|
 Say
Hey Overtakes Ozark Ike
Mays Raps 15 Dingers in
May
Zernial Clings Tight to HR Crown
WASHINGTON (June 1) -- There is a new
home run king in town, and this time it's not merely a prince regent.
Washington superstar Willie Mays surpassed Gus Zernial on the all-time home run
list with #342 just three weeks after his 30th birthday. Mays clobbered a
staggering 15 dingers in May, closely the gap rapidly. The "Say Hey Kid"
hit #338 on May 17, climbing within one of the 37-year-old Cleveland slugger,
then hit #339 to tie Zernial on May 22. Mays and Zernial then both homered
on both the 24th (#340 for each) and the 25th (#341 for each), as Zernial clung
tightly to his HR crown. Alas, two days later Mays hit two home runs at
Griffith Stadium off Sam "Toothpick" Jones while Zernial took the collar at the
Polo Grounds, and the chase was over.
Zernial owned the all-time HR record for exactly 315 days.
"Ozark Ike", whose other claims to fame are the first hit and first HR in UL
history, took the crown in style with a homer hat trick on July 16, 1961 to end
the decade-long reign of Ralph Kiner, the UL's first Player of the Decade.
Kiner shared the all-time HR crown at the end of three seasons (with Duke Snider
in 1951 and Gil Hodges in 1952 and 1954), but managed to maintain at least a
share of the crown for a full decade.
Mays Sets Sights on
Single-Season Record
Mays, who turned 30 on May 6, now takes aim at the single-season
record, another Zernial benchmark. Mays has 21 home runs through 55 games,
and needs only 26 more in the last 107 games to break the single-season record.
His current torrid hitting has him on a 62 HR, 171 RBI pace.
Zernial cranked 46 home runs in 1957, shattering Kiner's 1953 mark
of 41 home runs. Mays made a run for the record during his 1958 MVP
season, hitting 45 through Sept. 23 before going homerless in his last 7 games
to finish one shy of the record. The 40-homer mark has been cracked just
eight times in 11 UL seasons, twice by Hodges and Kiner, and once each by
Zernial, Mays, Mantle, and Aaron.
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Ralph Kiner
1951-
July 16, 1961
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Gus
Zernial
July
16, 1961 - May 27, 1962
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Willie Mays
May
27, 1962 |
 Don't
Mess With Texans
Rally Boys Win 11 Straight
DALLAS (June 1) -- The expansion Dallas
Texans won 11 consecutive games in late May, several in dramatic comebacks, and
were 19-2 from May 4-26 before being swept in four game series at Brooklyn.
After losing a 3-2 nailbiter at Manhattan on May 14, the T's blanked the G-Sox
on Art Ceccarelli's 3-hit shutout, then proceeding to win another 10 games
before finally losing May 28 at the Frank. Along the way, Dallas rallied
from 4-2 deficit in the 8th to win their 4th straight on May 18, from from 6-1
down in the 9th to win their 7th straight on May 21, and turned back a 5-3
deficit to win their 8th straight on May 22. In their series opener at
Brooklyn May 28, it looked like the magic might continue. Trailing 8-3
going into the 9th, the Texans scored five runs on Whitey Ford and Dave Sisler
on two-run homers by Norm Siebern and Wally Moon and a RBI single by Wally Post.
But Irv Noren's RBI single off Ray Crone gave Brooklyn a 9-8 win in the bottom
of the ninth.
Third baseman Frank Thomas (.277-10-31) drove in 21 runs in May,
and fellow former Colonel Wally Post had seven home runs. But the clubs
real strength has been its pitching, led by ace Bob Miller (6-0, 2.80 in May),
Dick Donovan (6-2, 3.04 in May), and closer Ray Crone (13 saves, 0.63 ERA in
season).
