1955 St. Louis Cardinals season
Encyclopedia
The St. Louis Cardinals
season was the team's 74th season in St. Louis, Missouri
and the 64th season in the National League
. The Cardinals went 68-86 during the season and finished seventh in the National League, 30½ games behind the Brooklyn Dodgers
.
Outfielder Bill Virdon
won the Rookie of the Year Award
this year, batting .281, with 17 home runs and 68 RBIs. This was the second consecutive year a Cardinal won the Rookie of the Year Award, with Wally Moon
winning the previous season. The Cardinals would have this occur again in 1985
and '86
, with Vince Coleman
and Todd Worrell
, respectively.
St. Louis Cardinals
The St. Louis Cardinals are a professional baseball team based in St. Louis, Missouri. They are members of the Central Division in the National League of Major League Baseball. The Cardinals have won eleven World Series championships, the most of any National League team, and second overall only to...
season was the team's 74th season in St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis, Missouri
St. Louis is an independent city on the eastern border of Missouri, United States. With a population of 319,294, it was the 58th-largest U.S. city at the 2010 U.S. Census. The Greater St...
and the 64th season in the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
. The Cardinals went 68-86 during the season and finished seventh in the National League, 30½ games behind the Brooklyn Dodgers
1955 Brooklyn Dodgers season
In , the Brooklyn Dodgers finally fulfilled the promise of many previous Dodger teams. Although the club had won several pennants in the past, and had won as many as 105 games in 1953, it had never won a World Series. This team finished 13.5 games ahead in the National League pennant race, leading...
.
Outfielder Bill Virdon
Bill Virdon
William Charles Virdon is a former outfielder, manager and coach in Major League Baseball. A premier defensive outfielder during his playing days as a center fielder for the St...
won the Rookie of the Year Award
MLB Rookie of the Year Award
In Major League Baseball, the Rookie of the Year Award is annually given to one player from each league as voted on by the Baseball Writers Association of America . The award was established in 1940 by the Chicago chapter of the BBWAA, which selected an annual winner from 1940 through 1946...
this year, batting .281, with 17 home runs and 68 RBIs. This was the second consecutive year a Cardinal won the Rookie of the Year Award, with Wally Moon
Wally Moon
Wallace Wade Moon, known popularly as Wally Moon, is a former Major League Baseball outfielder. Moon played his 12-year career in the National League for the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers...
winning the previous season. The Cardinals would have this occur again in 1985
1985 St. Louis Cardinals season
The St. Louis Cardinals' 1985 season was the team's 104th season in St. Louis, Missouri and the 94th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 101-61 during the season and finished in first place in the National League East division by three games over the New York Mets...
and '86
1986 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1986 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 105th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 95th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 79-82 during the season and finished 3rd in the National League East division.-Offseason:...
, with Vince Coleman
Vince Coleman
Vincent Maurice Coleman is an American former Major League Baseball player, best known for his years with the St. Louis Cardinals. Primarily a left fielder, Coleman played from to and set a number of stolen base records. He was a switch-hitter and threw right-handed.-Biography:Coleman attended...
and Todd Worrell
Todd Worrell
Todd Roland Worrell is a retired Major League Baseball relief pitcher who played for the St. Louis Cardinals and Los Angeles Dodgers from to ....
, respectively.
Offseason
- October 19, 1954: Peanuts LowreyPeanuts LowreyHarry Lee "Peanuts" Lowrey was an American outfielder in Major League Baseball who played for the Chicago Cubs , Cincinnati Reds , St...
was released by the Cardinals. - November 22, 1954: Jim King was drafted from the Cardinals by the Chicago CubsChicago CubsThe Chicago Cubs are a professional baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois. They are members of the Central Division of Major League Baseball's National League. They are one of two Major League clubs based in Chicago . The Cubs are also one of the two remaining charter members of the National...
in the 1954 rule 5 draftRule 5 draftThe Rule 5 draft is a Major League Baseball player draft that occurs each year in December, at the annual Winter Meeting of general managers. The Rule 5 draft aims to prevent teams from stockpiling too many young players on their minor league affiliate teams when other teams would be willing to...
