Highlighted Year: John Roseboro, 1958

Catcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  25 (May 13)

1^st season with Dodgers

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 5’11” Weight: 190 

Prior to 1958:

A native of Ashland, Ohio, Roseboro became a catcher in high school where he was also a fleet-footed starting halfback on the football team. Accepting a scholarship to Central State College, he drew the interest of a Brooklyn Dodgers scout and he signed for a $5000 bonus in 1952. The 19-year-old backstop was initially assigned to Sheboygan of the Class D Wisconsin State League where he broke a finger and was shifted to the outfield. With his smooth swing he batted .365 with 15 doubles, 5 triples, one home run, 49 RBIs, a .443 on-base percentage, and .473 slugging percentage while appearing in 68 games. Playing center field in 1953 for Great Falls of the Class C Pioneer League, he continued to hit well until he was drafted into the Army at midseason. Roseboro missed all of 1954 and returned to play for teams at the Class A and B level in 1955, where he hit a combined .247 with 6 home runs and 28 RBIs with a .399 OBP. He also returned to playing catcher as the Dodgers were looking to develop a replacement for star backstop Roy Campanella, who was in his mid-thirties. Promoted to the Montreal Royals of the Class AAA International League in 1956, Roseboro batted .273 with 25 home runs, 78 RBIs, a .400 OBP, and a .538 slugging percentage. He started 1957 with Montreal but was called up to Brooklyn in June due to an injury to first baseman Gil Hodges. Playing out of position, Roseboro played his first four games at first and then stayed on as the club’s third-string catcher and making ten appearances as a pinch-runner to take advantage of speed that was uncharacteristic of a backstop. In all he appeared in 79 games with the Dodgers and batted a disappointing .145 with 2 home runs and 6 RBIs. Campanella’s career-ending car accident in the offseason led to Roseboro sticking with the club in its new location in Los Angeles in 1958. The Dodgers, who gambled on not trading for an established catcher, soon settled on Roseboro as the regular backstop in tandem with veteran backup Rube Walker and another rookie, Joe Pignatano.

1958 Season Summary

Appeared in 114 games

C – 104, PH – 9, LF – 4, CF – 1, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 431

At Bats – 384

Runs – 52

Hits – 104

Doubles – 11

Triples – 9 [7, tied with Dick Groat, Bob Skinner & Ken Boyer]

Home Runs – 14

RBI – 43

Bases on Balls – 36

Int. BB – 2

Strikeouts – 56

Stolen Bases – 11 [11, tied with Ken Boyer]

Caught Stealing – 8 [5, tied with Johnny Temple & Don Hoak]

Average - .271

OBP - .333

Slugging Pct. - .456 [Non-qualifying]

Total Bases – 175

GDP – 5

Hit by Pitches – 2

Sac Hits – 4

Sac Flies – 5 [16, tied with eight others]

Midseason snapshot: 3B – 6, HR - 6, RBI - 19, AVG - .264, OBP - .338, SLG – .454

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Most hits, game – 3 on five occasions

Longest hitting streak – 7 games

HR at home – 2

HR on road – 12

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 6 AB) at Cincinnati 8/3 – 10 innings

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 3 on five occasions

Pinch-hitting – 2 for 7 (.286) with 1 2B, 1 RBI & 1 BB

Fielding

Chances – 638

Put Outs – 594

Assists – 36

Errors – 8

Passed Balls – 3

DP – 5

Pct. - .987

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The relocated Dodgers went 71-83 to finish seventh in the NL, 21 games behind the pennant-winning Milwaukee Braves while leading the league in stolen bases (73), fewest hits (1297), lowest batting average (.251), and lowest OBP (.317). The Dodgers were in the NL basement by May 12 following a 9-16 start, rose as high as fourth during a 17-14 August but dropped in September to finish out of the first division for the first time since 1944. They still drew 1,845,556 fans to their ill-suited temporary home at the LA Memorial Coliseum, some 800,000 more than their last year in Brooklyn.

Aftermath of 1958:

The Dodgers won the NL pennant in 1959, and Roseboro, with a secure hold on the catching position, batted .232 with 14 doubles, 7 triples, 10 home runs, 38 RBIs, and a .322 OBP. Having taken some blame for the failures of the pitching staff in 1958, which were likely more affected by the odd configuration of the LA Memorial Coliseum, he gained esteem for his defense, featuring a strong throwing arm that was much in evidence in the World Series against the White Sox and their aggressive base-stealers who he held in check. He also led all NL catchers with 848 putouts. The ballpark configuration that hindered lefthanded batters likely kept Roseboro’s average and power totals low, although in the playoff against the Milwaukee Braves to decide the pennant, the young catcher’s home run in the sixth inning of Game 1 provided the margin for a 3-2 win. In 1960 his batting production fell further to .213 with a .323 OBP and 8 home runs with 42 RBIs. His defense remained steady and his hitting improved in 1961 as he batted .251 with 18 home runs, 59 RBIs, a .346 OBP, and a .459 slugging percentage. He was also an All-Star for the second time and received a Gold Glove for his play behind the plate. The team moved into the new Dodger Stadium in 1962 and missed winning the NL pennant by losing a season-extending playoff to the Giants. Roseboro remained a key contributor defensively and hit .249 with 16 doubles, 7 triples, 7 home runs, 55 RBIs, and a .341 OBP. With the Dodgers reliant on pitching, speed, and defense, Roseboro did his part as a reliable backstop who could run effectively, stealing 12 bases that included a theft of home. The club won the pennant in 1963 and Roseboro contributed by batting .236 with 13 doubles, 7 triples, 9 home runs, 49 RBIs, and a .291 OBP while handling pitchers well and continuing to perform solidly behind the plate. His three-run homer in Game 1 of the World Series against the Yankees gave starting pitcher Sandy Koufax all the runs he needed in putting together a 15-strikeout performance that kicked off a four-game sweep. LA dipped in the standings in 1964 but Roseboro’s batting average jumped to .287 along with 24 doubles, 3 home runs, 45 RBIs, and a .357 OBP. The Dodgers were back in a close pennant race with the Giants in 1965 and Roseboro became involved in one of the most notorious on-field incidents in baseball history. In an August game at San Francisco, ace RHP Juan Marichal of the Giants began throwing brushback pitches at Dodger batters. When Marichal next came to bat, Roseboro threw close to Marichal’s head in tossing the ball back to pitcher Sandy Koufax and after the two exchanged words, Roseboro began to rise from his crouch and Marichal struck him in the head three times with his bat, instigating a melee. While it was initially feared that the catcher had lost an eye, he ended up with a gash in his head and was back in action three days later. Marichal was fined and suspended for eight days, missing only one start. The Dodgers went on to win the pennant and Roseboro, the quiet catcher who was ironically tagged with the nickname “Gabby”, saw his batting production drop to .233 with 8 home runs, 57 RBIs, and a .289 OBP. He placed 26^th in league MVP voting, primarily appreciated for his defense, handling of pitchers, and clutch hitting. In 1966 Roseboro raised his average to .276 with 23 doubles, 9 home runs, 53 RBIs, and a .343 OBP for the light-hitting Dodgers, who repeated as NL pennant winners. He also caught in over 100 games for the eighth time with LA, the last six consecutive, and received a Gold Glove for his defensive prowess. He placed thirteenth in league MVP balloting. The Dodgers were swept in the World Series by the Baltimore Orioles. In the pitching-dominated Series, Roseboro only produced one single. He played one more season with the fading Dodgers in 1967 and hit .272 with 18 doubles, 4 home runs, 24 RBIs, and a .348 OBP while appearing behind the plate in 107 games. In the offseason, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins along with pitchers Bob Miller and Ron Perranoski for RHP Jim “Mudcat” Grant and shortstop Zoilo Versalles. Viewed as a short-term replacement for the retired Earl Battey, Roseboro caught in 116 games in 1968 and batted a mere .216 in a pitching-dominated season with 8 home runs, 39 RBIs, and a .300 OBP. With the division-winning Twins in 1969, Roseboro was behind the plate for 111 games and hit .263 with 3 home runs, 32 RBIs, and a .333 OBP. Released in the offseason, he caught on with the Washington Senators in 1970 but was released as a player in August, thus concluding his playing career, and finished out the season as a coach. His major league totals were a batting average of .249 with 1206 hits that included 190 doubles, 44 triples, and 104 home runs. He scored 512 runs and compiled 548 RBIs, 67 stolen bases, a .326 OBP, and a .371 slugging percentage. With the Dodgers the totals were 441 runs scored, 1009 hits, 162 doubles, 44 triples, 92 home runs, 471 RBIs, 59 stolen bases, a .327 OBP, and a .382 slugging percentage. Appearing in 23 postseason games, Roseboro hit .160 with a home run and 7 RBIs. A six-time All-Star, he also was awarded two Gold Gloves, and often playing through nagging injuries, he was a durable and much-appreciated presence behind the plate. Following his playing career, Roseboro coached but fell well short of achieving his desire to manage in the major leagues. He died in 2002 at the age of 69.  

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Johnny Podres, 1958

Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  26 (Sept. 30)

5^th season with Dodgers

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’11” Weight: 170 

Prior to 1958:

A native of Witherbee, New York, a village in the Adirondack Mountains, Podres grew up listening to Brooklyn Dodgers games on the radio. After pitching for Mineville High School, he joined the Burlington Cardinals in Vermont, who were part of the Summer Collegiate Northern League. In 1951 Podres entered the minor league system of the Brooklyn Dodgers with Newport News of the Class D Piedmont League where he stayed briefly before moving on to the Hazard Bombers of the Mountain States League where he excelled with a 21-9 record, 1.67 ERA, and 228 strikeouts over 200 innings pitched. Having developed a curve to go along with his fastball, Podres was assigned to the Montreal Royals of the Class AAA International League in 1952 where he posted a 5-5 tally and 3.27 ERA with 47 strikeouts over 88 innings. With the Dodgers in need of lefthanded pitching, Podres moved up to Brooklyn in 1953, and starting and relieving for the pennant-winning club, the 20-year-old rookie went 9-4 with a 4.23 ERA and 82 strikeouts over the course of 115 innings. He took a loss in his only World Series start against the Yankees. In 1954 a midseason bout with appendicitis limited Podres to 29 appearances (21 of them starts) and an 11-7 record with a 4.27 ERA, 6 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 79 strikeouts over 151.2 innings. The Dodgers regained the NL pennant in 1955, although Podres had an ordinary won-lost record of 9-10 with a 3.95 ERA, 5 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 114 strikeouts over 159.1 innings. In the World Series against the Yankees, Podres was at his best, with his good changeup effective in combination with his other pitches. With the Dodgers down 2-games-to-0, he went the distance in winning Game 3. With the Series going to seven games, Podres drew the start in the crucial Game 7 and again pitched a complete game in the 2-0 win which clinched the first World Series title in franchise history (and their only one in Brooklyn). An outstanding catch by LF Sandy Amoros of a well hit ball by Yogi Berra in the sixth inning helped to preserve the win and the shutout. Podres was named the MVP of the World Series and received a raise to $15,000 for 1956 although he was drafted into the Navy and missed the season. Returning to the Dodgers in 1957, Podres won the NL ERA title with a 2.66 mark, fueled by 6 shutouts as part of his 12-9 tally along with 109 strikeouts over 196 innings pitched. With the move of the franchise to Los Angeles in 1958, he and other Dodger pitchers had to adjust to playing in the huge LA Memorial Coliseum, the club’s temporary home.

1958 Season Summary

Appeared in 42 games

P – 39, PR – 3

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 39

Games Started – 31 [9, tied with Dick Drott]

Complete Games – 10 [11]

Wins – 13 [9, tied with Ray Semproch, Ron Kline & Larry Jackson]

Losses – 15 [2]

PCT - .464 [18]

Saves – 1

Shutouts – 2 [6, tied with ten others]

Innings Pitched – 210.1 [10]

Hits – 208 [13]

Runs – 96 [16, tied with Ron Kline]

Earned Runs – 87 [16, tied with Don Newcombe]

Home Runs – 27 [6]

Bases on Balls – 78 [11]

Strikeouts – 143 [3, tied with Johnny Antonelli]

ERA – 3.72 [14]

Hit Batters – 2

Balks – 3 [1, tied with Taylor Phillips]

Wild Pitches – 4 [20, tied with five others]

Midseason Snapshot: 8-7, ERA - 3.83, SO - 74 in 108 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 11 (in 9 IP) at San Francisco 4/16

10+ strikeout games – 1

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) vs. Cincinnati 6/4

Batting

PA – 79, AB – 71, R – 5, H – 9, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 4, BB – 2, SO – 17, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .127, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 4, SF – 2

Fielding

Chances – 34

Put Outs – 7

Assists – 25

Errors – 2

DP – 3

Pct. - .941

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The relocated Dodgers went 71-83 to finish seventh in the NL, 21 games behind the pennant-winning Milwaukee Braves. The pitching staff led the league in strikeouts, highest ERA (4.47), and most home runs surrendered (173). The Dodgers were in the NL basement by May 12 following a 9-16 start, rose as high as fourth during a 17-14 August but dropped in September to finish out of the first division for the first time since 1944. They still drew 1,845,556 fans to their ill-suited temporary home at the LA Memorial Coliseum, some 800,000 more than their last year in Brooklyn.

Aftermath of 1958:

The Dodgers bounced back to win the NL pennant in 1959 and Podres, bothered by chronic back pain, contributed a 14-9 record (10-4 on the road), 4.11 ERA, 6 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 145 strikeouts over 195 innings. He also picked up a win in the World Series against the Chicago White Sox. The Dodgers dropped to fourth place in 1960 but Podres posted a 14-12 tally with a 3.08 ERA and 159 strikeouts over 227.2 innings. Along the way he was an All-Star for the second time. He produced an impressive 18-5 record for the second-place Dodgers in 1961 along with a 3.74 ERA and 124 strikeouts over 182.2 innings. Rewarded with a pay increase to $28,500 in 1962, Podres started the season-opening game at the new Dodger Stadium, which he lost. LA ended up tied with the rival Giants atop the NL and lost a season-extending playoff to finish second. Although again hindered by back trouble, Podres had a less gaudy 15-13 tally along with a 3.81 ERA and 178 strikeouts over 255 innings and was once more an All-Star. The Dodgers won the 1963 NL pennant and Podres, the club’s stalwart #3 starter behind LHP Sandy Koufax and RHP Don Drysdale, put together a 14-12 record and 3.54 ERA with 10 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 134 strikeouts over 198.1 innings. He further contributed to LA’s World Series sweep of the Yankees by winning Game 2, allowing one run in 8.1 innings before yielding to bullpen ace Ron Perranoski. In a down year for the Dodgers in 1964, an elbow injury that eventually required surgery limited Podres to two starts, both of which were losses. Back in action in 1965 and with LHP Claude Osteen having taken his spot in the rotation, Podres was used as a spot starter and went 7-6 with a 3.43 ERA and 63 strikeouts over 134 innings pitched. The Dodgers won the pennant but Podres did not appear in the seven-game World Series win over Minnesota. Newly married in 1966 to an Ice Follies skater, Podres also added a slider to his repertoire. Following only one pitching appearance, he was traded to the Detroit Tigers where he was utilized out of the bullpen and occasionally started. His record was 4-5 with a 3.43 ERA, two complete games, and 53 strikeouts over 107.2 innings. He spent one more season with the Tigers in 1967 and was 3-1 with a 3.84 ERA in 21 appearances (8 of them starts). Released in the offseason, he sat out 1968 and attempted a comeback in 1969 at age 36 with the expansion San Diego Padres. He posted a 5-6 tally and 4.31 ERA in his final major league season. For his major league career, Podres produced a 148-116 record with a 3.68 ERA, 77 complete games, 24 shutouts, and 1435 strikeouts over 2265 innings pitched. With the Dodgers he went 136-104 with a 3.66 ERA, 74 complete games, 23 shutouts, and 1331 strikeouts over 2029.1 innings. In six World Series starts, his record was 4-1 with a 2.11 ERA, 2 complete games, 1 shutout, and 18 strikeouts over 38.1 innings. A four-time All-Star, he was honored by Moriah High School, which had absorbed the high school he attended and named its athletic field Johnny Podres Field. He was also named to the National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame. Following his playing career he became a pitching coach for several major league teams. Podres died in 2008 at age 75. A pitcher who was consistent and occasionally spectacular, he won some very significant games for the Dodgers in both Brooklyn and Los Angeles. Statues of Podres throwing to a crouched catcher Roy Campanella were placed 60’6” apart outside the Baseball Hall of Fame to commemorate Brooklyn’s 1955 World Series title.  

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.

Highlighted Year: Willie Mays, 1958

Outfielder, San Francisco Giants

Age:  27 (May 6)

7^th season with Giants

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’10” Weight: 170 

Prior to 1958:

An Alabama native, Mays was the son of a father who played semipro baseball and a mother who was a high school track and basketball star. His high school lacking a baseball team, Mays played second base and center field as a teammate of his father with a club in the Fairfield Industrial League. He also played semipro ball and briefly was with the Chattanooga Choo-Choos in 1947, which was a minor affiliate of the Negro American League Birmingham Black Barons. In 1948, at age 17, he joined the Black Barons on a part-time basis while he finished high school and batted .262 in 61 at bats. Still with Birmingham in 1949, Mays hit .311 in 75 games and was impressive defensively in center field. Following a strong start with Birmingham in 1950, Mays was signed by the Giants for $250 per month with a $4000 signing bonus. Initially assigned to Trenton of the Class B Interstate League, where he was the first black player, over the course of 81 games he hit .353 with 20 doubles, 8 triples, and 4 home runs. Mays started the 1951 season with the Minneapolis Millers of the Class AAA American Association and was batting .477 after 35 games, when he was called up to the Giants at the behest of manager Leo Durocher. He was immediately installed in center field and, despite a slow start, he went on to bat .274 with 20 home runs and 68 RBIs as the club got hot down the stretch and forced a season-extending playoff with the Brooklyn Dodgers to decide the pennant. The Giants won thanks to a walk-off home run by Bobby Thomson and went on to lose the World Series to the New York Yankees. Mays received NL Rookie of the Year recognition. He was limited to 34 games in 1952 before being inducted into the Army. Mays missed the remainder of the ’52 season and all of 1953, but he played service baseball. Returning to the Giants in 1954 he went on a home run tear to start the season on the way to batting a league-leading .345 with 33 doubles, a NL-high 13 triples, 41 home runs, and 110 RBIs. The Giants won the pennant and Mays was the league MVP. In the World Series sweep of the Cleveland Indians, he made a brilliant defensive play in Game 1 at the Polo Grounds to chase a ball hit over his head by Cleveland first baseman Vic Wertz, making an over-the shoulder catch and whirling to make a throw to the infield that kept runners from advancing. The Giants dropped to third in 1955 but Mays hit .319 with 127 RBIs and topped the league with 13 triples, 51 home runs, a .659 slugging percentage, and 382 total bases. He also led all NL outfielders in assists (23) and double plays (8). The home runs dropped to 36 in 1956, but with his speed and daring on the basepaths he led the league with 40 stolen bases. He further compiled 84 RBIs and hit .296. In the Giants’ final season in New York in 1957, Mays led the NL in triples (20), slugging (.625), and stolen bases (38), while hitting 35 home runs with 97 RBIs and a .333 batting average. With the move to San Francisco in 1958, he was joined in the lineup by power-hitting rookie first baseman Orlando Cepeda. After being enormously popular in New York, he found the San Francisco fans slow to warm up to him and there was a racial incident when he sought to buy a house in the city. The local sportswriters were slow to warm up as well and he had a less pleasant relationship with manager Bill Rigney than the one he had enjoyed with Leo Durocher. A charismatic, enthusiastic, and energetic player known as “the Sey Hey Kid” due to his standard greeting, who did flashy things on the field like utilize a basket catch, he was prone to bouts of nervous exhaustion throughout his career and was briefly hospitalized during the season for rest.

1958 Season Summary

Appeared in 152 games

CF – 151, PH – 2

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 685 [2]

At Bats – 600 [6]

Runs – 121 [1]

Hits – 208 [2]

Doubles – 33 [6, tied with Bob Skinner]

Triples – 11 [2, tied with Bill Virdon & Ernie Banks]

Home Runs – 29 [6]

RBI – 96 [4, tied with Orlando Cepeda]

Bases on Balls – 78 [5, tied with Jim Gilliam]

Int. BB – 12 [4, tied with Ernie Banks]

Strikeouts – 56

Stolen Bases – 31 [1]

Caught Stealing – 6 [8, tied with four others]

Average - .347 [2]

OBP - .419 [3]

Slugging Pct. - .583 [2]

Total Bases – 350 [2]

GDP – 11

Hit by Pitches – 1

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 6 [11, tied with four others]

League-leading runs scored were +2 ahead of runner-up Ernie Banks

League-leading stolen bases were +1 ahead of runner-up Richie Ashburn

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 17, 3B – 8, HR - 16, RBI - 48, AVG - .358, SLG - .622, OBP – .411

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) at LA Dodgers 5/13, (in 5 AB) vs. LA Dodgers 9/1

Longest hitting streak – 9 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) vs. LA Dodgers 5/9, (in 5 AB) at LA Dodgers 5/12, (in 5 AB) at LA Dodgers 5/13

HR at home – 16

HR on road – 13

Multi-HR games – 3

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. LA Dodgers 5/9, at LA Dodgers 5/12

Pinch-hitting – 0 for 2 (.000) 

Fielding

Chances – 455

Put Outs – 429

Assists – 17

Errors – 9

DP – 2

Pct. - .980

Awards & Honors:

Gold Glove

All-Star (Started for NL in CF)

2^nd in NL MVP voting (185 points – 3 first place votes, 55% share)

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The Giants went 80-74 in their first San Francisco season to finish third in the NL, 12 games behind the pennant-winning Milwaukee Braves while leading the league in runs scored (727), doubles (250) and RBIs (682). The Giants got off to a strong start and were in first place for all but two days from May 18 to June 10. They remained close to the top and were last in first on July 29. They dropped into third place to stay during a 14-17 August and drew a total of 1,272,625 fans to their temporary home at Seals Stadium, nearly doubling the attendance from their last year at New York’s Polo Grounds.    

Aftermath of 1958:

Another power-hitting rookie first baseman, Willie McCovey, joined the Giants during the 1959 season and the team contended for the NL pennant (McCovey would later go on to become the strong lefthanded bat behind Mays in the lineup). Mays contributed a .313 average, 34 home runs, 104 RBIs, 27 stolen bases, and his usual impressive play in center field, despite suffering leg and hand injuries. The move into Candlestick Park in 1960 diminished Mays’ power numbers, although he hit well on the road and led the NL with 190 hits while also batting .319 with 29 home runs and 103 RBIs. In 1961 he had his greatest single-game hitting performance as he homered a record-tying four times in a game against the Braves at Milwaukee’s County Stadium. Benefiting from the presence of Cepeda batting behind him, Mays hit .308 with 40 home runs, 123 RBIs, and scored a league-leading 129 runs. The Giants won the NL pennant in 1962 and “the Say Hey Kid” contributed a league-high 49 home runs along with 141 RBIs and a .304 average. He was at his best down the stretch, despite passing out in the dugout in Cincinnati as a result of fatigue as the Giants battled the Dodgers and ended up facing off in a season-extending playoff. He was narrowly edged out in the league MVP voting by LA shortstop Maury Wills. Mays, now the highest paid player at $105,000, had a rough first half in 1963 that led some observers to speculate that he was slowing down at age 32. He picked up the pace in the season’s second half to finish at .314 with 38 home runs and 103 RBIs. With the Giants contending in 1964, Mays led the NL with 47 home runs and a .607 slugging percentage while batting .296 with 111 RBIs. He followed up with his second MVP season in 1965 by again topping the NL with 52 home runs, a .398 on-base percentage, and a .645 slugging percentage while hitting .317 with 112 RBIs. Mays remained highly productive in 1966, hitting .288 with 37 home runs and 103 RBIs. Along the way he passed Jimmie Foxx to reach second on the all-time home run list at the time. Problems with injury and illness limited him to a .263 average with 22 home runs and 70 RBIs in 1967, although he still was an All-Star and received a Gold Glove. His average rebounded to .289 in 1968 along with 23 home runs and 79 RBIs. Mays reached 600 career home runs in 1969 in a year in which he totaled only 13 with 58 RBIs and a .283 average. He reached 3000 hits in 1970 as he batted .291 with 28 home runs and 83 RBIs. The Giants won the NL West in 1971 and Mays contributed 18 home runs, 61 RBIs, and league-leading totals in walks drawn (112) and OBP (.425). He played 48 games at first base in addition to 84 in center field to rest his aging legs. Seeking a long-term contract entering 1972, and now making $160,000 per year, he was dealt to the New York Mets in May. In his return to New York, he homered in his first at bat, one of 8 for the year for the 41-year-old slugger. He again split his time between center field and first base and received a salary boost from his new club to $175,000 with a guarantee of $50,000 per year following his retirement if he remained a coach for the team. He lasted one more year as a player in 1973, struggling with rib and knee injuries and appearing in 66 games. For his career including his Negro League totals, Mays batted .301 with 3293 hits that included 525 doubles, 141 triples, and 660 home runs. He further scored 2068 runs and compiled 1909 RBIs and 339 stolen bases, as well as drawing 1468 walks. He compiled twelve 100-run seasons, eleven 30-home run seasons, which included two over 50 and six with at least 40, and ten 100-RBI years. With the Giants he batted .304 with 3187 hits, 504 doubles, 139 triples, 646 home runs, 1859 RBIs, 336 stolen bases, and 2011 runs scored. Appearing in 25 postseason games, Mays hit .247 with a home run and 10 RBIs. A 24-time All-Star (where he often showcased his impressive talents) he placed in the top ten in NL MVP voting twelve times, including two wins. He also received 12 Gold Gloves. The Giants retired his #24 and he was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1979. Mays died in 2024 at the age of 93.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Johnny Antonelli, 1958

Pitcher, San Francisco Giants

Age:  28 (April 12)

5^th season with Giants

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 185 

Prior to 1958:

A native of Rochester, New York, Antonelli starred in three sports at Jefferson High School (basketball and football in addition to baseball). While playing semipro baseball in the Vermont League in 1947 he developed an outstanding curveball. Tossing three no-hitters in high school he drew the attention of prominent major league scouts. Taken to observe spring training by his father, he learned a great deal and his father rented out Silver Stadium, Rochester’s minor league ballpark to showcase his son’s pitching talent against a good semipro team after he had graduated from high school. Nine scouts and 7000 fans attended and Antonelli put on an impressive performance. He was signed by the Boston Braves for a near $50,000 bonus, a record amount at the time. Forced by the rules of the time to go directly to the major league roster for at least two years he initially rode the bench as the Braves battled for the 1948 NL pennant. The so-called “bonus baby” pitched a total of four innings in ’48, giving up two hits and a run. The Braves dropped to fourth place in 1949 but Antonelli saw more action, appearing in 22 games, 10 of them starts. He posted a 3-7 record and a 3.56 ERA with three complete games and 48 strikeouts. Following a 1950 season in which his innings dropped to 57.2 on his way to a 2-3 tally, Antonelli went into the Army for two years, missing all of 1951 and ’52. Playing service baseball at Fort Myer, Virginia during his military stint, he went 42-2 and revived his pitching career. With an effective fastball, curve, and changeup he returned to the Braves in 1953, who were now transplanted to Milwaukee. He got off to an 8-4 start but a bout with pneumonia sapped his strength in the second half of the season and he finished at 12-12 with a 3.18 ERA and 11 complete games that included two shutouts. In 1954 he was traded to the New York Giants as part of a six-player deal. The Giants won the NL pennant and Antonelli displayed tremendous poise and skill in posting a 21-7 record along with a league-leading 2.30 ERA, 18 complete games, 6 shutouts, and 152 strikeouts. In the World Series sweep of the Cleveland Indians, he went the distance in winning Game 2 and saved the decisive Game 4 by retiring the last five Cleveland batters. He received NL Pitcher of the Year honors from The Sporting News two years before the creation of the Cy Young Award. Antonelli and the Giants had a more difficult year in 1955. The Giants dropped to fifth and the star southpaw compiled a 14-16 tally and a 3.33 ERA with 14 complete games, two shutouts, and 143 strikeouts. He returned to All-Star form in 1956 by going 20-13 with a 2.86 ERA, 15 complete games, 5 shutouts, and 145 strikeouts. In 1957, the club’s last year in New York, his record was a disappointing 12-18 with a 3.77 ERA, 8 complete games, 3 shutouts, and 114 strikeouts over the course of 212.1 innings. The Giants moved to San Francisco in 1958.

1958 Season Summary

Appeared in 47 games

P – 41, PH – 5, PR – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 41 [18, tied with Jim Brosnan, Stu Miller & Willard Schmidt]

Games Started – 34 [5, tied with Bob Purkey & Robin Roberts]

Complete Games – 13 [7]

Wins – 16 [6]

Losses – 13 [7, tied with six others]

PCT - .552 [8]

Saves – 3 [18, tied with four others]

Shutouts – 0

Innings Pitched – 241.2 [7]

Hits – 216 [8]

Runs – 101 [14]

Earned Runs – 88 [15]

Home Runs – 31 [1, tied with Don Newcombe]

Bases on Balls – 87 [7]

Strikeouts – 143 [3, tied with Johnny Podres]

ERA – 3.28 [6]

Hit Batters – 3

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 4 [20, tied with five others]

Midseason Snapshot: 8-7, ERA - 3.32, SO – 76 in 127.1 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 8 (in 9 IP) at Chi. Cubs 5/18, (in 10 IP) vs. Cincinnati 8/19, (in 8.2 IP) vs. St. Louis 9/26

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) at Milwaukee 5/23

Batting

PA – 91, AB – 84, R – 9, H – 19, 2B – 2, 3B – 1, HR – 1, RBI – 7, BB – 2, SO – 26, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .226, GDP – 4, HBP – 0, SH – 5, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 41

Put Outs – 10

Assists – 27

Errors – 4

DP – 3

Pct. - .902

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Giants went 80-74 in their first San Francisco season to finish third in the NL, 12 games behind the pennant-winning Milwaukee Braves. The Giants got off to a strong start and were in first place for all but two days from May 18 to June 10. They remained close to the top and were last in first on July 29. They dropped into third place to stay during a 14-17 August and drew a total of 1,272,625 fans to their temporary home at Seals Stadium, nearly doubling the attendance from their last year at New York’s Polo Grounds.

