1949,The Red Sox and Yankees fought all summer for the AL pennant, with New York beating Boston twice on the final weekend to return to the World Series. Brooklyn took advantage of a poor final week by the Cardinals to surge ahead and win the National League by a single game. The Dodgers, however, were no match for the Yankees’ pitching as the Bronx Bombers won the World Series in five games. Ted Williams (.343, 43 HR, 159 RBI, 150 R) missed his third American League Triple Crown by a fraction of a point in batting average, but was named Most Valuable Player of the league. Dodger infielder Jackie Robinson had his finest season, leading the NL in batting average and steals to earn the MVP award just two years after joining the majors. Baseball saw the debut of two talented rookies in Washington’s Roy Sievers (.306, 16 HR, 91 RBI) and Brooklyn’s Don Newcombe (17-8, 3.17 ERA); each was named Rookie of the Year.\n\nMilestones and Moments from 1949:\nBoston CF Dom DiMaggio had a 34-game hitting streak broken on August 9 as he lined out to brother Joe in his last at-bat…Pittsburgh OF Ralph Kiner hit four home runs against the Phillies on September 13…Charlie Gehringer, Three-Finger Brown, and Kid Nichols all entered the Hall of Fame.

Awards and More

Major League Baseball Season Recap 1949

World Series – New York Yankees AL over Brooklyn Dodgers NL 4 games to 1

World Series MVP –
Babe Ruth Award –

MVP Awards –

NL Jackie Robinson

AL Ted Williams

Major League Rookie of The Year –

NL Rookie of The Year – Don Newcombe

AL Rookie of The Year – Roy Sievers

All-Star Game – July 12th – A.L. 11 over N.L. 7, played at Ebbets Field (NL)
AL Starter M. Parnell NL Starter W. Spahn+ MVP

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The stories that shapped the year:

Sort bySearch Days, Events, Players Title (A - Z)Date (Newest)

January 11, 1949

The Story Quarry site is selected as the site for the new Milwaukee County Stadium

January 12, 1949

1949 – The New York Giants are fined $2,000, and their manager Leo Durocher $500, for signing Freddie Fitzsimmons as a coach while he was still under contract to the Boston Braves. Fitzsimmons gets a $500 fine and a 30-day spring training suspension.

January 19, 1949

Stan Musial buys a restaurant

January 25, 1949

Cleveland Indians reward player-manager Lou Boudreau with a two-year contract

January 27, 1949

Fred Saigh buys out the interest of Robert Hannegan and now controls 90 percent of the St. Louis Cardinals’ stock. Saigh and Hannegan had swung the deal in 1947 with only $60,300 in cash in a $4 million deal. Hannegan comes out with $866,000 profit in two years.

January 28, 1949

The New York Giants sign their first black players: Negro League players Monte Irvin and Ford Smith

January 29, 1949

1949 – The Pittsburgh Pirates buy All-Star pitcher Murry Dickson from the St. Louis Cardinals for $125,000.

February 6, 1949

Richie Zisk is born in Brooklyn New York

February 7, 1949

Joe Dimaggio the first AL player to make 6 Figures

February 9, 1949

A federal appeals court orders Mexican League jumper Danny Gardella back to a lower court for trial

February 18, 1949

1John Mayberry is born in Detroit, MI.

March 1, 1949

To get a rental increase from their Sportsman’s Park’s tenants, the Browns move to evict the Cardinals. The Redbirds accuse the owners of breaking the lease, and as the season approaches, it is uncertain where the National League team will play its home games.

March 2, 1949

DiMaggio leaves spring training injured will only play half season

March 12, 1949

Jim Wynn is born in Hamilton, OH.

March 25, 1949

First year Yankees manager Casey Stengel and relief ace Joe Page.

April 1, 1949

The St. Louis Browns, owners of Sportsman’s Park, move to evict the St. Louis Cardinals in order to gain a rent increase.

April 10, 1949

Atlanta Crackers of the Southern Association take on the Brooklyn Dodgers

April 19, 1949

The New York Yankees unveil a granite monument to Babe Ruth. Monument Park, located in the deep center field region of Yankee Stadium, also includes monuments for Lou Gehrig and Miller Huggins.

April 19, 1949

Johnny Groth hits home runs in two of his first three at bats at Tiger Stadium

April 20, 1949

Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Willie Jones hits four consecutive doubles tying the record

April 28, 1949

A New York Giants fan charges Leo Durocher with assault after the Giants lose, 15 – 2, to the Brooklyn Dodgers. Commissioner Happy Chandler suspends Durocher, who is absolved on May 3rd. Chandler criticizes teams for lax security that allows fans on the field.

April 30, 1949

At Wrigley Field, Rocky Nelson of the St. Louis Cardinals hits an “inside-the-glove” two-run home run to turn a 9th-inning, 3 – 2 Chicago Cubs lead into a 4 – 3 Cardinals victory. Cubs center fielder Andy Pafko catches a blooper that is strewn with paper cups, and umpire Al Barlick calls Nelson safe on a supposedly “trapped” catch. Pafko starts arguing with Barlick, and forgets to call time. Nelson circles the bases, for perhaps the only “inside the glove” home run in history.

May 1, 1949

Philadelphia outfielder Elmer Valo, the second major league player to be born in Czechoslovakia, becomes the first American Leaguer to hit a pair of bases-loaded triples in the same game, an A’s 15-9 victory over Washington at Shibe Park. The 28 year-old hustling line-drive hitter will deliver a third bases-loaded triple later in the season, equalling the AL mark Shano Collins established in 1918.

May 2, 1949

In his first major league start, Don Newcombe of the Brooklyn Dodgers shuts out the Cincinnati Reds, 3 – 0.

May 5, 1949

Charlie Gehringer is elected to the Hall of Fame

May 8, 1949

In Philadelphia, the Reds score five in the 9th to take a 7 – 3 lead, but the Phils tie to go into extra innings. Cincinnati then scores seven runs in the 12th to win, 14 – 7.

May 9, 1949

At Detroit, the Tigers set back the first-place Yankees, 4 – 1, behind the five-hit pitching of Ted Gray. Vic Raschi also allows just five hits, including a homer by Dick Wakefield, in taking the loss.

May 9, 1949

The first-place Giants win their 7th in a row as Sheldon “Available” Jones stops the Cubs, 7 – 2. Aided by ten walks and homers by Sid Gordon and Willard Marshall, the Giants pin the loss on starter Ralph Hamner, who allows one hit in three innings.

May 10, 1949

1949 – Longtime Cardinal owner Sam Breadon dies. Robert Hannegan, the man to whom he sold the club, will die October 6.

May 11, 1949

The Chicago White Sox beat the Boston Red Sox, 12 – 8, Scoring in every inning it has only occurred five times in American League history

May 15, 1949

White Sox hurler Bill Wight coasts to a 10 – 0 win over the Indians, and Al Gettel follows with a 2 – 0 whitewash of the Tribe.

May 15, 1949

Boston’s Vern Bickford stops the Dodgers, 4 – 0, allowing just four singles. One is by Gil Hodges, extending his hitting streak to 17 games. Jim Russell switch-hits a homer and double to pin the loss on Morrie Martin. The Braves start Al Lakeman at 1B in place of Earl Torgeson, who separated his shoulder the previous day when he attempted to block Jackie Robinson on a double play. Torgeson will be operated on tomorrow and will be sidelined several months.

May 22, 1949

Brooklyn’s Don Newcombe makes his first major league start a dandy, shutting out the Reds, 3 – 0, in Cincinnati. It’s the first shutout in a National League debut in eleven years and extends Brooklyn’s win streak at Cincinnati to 19 games going back to June 1947. Newk gives up hits to the first two batters, then allows just three more hits while walking none. He drives in two runs as well. Ken Raffensberger then matches Newk by firing a one-hitter in the nitecap to beat Brooklyn, 2 – 0, tossing only 83 pitches. The only hit is a leadoff single by Gil Hodges in the 8th. Raffensberger pitched two one-hitters against the Dodgers in 1948.

May 24, 1949

Striking out the last 6 St. Paul batters‚ Mickey McDermott of Louisville (American Association) fans a total of 20 for a new league record. McDermott wins‚ 3 – 1‚ striking out the side in the 3rd‚ 5th‚ 6th‚ 8th‚ and 9th innings.

May 29, 1949

After 44 games and 285 errorless chances‚ 2B Red Schoendienst of the Cardinals errs twice against the Pirates. His last error was on September 15‚ 1948. Elmer Riddle wins‚ 4 – 2‚ over the Cards’ Harry Brecheen.

June 1, 1949

Jackie Robinson slides home

June 2, 1949

Philadelphia Phillies set a major league record by hitting five home runs in one inning

June 4, 1949

1949 – The Reds beat the Giants, 6 – 3, in New York. All the Giants’ scoring is in the 6th inning when Whitey Lockman‚ Sid Gordon‚ and Willard Marshall pole consecutive home runs.

June 5, 1949

Happy Chandler lifts the five year ban on major league players who had jumped to the Mexican League

June 10, 1949

Frank Frisch‚ who began the season as coach of the Giants‚ replaces Charlie Grimm as manager of the last-place Cubs. Frisch was the first choice of Grimm‚ who goes into the front office as a vice president after tomorrow’s games. According to Grimm‚ “the Cubs have never had a fighting manager of the Frisch type for forty years. The last manager who’d compare with Frisch in my book is Frank Chance.”

June 13, 1949

Three-Finger” Brown, Charlie Gehringer, and Kid Nichols inducted into the Hall of Fame

June 14, 1949

Eddie Waitkus of the Philadelphia Phillies is shot with a .22-caliber rifle by an obsessed 19-year-old fan

June 15, 1949

Eddie Waitkus is shot by 19-year-old Ruth Steinhagen

June 24, 1949

Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle signs his first contract

June 26, 1949

1949 – Pat Mullin hits three home runs for the Detroit Tigers.

June 26, 1949

6/26/1949: Dino Restelli of the Pirates lost a home run during Game Two of the June 26, 1949 Brooklyn at Pittsburgh doubleheader. The game was cancelled due to rain and the curfew after three innings. Restelli had hit a home run in the first inning off of Rex Barney. The game was delayed by rain in the second inning and then stopped with the Dodgers leading 5-4 after three innings. The Pennsylvania Sunday curfew law prohibited any inning from beginning after 6:45 pm (or any play after 7:00 pm).

June 28, 1949

Joe Dimaggio makes his debut in 1949

June 29, 1949

Mickey Owen and Luis Olmo rejoin the Dodgers from Mexican League exile.

July 3, 1949

Giants P Monte Kennedy hits a grand slam and shuts out the Dodgers, 16 – 0.

July 4, 1949

The Dodgers increase their lead to two games over the Cardinals by winning the twin bill from the Phillies while the Redbirds, with Max Lanier dropping his first start since reinstatement, divide with the Cubs.

July 6, 1949

At Crosley Field, Walker Cooper goes 6 for 7, including three home runs and three singles, five runs scored and ten RBIs, to power the Reds over the Cubs, 23 – 4. Cooper had just been acquired on June 13th from the Giants.

July 7, 1949

Dave Koslo hits the first two home runs of his career while beating the Phils, 11 – 3, at the Polo Grounds.

July 8, 1949

Monte Irvin and Hank Thompson become the first black players for the New York Giants

July 12, 1949

1949 All Star Game

July 12, 1949

The major league owners agree to install warning tracks made of cinder in front of outfield fences before the start of next season. The origin of the concept began at Yankee Stadium, where an actual running track, used in the ballpark’s track and field events, helped fielders know their proximity to the outfield fence when attempting to make a play.

July 14, 1949

In the aftermath of the beanball wars, Spalding advertises a batting helmet with ear flaps in The Sporting News. Players express no interest, but next year the Brooklyn Dodgers will introduce a cap liner, which some batters start to use.

July 18, 1949

Jackie Robinson testifies in front of the House Committee on Un-American Activities, reading a carefully worded statement put together with the help of Dodger GM Branch Rickey. The Brooklyn second baseman’s statement makes it clear he disagrees with singer and actor Paul Robeson’s belief that American Negroes would refuse to fight in any war against Russia due to the country’s racial discrimination toward blacks.

July 20, 1949

Larry Doby is thrown out trying to steal home with no outs with the bases loaded in the bottom of the eighth inning in a 7-3 loss to the Yankees at Cleveland Stadium. Tribe manager Lou Boudreau will fine his center fielder for the failed attempt to steal home and for taking several other unnecessary chances recently.

July 24, 1949

1949 – The Cards trounce the Dodgers, 14 – 1. This win gives St. Louis 3 straight victories at Ebbets Field, as they take over the lead Brooklyn has held through most of the season.

