Highlighted Year: Wally Moon, 1959

Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  29 (April 3)

1^st season with Dodgers

Bats – Left, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 169 

Prior to 1959:

A native of Bay, Arkansas, Moon was named by his sports-loving father after Wallace Wade, the successful Univ. of Alabama head football coach at the time. He excelled in American Legion baseball as well as high school basketball and received an offer from the Pittsburgh Pirates which he passed up to go to college at Texas A & M. An All-Southwest Conference outfielder, he signed with the Cardinals for a $6000 bonus while continuing his education. In his first pro season in 1950, Moon batted .315 in 82 games with Omaha of the Class A Western League. Returning to school to complete his master’s degree, he played for Omaha briefly in 1951 and for a full season in 1952, hitting .255 with 10 home runs. Advancing to the Rochester Red Wings of the Class AAA International League in 1953, Moon batted .307 with 24 doubles, 8 triples, 12 home runs, and 61 RBIs. After playing winter ball in Venezuela, he played well with the Cardinals in spring training in 1954 and gained a starting job in the outfield after veteran Enos Slaughter was traded just before the start of the season. Overcoming the pressure of succeeding a popular veteran player, Moon homered in his first plate appearance and went on to hit .304 with 29 doubles, 9 triples, 12 home runs, 76 RBIs, a team-leading 19 stolen bases, a .371 on-base-percentage, and a .435 slugging percentage. He was named NL Rookie of the Year. The serious and ever-hustling Moon, a slashing hitter with some power and good speed, followed up in 1955 by splitting time between first base and the outfield and batted .295 with 24 doubles, 8 triples, 19 home runs, and 76 RBIs. Continuing to play in the outfield and at first base in 1956, Moon hit .298 with 11 triples, 16 home runs, 68 RBIs, and a .390 OBP. A devout Methodist, Moon avoided alcohol and foul language. On the field in 1957, he played at all three outfield positions and batted .295 with 24 home runs and 73 RBIs. Moon had a down year in 1958 due to an elbow injury, hitting just .238 with 7 home runs and 38 RBIs. In the offseason he was traded to the Dodgers as part of a three-player deal.

1959 Season Summary

Appeared in 145 games

LF – 125, CF – 4, PH – 4, 1B – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 637 [15]

At Bats – 543 [19]

Runs – 93 [10]

Hits – 164 [15]

Doubles – 26 [17, tied with Don Blasingame]

Triples – 11 [1, tied with Charlie Neal]

Home Runs – 19 [17, tied with Charlie Neal & Gus Bell]

RBI – 74 [16, tied with Ed Bouchee]

Bases on Balls – 81 [3]

Int. BB – 1

Strikeouts – 64

Stolen Bases – 15 [8, tied with Bill White & Don Blasingame]

Caught Stealing – 6 [11, tied with six others]

Average - .302 [11, tied with Bill White]

OBP - .394 [3]

Slugging Pct. - .495 [10]

Total Bases – 269 [10]

GDP – 9

Hit by Pitches – 3 [19, tied with seventeen others]

Sac Hits – 8 [10, tied with Norm Larker & Don Drysdale]

Sac Flies – 2

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 13, 3B – 5, HR - 5, RBI - 37, AVG - .298, OBP – .379, DLG – .438

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Mil. Braves 6/16, (in 6 AB) at Mil. Braves 7/9 – 13 innings

Longest hitting streak – 17 games

Most HR, game – 2 (in 4 AB) vs. Pittsburgh 9/11

HR at home – 14

HR on road – 5

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 4 vs. Pittsburgh 7/28

Pinch-hitting – 2 for 3 (.667)

Fielding

Chances – 241

Put Outs – 224

Assists – 13

Errors – 4

DP – 2

Pct. - .983 

Postseason Batting: 6 G (World Series vs. Chi. White Sox)

PA – 25, AB – 23, R – 3, H – 6, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 1, RBI – 2, BB – 2, IBB – 0, SO – 2, SB – 1, CS – 0, AVG - .261, OBP - .320, SLG - .391, TB – 9, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

All-Star (Started for NL in LF in both games)

4^th in NL MVP voting (161 points – 4 first place votes, 48% share)

