Girish Mahajan (Editor)

1954 Cleveland Indians season

Updated on
Edit
Like
Comment
Share on FacebookTweet on TwitterShare on LinkedInShare on Reddit
Owner(s)
  
Myron H. Wilson

Manager(s)
  
Al López

Local radio
  
WERE (1300)

General manager(s)
  
Hank Greenberg

Local television
  
WXEL

The 1954 Cleveland Indians advanced to the World Series for the first time in six years. It was the team's third American League championship in franchise history. The Indians' 111-43 record is the all-time record for winning percentage by an American League team (.721.)

Contents

For more than 60 years, Cleveland had been the only team in Major League Baseball to have compiled two different 11-game winning streaks within the same season, until the Toronto Blue Jays were able to accomplish the rare feat during the 2015 regular season.

However, their great regular-season record would not be enough to win the World Series, as the Indians lost in four games to the New York Giants, after which the Indians would not return to the Fall Classic until 1995.

Offseason

  • February 19, 1954: Bill Upton and Lee Wheat were traded by the Indians to the Philadelphia Athletics for Dave Philley.

    • Notable transactions

  • April 12, 1954: Hal Newhouser was signed as a free agent by the Indians.
  • June 1, 1954: Bob Chakales was traded by the Indians to the Baltimore Orioles for Vic Wertz.

    • Starters by position

    Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Other batters

    Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in

    Starting pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    Relief pitchers

    Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts

    1954 World Series

    This was the first time the Cleveland Indians were swept in a World Series. The only highlight for the Indians was that they kept the Yankees from winning their sixth straight series. The last time the Yankees had not won the series or pennant beforehand was 1948, when, again, the Indians kept them out (although that year, they won the Series). It was also the only World Series from 1949 to 1958 which did not feature the Yankees.

    Game 1

    September 29, 1954, at the Polo Grounds in New York

    Game 2

    September 30, 1954, at the Polo Grounds in New York

    Game 3

    October 1, 1954, at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio

    Game 4

    October 2, 1954, at Cleveland Stadium in Cleveland, Ohio

    Composite Box

    1954 World Series (4–0): New York Giants (N.L.) over Cleveland Indians (A.L.)

    Award winners

    All-Star Game

  • Al Rosen, first baseman, starter
  • Bobby Ávila, second baseman, starter
  • Larry Doby, reserve
  • Mike Garcia, reserve
  • Bob Lemon, reserve

    • Farm system

    LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Fargo-Moorhead

    The 1954 Indianapolis Indians featured Herb Score and Rocky Colavito. Colavito hit 38 home runs and accumulated 116 RBIs.

    References

    1954 Cleveland Indians season Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA