The 1960 major league baseball season began on April 12, 1960. The regular season ended on October 2, with the Pittsburgh Pirates and New York Yankees as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 57th World Series on October 5 and ended with Game 7 on October 13. In the second iteration of this World Series matchup, the Pirates, led by second baseman Bill Mazeroski, defeated the Yankees, led by outfield sluggers Mickey Mantle and Roger Maris, four games to three, capturing their third championship in franchise history, since their previous in . The series ended with Mazeroski hitting a walk-off home run in Game 7 and is among the most memorable in baseball history. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the Los Angeles Dodgers from the season.
For the second year, there were two separate All-Star Games played. The first, the 28th All-Star Game, was held on July 11 at Municipal Stadium in Kansas City, Missouri, home of the Kansas City Athletics. The National League won, 5–3. The second, the 29th All-Star Game, was held on July 13 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York, home of the New York Yankees. The National League won, 6–0.
The American League's Washington Senators played their final season in Washington, D.C. before moving to the Minneapolis–Saint Paul metropolitan area as the Minnesota Twins for the 1961 season. Due to threats of the proposed Continental League, a third major league which would host teams in cities that did not play major-league teams (as well as a National League New York team), the 1960 season would prove to be the final season before the expansion-era; the following season would see the American League grow to 10 teams, ending the 16-team hegemony across the American and National Leagues that had existed for most of the 20th century to this point. Expansion would also see the end of the 154-game schedule in favor of a 162-game schedule.
Following the end of the previous season, the two leagues saw their first interleague trade on November 21, when the Chicago Cubs received 1B Dick Gernert from the Boston Red Sox, in exchange for RHP Dave Hillman and 1B Jim Marshall.
Schedule
The 1960 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 was the last season to use the format by the American League due to the 1961 American League expansion, which saw an extension of the schedule to 162 games. The National League would use the 154-game format for one more season.
National League Opening Day took place on April 12, featuring all eight teams, while American League Opening Day took place on April 18, featuring the Boston Red Sox and Washington Senators. The final day of the regular season was on October 2, which saw all sixteen teams play, continuing the trend since the previous season. The World Series took place between October 5 and October 13.
Rule change The 1960 season saw the following rule change: While previously, drafted players to major-league or minor-league teams were based on a sliding scale ($15,000 () in the majors to at most half the amount to as low as a fifth the amount in the minors), a $12,000 () price tag was set at all levels of professional baseball.
Teams LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandBaltimore Memorial Stadium47,778Boston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park33,368Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park46,550Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium73,811Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000Kansas City AthleticsKansas City, MissouriMunicipal Stadium30,296New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium67,205Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium28,669Chicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field36,755Cincinnati RedsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field30,322Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles, CaliforniaLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum94,600Milwaukee BravesMilwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee County Stadium43,768Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaConnie Mack Stadium33,359Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field35,500San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco, CaliforniaCandlestick Park43,765St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriBusch Stadium30,500
Standings
American League
National League
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 The Kansas City Athletics and New York Yankees had one each. June 15, New York Yankees vs. Kansas City Athletics, tied at 7 after 12 innings due to rain. Game called after a 30 minute rain delay that began in the bottom of the 13th inning; 13th inning negated. Game rescheduled for August 7.
National League The Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants had two tie games. The Pittsburgh Pirates and St. Louis Cardinals had one each. June 28, Pittsburgh Pirates vs. San Francisco Giants, tied at 7 after nine innings on account of curfew at 12:50 a.m. July 4 (game 2), Chicago Cubs vs. San Francisco Giants, tied at 1 after 14 innings on account of darkness. September 5 (game 2), Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals, tied at 4 after 10 innings on account of darkness.
Postseason The postseason began on October 5 and ended on October 13 with the Pittsburgh Pirates defeating the New York Yankees in the 1960 World Series in seven games.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerChicago CubsBob ScheffingCharlie GrimmKansas City AthleticsHarry CraftBob ElliottMilwaukee BravesFred HaneyChuck Dressen
In-season Team Former Manager New Manager NotesBoston Red SoxBilly JurgesDel BakerDel BakerPinky HigginsChicago CubsCharlie GrimmLou BoudreauCleveland IndiansJoe GordonJo-Jo WhiteJoe Gordon and Jimmy Dykes exchanged by Indians and Tigers, respectively.Jo-Jo WhiteJimmy DykesDetroit TigersJimmy DykesBilly HitchcockBilly HitchcockJoe GordonPhiladelphia PhilliesEddie SawyerAndy CohenAndy CohenGene MauchSan Francisco GiantsBill RigneyTom Sheehan
League leaders American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Pete Runnels (BOS) .320 OPS Mickey Mantle (NYY) .957 HR Mickey Mantle (NYY) 40 RBI Roger Maris (NYY) 112 R Mickey Mantle (NYY) 119 H Minnie Miñoso (CWS) 184 SB Luis Aparicio (CWS) 51
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Chuck Estrada (BAL)Jim Perry (CLE) 18 L Pedro Ramos (WSH) 18 ERA Frank Baumann (CWS) 2.67 K Jim Bunning (DET) 201 IP Frank Lary (DET) 274.1 SV Johnny Klippstein (CLE) 14 WHIP Hal Brown (BAL) 1.113
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Dick Groat (PIT) .325 OPS Frank Robinson (CIN) 1.002 HR Ernie Banks (CHC) 41 RBI Hank Aaron (MIL) 126 R Bill Bruton (MIL) 112 H Willie Mays (SF) 190 SB Maury Wills (LAD) 50
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Ernie Broglio (STL)Warren Spahn (MIL) 21 L Glen Hobbie (CHC) 20 ERA Mike McCormick (SF) 2.70 K Don Drysdale (LAD) 246 IP Larry Jackson (STL) 282.0 SV Lindy McDaniel (STL) 27 WHIP Don Drysdale (LAD) 1.063
Milestones Batters Cycles
Brooks Robinson (BAL): Robinson hit for his first cycle and sixth in franchise history, on July 15 against the Chicago White Sox. Bill White (STL): White hit for his first cycle and 11th in franchise history, in game one of a doubleheader on August 14 against the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Other batting accomplishments George Crowe (STL): Set a major league record with 11 pinch-hit home runs on May 25. Ted Williams (BOS): Became the fourth player in Major League history to hit 500 home runs in the third inning against the Cleveland Indians on June 17. Becomes the first player in major league history with a stolen base in four consecutive decades (1930s–1960s) when he steals a base on July 22 against the Cleveland Indians. This was the last of 24 stolen bases in Williams' career.