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The Dodgers went 86-68 to finish tied for first in the NL with the Milwaukee Braves, which necessitated a season-extending best-of-3 playoff. The Dodgers won the first two games to clinch the NL pennant with a final record of 88-68. They led the league in stolen bases (84) and walks drawn (591). The acquisition of Moon buttressed the lineup. During the season Moon was especially productive down the stretch in a tight pennant race, slugging six homers in six games at one point. Of his 19 home runs, 14 of them were “Moon shots” at the spacious LA Coliseum. The Dodgers were 4.5 games behind the first-place Braves when newcomers who made a further impact joined the team, such as shortstop Maury Wills and pitchers Roger Craig and Larry Sherry. A three-team battle for first ensued with the San Francisco Giants joining the fray and taking the lead for all but two days over the remaining 10 weeks before dropping to third as the Dodgers and Braves deadlocked at the end to force the playoff. Won World Series over the Chicago White Sox, 4 games to 2 and Moon hit a two-run home run in the deciding sixth game.

Aftermath of 1959:

While the Dodgers had a lesser season in 1960, Moon hit .299 with 13 home runs and 69 RBIs, receiving his only career Gold Glove for his play in left field, where he accounted for 15 assists. He remained a solid contributor in 1961, leading the league in OBP (.434) while batting .328 with 17 home runs and 88 RBIs. A victim of LA’s youth movement, Moon split time at first base and the outfield in 1962, hitting .242 with just four home runs. Effective in a utility role as the Dodgers topped the NL in 1963, Moon hit .262 over the course of 122 games with 8 home runs and 48 RBIs. He lasted two more years as a veteran backup and pinch-hitter in 1964 and ’65, retiring after playing for another World Series-winning club. A useful and dedicated player, for his major league career Moon batted .289 with 1399 hits that included 212 doubles, 60 triples, and 142 home runs. He scored 737 runs and compiled 661 RBIs and a .371 OBP. With the Dodgers he batted .286 with 649 hits, 337 runs scored, 99 doubles, 24 triples, 64 home runs, 330 RBIs, and a .377 OBP. Appearing in 8 World Series games (all with the Dodgers), he hit .240 with a home run and two RBIs. Following his playing career, Moon coached baseball collegiately and was hitting coach for the expansion San Diego Padres in 1969. He later served as a hitting instructor in the Baltimore Orioles organization and died in 2018 at age 87.

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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, 1959

Third Baseman, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age: 30

7^th season with Dodgers

Bats – Both, Throws – Right

Height: 5’10” Weight: 175 

Prior to 1959:

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 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, hitting .261 in the club’s first season in Los Angeles.

1959 Season Summary

Appeared in 145 games

3B – 131, 2B – 8, PH – 7, LF – 3, RF – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 655 [10]

At Bats – 553 [17]

Runs – 91 [12]

Hits – 156 [18, tied with Bill White]

Doubles – 18

Triples – 4

Home Runs – 3

RBI – 34

Bases on Balls – 96 [1]

Int. BB – 4

Strikeouts – 25

Stolen Bases – 23 [2, tied with Orlando Cepeda & Tony Taylor]

Caught Stealing – 10 [3, tied with Bill White]

Average - .282 [20]

OBP - .387 [6]

Slugging Pct. - .345

Total Bases – 191

GDP – 3

Hit By Pitches – 0

Sac Hits – 3

Sac Flies – 3

League-leading bases on balls drawn were +8 ahead of runner-up Joe Cunningham

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 11, HR – 2, RBI – 17, AVG - .349, OBP - .462

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) at Mil. Braves 6/6, (in 5 AB) at Pittsburgh 6/12, (in 5 AB) vs. San Francisco 6/29 – 13 innings, (in 5 AB) at Chi. Cubs 8/12

Longest hitting streak – 12 games

Most HR, game – 1 (in 5 AB) vs. Mil. Braves 6/17, (in 4 AB) vs. Philadelphia 6/23, (in 3 AB) vs. Cincinnati 9/17

HR at home – 3

HR on road – 0

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 2 on eight occasions

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 7 (.143) with 1 R & 1 RBI

Fielding (3B)

