1955 Baltimore Orioles season
Encyclopedia
The 1955
Baltimore Orioles
season involved the Orioles finishing 7th in the American League
with a record of 57 wins and 97 losses, 39 games behind the AL champion New York Yankees
. The team was managed by first-year manager Paul Richards
and played their home games at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium
.
, the Orioles further distanced themselves from their Browns past by making a 17-player trade with the New York Yankees
that included most former Browns of note still on the Baltimore roster. Indeed, to this day the Orioles make almost no mention of their past as the Browns. Though the deal did little to improve the short-term competitiveness of the club, it helped establish a fresh identity for the Oriole franchise.
The details of the trade were as follows: Don Larsen
, Billy Hunter
, Bob Turley
, and players to be named later were traded by the Orioles to the New York Yankees for Gene Woodling
, Harry Byrd
, Jim McDonald, Hal Smith, Gus Triandos
, Willy Miranda
and players to be named later. The deal was completed on December 1, when the Yankees sent Bill Miller
, Kal Segrist
, Don Leppert
, and Ted Del Guercio (minors) to the Orioles, and the Orioles sent Mike Blyzka
, Darrell Johnson
, Jim Fridley
, and Dick Kryhoski
to the Yankees.
Unlike other clubs that transferred in the 1950s, retaining their nickname and a sense of continuity with their past (such as the Brooklyn-Los Angeles Dodgers
and New York-San Francisco Giants
), the St. Louis Browns were renamed upon their transfer, implicitly distancing themselves at least somewhat from their history.
1955 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Brooklyn Dodgers over New York Yankees ; Johnny Podres, MVP*All-Star Game, July 12 at County Stadium: National League, 6-5 -Other champions:*Caribbean World Series: Cangrejeros de Santurce...
Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles
The Baltimore Orioles are a professional baseball team based in Baltimore, Maryland in the United States. They are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's American League. One of the American League's eight charter franchises in 1901, it spent its first year as a major league...
season involved the Orioles finishing 7th in the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
with a record of 57 wins and 97 losses, 39 games behind the AL champion New York Yankees
1955 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 53rd season in New York, and its 55th season overall. The team finished with a record of 96-58, winning their 21st pennant, finishing 3 games ahead of the Cleveland Indians. New York was managed by Casey Stengel. The Yankees played their home games at...
. The team was managed by first-year manager Paul Richards
Paul Richards (baseball)
Paul Rapier Richards was an American professional baseball player, manager, scout and executive in Major League Baseball. During his playing career, he was a catcher and right-handed batter with the Brooklyn Dodgers , New York Giants , Philadelphia Athletics and Detroit Tigers...
and played their home games at Baltimore's Memorial Stadium
Memorial Stadium (Baltimore)
Memorial Stadium was a sports stadium in Baltimore, Maryland, that formerly stood on 33rd Street on an over-sized block also bounded by Ellerslie Avenue , 36th Street , and Ednor Road...
.
Offseason
In the fall of 19541954 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:* World Series: New York Giants over Cleveland Indians * All-Star Game, July 13 at Municipal Stadium: American League, 11-9-Other champions:* Caribbean World Series: Caguas Creoles [Criollos de Caguas]...
, the Orioles further distanced themselves from their Browns past by making a 17-player trade with the New York Yankees
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
that included most former Browns of note still on the Baltimore roster. Indeed, to this day the Orioles make almost no mention of their past as the Browns. Though the deal did little to improve the short-term competitiveness of the club, it helped establish a fresh identity for the Oriole franchise.
The details of the trade were as follows: Don Larsen
Don Larsen
Donald James Larsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953-67 for seven different teams. Larsen is best known for pitching the sixth perfect game in baseball history, doing so in game 5 of the 1956 World Series...
, Billy Hunter
Billy Hunter (baseball)
Gordon William Hunter is a retired American shortstop, coach and manager in Major League Baseball.A slick-fielding, light-hitting shortstop from Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, the right-handed-batting Hunter was originally signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers. With his path to the majors blocked by Pee Wee...
