1956 New York Yankees season
Encyclopedia
The New York Yankees
season was the 54th season for the team in New York, and its 56th season overall. The team finished with a record of 97-57, winning their 22nd pennant
, finishing 9 games ahead of the Cleveland Indians
. New York was managed by Casey Stengel
. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee Stadium. In the World Series
, they defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers
in 7 games. The Series featured the only no-hitter
in Series play, a perfect game
, delivered by the Yankees' Don Larsen
in Game 5.
(3)
All-Star Game
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...
season was the 54th season for the team in New York, and its 56th season overall. The team finished with a record of 97-57, winning their 22nd pennant
Pennant (sports)
A pennant is a commemorative flag typically used to show support for a particular athletic team. Pennants have been historically used in all types of athletic levels: high school, collegiate, professional etc. Traditionally, pennants were made of felt and fashioned in the official colors of a...
, finishing 9 games ahead of the Cleveland Indians
1956 Cleveland Indians season
-Offseason:* October 24, 1955: Ralph Kiner was released by the Indians.* October 25, 1955: Larry Doby was traded by the Indians to the Chicago White Sox for Chico Carrasquel and Jim Busby.-Roster:-Game log:- Starters by position:...
. New York was managed by Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee Stadium. In the World Series
1956 World Series
The 1956 World Series of Major League Baseball was played between the New York Yankees and the defending champion Brooklyn Dodgers during the month of October 1956. The Series was a rematch of the 1955 World Series...
, they defeated the Brooklyn Dodgers
1956 Brooklyn Dodgers season
The 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers edged out the Milwaukee Braves to win the National League title. The Dodgers again faced the New York Yankees in the World Series...
in 7 games. The Series featured the only no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
in Series play, a perfect game
Perfect game
A perfect game is defined by Major League Baseball as a game in which a pitcher pitches a victory that lasts a minimum of nine innings and in which no opposing player reaches base. Thus, the pitcher cannot allow any hits, walks, hit batsmen, or any opposing player to reach base safely for any...
, delivered by the Yankees' 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...
in Game 5.
Offseason
- February 8, 1956: Lou BerberetLou BerberetLouis Joseph Berberet was an American catcher in Major League Baseball who played for the New York Yankees, Washington Senators, Boston Red Sox and Detroit Tigers between 1954 and 1960. He was born in Long Beach, California....
, Bob WieslerBob WieslerRobert George Wiesler , is a former Major League Baseball pitcher who played in and again from to , with the New York Yankees and the Washington Senators. He batted right and left and threw left-handed....
, Herb PlewsHerb PlewsHerbert Eugene Plews is a former Major League Baseball second baseman. He played four years in the majors, from 1956 to 1959. In the minor leagues he played for Kansas City, Binghamton, Norfolk, and Denver before hitting the majors in 1956. After 1959, Herb finished his career playing back in the...
, Dick TettelbachDick TettelbachRichard Morley Tettelbach was a Major League Baseball outfielder. He attended college at Yale University, playing alongside future President George Bush in one season. Tettelbach played 29 games with the New York Yankees and Washington Senators with 12 hits in 80 at bats.-External links:...
, and a player to be named later were traded by the Yankees to the Washington SenatorsMinnesota TwinsThe Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
for Mickey McDermottMickey McDermottMaurice Joseph "Mickey" McDermott Jr. was an American left-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Pre-professional career:...
and Bobby KlineBobby KlineJohn Robert Kline is a former professional baseball player. He was a shortstop for one season with the Washington Senators. For his career, he compiled a .221 batting average in 140 at bats, with nine runs batted in.In addition, Kline played 11 seasons in the minor leagues for 10 teams.-External...
. The Yankees completed the deal by sending Whitey HerzogWhitey HerzogDorrel Norman Elvert "Whitey" Herzog is a former Major League Baseball manager. Born in New Athens, Illinois, he made his debut as a player in 1956 with the Washington Senators. After his playing career ended in 1963, Herzog went on to perform a variety of roles in Major League Baseball, including...
to the Senators on April 2.
Regular season
- April 18, 1956: Umpire Ed Rommell was the first umpire to wear glasses in a major league game. The game was played between the Yankees and the Washington Senators1956 Washington Senators seasonThe Washington Senators won 59 games, lost 95, and finished in seventh place in the American League. They were managed by Chuck Dressen and played home games at Griffith Stadium.- Offseason :...
.
Notable transactions
- May 28, 1956: Gerry StaleyGerry StaleyGerald Lee Staley was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who excelled both as a starter and reliever. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the Minor League draft. He pitched regularly from 1947 on, then was traded to Cincinnati for the 1955 season...
was selected off waivers from the Yankees by 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...
. - June 14, 1956: Lou SkizasLou SkizasLouis Peter Skizas , is a former professional baseball player who played in Major League Baseball primarily as an outfielder and third baseman from 1956-1959.-Fast Facts:* Skizas is of Greek ancestry....
and Eddie Robinson were traded by the Yankees to the Kansas City AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Moe BurtschyMoe BurtschyEdward Frank "Moe" Burtschy was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the Philadelphia/Kansas City Athletics .He was born in Cincinnati, Ohio...
