1953 in baseball

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1953 in baseball

Overview
The 1953 season featured big moves, exciting pennant races, and a classic World Series. The Brooklyn Dodgers won the National League pennant, the New York Yankees won the American League pennant, and the Yankees defeated the Dodgers in the World Series, 4 games to 2. The All-Star Game was won by the National League, 5–1. Ted Williams returned to baseball after serving in the Korean War, and the Milwaukee Braves began play in Milwaukee after moving from Boston. The St. Louis Browns would move to Baltimore to become the Orioles in 1954. A landmark antitrust ruling also reminded fans that baseball is not subject to the same antitrust laws as other businesses.

Champions and major honors
- World Series champion: New York Yankees (defeated Brooklyn Dodgers 4–2)
- All-Star Game: National League won 5–1 at Crosley Field
- All-American Girls Professional Baseball League final standings: Fort Wayne Daisies finished first
- Japan Series: Yomiuri Giants defeated Nankai Hawks 4–2
- Most Valuable Player:
- National League: Roy Campanella (Brooklyn Dodgers)
- American League: Al Rosen (Cleveland Indians) – unanimous selection
- Rookies of the Year:
- National League: Jim Gilliam (Brooklyn Dodgers)
- American League: Harvey Kuenn (Detroit Tigers)
- Sporting News Player of the Year: Al Rosen (Cleveland)
- Sporting News Pitcher of the Year: Warren Spahn (Milwaukee, NL) and Bob Porterfield (Washington, AL)
- Sporting News Rookie of the Year: Jim Gilliam (NL) and Harvey Kuenn (AL)
- Manager of the Year: Casey Stengel (New York Yankees)

Statistical leaders
- Batting average: Mickey Vernon (AL) .337; Carl Furillo (NL) .344
- Home runs: Al Rosen (AL) 43; Eddie Mathews (NL) 47
- Runs batted in (RBI): Al Rosen (AL) 145; Roy Campanella (NL) 142
- Wins (pitchers): Bob Porterfield (AL) 22; Robin Roberts and Warren Spahn (NL) 23
- Earned run average (ERA): Eddie Lopat (AL) 2.42; Warren Spahn (NL) 2.10
- Strikeouts: Billy Pierce (AL) 186; Robin Roberts (NL) 198

American and National League final standings
- American League final standings: New York Yankees 99–52; Cleveland Indians 92–62; Chicago White Sox 89–65; Boston Red Sox 84–69; Washington Senators 76–76; Detroit Tigers 60–94; Philadelphia Athletics 59–95; St. Louis Browns 54–100
- National League final standings: Brooklyn Dodgers 105–49; Milwaukee Braves 92–62; Philadelphia Phillies 83–71; St. Louis Cardinals 83–71; New York Giants 70–84; Cincinnati Reds 68–86; Chicago Cubs 65–89; Pittsburgh Pirates 50–104

Notable events and milestones
- The Milwaukee Braves began play in Milwaukee after moving from Boston (1953 season opener featured a 3–2 Milwaukee win over the Cardinals; brokered by Warren Spahn and rookie Bill Bruton in milestone moments).
- The Cincinnati Reds briefly used the nickname Redlegs in 1953, due to Cold War era concerns over the name “Reds.”
- March 28: Jim Thorpe, one of the greatest all-around athletes in history, died at age 65.
- May 6: Bobo Holloman of the St. Louis Browns pitched a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Athletics (6–0) in his first start at the MLB level as a starter; it was the season’s only no-hitter.
- August 30: The Milwaukee Braves tied the major league record by hitting eight home runs in a doubleheader against the New York Giants; Jim Pendleton hit three homers in the first game, and Eddie Mathews added several more blasts in the day.
- September 12: The Dodgers clinched the National League pennant with 12 games to play, finishing 105–49.
- October 2: Carl Erskine of the Dodgers struck out 14 in Game 3 of the World Series, setting a then-record for strikeouts in a World Series game.
- October 5: The Yankees clinched their fifth straight World Series title by beating the Dodgers in Game 6, 4–3; Billy Martin had a standout series with 12 hits.
- November 9: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that baseball is not a business and is not subject to antitrust law in a notable ruling affecting the sport’s legal status.
- November 8–December: The Dodgers chose Walter Alston as their new manager for 1954, replacing Chuck Dressen (event surrounding the leadership shift was widely reported).
- September 8: Ernie Banks signed with the Chicago Cubs; on September 17, Banks became the Cubs’ first black player, a historic moment for the franchise.

International and other leagues
- Nippon Professional Baseball: Central League champion was the Yomiuri Giants; Pacific League champion was the Nankai Hawks.
- All-American Girls Professional Baseball League: Fort Wayne Daisies and other teams competed, with Fort Wayne finishing on top in the final standings.
- Notable films released that year included The Kid from Left Field and Big Leaguer.

In sum
1953 was a year of change and achievement: landmark moves like the Braves’ move to Milwaukee and the Browns’ path toward becoming the Orioles, dramatic pennant races, and a World Series that capped with the New York Yankees extending their dynasty. It was also a year of historic firsts and notable milestones, from the integration of the Chicago Cubs with Ernie Banks to Ted Williams’ return after military service, and a landmark Supreme Court ruling that reminded fans and players that baseball sits outside standard antitrust law.