. - November 30, 1954: Benny ValenzuelaBenny ValenzuelaBenjamin Beltrán Valenzuela is a former Major League Baseball third baseman who played for one season. He played in games for the St. Louis Cardinals during the 1958 St. Louis Cardinals season. After retirement, he became a manager of the Alijadores de Tampico in the Mexican League.-External links:...
was drafted by the Cardinals from the Bisbee-Douglas Copper KingsBisbee-Douglas Copper KingsThe Bisbee-Douglas Copper Kings were a minor league baseball team in Bisbee, Arizona and Douglas, Arizona. They played in the Arizona-Texas League from 1949 to 1950 and in the Arizona-Mexico League in 1955. The Arizona-Mexico League was active from 1955-58 and was the successor of the Arizona-Texas...
in the 1954 minor league draft. - December 8, 1954: Ray JablonskiRay JablonskiRaymond Leo Jablonski was an American third baseman in Major League Baseball with an 8-year career from 1953 to 1960. Born in Chicago, Illinois, he played for the St...
and Gerry StaleyGerry StaleyGerald Lee Staley was an American right-handed pitcher in Major League Baseball who excelled both as a starter and reliever. He was drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in the Minor League draft. He pitched regularly from 1947 on, then was traded to Cincinnati for the 1955 season...
were traded by the Cardinals to the Cincinnati RedlegsCincinnati RedsThe Cincinnati Reds are a Major League Baseball team based in Cincinnati, Ohio. They are members of the National League Central Division. The club was established in 1882 as a charter member of the American Association and joined the National League in 1890....
for Frank SmithFrank Smith (1950s pitcher)Frank Thomas Smith was a former professional baseball player. He was a right-handed pitcher over parts of seven seasons with the Cincinnati Reds and St. Louis Cardinals...
. - Prior to 1955 season: Duke CarmelDuke CarmelLeon James "Duke" Carmel is a former professional baseball player. He played all or part of four seasons in Major League Baseball, between 1959 and 1965, for the St. Louis Cardinals, New York Mets, and New York Yankees, primarily as an outfielder.-External links:...
was signed as an amateur free agent by the Cardinals.
Notable transactions
- June 3, 1955: Del RiceDel RiceDelbert Rice Jr. was an American professional baseball player, coach and manager. He played for 17 seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to , most notably for the St. Louis Cardinals...
was traded by the Cardinals to the Milwaukee BravesAtlanta BravesThe Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
for Pete WhisenantPete WhisenantThomas Peter Whisenant was an American outfielder and coach in Major League Baseball. Born in Asheville, North Carolina, Whisenant stood 6'2" , weighed 200 pounds , and threw and batted right-handed....
.
Roster
| 1955 St. Louis Cardinals | |||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Roster | |||||||||
| Pitchers |
Catchers Infielders |
Outfielders |
Manager Coaches |
||||||
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CF | 144 | 534 | 150 | .281 | 17 | 68 | |
| RF | 152 | 593 | 175 | .295 | 19 | 76 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11 | 14 | 5 | .357 | 0 | 1 | |
| 3 | 10 | 3 | .300 | 1 | 3 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 159 | 11 | 8 | 4.19 | 68 | |
| 4 | 27.1 | 1 | 0 | 3.62 | 19 | |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 28 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 3.23 | 17 | |
| 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 9.00 | 7 | |
Awards and honors
All-Star Game1955 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1955 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 22nd playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball...
- Red SchoendienstRed SchoendienstAlbert Fred "Red" Schoendienst is an American Major League Baseball coach, former player and manager, and 10-time All-star. After a 19-year playing career with the St...
, second base, starter - Luis ArroyoLuis ArroyoLuis Enrique "Tite" Arroyo, , is a former major league baseball pitcher.-Baseball career:Luis Arroyo, from Peñuelas, Puerto Rico, made his Major League Baseball debut on April 20, 1955. A stocky left-hander, he spent one season primarily as a starter with the St. Louis Cardinals...
, reserve - Harvey HaddixHarvey HaddixHarvey Haddix, Jr. was a Major League Baseball left-handed pitcher who played with the St. Louis Cardinals , Philadelphia Phillies , Cincinnati Redlegs , Pittsburgh Pirates and Baltimore Orioles . Haddix was born in Medway, Ohio, located just outside of Springfield...
, reserve - Stan MusialStan MusialStanley Frank "Stan" Musial is a retired professional baseball player who played 22 seasons in Major League Baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals . Nicknamed "Stan the Man", Musial was a record 24-time All-Star selection , and is widely considered to be one of the greatest hitters in baseball...
, reserve