, Bob Turley
Bob Turley
Robert Lee Turley was a Major League Baseball pitcher.Turley was signed as an amateur free agent by the St. Louis Browns in . He played his first game on September 29, 1951 for the Browns and moved with them to Baltimore in...
, and players to be named later were traded by the Orioles to the New York Yankees for Gene Woodling
Gene Woodling
Eugene Richard Woodling was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , New York Yankees , Baltimore Orioles , Washington Senators , and the New York Mets in their expansion year of 1962...
, Harry Byrd
Harry Byrd (baseball)
Harry Gladwin Byrd was an American Major League Baseball right-handed starting pitcher who played for the Philadelphia Athletics , New York Yankees , Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers...
, Jim McDonald, Hal Smith, Gus Triandos
Gus Triandos
Gus Triandos is a Greek-American former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball mostly as a catcher but also played as a first baseman for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and the Detroit Tigers of the American League and the Philadelphia Phillies and Houston Astros...
, Willy Miranda
Willy Miranda
Guillermo "Willy" Miranda Perez was a Cuban-born professional baseball player who played shortstop in the Major Leagues from 1951–1959...
and players to be named later. The deal was completed on December 1, when the Yankees sent Bill Miller
Bill Miller (left-handed pitcher)
William Paul Miller was an American pitcher in Major League Baseball who played from through for the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles . Listed at 6' 0", 175 lb., Miller batted and threw left-handed...
, Kal Segrist
Kal Segrist
Kal Hill Segrist is a former utility infielder in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles . Listed at 6' 0", 180 lb., Segrist batted and threw right-handed...
, Don Leppert
Don Leppert (second baseman)
Don Eugene Leppert is an American former professional baseball second baseman. Nicknamed "Tiger," Leppert stood 5 feet 8 inches tall, weighed 175 pounds , batted left-handed and threw right-handed.Leppert attended Christian Brothers High School in Memphis and signed his first pro contract...
, and Ted Del Guercio (minors) to the Orioles, and the Orioles sent Mike Blyzka
Mike Blyzka
Michael John Blyzka was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Browns/Baltimore Orioles . Listed at 5' 11", 190 lb., Blyzka batted and threw right-handed. A native of Hamtramck, Michigan, he served in the U.S...
, Darrell Johnson
Darrell Johnson
Darrell Dean Johnson was an American Major League Baseball catcher, coach, manager and scout.-Playing career:...
, Jim Fridley
Jim Fridley
James Riley Fridley was an American professional baseball player. During his Major League Baseball career, he was backup outfielder, playing mostly at left field for three different teams between 1952 and 1958. Nicknamed "Big Jim," Fridley was listed at and and batted and threw right-handed...
, and Dick Kryhoski
Dick Kryhoski
Richard David Kryhoski was a first baseman in Major League Baseball who played for five different teams between 1949 and 1955. Listed at 6' 2", 200 lb., Kryhoski batted and threw left-handed. He was born and raised in Leonia, New Jersey.Kryhoski attended at Upsala College in East Orange, New...
to the Yankees.
Unlike other clubs that transferred in the 1950s, retaining their nickname and a sense of continuity with their past (such as the Brooklyn-Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
and New York-San Francisco Giants
San Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
), the St. Louis Browns were renamed upon their transfer, implicitly distancing themselves at least somewhat from their history.
Other notable transactions
- December 6, 1954: Bob ChakalesBob ChakalesRobert Edwards Chakales [sha-kuh'-les] was a pitcher in Major League Baseball who played with four different clubs between the 1951 and 1957 seasons. Listed at 6'1", 185 lb., Chakales batted and threw right-handed...
