Filmed in December 1959, “Home Run Derby” was a groundbreaking weekly television series that pitted baseball’s top sluggers against one another in head-to-head battles for long ball supremacy. The show took place at Wrigley Field in Los Angeles (home of the Pacific Coast League’s Angels), chosen because of its near-symmetrical dimensions. Unlike modern derbies, hitters…
Major League Baseball Season Recap 1959 World Series – Los Angeles Dodgers NL over Chicago White Sox AL 4 games to 2 World Series MVP – Larry Sherry Babe Ruth Award – Larry Sherry Awards – Major League Cy Young Award Early Wynn MVP Awards – NL Ernie Banks AL Nellie Fox NL Rookie of The Year – Bob Allison…
1959 – The Milwaukee Braves sign 20-year old Dominican slugger Rico Carty.
Continental League awards its last franchise to the cities of Dallas-Fort Worth
After Pirates manager Danny Murtaugh rejects the A’s offer to deal Roger Maris for shortstop Dick Groat, Pittsburgh obtains Gino Cimoli along with Tom Cheney from the Cardinals for right-hander Ron Kline. Maris, who goes to the Yankees, will enjoy the first of his two consecutive MVP years in New York, but Groat will play a key role for the World Champion Bucs next season, and he will also be named the most valuable player of his league.
1959 – In a child-payment hearing related to his divorce, Ted Williams alleges the Red Sox paid him $60,000, not the reported $100,000. He claims his entire yearly income was $83,000.
Frank Lane replaces Hank Greenberg as the Indians’ general manager. ‘Trader Lane,’ who has made 60 separate deals since December 2, 1957, lives up to his well-deserved nickname when, just prior to Opening Day, he sends the Tribe’s very popular Rocky Colavito to Detroit for batting AL champ Harvey Kuenn.
1959 – The Reds send 2B Johnny Temple to the Indians for 2B Billy Martin, P Cal McLish, and 1B Gordy Coleman.
The Orioles elect Lee MacPhail as president of the club.
New York Yankees acquire Roger Maris