MLB: 1958 and Beyond...

[kenyan_cheena]

THE OHIO EXPRESS

Friday, 30 April, 1959

FIRST MAYS, NOW MINOSO

Story by Grady McCallum

April's final days have been bad ones for the Cleveland Blues, the ballclub experiencing a double setback with injuries to Willie Mays and Minnie Minoso during the past forty-eight hours. Regular Express readers will have already digested the particulars of Mays' injury as detailed in Wednesday's late edition, the NL MVP outfielder suffering a pulled groin muscle while running the bases during that day's 14-0 victory over the Tigers. Mays has been placed on the 15-day disabled list but Blues medical staff have said it could take as many as seven weeks for a full recovery.

Yesterday's injury to Minoso was much more serious with the Cuban leftfielder breaking his ribs while attempting a spectacular diving catch in the 1st inning against the Athletics. The 33 year-old will most likely be out for ten weeks and was put on the 60-day disabled list. Even so early in the season, the loss of both is a substantial blow to the Blues pennant aspirations as they had been two of the ballclub's biggest producers. Mays has made a great start to his time in Cleveland, batting .426 with three home runs, fifteen RBI and nineteen runs scored while Minoso's average is .358. He's hit four home runs and knocked in fifteen runs and has only made one error in the field.

"The rest of us are going to have to step up and take responsibility," said AL MVP Rocky Colavito. "Whenever you lose two guys of Willie and Minnie's talent it's just a given that the void has to be filled. I'll be trying my best to lead by example in that regard."

The Blues take a 12-9 record into today's game against Kansas City, a mark that is somewhat below what they were hoping for after all the excitement generated by Mays' signing. As Colavito intimated, the rest of the team is going to have to improve markedly to compensate for the loss of Mays and Minoso...

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1959 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON
LEAGUE STANDINGS AS AT END OF PLAY,
SUNDAY 2 MAY 1959


AMERICAN LEAGUE

1ST: DETROIT TIGERS 18-6 (.750)
(11-3, 7-3), (.288, 3.32), (124-98)

2nd: Washington Senators 14-9 (.609), (3.5 G.B.)
(11-3, 3-6), (.265, 4.06), (129-97)

3rd: Cleveland Blues 14-10 (.583), (4.0 G.B.)
(7-3, 7-7), (.292, 3.79), (139-94)

4th: New York Yankees 13-10 (.565), (4.5 G.B.)
(6-1, 7-9), (.273, 4.31), (108-108)

5th: Baltimore Orioles 9-14 (.391), (8.5 G.B.)
(4-5, 5-9), (.254, 4.39), (76-106)

5th: Boston Red Sox 9-14 (.391), (8.5 G.B.)
(7-9, 2-5), (.219, 4.60), (76-116)

7th: Chicago White Sox 8-15 (.348), (9.5 G.B.)
(5-5, 3-10), (.274, 4.39), (95-111)

7th: Kansas City Athletics 8-15 (.348), (9.5 G.B.)
(6-7, 2-8), (.243, 3.54), (74-91)


NATIONAL LEAGUE

1ST: PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES 15-9 (.625)
(7-7, 8-2), (.291, 3.96), (145-125)

2nd: St. Louis Cardinals 14-9 (.609), (0.5 G.B.)
(11-3, 3-6), (.263, 4.07), (130-104)

3rd: Chicago Cubs 13-10 (.565), (1.5 G.B.)
(6-3, 7-7), (.262, 3.74), (121-97)

3rd: Pittsburgh Pirates 13-10 (.565), (1.5 G.B.)
(8-5, 5-5), (.284, 4.03), (102-105)

5th: San Francisco Giants 10-13 (.435), (4.5 G.B.)
(4-3, 6-10), (.268, 5.08), (110-121)

6th: Milwaukee Braves 10-14 (.416), (5.0 G.B.)
(4-6, 6-8), (.249, 3.97), (91-111)

7th: Brooklyn Dodgers 9-14 (.391), (5.5 G.B.)
(5-5, 4-9), (.275, 5.90), (129-143)

