1950s – Page 9 – Society for American Baseball Research

September 17, 1953: Ernie Banks breaks color barrier for Cubs

September 22, 1953: Satchel Paige, Don Larsen lead St. Louis Browns to their final win

September 27, 1953: Preston Ward’s walk-off blast in 9th propels Pirates in season finale

September 27, 1953: St. Louis Browns depart for Baltimore after 100th loss of the season

Carl Erskine

October 2, 1953: Dodgers’ Carl Erskine sets World Series record with 14 strikeouts

Duke Snider

October 3, 1953: ‘Let’s Be Unmerciful!’ Dodgers top Yankees in Game 4

Roy Campanella with a mighty swing during spring training with the Brooklyn Dodgers in the early 1950s (SABR-Rucker Archive)

October 4, 1953: Yankees’ blasts prove too much for Brooklyn to overcome

Billy Martin (THE TOPPS COMPANY)

October 5, 1953: Billy Martin’s walk-off single lifts Yankees to fifth consecutive World Series title

April 13, 1954: Tom Alston makes Cardinals history as first Black player to take the field

1951-Giants-researchbox-Mays-readbios

April 13, 1954: Willie Mays returns to Giants after service in Army

Courtesy of Trading Card Database

April 13, 1954: Athletics prevail on final Opening Day in Philadelphia

April 13, 1954: Pirates’ Vern Law celebrates return from military service with Opening Day win

1954 Baltimore Orioles program (COURTESY OF THE BALTIMORE ORIOLES)

April 15, 1954: Orioles return to Baltimore after 52 years

April 17, 1954: Cubs thump Cardinals in NL’s longest 9-inning game

Nino Escalera and Chuck Harmon (TRADING CARD DB)

April 17, 1954: Nino Escalera, Chuck Harmon integrate Cincinnati Reds in loss to Milwaukee Braves

April 23, 1954: At age 35, Jackie Robinson steals home against Pirates

April 23, 1954: Hank Aaron hits first career home run as Braves and Cardinals battle for 14 innings

May 1, 1954: Pat Mullin’s two homers help Buffalo Bisons trounce Ottawa Athletics

May 2, 1954: Stan Musial sets major-league record with five home runs in doubleheader

May 10, 1954: Indians bat around in first inning, hang on to beat Yankees

May 16, 1954: Pioneering Pirates rookie Curt Roberts collects three hits, continues steady defense

May 17, 1954: Cardinals’ Joe Presko and Tom Alston defy expectations as nine justices deal Jim Crow a mortal blow

May 24, 1954: Willie Mays’ 2 homers, 3 hits, and 4 RBIs sink Phillies

May 28, 1954: Milwaukee’s Lew Burdette pitches complete game in 12-inning walk-off win