July 24, 1949

In the opener of a twin bill at Griffith Stadium, Indians’ hurler Bob Lemon helps his cause by hitting two home runs in a 7-5 victory over the Senators. Cleveland completes the sweep when Gene Beardon gets the victory in the Tribe’s 5-2 win in the nightcap.

July 26, 1949

Wally Moses gets his 2,000th hit, off Joe Ostrowski of the Browns.

July 27, 1949

Three homers were lost in a rain-shortened game at Yankee Stadium

July 28, 1949

A 12 for 25 run raises Jackie Robinson’s National League-leading batting average to .364

July 29, 1949

7/29/1949: Ralph Kiner hit a two-run home run in the bottom of the first inning at Forbes Field before 30,000 fans. In the top of the fourth a heavy downpour halted play with two outs and the 2-0 lead still intact for the Pirates. That would have been Kiner’s 28th homer of the season in the year that he hit 54.

July 31, 1949

1949 – Sid Gordon of the New York Giants blasts two homers in the 2nd inning of game two, as the Giants sweep the Reds, 10 – 0 and 9 – 0, behind Larry Jansen and Adrian Zabala.

August 6, 1949

Luke Appling appears as a shortstop in his 2,154th game, surpassing Rabbit Maranville’s major-league mark. Appling will finish with 2,218 games at the position.

August 6, 1949

8/6/1949: In the bottom of the first at St. Louis, the Cardinals had a runner on base when Giants pitcher Adrian Zabala was called for a balk by 1B umpire Bill Stewart. Zabala’s balk was for not coming to a complete stop before delivering. Nippy Jones hit the pitch into the LF seats, but Stewart said he had called time with the balk call, so the homer did not count. Jones later flied out.

August 7, 1949

Lineup juggling is a Casey Stengel forte as his Yankees suffer injury after injury. Against the Browns, 13 different Yankees score a run in the first game of a doubleheader.

August 8, 1949

Carl Furillo returns to the Dodgers’ lineup after an injury and has 2 hits and a run in a 2 – 1 win over the Giants

August 9, 1949

Joe DiMaggio catches a sinking line drive off his shoetops to rob his brother Dom of hitting streak

August 12, 1949

It is a long day. Boston wins the opener against the Senators‚ 15 – 7. Then the two teams establish a new major league record for 9 innings by playing 3 hours and 14 minutes. The Sox finally win‚ 13 – 11. Roberto Ortiz‚ for the Nats‚ and Vern Stephens each drive in 5 in the opener‚ a complete game win for Chuck Stobbs. Joe Dobson‚ in relief‚ wins the nitecap‚ as the efficient Sox total 14 hits in each game.

August 12, 1949

At Ebbets Field‚ the Braves top the Dodgers‚ 5 – 3‚ in a game that Brooklyn protests. In the 8th inning‚ Duke Snider belts a drive off the CF screen that umpire Artie Gore signals a home run. The Braves point out that‚ according to the ground rules‚ the ball is still in play‚ and Gore sends Snider back to third base. When Duke is stranded there‚ the Dodgers protest. The protest will be rejected by Ford Frick‚ who censors Gore for the confusion he caused by his “bad judgment and slow thinking.”

August 14, 1949

1949 – The East wins the 1949 East-West Game, 4 – 0. Bob Griffith and Pullman Porter hold the West hitless for six frames before they get two hits off Pat Scantlebury in the final three innings. Fernando Pedroso outhits the entire West offense, 3 to 2, while Howard Easterling has two hits and produces three runs.

August 15, 1949

1949 – Reports of clubhouse troubles trail the Braves all season. Owner Lou Perini prevails on manager Billy Southworth to take a leave of absence. The team spurts briefly under Johnny Cooney but will finish under .500 in fourth place. Braves players vote Southworth only a half-share of last year’s Series earnings but Happy Chandler restores the full share.

August 19, 1949

The Phillies host ‘Eddie Waitkus Night’ at Shibe Park and shower their injured first baseman with gifts. The All-Star infielder, in uniform for the first time since June, had been shot in the chest at Chicago’s Edgewater Beach Hotel by Ruth Ann Steinhagen, an obsessed fan upset with his trade from the Cubs to Philadelphia.

August 19, 1949

The Phillies host ‘Eddie Waitkus Night’ at Shibe Park and shower their injured first baseman with gifts. The All-Star infielder, in uniform for the first time since June, had been shot in the chest at Chicago’s Edgewater Beach Hotel by Ruth Ann Steinhagen, an obsessed fan upset with his trade from the Cubs to Philadelphia.