Aftermath of 1958:

Antonelli had another solid season with the contending Giants in 1959, posting a 19-10 record and 3.10 ERA with 17 complete games, 4 shutouts, and 165 strikeouts while going over 200 innings (282) for the sixth straight year. It would be the last time. Rumored to be unhappy in San Francisco, Antonelli faltered following a good start in 1960 and became a target of booing from the home fans and criticism in the press. Pulled from the starting rotation later in the season, he appeared in 41 games (31 in relief) and finished with a 6-7 tally, 3.77 ERA, along with 11 saves and 57 strikeouts over 112.1 innings. In the offseason he was traded along with outfielder Willie Kirkland to the Cleveland Indians for outfielder Harvey Kuenn. He failed to regain his form with the Indians in 1961 and after an 0-4 start with a 6.56 ERA, he was dealt to the Milwaukee Braves where he made only nine appearances (all in relief). Sold to the expansion New York Mets in 1962, he chose to retire. For his major league career, Antonelli produced a 126-110 record with a 3.34 ERA, 102 complete games, 25 shutouts, 21 saves, and 1162 strikeouts in 1992.1 innings pitched. With the Giants he was 108-84 with a 3.13 ERA, 86 complete games, 21 shutouts, 19 saves, and 919 strikeouts over 1600.2 innings. Antonelli appeared in two World Series games, both in 1954, and posted a 1-0 tally with an 0.84 ERA, one save, and 12 strikeouts in 10.2 innings pitched. A six-time All-Star, he twice received league MVP votes. After leaving baseball he operated a tire distributorship and died in 2020 at age 89.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.     

Highlighted Year: Jim Gilliam, 1958

Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  29

6^th season with Dodgers

Bats – Both, Throws – Right

Height: 5’10” Weight: 175 

Prior to 1958:

A native of Nashville, Tennessee, Gilliam began playing semipro baseball at 16, and the following year, he joined the Nashville Black Vols of the Negro Southern League. An intelligent student of the game, he advanced to the Baltimore Elite Giants of the Negro National League where he was a reserve infielder. Due to his difficulty with hitting curveballs by righthanded pitchers, the natural righthanded batter was converted to a switch-hitter. With impressive speed, Gilliam was a contact hitter with limited power who nevertheless to hit to all fields. The manager of the Elite Giants nicknamed him “Junior”, one that would prove long-lasting. A very determined player who, throughout his career, was very selective at the plate, Gilliam batted .253 in 1948 and .302 in ’49. In 1948, ’49, and ’50 he was selected to play for the East in the Negro League East-West Games. He also played winter ball in Puerto Rico. Failing in a bid to catch on with the Class AAA affiliate of the Chicago Cubs in 1950, Gilliam played one more season with the Elite Giants and hit .265. The Dodgers bought his contract in 1951 and assigned him to the Montreal Royals of the Class AAA International League. He batted a solid .287 with 22 doubles, 9 triples, 7 home runs, and 73 RBIs while scoring 117 runs. Back with Montreal in 1952 he had a bigger season, hitting .301 with 39 doubles, 9 triples, 9 home runs, and 112 RBIs while scoring 111 runs. He was named league MVP. The Dodgers were coming off a pennant-winning season and there was a feeling that there was a need for an upgrade in the leadoff spot in the lineup in 1953. Star second baseman Jackie Robinson was moved to left field to open a spot for Gilliam in the lineup. Gilliam responded with an outstanding rookie season, batting .278 with 31 doubles, a league-leading 17 triples, 6 home runs, 63 RBIs, 21 stolen bases (although he was caught stealing 14 times), and a .383 OBP thanks to his 100 walks drawn. His performance drew NL Rookie of the Year recognition. Gilliam followed up in 1954 by batting .282 with 28 doubles, 8 triples, 13 home runs, and 52 RBIs, while scoring 107 runs, but he was less steady defensively. Still usually at second base in 1955, he was occasionally utilized in the outfield. The Dodgers returned to the top of the National League and Gilliam contributed 110 runs, 20 doubles, 8 triples, 7 home runs, and a .249 average along with a .341 on-base percentage thanks to his 70 walks. In the seven-game World Series triumph over the Yankees he produced a .469 OBP thanks to seven hits and eight walks. The low-key and workmanlike Gilliam held off the challenge of young Charley Neal and was an All-Star for the first time in 1956 as he batted .300 with 23 doubles, 8 triples, 6 home runs, and 43 RBIs along with 102 runs scored and a .399 OBP. Brooklyn again won the pennant (but not the World Series) and Gilliam placed fifth in league MVP voting. In the final Brooklyn season for the Dodgers in 1957, “Junior” (who was also known by several other nicknames, such as “Junebug” and “Devil”) dropped to .250 with 89 runs scored and a .323 OBP while appearing almost exclusively at second base. Appreciated by manager Walt Alston for his reliability and versatility, he saw significant action at third base as well as second and the outfield in 1958.

1958 Season Summary

Appeared in 147 games

LF – 70, 3B – 44, 2B – 33, PH – 7, RF – 6, CF – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 636 [9]

At Bats – 555 [11]

Runs – 81 [13]

Hits – 145

Doubles – 25 [14, tied with Frank Robinson & Willie Kirkland]

Triples – 5 [19, tied with nine others]

Home Runs – 2

RBI – 43

Bases on Balls – 78 [5, tied with Willie Mays]

Int. BB – 1

Strikeouts – 22

Stolen Bases – 18 [5]

Caught Stealing – 11 [3, tied with Orlando Cepeda]

Average - .261

OBP - .352 [12]

Slugging Pct. - .335

Total Bases – 186

GDP – 5

Hit By Pitches – 0

Sac Hits – 3

Sac Flies – 0

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 13, 3B – 5, HR – 1, RBI – 25, AVG - .260, OBP - .347

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Most hits, game – 3 on six occasions

Longest hitting streak – 11 games

Most HR, game – 1 (in 3 AB) at San Francisco 5/10, (in 4 AB) vs. Cincinnati 7/13

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 1

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Philadelphia 5/4

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 5 (.200) with 2 BB

Fielding (OF)

Chances – 149

Put Outs – 142

Assists – 5

Errors – 2

DP – 2

Pct. - .987

Awards & Honors:

19^th in NL MVP voting, tied with Bob Purkey, Cin. & Frank Robinson, Cin. (4 points, 1% share)

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The relocated Dodgers went 71-83 to finish seventh in the NL, 21 games behind the pennant-winning Milwaukee Braves while leading the league in stolen bases (73), fewest hits (1297), lowest batting average (.251), and lowest OBP (.317). The Dodgers were in the NL basement by May 12 following a 9-16 start, rose as high as fourth during a 17-14 August but dropped in September to finish out of the first division for the first time since 1944. They still drew 1,845,556 fans to their ill-suited temporary home at the LA Memorial Coliseum, some 800,000 more than their last year in Brooklyn.  