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BOS |
SP Bob Friend (season) |
|
CHI |
SP Tom Sturdivant (5
wks)
2B Nellie Fox (5 wks)
C Johnny Roseboro (4 wks) |
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CLE |
SP Robin Roberts (season) |
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MAN |
SP Bubba Church (4-5 wks) |
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SF |
SP George Brunet (career) |
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STL |
C Earl Averill (1 week) |
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TRADE |
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CLE
gets:
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SP Robin Roberts
(5200)
MR Dick Drott (500)
1963 1st round draft pick
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LOU
gets:
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MR Seth Morehead (2000)2B Billy Goodman (1880)
SP Jack Kralick (500)
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HOME RUN CHASE |
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The Chase (*homered)
5/1 Zernial 338, Mays 332*
5/2 Zernial 338, Mays 333*
5/7 Zernial 338, Mays 334*
5/12 Zernial 338, Mays 335*
5/14 Zernial 338, Mays 336*
5/15 Zernial 339*, Mays 337*
5/17 Zernial 339, Mays 338*
5/22 Zernial 339, Mays 339*
5/24 Zernial 340*, Mays 340*
5/25 Zernial 341*, Mays 341*
5/27 Mays 343**, Zernial 341
5/28 Mays 344*, Zernial 341
5/30 Mays 345*, Zernial 341
5/31 Mays 346*, Zernial 342*
UL's Home Run Kings
1951-1961 Ralph Kiner
7/16/61 Zernial 322, Kiner 321
5/27/62 Mays 342, Zernial 341
Home Runs, Career (Age)
346 Willie Mays (30)
342 Gus Zernial (37)
321 Ralph Kiner (38)
297 Mickey Mantle (29)
276 Gil Hodges†
264 Eddie Mathews (30)
245 Stan Musial†
241 Roy Campanella (39)
229 Ernie Banks (31)
225 Hank Aaron (28)
Home Runs, Single Season
46 Gus Zernial, CHI (1957)
45 Willie Mays, WAS (1958)
43 Mickey Mantle, BRO (1960)
42 Hank Aaron, LOU (1961)
41 Ralph Kiner, DET (1957)
41 Ralph Kiner, DET (1953)
40 Gil Hodges, BRO (1954)
40 Gil Hodges, BRO (1952)
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W
E S T D I V I S I O N
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E
A S T D I V I S I O N
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CHICAGO
COLTS |
Elston blowing saves left and right
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BROOKLYN
SUPERBAS |
x
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ST LOUIS
MAROONS |
Herb Score strikes out 15 on May 26, for
3rd time in under a year. The UL's last seven 15-K games have all
been authored by St. Louis pitchers: Score and Billy Pierce, who has a
total of seven.
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DETROIT
GRIFFINS |
No passing of the torch, yet. Conley
beat Koufax, and Ford beat Gibson at Brooklyn won the last two to split
a four-game series at Detroit May 19-22. Ramos and Jay won games
1-2.
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DALLAS TEXANS |
3-1 against Manhattan in first series
between expansion teams. Tom Brewer and Art Ceccarelli had
shutouts, and four Texans homered in the 8-5 finale.
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MANHATTAN GRAY SOX |
x
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LOUISVILLE COLONELS |
x
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WASHINGTON MONUMENTS |
x
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SAN
FRANCISCO SPIDERS |
Hoyt Wilhelm notched his first save May
29, #278 of his career. |
CLEVELAND
BARONS |
x
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LOS
ANGELES OUTLAWS |
x
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BOSTON
FEDERALS |
Bob Allison game-tying grand slam with 2
out in 9th vs. MAN on May 22.
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BATTING
AVERAGE |
HOME RUNS |
RBI |
OPS |
RUNS
SCORED |
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Granny Hamner,
BRO |
.370
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*Don Demeter, CHI |
.362
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Floyd Robinson, STL |
.358
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Bill Skowron,
LOU |
.349
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Norm Cash, CHI |
.336
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Billy Williams,
SF |
.335
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*Leon Wagner, DET |
.329
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Frank Torre, STL |
.329
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*Don Blasingame,
STL |
.323
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*Willie Mays, WAS |
.322
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Willie Mays, WAS |
21
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Roger Maris, STL |
15
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Norm Cash, CHI |
13
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Orlando Cepeda,
BOS |
13
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Jim King, DET |
13
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Johnny Romano,
WAS |
13
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*Wally Post, LOU |
12
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Hank Aaron, LOU |
11
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*Harmon Killebrew,
SF |
11
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Dick Kokos, STL |
11
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*Eddie Mathews,
CLE |
11
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Willie Mays, WAS |
58
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Granny Hamner,
BRO |
52
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Leon Wagner, DET |
43
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Jim King, DET |
41
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Roger Maris, STL |
39
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*Orlando Cepeda,
BOS |
37
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Dick Kokos, STL |
37
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Ernie Banks, CHI |
36
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Johnny Romano,
WAS |
36
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*Mickey Mantle,
BRO |
36
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Norm Cash, CHI |
1.109
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Willie Mays, WAS |
1.073
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Roger Maris, STL |
1.001
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*Don Demeter, CHI |
.991
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Granny Hamner,
BRO |
.987
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Bill Skowron,
LOU |
.983
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Eddie Mathews,
CLE |
.976 |
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Jim King, DET |
.973 |
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*Leon Wagner, DET |
.965
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*Mickey Mantle,
BRO |
.940
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BROOKLYN
|
291
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CHICAGO
|
290
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DETROIT
|
280
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ST. LOUIS
|
271
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WASHINGTON
|
269
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LOUISVILLE
|
233
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DALLAS
|
227 |
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CLEVELAND
|
225
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MANHATTAN |
212 |
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BOSTON
|
209
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LOS ANGELES
|
200
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SAN FRANCISCO
|
196
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EARNED
RUN AVERAGE |
WINS |
STRIKEOUTS |
RATIO |
RUNS
ALLOWED |
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Billy Pierce, CHI |
1.70
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Lew Burdette,
BRO |
1.82
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Joey Jay, DET |
1.91
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Gene Conley, BRO |