August 21, 1949

With the home team trailing 4-2 with one out in the top of the ninth inning, the visiting Giants are awarded a 9-0 forfeit by umpire Al Barlick when the Phillies fans launch a pop bottle and paper barrage at Shibe Park. The Philadelphia patrons displayed their displeasure after first base ump George Barr rules that center fielder Richie Ashburn had trapped the ball hit by Joe Lafata, a call vehemently protested by the outfielder and his teammates.

August 22, 1949

1949 – The Giants sell veteran Johnny Mize to the Yankees for $40,000.

August 22, 1949

After the Giants sell Johnny Mize to the Yankee for $40,000

August 26, 1949

1949 – For choking an umpire in the Florida International League, Miami Sun Sox manager Pepper Martin is fined $100 and suspended for the remaining 2 weeks in the season.

August 27, 1949

Former Mexican League players Max Lanier and Fred Martin drop their $2.5 million suit against baseball.

August 27, 1949

Jeff Heath of the Braves ties a game against Cincinnati with a pinch-hit homer, then wins it with a later homer. He becomes the first player to do so in MLB history; it will be 36 years until Donnie Scott becomes the second.

August 28, 1949

8/28/1949: Larry Doby of the Indians homered off Boston’s Joe Dobson in the bottom of the third inning with two out and no one on. The game was called in the top of the fourth because of darkness. It was the second game of a double header after the first game took over three hours with a long rain delay.

September 1, 1949

1949 – Washington’s Dick Weik should change his name to Walk as he hands out 13 bases on balls in nine innings‚ losing to the White Sox‚ 3 – 0. He matches Tommy Byrne’s largesse earlier in the year and he’ll close out his career in 1954 with more walks than innings pitched. Randy Gumpert is the winner today as both pitchers allow 4 hits apiece.

September 4, 1949

At Philadelphia’s Shibe Park, Tommy Holmes hits a two-run homer in the fifth inning of a 9-8 loss to the Phillies. Dating back to August 3rd, the Braves outfielder has hit 10 home runs without striking out once during that span.

September 8, 1949

Red Schoendienst steals the team’s last stolen base of the season when he takes second base in the Cardinals’ 8-0 victory over the Cubs at Sportsman’s Park. The Redbird third baseman will lead the club with eight pilfered bags, accounting for more than half of the all-time National League low of 17 the entire club will swipe this season.

September 9, 1949

1949 – Despite terrorizing the National League with his bat and baserunning during the season, Jackie Robinson is picked off base by Dave Koslo, the 4th time this year Giants pitchers have nabbed him.

September 13, 1949

For the second time in his career, Ralph Kiner hits home runs in 4 consecutive at-bats

September 15, 1949

1949 – Pirates P Tiny Bonham dies following an appendectomy and stomach surgery, just 18 days after his last pitching performance, an 8 – 2 win over the Phillies. Mrs. Bonham will receive the first benefits under the players pension plan, $90 a month for 10 years.

September 16, 1949

9/16/1949 – The New York Giants were at Wrigley Field to play the Cubs. In the bottom of the tenth inning, the Cubs batted out of turn and, when the Giants did not realize the mistake, the Cubs scored the winning run! The Cubs had runners on first and third with two outs when relief pitcher Bob Rush, in the eighth spot in the order, should have come to the plate. There was a “double switch” after Emil Verban pinch ran for Smoky Burgess in the ninth and remained in the game at second base and in the ninth place in the order. Verban came to the plate to hit ahead of Rush and walked to load the bases. The Giants failed to speak up. Mickey Owen then pinch hit and singled in the winning run. Once a pitch was made to Owen, the Giants lost the ability to speak up about Verban. Due to not complaining about Verban, the #9 hitter, the correct next batter was the #1 hitter, Bob Ramazzotti, so Owen was hitting in the lead off slot. The cellar-dwelling Cubs won, 5-4.

September 19, 1949

With their 77th victory of the year, a 4-3 win in St. Louis, the Phillies will not have a losing season for the first time since 1932. Philadelphia’s record 16-year skid of playing under .500 will be surpassed by the Pirates in 2009, who haven’t won more than they’ve lost since 1993.

