1953 Brooklyn Dodgers season

1953 Brooklyn Dodgers
1953 National League Champions
Major League affiliations
National League (since 1890)
Location
Ebbets Field (since 1913)
Brooklyn, New York (since 1883)
Other information
Owner(s)	Walter O'Malley
Manager(s)	Chuck Dressen
Local television	WOR-TV
Local radio	WMGM Red Barber, Connie Desmond, Vin Scully
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The 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers repeated as National League champions by posting a 105–49 record, as of 2013 the best winning percentage in team history.^[1] However, the Dodgers again failed to win the World Series, losing in six games to the New York Yankees.

Offseason

• October 10, 1952: Dixie Howell was purchased by the Dodgers from the Cincinnati Reds.^[2]
• October 10, 1952: Clyde King was purchased from the Dodgers by the Cincinnati Reds.^[3]
• October 14, 1952: Billy Hunter was traded by the Dodgers to the St. Louis Browns for Ray Coleman, Stan Rojek, Bob Mahoney and cash.^[4]
• January 17, 1953: Andy Pafko was traded by the Dodgers to the Milwaukee Braves for Roy Hartsfield and cash.^[5]
• February 16, 1953: The Dodgers traded Rocky Bridges to the Cincinnati Reds and Jim Pendleton to the Milwaukee Braves as part of a four-team trade. The Philadelphia Phillies sent Russ Meyer to the Dodgers. The Braves sent cash to the Reds and Earl Torgeson to the Phillies. The Reds sent Joe Adcock to the Braves, and the Phillies sent cash to the Braves.^[6]

Regular season

Duke Snider had a hitting streak of 27 games.^[7]

Season standings

National League	W	L	GB	Pct.
Brooklyn Dodgers	105	49	--	.682
Milwaukee Braves	92	62	13	.597
Philadelphia Phillies	83	71	22	.539
St. Louis Cardinals	83	71	22	.439
New York Giants	70	84	35	.455
Cincinnati Redlegs	68	86	37	.442
Chicago Cubs	65	89	40	.422
Pittsburgh Pirates	50	104	55	.325

Opening Day lineup

Opening Day Starters
Name	Position
Jim Gilliam	Second baseman
Pee Wee Reese	Shortstop
Duke Snider	Center fielder
Jackie Robinson	Third baseman
Roy Campanella	Catcher
Don Thompson	Left fielder
Gil Hodges	First baseman
Carl Furillo	Right fielder
Carl Erskine	Starting pitcher

Notable transactions

• May 25, 1953: Bud Byerly was traded by the Dodgers to the New York Giants for Norman Fox (minors).^[8]

Roster

1953 Brooklyn Dodgers
Roster
Pitchers 49 Joe Black 13 Ralph Branca 17 Carl Erskine 18 Jim Hughes 41 Clem Labine 30 Billy Loes 34 Russ Meyer 46 Glenn Mickens 25 Bob Milliken 48 Ray Moore 23 Erv Palica 45 Johnny Podres 28 Preacher Roe 46 Ben Wade		Catchers 39 Roy Campanella 10 Rube Walker Infielders  5 Wayne Belardi  3 Billy Cox 19 Jim Gilliam 14 Gil Hodges  2 Bobby Morgan  1 Pee Wee Reese		Outfielders 24,32 Bill Antonello  6 Carl Furillo 48 Carmen Mauro 42 Jackie Robinson  8 George Shuba  4 Duke Snider 29 Don Thompson 38 Dick Williams Other batters  9 Dixie Howell 37 Dick Teed		Manager  7 Charlie Dressen Coaches 22 Billy Herman 27 Cookie Lavagetto 31 Jake Pitler

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

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

Pos	Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
C	Campanella, RoyRoy Campanella	144	519	162	.312	41	142
1B	Hodges, GilGil Hodges	141	520	157	.302	31	122
2B	Gilliam, JimJim Gilliam	151	605	168	.278	6	63
3B	Cox, BillyBilly Cox	100	327	95	.291	10	44
SS	Reese, Pee WeePee Wee Reese	140	524	142	.271	13	61
OF	Snider, DukeDuke Snider	153	590	198	.336	42	126
OF	Robinson, JackieJackie Robinson	136	484	159	.329	12	95
OF	Furillo, CarlCarl Furillo	132	479	165	.344	21	92