1.91
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Tom Sturdivant,
CHI |
2.00 |
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Carl Erskine,
CHI |
2.00
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Johnny Antonelli,
LOU |
2.08
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Jack Sanford,
MAN |
2.37
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Art Ceccarelli,
DAL |
2.58
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Whitey Ford, BRO |
2.64
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*Pedro Ramos, DET |
2.64
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Johnny Antonelli,
LOU |
10
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Billy Pierce, CHI |
10
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Dick Donovan, DAL |
9
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*Bob Miller, DAL |
9
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Carl Erskine,
CHI |
8
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*Art Houtteman,
WAS |
8
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Jim Perry, BRO |
8
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Pedro Ramos, DET |
8
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Herb Score, STL |
8
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Herb Score, STL |
136
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Billy Pierce,
CHI |
117
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Johnny Antonelli,
LOU |
115 |
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Gene Conley, BRO |
101
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Art Houtteman,
WAS |
99
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Toothpick Jones, BOS |
98
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Whitey Ford, BRO
|
95 |
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Bob Miller, DAL |
95
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Pedro Ramos, DET |
89 |
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Bob Gibson, DET |
86
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Lew Burdette, BRO |
7.6
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Billy Pierce, CHI
|
7.9
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Johnny Antonelli,
LOU |
8.7
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Gene Conley, BRO |
8.8
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Jack Sanford,
MAN |
8.8
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Tom Sturdivant,
CHI |
9.2
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*Ken
Johnson, LOU |
9.2 |
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Carl Erskine,
CHI |
9.9
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Johnny Podres,
MAN |
10.0
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*Bubba Church,
MAN |
10.1
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BROOKLYN
|
189
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CHICAGO
|
194
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MANHATTAN |
207
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DALLAS
|
215
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DETROIT
|
219
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BOSTON
|
236
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ST. LOUIS
|
242
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LOUISVILLE
|
258
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CLEVELAND
|
269
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WASHINGTON
|
283
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LOS ANGELES
|
291
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SAN FRANCISCO
|
300
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BATTER OF THE MONTH |
PLAYER OF THE WEEK |
MILESTONES |
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APR
|
Roger Maris, STL |
4/9
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Roger Maris, STL |
7/9 |
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Willie
Mays, WAS |
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MAY
|
Willie Mays,
WAS |
4/16
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Don Mueller, LOU |
7/16
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342nd home run (May
27), #1 all-time |
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JUN
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4/23
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Carl Erskine, CHI |
7/23
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Granny Hamner, BRO |
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JUL
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4/30
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Whitey Ford, BRO |
7/30
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1,500th hit (May
28), #10 all-time |
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AUG
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5/7
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Bill White, CLE |
8/6
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Frank
Smith, BRO |
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SEP
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5/14
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Bill Skowron, LOU |
8/13
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200th save (May
26), #3 all-time |
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PITCHER OF THE MONTH |
5/21
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Joey Jay, DET |
8/20
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Johnny
Antonelli, LOU |
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APR
|
Gene Conley,
BRO |
5/28
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Willie Mays, WAS |
8/27
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30th shutout (May
23), #2 all-time |
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MAY
|
Billy Pierce,
CHI |
6/4
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9/3
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JUN
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6/11
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9/10
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JUL
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6/18
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9/17
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AUG
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6/25
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9/24
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SEP
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7/2
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10/1 |
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UNITED LEAGUE CHAMPIONS |
MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
|
CY YOUNG AWARD
|
ROOKIE OF THE YEAR
|
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1951 |
ST. LOUIS MAROONS
|
Ralph Kiner, DET |
Sam Zoldak, STL |
Jackie Jensen, LOU |
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1952
|
WASHINGTON MONUMENTS
|
Jackie Robinson, NYG |
Larry Jansen, WAS |
Stu Miller, WAS |
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1953
|
WASHINGTON MONUMENTS
|
Mickey Mantle, BOS |
Stu Miller, WAS |
Smoky Burgess, BRO |
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1954
|
WASHINGTON MONUMENTS
|
Stan Musial, STL |
Billy Pierce, STL |
Ed Bailey, LOU |
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1955
|
BROOKLYN SUPERBAS
|
Roy Campanella, LA |
Tom Gorman, BRO |
Gene Conley, BRO |
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1956
|
WASHINGTON
MONUMENTS
|
Ralph Kiner, DET |
Johnny Antonelli, LOU |
Frank Robinson, LA |
|
1957
|
BROOKLYN SUPERBAS
|
Granny Hamner, BRO |
Gene Conley, BRO |
Roger Maris, BOS |
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1958
|
LOUISVILLE COLONELS
|
Willie Mays, WAS |
Carl Erskine, WAS |
Orlando Cepeda, NYG |
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1959
|
SAN FRANCISCO SPIDERS
|
Granny Hamner, BRO |
Gene Conley, BRO |
Vada Pinson, LA |
|
1960
|
BROOKLYN SUPERBAS |
Hank Aaron, LOU |
Gene Conley, BRO |
Joe Gibbon, NYG |
|
1961 |
BROOKLYN SUPERBAS |
Granny Hamner, BRO |
Johnny Antonelli, LOU |
Dick Howser, WAS |
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