September 19, 1949

Pirates slugger Ralph Kiner hits his 50th home run of the year, taking Kirby Higbe deep in a 6-4 loss to the Giants at Forbes Field. The 26 year-old All-Star outfielder, having hit 54 round-trippers in his sophomore season of 1947, becomes the first National League player to accomplish the feat in two different seasons.

September 21, 1949

At Wrigley Field, the Phillies beat Chicago, 3-1, for their 78th victory of the season. The win guarantees the club its first winning season since 1932, snapping a 16-year streak of futility.

September 23, 1949

Before the game, Cleveland owner Bill Veeck and a few players hold funeral services to bury the 1948 pennant in center field. Yesterday, the Tribe was mathematically eliminated from the American League pennant race.

September 24, 1949

Ellis Kinder (15-1 at Fenway Park) pitches a six-hitter, and Ted Williams lines his 42nd homer to beat the Yankees, 2 – 0, and pull the Red Sox one game behind the Yankees.

September 24, 1949

Bob Elliott hits three successive home runs for Boston, as the Braves down the Giants, 6 – 4.

September 25, 1949

Despite 71 injuries that kept players out of games, Casey Stengel and his Yankees have been in first place all season. But today the Red Sox move into a tie for first place with a 4 – 1 victory over Allie Reynolds. Ted Williams hits his 43rd homer, and Mel Parnell wins his 25th game of the season. The lefty is 16-3 at Fenway Park this year. Joe DiMaggio listens to the game from a hospital, bedridden with pneumonia. The Yankees return to New York and are greeted at Grand Central Station by a huge crowd of fans, including Mrs. Babe Ruth, who predicts, “Whoever wins tomorrow should go all the way.”

September 25, 1949

The Cardinals, in first place for two months, win their final home game, and the Dodgers lose to Philadelphia, maintaining the Cards’ 1 1/2-game lead.

September 25, 1949

In front of a cheering crowd of 33,977 attending the Indians’ final home game, Charley Lupica, after spending 113 days in the air waiting for the Tribe to take first place or be eliminated from the pennant race, climbs down from his flagpole perch, which was recently shifted five miles from his confectionery store to the ballpark on a hydraulic lift. After the wobbly loyal fan kisses the Municipal Stadium’s home plate, he receives a new automobile from team owner Bill Veeck, in addition to receiving a 50-foot flagpole as a souvenir.

September 26, 1949

Before 67,434 at Yankee Stadium, the Red Sox survive a rhubarb-filled, 7 – 6 win when Johnny Pesky scores on a disputed squeeze play. Leading by one game, the Sox move on to Washington for a three-game series before the last two games of the year with the Yankees.

September 27, 1949

1949 – The Red Sox, winners of 16 out of the last 19 with the Senators, win the opener in Washington, 6 – 4.

September 27, 1949

Future Hall of Famer Mike Schmidt is born in Dayton, Ohio

September 30, 1949

Boston outlasts Washington 11 – 9 to move into New York for the showdown for the American League pennant.

September 30, 1949

Ralph Kiner hits his 54th homer and 16th in September, as the Pirates beat Herm Wehmeier and the Reds 3 – 2. The monthly total eclipses Cy Williams’s National League mark set in 1923.

October 1, 1949

Yankees hold Joe DiMaggio Day at Yankee Stadium

October 1, 1949

Rookie Alex Kellner posts his 20th victory becoming first 20 game winner since Lefty Grove

October 2, 1949

Yankees capture pennant and Williams loses Triple Crown, Batting Title and Pennnant

October 2, 1949

Fred (Firpo) Marberry loses an arm in car accident

October 2, 1949

Brooklyn beats Philadelphia in 10th for Pennant

October 5, 1949

Don Newcombe, who allows only four hits and strikes out 11 through eight innings of Game 1 of the World Series, gives up a leadoff home run in the bottom of the ninth to Tommy Henrich as the Yankees beat the Dodgers, 1-0. ‘Old Reliable’s shot to right field, the first game-ending home run in the history of the Fall Classic, gives Allie Reynolds the complete game win, and it is Casey Stengel’s first postseason victory.

October 6, 1949

In Game 2 of the World Series, only one run is scored again, but Preacher Roe and the Dodgers win this contest at Yankee Stadium, 1-0. Gil Hodges’ second-inning single drives in Jackie Robinson to even up the Fall Classic at a game apiece.