Other batters

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

Player	G	AB	H	Avg.	HR	RBI
Morgan, BobbyBobby Morgan	69	196	51	.260	7	33
Shuba, GeorgeGeorge Shuba	74	169	43	.254	5	23
Belardi, WayneWayne Belardi	69	163	39	.239	11	34
Thompson, DonDon Thompson	96	153	37	.242	1	12
Walker, RubeRube Walker	43	95	23	.242	3	9
Williams, DickDick Williams	30	55	12	.218	2	5
Antonello, BillBill Antonello	40	43	7	.163	1	4
Mauro, CarmenCarmen Mauro	8	9	0	.000	0	0
Teed, DickDick Teed	1	1	0	.000	0	0
Howell, DixieDixie Howell	1	1	0	.000	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

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

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Erskine, CarlCarl Erskine	39	246.2	20	6	3.54	187
Meyer, RussRuss Meyer	34	191.1	15	5	4.56	106
Loes, BillyBilly Loes	32	162.2	14	8	4.54	75
Roe, PreacherPreacher Roe	25	157	11	3	4.36	85
Moore, RayRay Moore	1	8	0	1	3.38	4

Other pitchers

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

Player	G	IP	W	L	ERA	SO
Milliken, BobBob Milliken	37	117.2	8	4	3.37	65
Podres, JohnnyJohnny Podres	33	115	9	4	4.23	82
Mickens, GlennGlenn Mickens	4	6.1	0	1	11.37	5

Relief pitchers

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

Player	G	W	L	SV	ERA	SO
Hughes, JimJim Hughes	48	4	3	9	3.47	49
Labine, ClemClem Labine	37	11	6	7	2.77	44
Wade, BenBen Wade	32	7	5	3	3.79	65
Black, JoeJoe Black	34	6	3	5	5.33	42
Branca, RalphRalph Branca	7	0	0	0	9.82	5
Palica, ErvErv Palica	4	0	0	0	12.00	3

1953 World Series

Game 1

September 30, 1953 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Brooklyn (N)	0	0	0	0	1	3	1	0	0	5	12	2
New York (A)	4	0	0	0	1	0	1	3	x	9	12	0
W: Johnny Sain (1–0)   L: Clem Labine (0–1)
HR: BRO – Jim Gilliam (1), Gil Hodges (1), George Shuba (1)    NYY – Yogi Berra (1), Joe Collins (1)

Game 2

October 1, 1953 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Brooklyn (N)	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	9	1
New York (A)	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	2	x	4	5	0
W: Ed Lopat (1–0)   L: Preacher Roe (0–1)
HR: NYY – Billy Martin (1), Mickey Mantle (1)

Game 3

October 2, 1953 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York (A)	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	0	2	6	0
Brooklyn (N)	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	1	x	3	9	0
W: Carl Erskine (1–0)  L: Vic Raschi (0–1)
HR: BRO – Roy Campanella (1)

Game 4

October 3, 1953 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York (A)	0	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	1	3	9	0
Brooklyn (N)	3	0	0	1	0	2	1	0	x	7	12	0
W: Billy Loes (1–0)  L: Whitey Ford (0–1)   S: Clem Labine (1)
HR: NYY – Gil McDougald (1)    BRO – Duke Snider (1)

Game 5

October 4, 1953 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York (A)	1	0	5	0	0	0	3	1	1	11	11	1
Brooklyn (N)	0	1	0	0	1	0	0	4	1	7	14	1
W: Jim McDonald (1–0)  L: Johnny Podres (0–1)   S: Allie Reynolds (1)
HR: NYY – Gene Woodling (1), Mickey Mantle (2), Billy Martin (2), Gil McDougald (2)    BRO – Billy Cox (1), Jim Gilliam (1)

Game 6

October 5, 1953 at Yankee Stadium in New York, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Brooklyn (N)	0	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	2	3	8	3
New York (A)	2	1	0	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	13	0
W: Allie Reynolds (1–0)   L: Clem Labine (0–2)
HR: BRO – Carl Furillo (1)

Awards and honors

• National League Most Valuable Player
  • Roy Campanella
• National League Rookie of the Year
  • Jim Gilliam
• TSN Player of the Year Award
  • Roy Campanella
• TSN NL Rookie of the Year Award
  • Jim Gilliam

All-Stars

• 1953 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
  • Roy Campanella, starter, catcher
  • Pee Wee Reese, starter, shortstop
  • Carl Furillo, reserve
  • Gil Hodges, reserve
  • Jackie Robinson, reserve
  • Duke Snider, reserve
• TSN Major League All-Star Team
  • Roy Campanella, catcher
  • Carl Furillo, outfield
  • Duke Snider, outfield
  • Pee Wee Reese, shortstop

