%588,2689.2%7,640Boston Braves76 −8.4%487,475 −48.4%6,250Philadelphia Athletics7034.6%465,46950.2%5,892St. Louis Browns52 −10.3%293,79018.9%3,815
See also 1951 in baseball (Events, Movies, Births, Deaths) 1951 All-American Girls Professional Baseball League season 1951 Nippon Professional Baseball season
References
External links
1951 Major League Schedule at Baseball Reference