October 8, 1949

1949 World Series Game 4 Brooklyn Dodgers vs New York Yankees Full Radio Broadcast

October 9, 1949

For the first time the world series is played under the lights at Ebbets Field in a 10-6 Yankees win

October 12, 1949

Vin Scully, working his first broadcast ever, does the play-by-play when Maryland defeats Boston University at Fenway Park, 14-13. The football assignment marks the start of a 67-year career in the broadcast booth for the Hall of Fame baseball announcer, who becomes the iconic voice of the Dodgers.

October 16, 1949

Brooklyn does not renew Branch Rickey’s contract as president of the Dodgers

October 19, 1949

White Sox obtain future Hall of Famer Nellie Fox from the A’s

October 26, 1949

The San Francisco Seals complete an 11-game trip to American-occupied Japan

October 27, 1949

As part of the Browns’ five-year plan, team president William O. DeWitt announces that 14 players who are 28 years old or older will be put on the trading block. The youth movement is the result of St. Louis finishing in seventh-place with a record of 53 wins and 101 losses.

October 28, 1949

A child poses with Cleveland Indians pitcher Bob Feller at Burbank’s Olive Memorial Stadium in 1949.

November 1, 1949

Gillette buys the World Series television rights for $1.37 million, the money to be dedicated to the players’ pension fund.

November 18, 1949

Dodger second baseman Jackie Robinson becomes the first black player to win the MVP Award

November 21, 1949

Bill Veeck sells the Cleveland Indians for $2.2 million to a local syndicate headed by Ellis Ryan. Hank Greenberg will be general manager.

November 25, 1949

Ted Williams, who lost the Triple Crown when his batting average was .0002 below that of George Kell, wins the American League MVP Award vote in a landslide

November 26, 1949

1949 – The Japanese Central League is joined by the Pacific League.

December 1, 1949

1949 – Attendance in the major leagues is 20.2 million, down from 20.9 in 1948. The New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians each finish with over 2.2 million, but the St. Louis Browns fall to 270,000. The Browns will try to cover their light attendance with $200,000 obtained in cash in December sales of Bob Dillinger, Jerry Priddy and Paul Lehner as the team gets five players in the transactions.

December 7, 1949

After ten years in pinstripes‚ Charlie “King Kong” Keller is released by the Yankees. He’ll sign for a season in Detroit.

December 12, 1949

1949 – By a 7-1 vote, the American League rejects a proposal to bring back the legal spitball. The rules committee also alters the strike zone to the space between the armpits and the top of the knees. The new rule eliminates the batter’s shoulders being within the strike zone.

December 13, 1949

The Browns send star 3B Bob Dillinger (.324) and OF Paul Lehner to the A’s for a reported $100,000 and infielders Frankie Gustine and Billy DeMars, and outfielders Ray Coleman and Ray Ippolitto. Dillinger will play just a half-season in Philly before being swapped to Pittsburgh.

December 14, 1949

The Cubs send pitcher Bill Voiselle and $35,000 to the Braves for infielder Gene Mauch. The Cubs had hoped to come away with Warren Spahn or Johnny Antonelli.

December 14, 1949

In a major trade, the New York Giants get Alvin Dark and Eddie Stanky from the Boston Braves in a swap for Willard Marshall, Sid Gordon, Buddy Kerr and Sam Webb.

December 17, 1949

1949 – The Yankees and Detroit swap first basemen, the Tigers getting Dick Kryhoski while New York takes Dick Wakefield, signed by the Tigers in 1941 to a $52,000 bonus.

December 20, 1949

Cecil Cooper is born in Brenham, TX. After a 17-year career in the American League, Cooper is named as the first African-American manager of the Astros in 2007. He would compile a 171-170 record until he is dismissed late in the 2009 season.

December 24, 1949

Hall of Fame pitcher Grover Cleveland Alexander is found lying unconscious in an alley in Hollywood, CA. The great Old Pete, who was elected to the HoF in 1938, is suffering from epilepsy and is missing one of his ears. He will die from liver disease less than a year later.

December 31, 1949

1The 1940s is the only decade in Major League Baseball history in which no new stadiums are built

December 6, 1959

Chicago White Sox and Cleveland Indians strike a major trade.

October 18, 2018

Brooklyn does not renew Branch Rickey’s contract

August 7, 2019

Episode 2 – Daily Rewind Willie Mays goes to the Hall of Fame

March 10, 2023

The 1949 American League Batting Race