Chances – 382

Put Outs – 121

Assists – 245

Errors – 16

DP - 18

Pct. - .958

Postseason Batting: 6 G (World Series vs. Chi. White Sox)

PA – 27, AB – 25, R – 2, H – 6, 2B – 0,3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 0, BB – 2, IBB – 0, SO – 2, SB – 2, CS – 0, AVG - .240, OBP - .296, SLG - .240, TB – 6, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 0

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Dodgers went 86-68 to finish tied for first in the NL with the Milwaukee Braves, which necessitated a season-extending best-of-3 playoff. The Dodgers won the first two games to clinch the NL pennant with a final record of 88-68. They led the league in stolen bases (84) and walks drawn (591). The acquisition of outfielder Wally Moon in the offseason buttressed the lineup and the Dodgers were 4.5 games behind the first-place Braves when newcomers who made an impact joined the team, such as shortstop Maury Wills and pitchers Roger Craig and Larry Sherry. A three-team battle for first ensued with the San Francisco Giants joining the fray and taking the lead for all but two days over the remaining 10 weeks before dropping to third as the Dodgers and Braves deadlocked at the end to force the playoff. Won World Series over the Chicago White Sox, 4 games to 2.

Aftermath of 1959:

In 1960, Gilliam’s 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 and compildd 558 RBIs, 203 stolen bases, and 1036 walks 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. 

Highlighted Year: Don Drysdale, 1959

Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  23 (July 23)

4^th season with Dodgers

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’5”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1959:

A native of Van Nuys, California, Drysdale originally played second base in high school until he took up pitching as a senior and posted a 10-1 record. Signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers to a $4000 bonus contract, he was initially assigned to Bakersfield of the Class C California League where he went 8-5 with a 3.46 ERA and 73 strikeouts over 112 innings pitched. Drysdale advanced to Montreal of the Class AAA International League in 1955 but hindered by a hand injury, he broke even at 11-11 with a 3.33 ERA. With his good fastball and with the Dodgers short on pitching, he joined the parent club in 1956. Utilized as a reliever and spot starter during his rookie year, Drysdale appeared in 25 games and compiled a 5-5 record with a 2.64 ERA. Moved into the starting rotation, he broke out in 1957 with a 17-9 tally and a 2.69 ERA with 148 strikeouts over 221 innings. With his fine fastball, curve, slider, and change-up, “Big D” was also an intimidating pitcher who quickly established a reputation for throwing inside and hitting batters. The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles in 1958 and, playing home games at the Memorial Coliseum, a football venue reconfigured for baseball, proved difficult for the pitching staff. Drysdale dropped to 12-13 with a 4.17 ERA and 131 strikeouts over 211.2 innings.

1959 Season Summary

Appeared in 46 games

P – 44, PH – 3

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 44 [14]

Games Started – 36 [4, tied with Warren Spahn & Bob Anderson]

Complete Games – 15 [8]

Wins – 17 [7]

Losses – 13 [8, tied with four others]

PCT - .567 [14]

Saves – 2 [19, tied with six others]

Shutouts – 4 [1, tied with six others]

Innings Pitched – 270.2 [4, tied with Sam Jones]

Hits – 237 [10]

Runs – 113 [7]

Earned Runs – 104 [5]

Home Runs – 26 [4, tied with Harvey Haddix & Orlando Pena]

Bases on Balls – 93 [3]

Strikeouts – 242 [1]

ERA – 3.46 [13]

Hit Batters – 18 [1]

Balks – 2 [2, tied with Jack Sanford & Robin Roberts]

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

League-leading strikeouts were +33 ahead of runner-up Sam Jones

League-leading hit batters were +4 ahead of runner-up Danny McDevitt

Midseason Snapshot: 9-6, ERA - 3.24, SO - 133 in 155.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 14 (in 9 IP) vs. Philadelphia 7/31

10+ strikeout games – 7

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 9 IP) vs. San Francisco 4/20, (in 9 IP) vs. Philadelphia 6/25, (in 9 IP) at Pittsburgh 7/15, (in 9 IP) vs. Philadelphia 9/9

Batting

PA – 104, AB – 91, R – 9, H – 15, 2B – 1, 3B – 1, HR – 4, RBI – 12, BB – 4, SO – 31, SB – 0, CS – 1, AVG - .165, GDP – 2, HBP – 0, SH – 8, SF – 1