, Bill RennaBill RennaWilliam Beneditto Renna is a former left fielder in Major League Baseball who played for four different teams between the and seasons. Nicknamed "Big Bill," he was listed at and , and batted and threw right-handed...
and cash. - July 11, 1956: Wally BurnetteWally BurnetteWallace Harper Burnette was an American professional baseball player who pitched for the Kansas City Athletics from -...
was traded by the Yankees to the Kansas City AthleticsOakland AthleticsThe Oakland Athletics are a Major League Baseball team based in Oakland, California. The Athletics are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League. From to the present, the Athletics have played in the O.co Coliseum....
for Tommy LasordaTommy LasordaThomas Charles Lasorda is a former Major League baseball player and manager. marked his sixth decade in one capacity or another with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the longest non-continuous tenure anyone has had with the team, edging Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully...
. - August 25, 1956: Enos SlaughterEnos SlaughterEnos Bradsher Slaughter , nicknamed "Country", was an American Major League Baseball right fielder. During a 19-year baseball career, he played from 1938–1942 and 1946-1959 for four different teams, but is noted primarily for his time with the St...
was selected off waivers by the Yankees from the Kansas City Athletics.
Roster
| 1956 New York Yankees | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| C | 140 | 521 | 155 | .298 | 30 | 105 | |
| 1B | 134 | 464 | 143 | .308 | 23 | 90 | |
| 2B | 121 | 458 | 121 | .264 | 9 | 49 | |
| 3B | 132 | 422 | 100 | .238 | 7 | 50 | |
| SS | 120 | 438 | 136 | .311 | 13 | 56 | |
| LF | 98 | 290 | 76 | .262 | 5 | 34 | |
| CF | 150 | 533 | 188 | .353 | 52 | 130 | |
| RF | 147 | 539 | 130 | .241 | 26 | 84 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 100 | 262 | 59 | .225 | 7 | 43 | |
| 80 | 183 | 47 | .257 | 0 | 18 | |
| 54 | 162 | 33 | .204 | 4 | 21 | |
| 54 | 115 | 35 | .304 | 3 | 25 | |
| 24 | 83 | 24 | .289 | 0 | 4 | |
| 39 | 75 | 21 | .280 | 0 | 11 | |
| 20 | 62 | 16 | .258 | 0 | 4 | |
| 31 | 52 | 12 | .231 | 0 | 6 | |
| 29 | 37 | 8 | .216 | 0 | 6 | |
| 26 | 54 | 12 | .222 | 5 | 11 | |
| 36 | 17 | 6 | .353 | 0 | 0 | |
| 11 | 12 | 2 | .167 | 0 | 0 | |
| 7 | 9 | 2 | .222 | 0 | 2 | |
| 5 | 7 | 1 | .143 | 0 | 0 | |
| 6 | 6 | 1 | .167 | 0 | 1 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 31 | 225.2 | 19 | 6 | 2.47 | 141 | |
| 34 | 224.1 | 18 | 9 | 3.85 | 67 | |
| 27 | 132 | 8 | 4 | 5.05 | 91 | |
| 3 | 13.1 | 1 | 2 | 9.45 | 8 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 | 179.2 | 11 | 5 | 3.26 | 107 | |
| 32 | 158.1 | 16 | 8 | 3.30 | 110 | |
| 29 | 88.1 | 3 | 5 | 3.67 | 42 | |
| 26 | 74.2 | 6 | 1 | 2.77 | 48 | |
| 23 | 87 | 2 | 6 | 4.24 | 38 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 41 | 6 | 7 | 11 | 4.16 | 20 | |
| 37 | 7 | 3 | 6 | 3.36 | 52 | |
| 8 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 4.91 | 6 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2.08 | 1 | |
| 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13.50 | 0 | |
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 108.00 | 1 |
1956 World Series
AL New York Yankees (4) vs. NL Brooklyn Dodgers1956 Brooklyn Dodgers season
The 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers edged out the Milwaukee Braves to win the National League title. The Dodgers again faced the New York Yankees in the World Series...
(3)
| Game | Score | Date | Location | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Yankees – 3, Dodgers – 6 | October 3 | Ebbets Field Ebbets Field Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football... |
34,479 |
| 2 | Yankees – 8, Dodgers – 13 | October 5 | Ebbets Field Ebbets Field Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football... |
36,217 |
| 3 | Dodgers – 3, Yankees – 5 | October 6 | Yankee Stadium | 73,977 |
| 4 | Dodgers – 2, Yankees – 6 | October 7 | Yankee Stadium | 69,705 |
| 5 | Dodgers – 0, Yankees – 2 | October 8 | Yankee Stadium | 64,519 |
| 6 | Yankees – 0, Dodgers – 1 (10 innings) | October 9 | Ebbets Field Ebbets Field Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football... |
33,224 |
| 7 | Yankees – 9, Dodgers – 0 | October 10 | Ebbets Field Ebbets Field Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football... |
33,782 |
Awards and honors
- Don LarsenDon LarsenDonald 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...
, Babe Ruth AwardBabe Ruth AwardThe Babe Ruth Award is given annually to the Major League Baseball player with the best performance in the postseason. The award, created by the New York chapter of the Baseball Writers Association of America in honor of Babe Ruth, was first awarded in 1949 to the MVP of the World Series, one... - Mickey MantleMickey MantleMickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
, American League MVP - Mickey Mantle, Associated Press Athlete of the YearAssociated Press Athlete of the YearThe first Athlete of the Year award in the United States was initiated by the Associated Press in 1931. At a time when women in sports were never given the same recognition as men, the AP offered a male and a female athlete of the year award to either a professional or amateur athlete...
All-Star Game
1956 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1956 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 23rd playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 10, 1956, at Griffith Stadium in Washington, D.C...