Pitchers No-hitters
Don Cardwell (CHC/): Cardwell threw his first career no-hitter and eighth no-hitter in franchise history as a part of the Chicago Cubs, by defeating the St. Louis Cardinals 4–0 in game two of a doubleheader on May 15. Wilson walked one and struck out seven. Lew Burdette (MIL): Burdette threw his first career no-hitter and ninth no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 1–0 on August 18. Burdette hit one by pitch and struck out three. Warren Spahn (MIL): Spahn threw his first career no-hitter and 10th no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Philadelphia Phillies 4–0 on September 16. Spahn walked two and struck out 15.
Miscellaneous Stan Musial (STL): Becomes the first major league player to play at two different positions at least 1,000 times, after playing his 1,000th game at first base on April 29. To this point, he played 1,513 games in the outfield. Gus Triandos (BAL): Set two American League records on May 4, with three passed balls in one inning (the sixth inning), and four passed balls in one game. Joe Ginsberg (CWS/): Tied an American League record with three passed balls in one inning on May 10 as a part of the Baltimore Orioles, previously set just six days earlier.
Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America Awards BBWAA Award National League American League Rookie of the Year Frank Howard (LAD) Ron Hansen (BAL) Cy Young Award Vern Law (PIT) — Most Valuable Player Dick Groat (PIT) Roger Maris (NYY) Babe Ruth Award(World Series MVP) Bill Mazeroski (PIT) —Gold Glove Awards Position National League American League Pitcher Harvey Haddix (PIT) Bobby Shantz (NYY) Catcher Del Crandall (MIL) Earl Battey (WSH) 1st Base Bill White (STL) Vic Power (CLE) 2nd Base Bill Mazeroski (PIT) Nellie Fox (CWS) 3rd Base Ken Boyer (STL) Brooks Robinson (BAL) Shortstop Ernie Banks (CHC) Luis Aparicio (CWS) Left field Wally Moon (LAD) Minnie Miñoso (CWS) Center field Willie Mays (SF) Jim Landis (CWS) Right field Hank Aaron (MIL) Roger Maris (NYY)
Other awards Sport Magazine's World Series Most Valuable Player Award: Bobby Richardson (NYY)
The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League Player of the Year Bill Mazeroski (PIT) — Pitcher of the Year Vern Law (PIT) Chuck Estrada (BAL) Fireman of the Year(Relief pitcher) Lindy McDaniel (STL) Mike Fornieles (BOS) Rookie of the Year Frank Howard (LAD) Ron Hansen (BAL) Manager of the Year Danny Murtaugh (PIT) — Executive of the Year — George Weiss (NYY)
Monthly awards Player of the Month
Month National League May Roberto Clemente (PIT) June Lindy McDaniel (STL) July Don Drysdale (LAD) August Warren Spahn (MIL) September Ken Boyer (STL)
Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceLos Angeles Dodgers82 −6.8%2,253,8878.8%29,271San Francisco Giants79 −4.8%1,795,35626.2%23,316Pittsburgh Pirates9521.8%1,705,82825.4%21,870Chicago White Sox87 −7.4%1,644,46015.6%21,357New York Yankees9722.8%1,627,3494.9%21,134Milwaukee Braves882.3%1,497,799 −14.4%19,452Baltimore Orioles8920.3%1,187,84933.2%15,427Detroit Tigers71 −6.6%1,167,669 −4.4%15,165Boston Red Sox65 −13.3%1,129,86614.8%14,674St. Louis Cardinals8621.1%1,096,63217.9%14,242Cleveland Indians76 −14.6%950,985 −36.5%12,350Philadelphia Phillies59 −7.8%862,2057.4%11,197Chicago Cubs60 −18.9%809,770 −5.6%10,250Kansas City Athletics58 −12.1%774,944 −19.6%9,935Washington Senators7315.9%743,40420.8%9,655Cincinnati Reds67 −9.5%663,486 −17.2%8,617
Umpires