On July 23, 1956, Joe Cronin and Hank Greenberg are inducted into the Hall of Fame during the annual ceremony in Cooperstown, New York. Joe Cronin was the American League’s All-Star shortstop seven times and its MVP in 1930 when he hit .346 with 126 RBIs. The jovial, square-jawed Irishman possessed the determination and toughness…
On May 26, 1956, former Philadelphia A’s star Al Simmons dies at the age of 54, 4 days after his 54th birthday and a year after his induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame. After his playing days ended, Simmons served as a coach for Mack’s Athletics (1945–49) and the Cleveland Indians (1950). In early…
1956 – American League umpire Frank Umont is the first to wear glasses in a regular-season game when he officiates a contest between the Detroit Tigers and Kansas City Athletics. A former NFL tackle for the New York Giants, Umont still presents an intimidating appearance to most players and fans.
1955 – The Detroit Tigers bring back pitcher Virgil Trucks after a trade with the Chicago White Sox for third baseman Bubba Phillips.
Al Kaline, at the age of 20, becomes the youngest player to win a batting title, finishing his sophomore season with a .340 average. Ty Cobb was one day older than the Tiger outfielder when he claimed the crown, batting .350 in 1907, also playing for Detroit.
After a 12-17 record in July, the Yankees are in a four-team race. Tiger Frank Lary beats New York, 4 – 2, in the first game, and New York then earns a critical, 3 – 2, 10-inning win on a Mickey Mantle homer off Babe Birrer. The Yanks finish the day in a virtual tie with Chicago, a half-game ahead of Cleveland, and 11 and a half games ahead of Boston.
On May 13, 1955, at Yankee Stadium, future Hall of Famer Mickey Mantle blasts home runs from both sides of the plate for the first time in his major league career. The New York Yankee slugger finishes the game with three home runs and drives in all of his team’s runs in a 5-2 win…
At Municipal Stadium, the recently arrived Athletics beat the Tigers, 6-2, in their first game in Kansas City. At first, the franchise’s shift from Philadelphia will be warmly received by the Missouri fans as the A’s draw 1,393,054 patrons to the ballpark in their first season, second only to the Yankees in American League attendance.
1955 – The Baltimore Orioles purchase veteran outfielder Hoot Evers from the Tigers.
1954 – The Tigers trade 1B Walt Dropo with P Ted Gray and OF Bob Nieman to the White Sox for 1B Ferris Fain and Jack Phillips.
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