Fielding

Chances – 69

Put Outs – 18

Assists – 48

Errors – 3

DP – 4

Pct. - .957

Postseason Pitching: G – 1 (World Series vs. Chi. White Sox)

GS – 1, CG – 0, Record – 1-0, PCT – 1.000, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 7, H – 11, R – 1, ER – 1, HR – 0, BB – 4, SO – 5, ERA – 1.29, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0 

Awards & Honors:

All-Star (started both games for NL)

 ---

The Dodgers went 86-68 to finish tied for first in the NL with the Milwaukee Braves, which necessitated a season-extending best-of-3 playoff. The Dodgers won the first two games to clinch the NL pennant with a final record of 88-68. The pitching staff led the league in walks issued (614) and strikeouts (1077). The acquisition of outfielder Wally Moon in the offseason buttressed the lineup and the Dodgers were 4.5 games behind the first-place Braves when newcomers who made an impact joined the team, such as shortstop Maury Wills and pitchers Roger Craig and Larry Sherry. A three-team battle for first ensued with the San Francisco Giants joining the fray and taking the lead for all but two days over the remaining 10 weeks before dropping to third as the Dodgers and Braves deadlocked at the end to force the playoff. Won World Series over the Chicago White Sox, 4 games to 2, with Drysdale winning his only start.

Aftermath of 1959:

Drysdale led the NL in strikeouts again in 1960 with 246 to go along with a 15-14 record and 2.84 ERA over 269 innings. By 1961 hard-throwing LHP Sandy Koufax had emerged as a star in his own right and would combine with Drysdale to create a formidable tandem. During the ’61 season, the fourth straight in which he led the NL in hit batters, Drysdale was suspended for five games for throwing at hitters. He finished with 20 hit batters to go with his record of 13-10 and a 3.69 ERA with 182 strikeouts over 244 innings for the second place Dodgers. He had an outstanding season in 1962, leading the league in wins with his 25-9 tally, as well as strikeouts (232), games started (41). and innings pitched (314.1). He also compiled 19 complete games and a 2.83 ERA. The club tied for first in the NL with the San Francisco Giants and lost a season-extending playoff. The Dodgers won the NL pennant in 1963 and Drysdale contributed a 19-17 record with a 2.63 ERA and 251 strikeouts over 315.1 innings, adding another win in the World Series sweep of the Yankees. “Airedale” had another strong season in 1964, going 18-16 with a 2.18 ERA and 237 strikeouts and leading NL pitchers with 40 starts and 321.1 innings pitched while the Dodgers fell to sixth place. But the club returned to the top of the NL in 1965 as Drysdale and Koufax won 49 games between them. Drysdale was 23-12 with a 2.77 ERA and 210 strikeouts over 308.1 innings. He went 1-1 in the seven-game World Series victory over Minnesota. Always a good hitting pitcher, he batted .300 during the ’65 season with 7 home runs and 19 RBIs. Following a joint holdout with Koufax during spring training in 1966, Drysdale slipped to 13-16 with a 3.42 ERA and 177 strikeouts, although he dropped under 300 innings for the first time since 1961. The Dodgers won the NL pennant once more and Drysdale lost twice in the World Series sweep to Baltimore. Koufax retired after the season and “Big D” was 13-16 again in 1967 with a 2.74 ERA and 196 strikeouts while pitching 282 innings. The Dodgers dropped to eighth with a 73-89 mark. In 1968 Drysdale set a then-major league record by pitching 58.2 consecutive scoreless innings on his way to a 14-12 record with a 2.15 ERA, 8 shutouts, and 155 strikeouts. A torn rotator cuff finished Drysdale’s career after 12 starts in 1969. For his major league career, spent entirely with the Dodgers, he compiled a 209-166 record with a 2.95 ERA and 2486 strikeouts over 3432 innings. He pitched 167 complete games and 49 shutouts. Furthermore, he led the NL in hit batters a total of five times and his career total was 154. He was also 3-3 in World Series action with a 2.95 ERA and 36 strikeouts over the course of 39.2 innings. As a batter he hit a total of 29 career home runs. An eight-time All-Star, the Dodgers retired his #53 and he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1984. Drysdale moved to the broadcast booth after his playing career, where he remained until his death by a heart attack in 1993.