Aftermath of 1958:

The regular third baseman in 1959, Gilliam led the NL with 96 walks while batting .282 for the pennant-winning Dodgers. He had a .296 OBP in the World Series victory over the White Sox. In 1960, his average dropped to .248 with a still-solid .359 OBP as well as 96 runs scored and 40 RBIs. Still drawing walks and rarely striking out in 1961, Gilliam’s average was .244 with a .358 on-base percentage. The Dodgers nearly won the NL pennant in 1962 and, typically batting second to base-stealing shortstop Maury Wills, Gilliam hit .270 while drawing 93 walks for a .370 OBP. LA won the pennant and World Series in 1963 and Gilliam contributed 6 home runs, 49 RBIs, 19 stolen bases, and a .354 OBP. He placed sixth in NL MVP voting. The Dodgers dropped to sixth in 1964 and Gilliam found himself on the bench and often used as a late-inning defensive replacement. He was made a coach in 1965 but was reactivated as a player in May and returned to third base. He batted .280 with a .374 OBP as the light-hitting Dodgers won the pennant. His outstanding defensive play in Game 7 of the World Series against Minnesota helped to nail down a 2-0 win in what was the fourth World Series title of Gilliam’s career. He spent one last year as a player/coach in 1966 and retired to serve exclusively as a coach for the Dodgers. For his NL career, spent entirely with the Dodgers, Gilliam batted .265 with 1889 hits that included 304 doubles, 71 triples, and 65 home runs. He further scored 1163 runs, 558 RBIs, 203 stolen bases, and 1036 bases on balls for a .360 on-base percentage. Appearing in 39 World Series games, he hit .211 with two home runs, 12 RBIs, and a .326 OBP. Gilliam served as a coach for the Dodgers until his death in 1978 at age 49. A two-time All-Star whose contributions to the team were much appreciated, the Dodgers retired his #19.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Rookie of the Year: Orlando Cepeda, 1958

First Baseman, San Francisco Giants

Age:  21 (Sept. 17)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’2”    Weight: 210

Prior to 1958:

The son of Pedro Cepeda, an outstanding player in his native Puerto Rico as well as the Dominican Republic who was known as “The Bull”. Cepeda later came to be nicknamed “the Baby Bull” and grew up playing baseball in Santurce, Puerto Rico. As he grew and filled out, he developed a power stroke and was signed by the Giants, receiving a $500 bonus. He was first assigned to Salem of the Class D Appalachian League in 1955 where he hit just .247 with one home run in 26 games before moving on to Kokomo of the Mississippi-Ohio Valley League where he performed much better, hitting 21 home runs and knocking in 91 RBIs while batting .393 in 92 games. In 1956 Cepeda was promoted to St. Cloud of the Class C Northern League where he won the Triple Crown with 26 home runs, 112 RBIs, and a batting average of .355. Moving up to the Minneapolis Millers of the Class AAA American Association in 1957, he batted .309 with 25 home runs and 108 RBIs. Cepeda filled an opening at first base for the Giants, newly relocated to San Francisco from New York, in 1958. Concerns about his fielding ability at first proved to be unwarranted.

1958 Season Summary

Appeared in 148 games

1B – 147, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 643 [8]

At Bats – 603 [4]

Runs – 88 [10]

Hits – 188 [5]

Doubles – 38 [1]

Triples – 4

Home Runs – 25 [8]

RBI – 96 [4, tied with Willie Mays]

Bases on Balls – 29

Int. BB – 7 [13, tied with nine others]

Strikeouts – 84 [8]

Stolen Bases – 15 [6, tied with Johnny Temple]

Caught Stealing – 11 [3, tied with Jim Gilliam]

Average - .312 [7]

OBP - .342 [20]

Slugging Pct. - .512 [7]

Total Bases – 309 [4]

GDP – 18 [7]

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 0

Sac Flies – 9 [1]

League-leading doubles were +2 ahead of runner-up Dick Groat

League-leading sac flies were +1 ahead of five runners-up

Midseason snapshot: HR – 16, RBI - 50, AVG - .305, OBP - .333

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. Philadelphia 4/30, (in 6 AB) at LA Dodgers 5/13, (in 6 AB) vs. Milwaukee 6/5 – 12 innings, (in 4 AB) at Pittsburgh 9/10 – 10 innings

Longest hitting streak – 17 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) vs. Pittsburgh 5/4 – 10 innings, (in 5 AB) at Chi. Cubs 5/17

HR at home – 13

HR on road – 12

Multi-HR games – 2

Most RBIs, game – 5 at Philadelphia 9/12

Pinch-hitting – 0 of 1 (.000)

Fielding

Chances – 1435

Put Outs – 1322

Assists – 97

Errors – 16

DP – 131

Pct. - .989

Awards & Honors:

NL Rookie of the Year: BBWAA

9^th in NL MVP voting (57 points, 17% share)

NL ROY Voting:

Orlando Cepeda, SF: 21 of 24 first place votes, 88% share

3 votes not cast

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Giants went 80-74 in their first San Francisco season to finish third in the NL, 12 games behind the pennant-winning Milwaukee Braves while leading the league in runs scored (727), doubles (250) and RBIs (682).      

Aftermath of ‘58:

In 1959 Cepeda started the season at first base and was briefly shifted to third to accommodate the arrival of another power-hitting rookie, Willie McCovey, at first and finished off the year in left field. The positional changes didn’t affect his hitting, as he batted .317 with 27 home runs and 105 RBIs. Cepeda chafed at having to play in the outfield. Shifting between the outfield and first base in 1960, and adjusting to the new Candlestick Park, his home run total dropped to 24 and he knocked in 96 runs and batted .297. Similarly splitting time in the field in 1961, Cepeda had a big year at the plate, batting .311 and leading the NL in home runs (46) and RBIs (142). He placed second in league MVP balloting and was an All-Star for the third of an eventual six consecutive seasons. The Giants won the NL pennant in 1962 and Cepeda, playing regularly at first base while McCovey made the shift to left field, contributed 35 home runs, 114 RBIs, and a .306 average. Battling chronic knee pain and clashing with manager Alvin Dark, Cepeda continued to produce at the plate, batting .316 with 34 home runs and 97 RBIs in 1963 and .304 with 31 home runs and 97 RBIs in 1964. Hobbled by knee pain that ultimately required surgery, Cepeda appeared in only 33 games in 1965, utilized mostly as a pinch hitter. With McCovey now a fixture at first base, Cepeda started the 1966 season in left field until he was traded to the St. Louis Cardinals for LHP Ray Sadecki in May. Moving back to first base for good, he hit .301 for the year with 20 home runs and 73 RBIs. The Cardinals soared to the NL pennant in 1967 and won the World Series. Cepeda was a popular team leader, nicknamed “Cha Cha” due to his penchant for Latin music. He batted .325 with 25 home runs and a league-leading 111 RBIs and became the first NL player to unanimously be elected MVP. The Cards repeated as pennant winners in ’68 but in the pitching-dominated season Cepeda hit only .248 with 16 home runs and 73 RBIs. He was traded to Atlanta the following spring and hit .257 with 22 home runs and 88 RBIs in 1969 for the Braves, who won the NL West in the first season of division play in major league baseball. The team dropped to fifth place in 1970 but Cepeda was better at the plate with a .305 average and 34 home runs with 111 RBIs. He started strongly in 1971 until an injury to his left knee resulted in further surgery that finished his season after 71 games. Cepeda started the 1972 season with the Braves and was dealt to Oakland at mid-season, appearing in only 31 games in all until lingering knee trouble sidelined him again. Released by the A’s it appeared that his career was finished until the American League adopted the designated hitter rule in 1973. Signed by the Boston Red Sox strictly to DH, Cepeda appeared in 142 games, never playing in the field, and batted .289 with 20 home runs and 86 RBIs and was named Designated Hitter of the Year. Released in the spring of 1974 Cepeda played briefly in Mexico until signed by the Kansas City Royals. As a DH in his final major league season he batted .215 with one home run and 18 RBIs. Overall for his career Cepeda batted .297 with 2351 hits that included 417 doubles, 27 triples, and 379 home runs. With the Giants he batted .308 with 1286 hits that included 226 doubles, 22 triples, and 226 home runs. He further compiled 1365 RBIs (767 with the Giants). Cepeda was an 11-time All-Star. Among his struggles in retirement, he served 10 months in prison for smuggling marijuana, after which he turned things around and became a “goodwill ambassador” for the Giants and went on to become honored for his humanitarian work. Cepeda was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1999 and the Giants retired his #30. A statue of Cepeda has been placed outside of San Francisco’s AT&T Park.   

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Rookie of the Year Profiles feature players who were recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1947 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1948 and from 1949 on to one recipient from each major league. 

MVP Profile: Ernie Banks, 1958

Shortstop, Chicago Cubs

Age: 27

6th season with Cubs

Bats – Right, Throws – Right
Height: 6’1”    Weight: 180

Prior to 1958:

Banks, a native of Dallas, Texas, was signed away from the Negro League Kansas City Monarchs by the Cubs.  Moving directly to the major league club, he played in the last ten games for the Cubs in 1953 and took over at shortstop in ’54. He was selected to the All-Star game for the first time in 1955, a season in which he totaled 44 home runs (a record 5 of them grand slams) and 117 RBIs. After playing in 424 straight games, an infection in his right hand sidelined him for part of the ’56 season and his numbers dropped accordingly. But he was back over forty home runs in 1957 (43) and a hundred RBIs (102) while playing in every contest.

1958 Season Summary

Appeared in 154 games

SS – 154

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 682 [3]

At Bats – 617 [1]

Runs – 119 [2]

Hits – 193 [4]

Doubles – 23

Triples – 11 [2, tied with Willie Mays & Bill Virdon]

Home Runs – 47 [1]

RBI – 129 [1]

Bases on Balls – 52 [19, tied with Gil Hodges & Bill Virdon]

Int. BB – 12 [4, tied with Willie Mays]

Strikeouts – 87 [5, tied with Gil Hodges]

Stolen Bases – 4

Caught Stealing – 4 [14, tied with four others]

Average - .313 [6]

OBP - .366 [9]

Slugging Pct. - .614 [1]

Total Bases – 379 [1]

GDP – 14

Hit by Pitches – 4 [15, tied with eleven others]

Sac Hits – 1

Sac Flies – 8 [2, tied with four others]

League-leading at bats were +2 ahead of runner-up Richie Ashburn

League-leading home runs were +12 ahead of runner-up Frank Thomas

League-leading RBIs were +20 ahead of runner-up Frank Thomas

League-leading slugging pct. was +.031 ahead of runner-up Willie Mays

League-leading total bases were +29 ahead of runner-up Willie Mays

Midseason snapshot: HR – 21, RBI - 59, AVG. – 303, SLG PCT.- 602

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) vs. Philadelphia 6/3, (in 6 AB) vs. San Francisco 8/5 – 10 innings, (in 5 AB) vs. LA Dodgers 9/21

Longest hitting streak – 14 games

HR at home – 30

HR on road – 17

Most home runs, game – 2 on six occasions

Multi-HR games – 6

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. Pittsburgh 8/21

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding 

Chances – 792

Put Outs – 292

Assists – 468

Errors – 32

DP – 100

Pct. - .960

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

All-Star (started for NL at SS)

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Ernie Banks, ChiC.: 283 pts. - 16 of 24 first place votes, 84% share

Willie Mays, SF: 185 pts. – 3 first place votes, 55% share

Hank Aaron, Mil: 166 pts. – 49% share

Frank Thomas, Pitt.: 143 pts. – 2 first place votes, 43% share

Warren Spahn, Mil.: 108 pts. – 1 first place vote, 32% share

(1 first place vote apiece for Bill Mazeroski, Pitt., who ranked eighth and Bob Skinner, Pitt., who ranked 15th)

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Cubs went 72-82 to finish tied for fifth place in the NL with the St. Louis Cardinals, 20 games behind the pennant-winning Milwaukee Braves, while leading the league in home runs (182) and slugging percentage (.426).

Aftermath of ‘58:

Banks repeated as NL MVP in 1959 as he led the league with 143 RBIs. He had his fourth straight 40-home run season in ’60 (a league-leading 41). Sure-handed at shortstop but without much range, Banks was moved to first base full time in 1962, following a trial in left field in ‘61. Despite issues with injuries and illness, he played until age 40 in 1971, ending up with a total of 512 home runs, 2583 hits, and a .274 lifetime batting average. He had 30 or more home runs in seven seasons and reached 100 RBIs eight times. With a pleasant and friendly personality, Banks was highly popular with Cubs fans, a team he played with for all his 19 major league seasons (without ever seeing postseason action), and his #14 was retired by the club. The player known as “Mr. Cub” was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977.

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MVP Profiles feature players in the National or American leagues who were winners of the Chalmers Award (1911-14), League Award (1922-29), or Baseball Writers’ Association of America Award (1931 to present) as Most Valuable Player.