7th: Cincinnati Reds 9-14 (.391), (5.5 G.B.)
(7-9, 2-5), (.281, 5.34), (115-137)

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1959 MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL SEASON
STATISTICAL LEADERS AS AT END OF PLAY,
SUNDAY 2 MAY 1959


AMERICAN LEAGUE - BATTING

AVG

1ST: WILLIE MAYS (CLEVELAND BLUES) .426
2nd: Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees) .418
3rd: Bob Nieman (Baltimore Orioles) .388

OBP

1ST: MICKEY MANTLE (NEW YORK YANKEES) .588
2nd: Willie Mays (Cleveland Blues) .530
3rd: Harvey Kuenn (Detroit Tigers) .500

H

1ST: BOB NIEMAN (BALTIMORE ORIOLES) 33
2nd: Vic Power (Kansas City Athletics) 32
3rd: Harvey Kuenn (Detroit Tigers) 31

RBI

1ST: GAIL HARRIS (DETROIT TIGERS) 25
2nd: Rocky Colavito (Cleveland Blues) 23
3rd: Yogi Berra (New York Yankees) 22

HR

1ST: YOGI BERRA (NEW YORK YANKEES) 10
2nd: Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees) 8
3rd: Rocky Colavito (Cleveland Blues) 7

AMERICAN LEAGUE - PITCHING

ERA

1ST: BILLY HOEFT (DETROIT TIGERS) 1.86
2nd: Herb Score (Cleveland Blues) 1.94
3rd: Don Cardwell (Washington Senators) 2.14

W

1ST: HERB SCORE (CLEVELAND BLUES) 7
2nd: Robin Roberts (Washington Senators) 5
3rd: Don Cardwell (Washington Senators) 4

K

1ST: HERB SCORE (CLEVELAND BLUES) 52
2nd: Ryne Duren (New York Yankees) 41
3rd: Jim Bunning (Detroit Tigers) 36

IP

1ST: BILLY O'DELL (BALTIMORE ORIOLES) 58.2
2nd: Herb Score (Cleveland Blues) 55.2
3rd: Frank Sullivan (Boston Red Sox) 51.1

OAVG

1ST: BILLY HOEFT (DETROIT TIGERS) .190
2nd: Jim Bunning (Detroit Tigers) .200
3rd: Don Cardwell (Washington Senators) .211


NATIONAL LEAGUE - BATTING

AVG

1ST: GENE WOODLING (ST. LOUIS CARDINALS) .446
2nd: Gus Bell (Cincinnati Reds) .437
3rd: Bobby Thomson (Chicago Cubs) .407

OBP

1ST: GENE WOODLING (ST. LOUIS CARDINALS) .517
2nd: Gus Bell (Cincinnati Reds) .484
3rd: Ed Bouchee (Philadelphia Phillies) .455

H

1ST: GUS BELL (CINCINNATI REDS) 38
2nd: Bobby Thomson (Chicago Cubs) 37
3rd: Gene Woodling (St. Louis Cardinals) 33
3rd: Ernie Banks (Chicago Cubs) 33

RBI

1ST: WILLIE JONES (PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES) 33
2nd: Gus Triandos (St. Louis Cardinals) 31
3rd: Ernie Banks (Chicago Cubs) 25

HR

1ST: WILLIE JONES (PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES) 15
2nd: Frank Robinson (Cincinnati Reds) 8
3rd: Bobby Thomson (Chicago Cubs) 7

NATIONAL LEAGUE - PITCHING

ERA

1ST: CURT SIMMONS (PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES) 1.37
2nd: Juan Pizarro (Milwaukee Braves) 1.75
3rd: Bob Conley (Chicago Cubs) 2.27

W

1ST: CURT SIMMONS (PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES) 4
1ST: FRED GREEN (CINCINNATI REDS) 4
3rd: Bob Anderson (Chicago Cubs) 3
3rd: Seth Morehead (Philadelphia Phillies) 3
3rd: Paul Foytack (St. Louis Cardinals) 3

K

1ST: GEORGE WITT (PITTSBURGH PIRATES) 54
2nd: Sam Jones (St. Louis Cardinals) 44
3rd: Johnny Podres (Brooklyn Dodgers) 38

IP

1ST: CURT SIMMONS (PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES) 52.2
2nd: Fred Green (Cincinnati Reds) 51.2
3rd: George Witt (Pittsburgh Pirates) 50.1

OAVG

1ST: JUAN PIZARRO (MILWAUKEE BRAVES) .181
2nd: Sam Jones (St. Louis Cardinals) .182
3rd: Curt Simmons (Philadelphia Phillies) .194

[Jeff1787]

Willie Jones already has 15 HR...he could have a huge year!

[kenyan_cheena]

Originally Posted by Jeff1787

Willie Jones already has 15 HR...he could have a huge year!

Yep, he's going to feature in an upcoming post reviewing the season's opening month.

[kenyan_cheena]

THE CHICAGO TRIBUNE

MONDAY, 3 MAY, 1959

WHITE SOX CLAIM
RED SOX LEGEND OFF WAIVERS

Story by Brian Davison

In a move that has surprised many, the Chicago White Sox agreed to pick up the contract of ex-Red Sox leftfielder Ted Williams yesterday, only three days after the club he'd spent his entire career with waived him. It was assumed that Williams would opt for retirement before pulling on another team's jersey but those assumptions appear to be incorrect after the Californian expressed excitement over the news.

"I'm very happy about this outcome," said Williams. "I've always said that I'd like to play until at least the end of my current contract and I owe a debt of gratitude to the White Sox for making this decision. They are a team that is struggling a little bit at the moment and I'll do whatever's necessary to help arrest that situation."

White Sox manager Al Lopez spoke of what Williams can bring to the team.

"The man has so much experience and knowledge," Lopez said. "We're hoping that this is something he can pass on to the younger guys on our roster, that just being around him will make them better players. I'm ecstatic that Ted Williams is now a member of the Chicago White Sox roster."

Lopez's words about the team's younger players seem a bit strange in light of the fact that the White Sox have one of the most experienced rosters in the Majors. Before Williams was acquired they already had a total of nine players with at least ten years of MLB service (seven with twelve years or more). Williams only makes the team older and adds a hefty sum to their payroll. His contract expires at the end of the '61 season and in this reporter's opinion it's very doubtful that he'll remain with the White Sox through until that time...

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BASEBALL WEEKLY

Monday 3 May 1959

VOLUME 25, ISSUE 18

UNUSUAL SUSPECTS PACING LEAGUE
THROUGH OPENING MONTH

Story by Michael Jones,
published in the 3 May 1959 issue of BASEBALL WEEKLY

A gambling man could have made himself a hefty return on the surprising situation in Major League Baseball as the 1959 season enters May. A quartet of ballclubs in the Tigers, Senators, Phillies and Cardinals find themselves at the top of the pecking order while more fancied organisations such as the World Champion Milwaukee Braves, New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox have made starts of a more underwhelming nature. None of the teams mentioned in the above quartet finished in the top half of their respective leagues in '58 but if April is anything to go by they'll be competing deep into the 1959 campaign. In this article we'll take a look at each of them and uncover the reasons for their early success...

* DETROIT TIGERS (18-6, 1st, American League)

Boasting the best record in the Majors the Tigers are firing on all cylinders at the moment. It's not just their pitching and it's not just their batting: it's both. The ballclub's ERA of 3.32 ranks 1st in all of MLB, with starters Billy Hoeft (1.86, 1st in AL) and Jim Bunning (2.79, 7th in AL) amongst the most potent 1-2s of any pitching rotation in the league. Meanwhile the offense is also doing the job with a team batting average of .288 the 3rd best in the Majors. A number of players have stepped up so far but the best amongst them would have to be 1st baseman Gail Harris. The 27 year-old is batting .301 and leads the American League in RBI with 25. Centrefielder Harvey Kuenn has also enjoyed an outstanding start, averaging .378 as the leadoff hitter.

