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1933 also saw the introduction of the All-Star game, a mid-season break in which the greatest players in each league play against one another in a hard fought, but essentially meaningless demonstration game. In 1936 the Baseball Hall of Fame was instituted and 4 players elected: Babe Ruth, Ty Cobb, Walter Johnson and Christy Mathewson. |
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1933 also saw the introduction of the All-Star game, a mid-season break in which the greatest players in each league play against one another in a hard fought, but essentially meaningless demonstration game. In 1936 the Baseball Hall of Fame was instituted and five players elected: [Ty Cobb]?, [Walter Johnson]?, [Christy Mathewson]?, Babe Ruth and [Honus Wagner]?. |
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In 1947 [Branch Rickey]?, general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, signed Jackie Robinson and broke the colour bar that had been in place for 50 years. Robinson was an exceptional talent, although perhaps not the greatest in the Negro leagues at the time, and he also had the inner strength to withstand the racism and abuse, from both fans and players, that he had to undergo. He stood up to the pressure magnificently, and played well enough to win the inaugral "Rookie of the Year" award. Later that same year, four more black players made it to the majors. The following year, the 1948 major league champion Cleveland Indians featured Hall-of-Famers Larry Doby and Satchel Paige (who was still effective at 42, and still playing at 59). In 1997, Major League baseball retired Robinson's number, 42. |
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In 1947 [Branch Rickey]?, general manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers, signed Jackie Robinson and broke the colour bar that had been in place for 50 years. Robinson was an exceptional talent, although perhaps not the greatest in the Negro leagues at the time, and he also had the inner strength to withstand the racism and abuse, from both fans and players, that he had to undergo. He stood up to the pressure magnificently, and played well enough to win the inaugral "Rookie of the Year" award. Later that same year, four more black players made it to the majors. The following year, the 1948 major league champion Cleveland Indians featured Hall-of-Famers [Larry Doby]? and Satchel Paige (who was still effective at 42, and still playing at 59). In 1997, Major League baseball retired Robinson's number, 42. |
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Up to this time, major league baseball franchises had been largely confined to the eastern United States. In 1958 two of the New York teams, the arch-rival Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants were relocated on the west coast, in Los Angeles and San Francisco respectively. They were joined in California by the Los Angeles Angels in 1961 (soon the California Angels and now the Anaheim Angels) and the Athletics, who had moved from Philadelphia to Kansas City in 1955 before settling in Oakland in 1968. 1961, which also saw the arrival of the reconstituted Washington Senators, is also noted as being the year in which [Roger Maris]? beat Babe Ruth's single season record home run record, hitting 61 for the New York Yankees, albeit in a slightly longer season than Ruth's. Expansion continued in 1962 with the addition of the Houston Astros and New York Mets to the National League. |
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Up to this time, major league baseball franchises had been largely confined to the eastern United States. The first team to relocate in fifty years was the Boston Braves who moved to Milwaukee? in 1953. In Milwaukee the club set attendance records, and more teams moved: the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore, and the Philadelphia Athletics to Kansas City. Most shocking, though, in 1958, were the moves of two of the New York teams, the arch-rival Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Giants, who made the jump all the way to the West Coast, in Los Angeles and San Francisco respectively. They were joined in California by one of the first expansion teams in over 70 years, the Los Angeles Angels, in 1961 (soon the California Angels and now the Anaheim Angels) and the Athletics, who moved again, settling in Oakland in 1968. The other 1961 expansion team was the Washington Senators, who took over the nation's capital when the previous Senators moved to Minnesota and became the Twins. 1961 is also noted as being the year in which [Roger Maris]? beat Babe Ruth's single season record home run record, hitting 61 for the New York Yankees, albeit in a slightly longer season than Ruth's. Expansion continued in 1962 with the addition of the Houston Astros and New York Mets to the National League. The most recent team move was in 1972, when the second Washington Senators moved to Dallas and became the Texas Rangers. |
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