The 1957 major league baseball season began on April 15, 1957. The regular season ended on September 29, with the Milwaukee Braves and New York Yankees as the regular season champions of the National League and American League, respectively. The postseason began with Game 1 of the 54th World Series on October 2 and ended with Game 7 on October 10. The Braves defeated the Yankees, four games to three, capturing their second championship in franchise history, their first since , and first in Milwaukee. Going into the season, the defending World Series champions were the New York Yankees from the season.
The 24th All-Star Game was held on July 9 at Busch Stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, home of the St. Louis Cardinals. The American League won, 6–5.
The National League's Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants played their final seasons as New York City-based franchises before their moves to California for the season, leaving New York City without a National League team until the founding of the expansion New York Mets in .
On April 22, the Philadelphia Phillies became the 14th team in professional baseball to break the color line when they fielded John Kennedy.
Schedule
The 1957 schedule consisted of 154 games for all teams in the American League and National League, each of which had eight teams. Each team was scheduled to play 22 games against the other seven teams of their respective league. This continued the format put in place since the season (except for ) and would be used until in the American League and in the National League.
American League Opening Day took place on April 15, featuring the Baltimore Orioles and Washington Senators, while National League Opening Day took place the following day, featuring all eight NL teams. This was the first season since that both leagues opened on different days. The final day of the regular season was on September 29, which saw all sixteen teams play, continuing the trend from . The World Series took place between October 2 and October 10.
Proposed interleague play During the Winter Meetings in Chicago on December 6–8, 1956, Cleveland general manager and minority-owner Hank Greenberg proposed implementing limited interleague play beginning in 1958. Under Greenberg's proposal, each team would continue to play 154-games in a season, 126 of which would be within their league, and 28 against the eight clubs in the other league. The interleague games would all be played during a period immediately following the All-Star Game. The proposal was not adopted.
Rule changes The 1957 season saw the following rule changes: The American League changed its rules involving a first-place tie at the end of the season. Matching the system already in place by the National League, there would be a best-of-three series to determine the winner of the pennant. This was to be considered an extension to the regular season. Previously, there would be a one-game extension to the regular season to decide who won the pennant. If a postponed game (after a team's final visit to the opposing city) was necessary to play to determine the pennant winner, the final game(s) were to be played in the opposing city (if possible). The 30-player roster which was permitted from Opening Day until June 15 was cut to 28-players. The rule restricting teams from signing a college player, who at a minimum started sophomore year, was under 21, and whose class hadn't yet graduated, was lifted. Now, any college player could be signed. If an infield fly rule was declared, and the ball bounced foul and was untouched, it was a foul ball. Regarding end-of-game situations where the runner on third refuses to come home in a timely manner, the umpire can call said runner out, and the same goes for the batter-runner getting to first base. In the case of the batter-runner, if there are less than two outs and a run scores, that run will count. If there are two outs, a run home will not count. Any pitcher using a foreign substance on a ball will result in a 10-day suspension. Previously, the league president would impose fines and the suspension to his discretion. Originally introduced in , the rule that when a bases on balls occurs due to a wild pitch, where baserunners took at least one additional base than what was already guaranteed by a bases on balls, was changed. Now, instead of the pitcher an error, the pitcher is charged with a wild pitch.
