The 1959

1959 in baseball

-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Los Angeles Dodgers over Chicago White Sox ; Larry Sherry, MVP*All-Star Game , July 7 at Forbes Field: National League, 5-4*All-Star Game , August 3 at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum: American League, 5-3...

 Boston Red Sox

Boston Red Sox

The Boston Red Sox are a professional baseball team based in Boston, Massachusetts, and a member of Major League Baseball’s American League Eastern Division. Founded in as one of the American League's eight charter franchises, the Red Sox's home ballpark has been Fenway Park since . The "Red Sox"...

 season involved the Red Sox finishing 5th 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 75 wins and 79 losses, nineteen games behind the AL Champion Chicago White Sox

Chicago White Sox

The 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...

.

Offseason

1958 turned out to be Jimmy Piersall

Jimmy Piersall

James Anthony Piersall is a former center fielder in Major League Baseball. Between 1950 and 1967, he played for the Boston Red Sox , Cleveland Indians , Washington Senators , New York Mets , and Los Angeles/California Angels .While he had a fairly good professional career as a center...

’s final season with the Red Sox. On December 2, 1958, Piersall was traded to the Cleveland Indians

Cleveland Indians

The 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...

 in exchange for Gary Geiger

Gary Geiger

Gary Merle Geiger was a major league outfielder for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and Houston Astros from . He was born in Sand Ridge, Illinois. His offseason home while a major leaguer was Murphysboro, Illinois. His wife Lyn's parents were St...

 and Vic Wertz

Vic Wertz

Victor Woodrow Wertz was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He had a seventeen year career from 1947 to 1963. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers in 1942 and played for the Tigers, St...

.

Notable transactions

• Prior to 1959 season: Mike Page
  Mike Page
  Michael Randy Page is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. He played 20 games for the Atlanta Braves in , mostly as a pinch hitter.-Sources:...
  
   was signed as an amateur free agent by the Red Sox.
• March 9, 1959: Bob Smith was traded by the Red Sox to the Chicago Cubs
  Chicago Cubs
  The Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
  
   for Chuck Tanner
  Chuck Tanner
  Charles William "Chuck" Tanner was a left fielder and manager in Major League Baseball. He was known for his unwavering confidence and infectious optimism. He managed the Pittsburgh Pirates to a World Series championship in 1979...
  
  .

Regular season

• The 1959 season was the year that the color barrier was broken for the Red Sox. Elijah "Pumpsie" Green
  Pumpsie Green
  Elijah Jerry "Pumpsie" Green is a former Major League Baseball backup infielder who played with the Boston Red Sox and New York Mets . He was a switch-hitter who threw right-handed....
  
   became the first black player to play for the Red Sox. Later in the season, Earl Wilson became the first black pitcher to play for the Boston Red Sox.
• Ted Williams
  Ted Williams
  Theodore Samuel "Ted" Williams was an American professional baseball player and manager. He played his entire 21-year Major League Baseball career as the left fielder for the Boston Red Sox...
  
   would have an off year as he batted below .300.

Notable transactions

• July 26, 1959: Bud Byerly
  Bud Byerly
  Eldred William Byerly is a former pitcher in Major League Baseball who played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Cincinnati Reds , Washington Senators , Boston Red Sox and San Francisco Giants...
  
   was traded by the Red Sox to the 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....
  
   for Billy Muffett
  Billy Muffett
  Billy Arnold Muffett was an American professional baseball player who pitched in the Major Leagues from 1957-1962. He would play for the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants, and Boston Red Sox. In his playing days, he stood 6"1" tall, weighed 198 pounds , and threw and batted right-handed...
  
   and cash.
• September 9, 1959: Chuck Tanner was sold by Red Sox to Cleveland Indians.

Opening day lineup

24	Don Buddin Don Buddin Donald Thomas Buddin was an American professional baseball shortstop. He played all or part of six seasons in Major League Baseball for the Boston Red Sox , Houston Colt .45s and Detroit Tigers . Listed at 5' 11" , 178 lb. , Buddin batted and threw right-handed...	SS
3	Pete Runnels Pete Runnels James Edward "Pete" Runnels was a Major League Baseball infielder who played for the Washington Senators , Boston Red Sox and Houston Colt .45s . He batted left-handed and threw right-handed....	2B
10	Gene Stephens Gene Stephens Glen Eugene Stephens was an Outfielder for the Boston Red Sox , Baltimore Orioles , Kansas City Athletics and Chicago White Sox...	CF
6	Vic Wertz Vic Wertz Victor Woodrow Wertz was a Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder. He had a seventeen year career from 1947 to 1963. He was signed as a free agent by the Detroit Tigers in 1942 and played for the Tigers, St...	1B
4	Jackie Jensen Jackie Jensen Jack Eugene Jensen was an American right fielder in Major League Baseball who played for three American League teams from 1950 to 1961, most notably the Boston Red Sox...	RF
11	Frank Malzone Frank Malzone Frank James Malzone is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and right-handed slugger who played for the Boston Red Sox and California Angels ....	3B
37	Gary Geiger Gary Geiger Gary Merle Geiger was a major league outfielder for the Cleveland Indians, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, and Houston Astros from . He was born in Sand Ridge, Illinois. His offseason home while a major leaguer was Murphysboro, Illinois. His wife Lyn's parents were St...	RF
22	Sammy White Sammy White (baseball) Sammy Charles White was a Major League Baseball catcher and right-handed batter who played with the Boston Red Sox , Milwaukee Braves and Philadelphia Phillies .White was born in Wenatchee, Washington...	C
23	Tom Brewer Tom Brewer Thomas Austin Brewer is a former baseball player. A right-handed pitcher, he played for the Boston Red Sox from 1954 to 1961....	P

Roster

1959 Boston Red Sox
Roster
Pitchers		Catchers Infielders		Outfielders		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
LF		103	272	69	.254	10	43

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
	120	335	82	.245	11	48
	94	247	68	.275	7	49
	50	172	40	.233	1	10

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
	36	215.1	10	12	3.76	121
	31	179.2	13	8	4.31	93

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
	26	95.2	6	4	4.05	48
	9	23.2	1	1	6.08	17
	5	9	0	1	15.00	4

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

Farm system

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Minneapolis, Waterloo, Alpine