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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: Roger Craig, 1959

Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age: 29

5^th season with Dodgers

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1959:

A native of Durham, North Carolina, Craig was one of eight children. Tall and thin, he played shortstop in high school in addition to pitching. Drawing the attention of a scout for the Brooklyn Dodgers, he signed with the club after a year at North Carolina State in 1950. Assigned to Valdosta of the Class D Georgia-Florida League, he produced a 14-7 record and 3.13 ERA while issuing 150 walks over 167 innings pitched. Promoted to Newport News of the Class B Piedmont League later in the season, he appeared in six games and had an astronomical ERA of 7.11. Returning to Newport News in 1951, he compiled a 14-11 tally and 3.67 ERA with 119 strikeouts and 175 walks over 221 innings. Drafted into the Army, he missed the next two seasons. Resuming his baseball career in 1954, he was back at Newport News where he went 8-3 with a 2.50 ERA and 108 strikeouts over 126 innings, while reducing his walks to 56 despite being sidelined until midseason by an elbow injury. Adding brief stops at Pueblo of the Western League and Elmira of the Eastern League, he finished with a combined record of 9-4. Advancing to the Montreal Royals of the Class AAA International League in 1955, his record stood at 10-2 with a 3.69 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 117 innings when he was called up by the Dodgers. In July. After going the distance and three-hitting Cincinnati in his debut outing, Craig went on to post a 5-3 tally in 21 appearances (10 of them starts) with a 2.78 ERA and 48 strikeouts over 90.2 innings. He capped his season by winning a Game 5 start at Ebbets Field in the World Series victory against the New York Yankees. As part of Brooklyn’s starting rotation from the start in 1956, Craig compiled a 12-11 record and 3.71 ERA with 8 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 109 strikeouts over 199 innings as the club again won the NL pennant. The Dodgers lost to the Yankees in the World Series and Craig made two appearances, one of them a start that he lost. In the team’s last Brooklyn season in 1957 Craig had a disappointing performance, starting in only 13 of 32 appearances and posting a 6-9 tally and 4.61 ERA with one complete game and 69 strikeouts over 111.1 innings. The Dodgers were in Los Angeles in 1958 but Craig was dealing with a sore shoulder and was sent down to the St. Paul Saints of the Class AAA American Association where he pitched through the pain and struggled to a 5-17 record and 3.91 ERA with 8 complete games and 119 strikeouts over 182 innings. Craig started the 1959 season in Class AAA with Spokane of the Pacific Coast League and was 6-7 with a 3.19 ERA and having improved his slider and added a sinker to his repertoire he was recalled to the Dodgers in mid-June. 

1959 Season Summary

Appeared in 29 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 29

Games Started – 17

Complete Games – 7 [18, tied with four others]

Wins – 11

Losses – 5

PCT - .688 [2]

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 4 [1, tied with six others]

Innings Pitched – 152.2

Hits – 122

Runs – 49

Earned Runs – 35

Home Runs – 13

Bases on Balls – 45

Strikeouts – 76

ERA – 2.06 [Non-qualifying]

Hit Batters – 1

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 2 

Midseason Snapshot: 3-0, ERA - 3.10, SO - 16 in 29 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 7 (in 9 IP) vs. Pittsburgh 7/29

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 3 (in 11 IP) at Mil. Braves 7/9, (in 9 IP) at San Francisco 7/21, (in 9 IP) vs. Philadelphia 9/10

Batting

PA – 57, AB – 52, R – 1, H – 3, 2B – 0, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 3, BB – 1, SO – 28, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .058, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 4, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 38

Put Outs – 19

Assists – 18

Errors – 1

DP – 2

Pct. - .974

Postseason Pitching: G – 2 (World Series vs. Chi. White Sox)

GS – 2, CG – 0, Record – 0-1, PCT – .000, ERA – 8.68, SV – 0, ShO – 0, IP – 9.1, H – 15, R – 9, ER – 9, HR – 2, BB – 5, SO – 8, HB – 0, BLK – 0, WP – 0 