Teams An asterisk (*) denotes the ballpark a team played the minority of their home games at LeagueTeamCityBallparkCapacityManagerBaltimore OriolesBaltimore, MarylandBaltimore Memorial Stadium47,778Boston Red SoxBoston, MassachusettsFenway Park34,824Chicago White SoxChicago, IllinoisComiskey Park46,550Cleveland IndiansCleveland, OhioCleveland Stadium73,811Detroit TigersDetroit, MichiganBriggs Stadium58,000Kansas City AthleticsKansas City, MissouriMunicipal Stadium30,296New York YankeesNew York, New YorkYankee Stadium67,000Washington SenatorsWashington, D.C.Griffith Stadium29,023Brooklyn DodgersNew York, New YorkEbbets Field31,902Jersey City, New JerseyRoosevelt Stadium*24,167*Chicago CubsChicago, IllinoisWrigley Field36,755Cincinnati RedlegsCincinnati, OhioCrosley Field29,584Milwaukee BravesMilwaukee, WisconsinMilwaukee County Stadium43,768New York GiantsNew York, New YorkPolo Grounds54,500Philadelphia PhilliesPhiladelphia, PennsylvaniaConnie Mack Stadium33,359Pittsburgh PiratesPittsburgh, PennsylvaniaForbes Field34,249St. Louis CardinalsSt. Louis, MissouriBusch Stadium30,500
Standings
American League
National League
Tie games 5 tie games (2 in AL, 3 in NL), which are not factored into winning percentage or games behind (and were often replayed again) occurred throughout the season.
American League The Baltimore Orioles had two tie games. The Chicago White Sox and Kansas City Athletics had one each. May 18, Chicago White Sox vs. Baltimore Orioles, tied at 4 after a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth inning due to a pre-agreed 10:20 p.m. curfew to allow the White Sox to catch a train for Boston. May 19 (game 2), Kansas City Athletics vs. Baltimore Orioles, scoreless tie in the middle of the 6th inning due to rain.
National League The Chicago Cubs and Philadelphia Phillies had two tie games each. The Milwaukee Braves and Pittsburgh Pirates had one each. May 21, Philadelphia Phillies vs. Milwaukee Braves, tied at 1 after a shortened five innings following a five minute rain delay, resumption of the game to finish the top of the sixth inning, and a 31 minute rain delay which negated the sixth inning entirely. June 9 (game 2), Chicago Cubs vs. Philadelphia Phillies, tied at 4 after nine innings due to curfew. A partial top of the 10th inning was negated. June 26 (game 2), Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs, tied at 5 after 11 innings on account of darkness.
Postseason The postseason began on October 2 and ended on October 10 with the Milwaukee Braves defeating the New York Yankees in the 1957 World Series in seven games.
Bracket
Managerial changes Off-season Team Former Manager New ManagerChicago CubsStan HackBob ScheffingCleveland IndiansAl LópezKerby FarrellDetroit TigersBucky HarrisJack Tighe
In-season Team Former Manager New ManagerKansas City AthleticsLou BoudreauHarry CraftPittsburgh PiratesBobby BraganDanny MurtaughWashington SenatorsChuck DressenCookie Lavagetto
League leaders Any team shown in indicates a previous team a player was on during the season.
American League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Ted Williams (BOS) .388 OPS Ted Williams (BOS) 1.257 HR Roy Sievers (WSH) 42 RBI Roy Sievers (WSH) 114 R Mickey Mantle (NYY) 121 H Nellie Fox (CWS) 196 SB Luis Aparicio (CWS) 28
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Jim Bunning (DET)Billy Pierce (CWS) 20 L Chuck Stobbs (WSH) 20 ERA Bobby Shantz (NYY) 2.45 K Early Wynn (CLE) 184 IP Jim Bunning (DET) 267.1 SV Bob Grim (NYY) 19 WHIP Frank Sullivan (BOS) 1.055
National League
+ Hitting leaders Stat Player Total AVG Stan Musial (STL) .351 OPS Stan Musial (STL) 1.034 HR Hank Aaron (MIL) 44 RBI Hank Aaron (MIL) 132 R Hank Aaron (MIL) 118 H Red Schoendienst (MIL/) 200 SB Willie Mays (NYG) 38
+ Pitching leaders Stat Player Total W Warren Spahn (MIL) 21 L Robin Roberts (PHI) 22 ERA Johnny Podres (BRO) 2.66 K Jack Sanford (PHI) 188 IP Bob Friend (PIT) 277.0 SV Clem Labine (BRO) 17 WHIP Johnny Podres (BRO) 1.082
Milestones Batters Cycles
Lee Walls (CHC/): Walls hit for his first cycle and sixth in franchise history as a part of the Chicago Cubs, on July 2 against the Cincinnati Redlegs. Mickey Mantle (NYY): Mantle hit for his first cycle and 12th in franchise history, on July 23 against the Chicago White Sox.