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Montreal Royals	International League	Walter Alston
AAA	St. Paul Saints	American Association	Clay Bryant
AA	Ft. Worth Cats	Texas League	Max Macon
AA	Mobile Bears	Southern Association	Ed Head
A	Elmira Pioneers	Eastern League	Al Brancato
A	Pueblo Dodgers	Western League	George Pfister
B	Asheville Tourists	Tri-State League	Ray Hathaway
B	Miami Sun Sox	Florida International League	Doc Alexson
B	Newport News Dodgers	Piedmont League	Stan Wasiak
C	Great Falls Electrics	Pioneer League	Lou Rochelli
C	Santa Barbara Dodgers	California League	George Scherger
D	Hornell Dodgers	Pennsylvania-Ontario-New York League	Mervin Dornburg Jack Banta
D	Shawnee Hawks	Sooner State League	Boyd Bartley
D	Sheboygan Indians	Wisconsin State League	Joe Hauser
D	Thomasville Dodgers	Georgia-Florida League	John Angelone
D	Union City Dodgers	Kentucky-Illinois-Tennessee League	Earl Naylor

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Montreal

Notes

References

• Baseball-Reference season page
• Baseball Almanac season page

External links

• 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers uniform
• Brooklyn Dodgers reference site
• Acme Dodgers page
• Retrosheet

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1953 MLB season by team American League Boston Chicago Cleveland Detroit New York Philadelphia St. Louis Washington National League Brooklyn Chicago Cincinnati Milwaukee New York Philadelphia Pittsburgh St. Louis 1953 All-Star Game 1953 World Series

Los Angeles Dodgers Formerly the Brooklyn Robins and the Brooklyn Dodgers. Based in Los Angeles, California Franchise History in Brooklyn History in Los Angeles Seasons Award winners Records No-hitters Players First-round draft picks Managers Owners & Executives Coaches Broadcasters Los Angeles Dodgers Radio Network SportsNet LA Hall of Famers Opening Day starting pitchers Ballparks Washington Park Eastern Park Ridgewood Park Washington Park Ebbets Field Roosevelt Stadium Proposed domed stadium Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Dodger Stadium Spring Training: Whittington Park Barrs Field Tinker Field Clearwater Athletic Field City Island Ball Park Gran Stadium de La Habana Holman Stadium Camelback Ranch Culture Dodger Dog Chronicle-Telegraph Cup This is Next Year The First Fernandomania Kirk Gibson Walk-Off Home Run Sandy Koufax's Perfect Game Flag Burning Chávez Ravine Dodger Blue I Love L.A. Roy Campanella Award 1951 NL tie-breaker series "Shot Heard 'Round the World" Orel Hershiser's scoreless innings streak Vin Scully Nancy Bea Bankruptcy 42 Rivalries San Francisco Giants Freeway Series Subway Series/New York Yankees Hall of Fame Members Walter Alston Roy Campanella Don Drysdale Leo Durocher Burleigh Grimes Willie Keeler Sandy Koufax Vin Scully Tommy Lasorda Walter O'Malley Pee Wee Reese Branch Rickey Jackie Robinson Wilbert Robinson Duke Snider Don Sutton Dazzy Vance Zack Wheat Key Personnel Owner: Guggenheim Baseball Management President: Stan Kasten President of Baseball Operations: Andrew Friedman General Manager: Farhan Zaidi Manager: Don Mattingly Championships (6) 1955 1959 1963 1965 1981 1988 League Pennants (22) American Association: 1889 National League: 1890 1899 1900 1916 1920 1941 1947 1949 1952 1953 1955 1956 1959 1963 1965 1966 1974 1977 1978 1981 1988 Division titles (13) 1974 1977 1978 1981 (first half) 1983 1985 1988 1995 2004 2008 2009 2013 2014 Wild Card (2) 1996 2006 Minors AAA: Oklahoma City Dodgers AA:Tulsa Drillers A: Rancho Cucamonga Quakes Great Lakes Loons Rookie: Ogden Raptors Arizona League Dodgers Dominican Summer Dodgers Minor League Rosters   Seasons (133) 1880s 1880 1881 1882 1883 1884 1885 1886 1887 1888 1889 1890s 1890 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900s 1900 1901 1902 1903 1904 1905 1906 1907 1908 1909 1910s 1910 1911 1912 1913 1914 1915 1916 1917 1918 1919 1920s 1920 1921 1922 1923 1924 1925 1926 1927 1928 1929 1930s 1930 1931 1932 1933 1934 1935 1936 1937 1938 1939 1940s 1940 1941 1942 1943 1944 1945 1946 1947 1948 1949 1950s 1950 1951 1952 1953 1954 1955 1956 1957 1958 1959 1960s 1960 1961 1962 1963 1964 1965 1966 1967 1968 1969 1970s 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1975 1976 1977 1978 1979 1980s 1980 1981 1982 1983 1984 1985 1986 1987 1988 1989 1990s 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000s 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010s 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015