Awards & Honors:

13^th in NL MVP voting, tied with Joe Cunningham, StL (12 points, 4% share)

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The Dodgers went 86-68 to finish tied for first in the NL with the Milwaukee Braves, which necessitated a season-extending best-of-3 playoff. The Dodgers won the first two games to clinch the NL pennant with a final record of 88-68. The pitching staff led the league in walks issued (614) and strikeouts (1077). The Dodgers were 4.5 games behind the first-place Braves when Craig arrived, to be joined by impact newcomers in shortstop Maury Wills and RHP Larry Sherry along with a key offseason arrival in outfielder Wally Moon. A three-team battle for first ensued with the San Francisco Giants joining the fray and taking the lead for all but two days over the remaining 10 weeks before dropping to third as the Dodgers and Braves deadlocked at the end, thanks to Craig’s eleventh win, to force the playoff. Won World Series over the Chicago White Sox, 4 games to 2 with Craig having a rough time in two starts, going 0-1 with an 8.68 ERA. For the season, Craig just missed the NL ERA title, narrowly following below the minimum threshold to qualify.

Aftermath of 1959:

Missing time due to a broken collar bone in 1960, Craig was limited to 21 appearances (15 of them starts) in producing an 8-3 record and 3.27 ERA with 6 complete games, one shutout, and 69 strikeouts over 115.2 innings. He appeared in 40 games in 1961, 14 of them starts, with disappointing results as he posted a 5-6 tally and 6.15 ERA with 2 complete games, 2 saves, and 63 strikeouts over 112.2 innings. In the offseason he was taken by the New York Mets in the NL expansion draft for the 1962 season. The top pitcher for a famously poor club, Craig, who started and lost the first regular season game in franchise history, showed great competitive spirit and ability but still ended up with a 10-24 record and 4.51 ERA with 13 complete games and 118 strikeouts over 233.1 innings. The situation was hardly better in 1963 as he lost 18 consecutive decisions, in seven of which the Mets didn’t score on his way to a 5-22 tally and 3.78 ERA with 14 complete games and 108 strikeouts over 236 innings. In the offseason he was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals came from behind to narrowly win the NL pennant and Craig made 39 appearances, 19 of them starts, in posting a 7-9 record with 5 saves, a 3.25 ERA, and 84 strikeouts over 166 innings. In the seven-game World Series victory over the New York Yankees, Craig relieved twice, totaling 5 innings with no runs surrendered, picking up the win in Game 4. In the offseason, he was traded again, this time to the Cincinnati Reds. Appearing in 40 games out of the bullpen in 1965, primarily in long relief, he produced a 1-4 tally and 3.64 ERA with 3 saves and 30 strikeouts over 64.1 innings. Released by the Reds prior to the 1966 season, he joined the Philadelphia Phillies and lasted for 14 games before being let go. Craig took his worn out arm to Seattle of the Pacific Coast League for 6 games before calling it quits. For his major league career, Craig pitched in 368 games and produced a 74-98 record and a 3.83 ERA with 58 complete games, 7 shutouts, 19 saves, and 803 strikeouts over 1536.1 innings. With the Dodgers he made 187 appearances for a 49-38 mark and a 3.73 ERA, 28 complete games, 7 shutouts, 5 saves, and 450 strikeouts over 814 innings. Appearing in 7 World Series games, his record was 2-2 with a 6.49 ERA and 25 strikeouts over 26.1 innings. Never an All-Star, 1959 marked the only season in which Craig received votes in MVP balloting. Following his playing career, Craig scouted for the Dodgers in 1967 and then managed their Albuquerque club in the Class AA Texas League in 1968, where he made his last pitching appearance. After serving as a pitching coach for San Diego and Houston, he managed the Padres in 1978 and ’79. From there he became pitching coach for the Detroit Tigers where he began teaching the newly developed split-fingered fastball. The calm and positive Craig proved to be an effective instructor, especially with Detroit’s pitchers. Following the club’s World Series triumph in 1984, Craig stepped down and soon became manager of the San Francisco Giants from 1985 until 1992. His major league managing record was 152-171 with one pennant. Perhaps better remembered as a pitching coach and manager, Craig died in 2023 at age 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.