Other batting accomplishments Roy Sievers (WSH): Tied an American League record by becoming the third player to hit home runs in six consecutive games between July 29 and August 3.
Pitchers No-hitters
Bob Keegan (CWS): Keegan threw his first career no-hitter and 11th no-hitter in franchise history, by defeating the Washington Senators 6–0 in game two of a doubleheader on August 20. Trucks walked two and struck out one.
Miscellaneous The 1957 season marked the first time that both the American and National League leader in Complete Games had less than 20 Complete Games to lead their league.Great Baseball Feats, Facts and Figures, 2008 Edition, p.106, David Nemec and Scott Flatow, A Signet Book, Penguin Group, New York,
Awards and honors Regular season Baseball Writers' Association of America AwardsBBWAA AwardNational LeagueAmerican LeagueRookie of the Year Jack Sanford (PHI) Tony Kubek (NYY)Cy Young Award Warren Spahn (MIL) —Most Valuable Player Hank Aaron (MIL) Mickey Mantle (NYY)Babe Ruth Award(World Series MVP) Lew Burdette (MIL) —Gold Glove AwardsPositionNational LeagueAmerican LeaguePitcher — Bobby Shantz (NYY)Catcher — Sherm Lollar (CWS)1st Base Gil Hodges (BRO) —2nd Base — Nellie Fox (CWS)3rd Base — Frank Malzone (BOS)Shortstop Roy McMillan (CIN) —Left field — Minnie Miñoso (CWS)Center field Willie Mays (NYG) —Right field — Al Kaline (DET)
Other awards Sport Magazine's World Series Most Valuable Player Award: Lew Burdette (MIL)
The Sporting News Awards Award National League American League Player of the Year — Ted Williams (BOS) Pitcher of the Year Warren Spahn (MIL) Billy Pierce (CWS Rookie of the Year(Player) Ed Bouchee (PHI) Tony Kubek (NYY) Rookie of the Year(Pitcher) Jack Sanford (PHI) — Manager of the Year Fred Hutchinson (STL) — Executive of the Year Frank Lane (STL) —
Baseball Hall of Fame
Sam Crawford Joe McCarthy (manager)
Home field attendance Team nameWinsHome attendanceMilwaukee Braves953.3%2,215,4048.3%28,403New York Yankees981.0%1,497,1340.4%19,443Detroit Tigers78 −4.9%1,272,34621.0%16,524St. Louis Cardinals8714.5%1,183,57514.9%15,371Boston Red Sox82 −2.4%1,181,0873.9%15,339Philadelphia Phillies778.5%1,146,23022.6%14,695Chicago White Sox905.9%1,135,66813.6%14,749Cincinnati Redlegs80 −12.1%1,070,850 −4.9%13,907Baltimore Orioles7610.1%1,029,58114.2%13,371Brooklyn Dodgers84 −9.7%1,028,258 −15.3%13,354Kansas City Athletics5913.5%901,067 −11.2%11,702Pittsburgh Pirates62 −6.1%850,732 −10.4%11,048Cleveland Indians76 −13.6%722,256 −16.5%9,380Chicago Cubs623.3%670,629 −6.9%8,598New York Giants693.0%653,9233.9%8,493Washington Senators55 −6.8%457,0795.9%5,936
Venues The Brooklyn Dodgers would continue to play several home games in Jersey City, New Jersey as they started doing so the previous year, playing eight games, on April 22, May 3, June 5, 10, July 12, August 7, 16, and September 3.
The Brooklyn Dodgers would play their final game at Ebbets Field on September 24 against the Pittsburgh Pirates, relocating to Los Angeles, California at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum as the Los Angeles Dodgers for the start of the season.