* WASHINGTON SENATORS (14-9, 2nd, American League)

The oppressive presence of former owner Calvin Griffith is now just a bad memory and in the minds of many, this is the primary reason for the Senators' great opening to '59. That might be part of it but a look at the numbers reveals that Washington's pitching rotation features two of the best hurlers in baseball in 23 year-old ace Don Cardwell (4-0, 2.14, 25 K) and the veteran Robin Roberts (5-1, 2.56, 21 K). Claimed off waivers from the Phillies on April 13 Roberts has been a starter for the Senators ever since and has thrived in his new environment. He received the PotG award in each of his first three Washington starts, giving up just six earned runs in 28 innings of work. The Senators aren't amongst the elite teams at the plate although they lead the league in walks with 103. Centrefielder Albie Pearson is batting .346 with sixteen RBI while shortstop Rocky Bridges (.342, 17 RBI) has been a nightmare for opposing pitchers in the middle of the order.

* PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES (15-9, 1st, National League)

One of the highlights of the season so far has been the outstanding performances of Phillies 3rd baseman Willie Jones. Batting .373, the 33 year-old had hammered fifteen home runs and 33 RBI as at the end of play on May the 2nd, putting him on target to surpass Rocky Colavito's season record of 72 set just last year. His efforts earned him the Batter of the Month award for April and if he was somehow able to eclipse Colavito's mark it would be an extraordinary achievement. But even so, many observers have chosen not to focus too much on it as they're simply assuming that he'll cool off as the season progresses. While only 7-7 at home Philadelphia has been brilliant on the road, their 8-2 record including three-game sweeps of Cincinnati and Milwaukee (in which they outscored the Braves 28-6). Gold Glove winner Curt Simmons has picked up where he left off last year, going 4-1 with an ERA of 1.37 to win the Pitcher of the Month award.

* ST. LOUIS CARDINALS (14-9, 2nd, National League)

The Cardinals had the 2nd worst record in all of baseball last year (63-91) but after their efforts in April there appears little chance of that happening this season. Signed by the Cardinals last month, 36 year-old veteran Gene Woodling is now playing for his fifth different Major League club (Blues, Pirates, Yankees, Orioles) and leads the majors with a fantastic average of .446. Surprisingly, he hasn't hit a home run yet but his .517 OBP is far and away the best on the team. Catcher Gus Triandos has been a big producer, also, only hitting .253 but ranking 2nd in all of baseball with 31 RBI. Their rotation is not one of the stronger ones in MLB but 28 year-old Paul Foytack has been a standout and is 3-0 with an ERA of 2.70 in five starts.

***

Without a doubt, it will be interesting to see where these four ballclubs sit at the end of May...

MAJOR LEAGUE BASEBALL AWARD WINNERS, APRIL 1959

AMERICAN LEAGUE BATTER OF THE MONTH

Mickey Mantle (New York Yankees) (.417, 8 HR, 14 RBI)

While he may not admit it, "The Mick" is determined to regain the crown he lost to Rocky Colavito as the American League's Most Valuable Player, an honor he won in both '56 and '57. After a fantastic April he's off to a good start.

AMERICAN LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH

Herb Score (Cleveland Blues) (6-0, 1.91, 43 K)

Many thought that Score was robbed of the Cy Young award in '58 and he could not have made a better start to this year's campaign. He leads the league in wins and is 4th in ERA, the 25 year-old in the prime of his career and a vital part of Cleveland's roster.

NATIONAL LEAGUE BATTER OF THE MONTH

Willie Jones (Philadelphia Phillies) (.382, 14 HR, 32 RBI)

As mentioned earlier Jones has exploded out of the gates and is on target to at the very least challenge the single-season home run record. Whether he can maintain the quality of his offense through May remains to be seen.

NATIONAL LEAGUE PITCHER OF THE MONTH

Curt Simmons (Philadelphia Phillies) (4-1, 1.37, 21 K)

Joining his teammate Jones in winning monthly honors Simmons looks to be on a mission to go one better than his Golden Glove award, with the Cy Young trophy in his sights.

[Kelric]

Poor Ted Williams.

[kenyan_cheena]

THE OHIO EXPRESS

Wednesday, 5 May, 1959

WARD HAMMERS THREE HOMERS
AS BLUES BLANK SENATORS

Story by Grady McCallum

It was only last Thursday in the wake of injuries to star players Willie Mays and Minnie Minoso when Cleveland Blues outfielder Rocky Colavito said that the rest of the team were "going to have to step up and take responsibility" to fill the void. Yesterday 1st baseman Preston Ward did exactly that, smashing three solo home runs as the Blues defeated the Washington Senators 5-0.

Three home runs in a single game is a fantastic feat in itself but the fact he achieved it against Washington's hottest pitcher Don Cardwell makes it all the more impressive. Cardwell brought a 4-0 record into the game and had only given up two home runs in his first six starts, both of which came on opening day in Detroit. Yesterday the Blues torched him for four with 2nd baseman Bobby Avila setting the tone when he led off Cleveland's 1st with a shot over the left field wall. Ward's first homer came three batters later to give the Blues a 2-0 lead. He followed it up with a leadoff shot in the 4th and a two-out dinger in the 8th. Ward finished the game 3-for-4, increasing his season home run tally to eight and his RBI count to fifteen. Ward was one of Cleveland's standouts in '58, batting .311 with sixteen home runs, 64 RBI and 84 runs scored. He's batting .260 through the first month of this season.

Coming on a day when Colavito was 0-for-3 Ward's offensive explosion was everything Cleveland manager Joe Gordon could have hoped for. While Ward's heroics garnered all the attention the Blues may not have been victorious if not for the excellent pitching performance of 23 year-old starter Jim "Mudcat" Grant. He went eight innings, gave up just three hits and struck out three on 107 pitches, recording his first win of the season. The victory moved the Blues into outright 2nd place at 15-10, a half-game ahead of the Senators and Yankees (both 14-10) and three behind the American League-leading Tigers, who lost a near six-hour marathon in Baltimore, 6-5 in sixteen innings to fall to 18-7...

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THE SUNDAY TRIBUNE

SUNDAY, 9 MAY, 1959

LANDIS' FIVE HITS LEAD
WHITE SOX PAST ATHLETICS

Story by Brian Davison

In a fantastic performance White Sox centrefielder Jim Landis recorded a career-high five hits (including the game-clinching home run) in a 7-6, thirteen-inning victory over the Athletics yesterday at Kansas City's Municipal Stadium. It may have been a matchup of the American League's cellar dwellers but that didn't stop it from being an intriguing and exciting one. The win was Chicago's third in seven games during May, improving their record to 10-18.

Both ballclubs scored a pair of runs in the 1st, the Athletics adding another in the 2nd before Chicago took the lead with two more in the 5th. But Kansas City responded in the bottom of the frame, tieing it up at 4-4. Reaching safely in two of his first three at-bats Landis finally scored a run in the 7th inning when he tripled before catcher Sherm Lollar singled to bring him home. The run broke the deadlock but the Athletics had gotten back on level terms by the end of the 9th, the score remaining 6-6 until Landis launched a 1-2 Wally Burnette fastball over the centre field wall in the top of the 13th to give the White Sox a lead they did not relinquish when Kansas City came to the plate.

Landis finished the five-hour, 22-minute epic 5-for-7 with two runs scored and two RBI. He's batting .337 on the season with four home runs and 22 RBI and is one of the few shining lights on the White Sox roster right now. The game was also significant as it featured the first appearance of future Hall of Famer Ted Williams since Chicago picked up his contract last Sunday. The 40 year-old Red Sox legend came in to pinch hit in the 8th, drawing a walk.

Despite surrendering a number of hits both starters were kept in the game until at least the 8th inning. White Sox hurler Ray Moore pitched 8.1 innings and allowed fourteen hits and four earned runs on 139 pitches. Kansas City's Duke Maas was relieved after the 8th and he gave up ten hits and six earned runs, logging one less pitch than Moore. Kansas City remains a half-game ahead of Chicago in 7th place with an 11-18 record.

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The Cincinnati Enquirer

WEDNESDAY 12 MAY 1959

BAILEY AND ROBINSON POWER REDS
PAST DODGERS AT EBBETS

Story by Larry Martelle

When Cleveland Blues 1st baseman Preston Ward smashed three home runs in a game against the Washington Senators last week, he became the first player to do so since his teammate Rocky Colavito on the 25th of July last year. Yesterday Cincinnati Reds leftfielder Frank Robinson equalled that feat in his ballclub's 8-3 win over the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets. The win snapped a three-game losing streak for the Ohio ballclub but it wasn't just 23 year-old Robinson, who batted 4-for-5 with four runs scored, in fine form. Reds catcher Ed Bailey was 3-for-3 with two homers and four RBI.

A crowd of just 21,038 came out to Ebbets Field, possibly a reflection of the five-game skid the Dodgers brought into the afternoon. With that stretch now at six Brooklyn fell to a disappointing 10-20 while the Reds improved to 11-19, moving into 7th in the National League at the Dodgers' expense.

Through an underwhelming start to the year Robinson has been a standout for the Reds, batting .286 with eleven home runs and nineteen RBI. He's only built on what were a fantastic first three seasons, today's efforts increasing his career home run total to 125. One problem the Reds are facing is that the native of Beaumont, Texas is only signed through until the end of this season. He's sure to be a target for some of the league's heavyweight spenders during the coming off-season...

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The Pittsburgh Gazette

Saturday, 15 May, 1959

PIRATES' STREAK HITS EIGHT
IN VICTORY OVER CARDINALS

Story by Michael Thomas

The Pittsburgh Pirates continued their impressive winning streak yesterday with a 15-2 thrashing of the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium. It was the eighth consecutive victory and tenth in eleven games for the Pirates (23-11) who maintained their two-game lead over Pennsylvanian neighbours Philadelphia (21-13) at the top of the National League. Batting at number eight in the lineup Pittsburgh centrefielder Bill Virdon had a great afternoon hitting 2-for-5 with two runs scored and four RBI, his hits a two-out three-run homer in the 1st and an RBI triple in the 8th.

The result was put beyond doubt early with the Pirates leading 6-0 after the 1st and 9-0 in the middle of the 4th before adding six more in the eighth. Ten minutes after Virdon's triple 3rd baseman Gene Baker hit one of his own, a two-out bases-loaded line drive that hit the wall in right on the full. It was Baker's only at-bat of the game but produced three RBI. Starting pitcher George Witt did a perfect job of complimenting Pittsburgh's explosive offense, going the distance and giving up six hits and two earned runs while striking out nine.

Pittsburgh are the hottest team in the majors right now and have received great service from a number of players. All-Star rightfielder Roberto Clemente is batting .384 with four home runs and fourteen RBI while Cuban native Roman Mejias (.347, 4 HR, 15 RBI), leftfielder Bob Skinner (.344, 4 HR, 20 RBI), 3rd baseman Frank Thomas (.285, 4 RBI, 18 RBI) and 2nd baseman Bill Mazeroski (.311, 5 HR, 15 RBI) have all made excellent contributions. The roster is one of the youngest in the league so if the ballclub's management can keep this group of players together they look set to be a contender for a number of years to come.

"I'm happy with the progress we're making," said 2nd year manager Danny Murtaugh. "We surprised a lot of people last year, but I don't think we'll be able to do that now. They'll be ready for us so it's really satisfying to be leading the league at the moment. But we can't let ourselves be too satisfied 'cause if we ease up we'll find ourselves looking up again."

The Pirates play two more games in St. Louis before heading home for a big series against the Phillies, which starts Monday...

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BASEBALL WEEKLY

Monday 17 May 1959

VOLUME 25, ISSUE 20

GRIFFITH CONFIRMS EXPANSION TEAM
TO BE LOCATED IN MINNESOTA

Story by Jerome Hamilton,
published in the 17 May 1959 issue of BASEBALL WEEKLY

Former Washington Senators owner Calvin Griffith formally announced what had long been known this past Friday, confirming that the 1962 expansion team appointed to him by Major League Baseball would make its home in the state of Minnesota. Griffith has not officially named the ballclub but he did reveal that he'd come to an agreement to purchase Metropolitan Stadium in Bloomington, which is just outside Minneapolis and the current home ground of the AA minor league Minneapolis Millers team. Apparently the purchase will take place in November after which extensive renovations will be made to expand the stadium's capacity from its present 18,200 to over 30,000.

Major League Baseball has stated that both Griffith's team and Kelvin Molk's Los Angeles franchise wil be placed in the American League when expansion takes place in '62, so even though they won't be playing them Griffith's organisation will have a regional rival in the shape of the World Champion Milwaukee Braves. It's almost certain that the two National League expansion teams will be given to New York and a Texas-based bid.

Regular readers of Baseball Weekly will recall my article back in January on Griffith's surprising decision to sell the Senators after he'd been so adamant for so long about relocating them. At the time I questioned the reasons for the sale and came to the conclusion that he'd been offered a good deal more than the organisation was worth. The news regarding Metropolitan Stadium appears to confirm this as the venue was only opened in '56 so will no doubt be quite expensive. The issue of exactly who the Senators' new owners are still remains a mystery, with only FAA administrator Elwood Quesada and a local Washington businessman named George Robertson being identified amongst the ten-man group. With the ballclub making a promising start to the '59 season the question would be less than trivial in the minds of Senators fans so it's unlikely it will be answered any time soon...

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THE BALTIMORE COURIER

Monday, 17 May, 1959

PAPPAS BLANKS WHITE SOX
IN ONE-HIT MASTERPIECE

Story by Lenny Adams

Baltimore pitching phenom Milt Pappas produced perhaps the best performance of his young career yesterday, holding the Chicago White Sox to a single hit in a 5-0 Orioles victory at Comiskey Park. The 20 year-old Detroit native and 1958 American League Rookie of the Year was up against another young hurler in Chicago's Bob Gibson and the two engaged in a tense duel through the first eight innings. The game was still scoreless going into the 9th, where it all came undone for Gibson and the White Sox.

After Orioles 1st baseman Paul Smith doubled to lead off the frame Gibson struck out Herb Plews before walking both Bob Nieman and Dick Williams to load the bases. Rightfielder Al Pilarcik then hit a two-RBI single, scoring both Smith and Niemen. The bases were once again loaded after Lenny Green reached on a dropped flyball by White Sox rightfielder Don Mueller, Orioles shortstop Wally Shannon then doubling and driving in two runs to spell the end of both Chicago's and Gibson's night. Pappas retired the Sox in order in the bottom of the inning to confirm the victory.

Pappas walked four and struck out six on 108 pitches, his record improving to 4-3 in nine starts, his ERA sitting at an impressive 3.11. The win secured a series sweep for the Orioles and was their ninth in fourteen games since the beginning of May...

American League standings as at
the end of play, 16 May 1959

1ST: DETROIT TIGERS 23-13 (.639)
2nd: New York Yankees 20-14 (.588), (2.0 G.B.)
3rd: Cleveland Blues 20-16 (.555), (3.0 G.B.)
4th: Washington Senators 19-16 (.543), (3.5 G.B.)
5th: Baltimore Orioles 17-18 (.486), (5.5 G.B.)
6th: Boston Red Sox 15-20 (.428), (7.5 G.B.)
7th: Kansas City Athletics 15-21 (.416), (8.0 G.B.)
8th: Chicago White Sox 12-23 (.343), (10.5 G.B.)

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The San Francisco Chronicle

TUESDAY, 18 MAY, 1959

GIANTS 1ST BASEMAN CEPEDA
WINS PLAYER OF THE WEEK AWARD

Story by Michael Brown

In one of the stranger decisions of recent times, San Francisco Giants 1st baseman Orlando Cepeda was named the National League's Player of the Week yesterday, despite the fact that the Giants accumulated a 1-5 record during the preceeding seven days. 1959 has been a difficult year so far for the team by the bay, most notable because of the defection of former League MVP Willie Mays to the Cleveland Blues back in February. However, Cepeda has been trying his hardest to make fans of the ballclub forget about Mays, batting .357 with four home runs and eleven RBI last week. On the season he's hitting .321 with ten home runs and 36 RBI, a total that sees him ranked at the top of the senior curcuit.