, Jim BrideweserJim BrideweserJames Ehrenfeld Brideweser was an American shortstop in Major League Baseball who played from to for the New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Chicago White Sox and Detroit Tigers...
and Clint CourtneyClint CourtneyClinton Dawdson Courtney was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees , St. Louis Browns , Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox , Washington Senators and Kansas City Athletics . Courtney batted left-handed and threw right-handed...
were traded by the Orioles to the Chicago White SoxChicago White SoxThe Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
for Don FerrareseDon FerrareseDonald Hugh "Midget" Ferrarese is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played from 1955 to 1962 with the Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox, Philadelphia Phillies and St. Louis Cardinals. A left-handed thrower, he threw right-handed. An attendant of St...
, Don Johnson, Matt BattsMatt BattsMatthew Daniel Batts was a Major League Baseball catcher who played from through for the Boston Red Sox , St. Louis Browns , Detroit Tigers , Chicago White Sox and Cincinnati Reds . Batts batted and threw right-handed...
, and Fred MarshFred MarshFred Francis Marsh was an American infielder in Major League Baseball who played from to for the Cleveland Indians, St...
. - December 13, 1954: Harry Schwegeman (minors), Johnny Jancse (minors) and $50,000 were traded by the Orioles to the Brooklyn DodgersLos Angeles DodgersThe Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
for Billy Cox and Preacher RoePreacher RoeElwin Charles Roe was a Major League Baseball pitcher for the St. Louis Cardinals , Pittsburgh Pirates , and Brooklyn Dodgers .-Early years:...
.
Notable transactions
- June 15, 1955: Billy Cox and Gene WoodlingGene WoodlingEugene Richard Woodling was a Major League Baseball outfielder for the Cleveland Indians , Pittsburgh Pirates , New York Yankees , Baltimore Orioles , Washington Senators , and the New York Mets in their expansion year of 1962...
were traded by the Orioles to the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
for Dave PopeDave PopeDavid Pope was an American Major League Baseball outfielder who played for four seasons in MLB for the Cleveland Indians in 1952, and from 1954 to 1955...
and Wally WestlakeWally WestlakeWaldon Thomas Westlake was a utility player who had a ten-year career from 1947 to 1956. Born in Gridley, California, he played for the Pittsburgh Pirates, St. Louis Cardinals, Cincinnati Reds and Philadelphia Phillies of the National League, and the Cleveland Indians and Baltimore Orioles of the...
. Billy Cox refused to report to his new team. The Baltimore Orioles sent $15,000 to the Cleveland Indians as compensation. - July 2, 1955: Dave PhilleyDave PhilleyDavid Earl Philley is a former outfielder who played in Major League Baseball. A switch-hitter who threw right-handed, he debuted on September 6, and played his final game on August 6, . He was born in Paris, Texas....
was selected off waivers by the Orioles from the Cleveland IndiansCleveland IndiansThe Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
. - July 9, 1955: Wally Westlake was released by the Orioles.
- July 30, 1955: Jim McDonald was traded by the Orioles to the New York YankeesNew York YankeesThe New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
for Ed Lopat.
Roster
| 1955 Baltimore Orioles | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders Other batters |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
Starters by position
Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Pos | Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CF | 137 | 371 | 95 | .256 | 3 | 31 | |
Other batters
Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in| Player | G | AB | H | Avg. | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 47 | 145 | 32 | .221 | 3 | 18 | |
Starting pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Other pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | IP | W | L | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 14 | 65.1 | 3 | 2 | 4.55 | 25 | |
| 15 | 57 | 0 | 4 | 4.11 | 26 | |
| 21 | 51.2 | 3 | 5 | 7.14 | 20 | |
Relief pitchers
Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts| Player | G | W | L | SV | ERA | SO |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 13.50 | 1 | |
Awards and honors
All-Star Game1955 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1955 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 22nd playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
- Jim WilsonJim Wilson (pitcher)James Alger Wilson , was a former professional baseball player who played pitcher in the Major Leagues from 1945-1958. He would play for the Boston Red Sox, St...
, reserve