Cepeda was honored with the National League's Rookie of the Year award last season and it's clear that he's continuing to improve in '59. The Puerto Rican native spoke on the issue when presented with his PotW award (the third in his career following two last season) before yesterday's 3-2 win against the Cardinals at Candlestick.

"All I can really focus on is doing the best I can for my team," he said, matter-of-factly. "Obviously, I can't control everything that happens on the field but if I do my best to help the team win, that's the most I can ask of myself. I'm very honored to win this award, even though we didn't have a great week."

Despite his efforts San Francisco currently sits in 6th place, nine games behind the League-leading Pirates. The 21 year-old may be the future of the organisation but unless the team's fortunes change during these next couple of months the Giants won't be coming close to the pennant race this season...

NATIONAL LEAGUE STANDINGS
AS AT THE END OF PLAY, 17 MAY 1959

1ST: PITTSBURGH PIRATES 25-12 (.675)
2nd: Philadelphia Phillies 23-14 (.621), (2.0 G.B.)
3rd: Chicago Cubs 21-15 (.583), (3.5 G.B.)
4th: St. Louis Cardinals 20-16 (.555), (4.5 G.B.)
5th: Milwaukee Braves 17-20 (.459), (8.0 G.B.)
6th: San Francisco Giants 15-20 (.428), (9.0 G.B.)
7th: Cincinnati Reds 13-23 (.361), (11.5 G.B.)
8th: Brooklyn Dodgers 11-25 (.305), (13.5 G.B.)

[kenyan_cheena]

MILWAUKEE * WISCONSIN
JOURNAL SENTINEL

Friday 21 May 1959

DISGRUNTLED RUSH
WAIVED BY BRAVES

Story by Lomas Robertson

It's a situation that would have seemed unfathomable mere weeks ago but it's very much a reality. Yesterday the Milwaukee Braves placed 33 year-old starting pitcher Bob Rush on waivers for the purpose of his unconditional release from the team. The issue that has led to this action appears to be a major falling out between Rush and Braves manager Fred Haney over Rush's status once he was activated from the disabled list.

Braves fans will remember that Rush injured his bicep while pitching back on the 19th of April after which he spent a full thirty days on the DL. In the days before being activated Rush was informed that the Braves planned to send him down to the minors for a couple of starts to get his rhythm back. Rush didn't like the idea at all, insisting that he was ready to be inserted right back into the rotation. When Haney told him that the plan was final the Michigan-born pitcher demanded an immediate release from the team, claiming that a player of his "status in the game" shouldn't have to "endure such nonsense".

Yesterday Rush's wish was granted, Haney saying that he had no room on his roster for "prima donnas", no matter what they'd provided to the team in the past. What Rush provided during his brief stay in Milwaukee was quite remarkable, a fact that will make his departure all the more difficult for Braves followers to take. After a difficult yet admirable ten-year stay with the Chicago Cubs Rush signed a three-year contract with the Braves following the 1957 season. He was immediately recognised by the ballclub as a vital member of their pitching rotation and ended up starting a career-high 36 games last season, also tieing his career-high in wins with seventeen. The highlight of his campaign came on the 10th of September when he became just the seventh Major Leaguer to pitch a perfect game in a 12-0 Braves victory over the Phillies at Connie Mack Stadium. Four days later he played an important role in the game that clinched Milwaukee's second consecutive National League pennant, a 5-4 ten-inning victory also against Philadelphia.

Rush started in games three and six of the Braves' extraordinary World Series triumph over the New York Yankees, going 1-0 with an ERA of 4.76 in seventeen innings. He pitched the only complete game of the series when he threw 141 pitches in an incredible game six, which the Braves won 13-6 after trailing 6-1 in the middle of the 6th inning. He had made three starts this season before being injured, winning two of them. It's hard to believe that he has decided he no longer wants to be a part of the ballclub where he achieved his only World Championship, but it will be interesting to see where he ends up...