After having just completed a 1901 replay, the first thing I noticed upon viewing the 1957 schedule was the abundance of Sunday doubleheaders. In 1901, unless you were in Ohio, Illinois, Wisconsin, or Missouri there was no Sunday baseball due to Sunday Blue Laws. These laws were still in effect in Pennsylvania until 1933, so I got a taste of it again in my 1930 replay.
Sunday Blue Laws were gone by 1957 though and since gate receipts were the big moneymaker for the teams (television baseball was still in its infancy) then if there was a bonus to be made from scheduling doubleheaders versus single games then regular Sunday doubleheaders was the way to go. It's not every team every Sunday, but it was something that would be considered a routine event for all teams.
Of course 1901 also featured a lot of pitched complete games, very small rosters, and a completely different type of baseball (and worse fielding). 1957 features 563 unique players, while 1901 only had 371. There were some trades in 1901 but not a lot … all I am saying is that after completing 1901 I am may have to have to completely relearn how to play modern-day baseball again - numerous pinch-hit and pinch-run appearances, defensive swaps, tons of relief - it really is a completely different game.
This is all stuff that we "know" as baseball fans, but it is somehow different when it is actually staring you in the face. It may take me a few weeks to fully get back into the "modern baseball groove" but once gameplay starts it really should come back easily. At least BBR will have box scores for all of these games that I can refer to.
Let's take a look at the teams as they head into the 1957 season.
Note: I just saw that Eddie Kasko passed away. I was not really planning to "keep score" here, but it is likely that these type of occurrences will continue to happen over the course of this replay so I will make note of them when they do.
American League
New York (1956: 97-57, 1st place, Manager: Casey Stengel)
Casey Stengel
After having lost the 1955 World Series the Yankees got their revenge by winning the 1956 World Series and are favored to represent the AL again in 1957 because, well, because they were the Yankees. With Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra as the anchors on the field, with Whitey Ford, Don Larsen, and Johnny Kucks ready to lead the starting pitching, and with manager Casey Stengel knowing what buttons to push in regards to the remaining players to get the best from them, why shouldn't they be?
Cleveland (1956: 88-66, 2nd place, Manager: Kerby Farrell)
Cleveland finished in second place in 1956 but featured an aging lineup and that finish might be difficult to duplicate. Al Rosen and Bob Feller both retired after last season, Bob Lemon (35) and Early Wynn (36) lead the mound crew, but their real hopes lie in the left arm of a young Herb Score. Rocky Colavito and Roger Maris bring some youth to the outfield and hopes to the Indians fans. Longtime organizational manager Kerby Farrell is familiar with the younger players and may be able to successfully introduce some fresh blood into the Indians' lineup.
Chicago (1956: 85-69, 3rd place, Manager: Al Lopez)
The White Sox have been on the come for the past few seasons and if the Yankees should slip they will be ready to take over. Chicago has a veteran but-not-old team that plays a solid defense, especially up the middle with Nellie Fox and Luis Aparicio, and a pitching staff that includes Billy Pierce, Dick Donovan, and Jack Harshman might be the equal of the Yankees. The White Sox can't match the Yankee's power output, they can score runs just as easily and fully expect to stay in the hunt all season long. Manager Al Lopez intends to keep his team in the pennant race all year long.
Boston (1956: 84-70, 4th place, Manager: Pinky Higgins)
Having Ted Williams in the middle of your lineup, 38-years-old or not, is going to make your team competitive. Offensively, the Red Sox should be fine, but their the defense may be a little shaky and starters Tom Brewer and Frank Sullivan are going to need someone to step forward and lead the way before they are going to be able to truly compete with Chicago and New York. Manager Pinky Higgins will do his best, but third place might be the tops they can do in 1957.
Detroit (1956: 82-72, 5th place, Manager: Jack Tighe)
Detroit finished the 1956 season with an 82-72 record, but that was only good enough for fifth place in a tough AL race. The Tigers are looking forward to continuing to improve on what they have built as they have a solid rotation featuring Jim Bunning, Frank Lary, and Duke Maas and a young lineup that includes a still-only-22-years-old Al Kaline on which to place their hopes. Tigers manager Jack Tighe figures to improve on that winning record from last season but wins may be a little tougher to come by this year.
Baltimore (1956: 69-85, 6th place, Manager: Paul Richards)
The Orioles have slowly started to disassociate themselves from their moribund St. Louis Browns legacy and have begun to build themselves into … well, maybe not exactly a contender, but certainly a team that can't automatically be overlooked. Third baseman George Kell has one more season left in him and they have a young Brooks Robinson waiting in the wings, plus Tito Francona is looking to add some youth to the outfield. The pitching staff, led by Connie Johnson and Ray Moore, might be starting to show their age but the Orioles are hoping to squeeze out a few more years out of them to let their young pitchers develop. If nothing else, they are better than Kansas City and Washington and manager Paul Richards will look to continue their improvement as a franchise.
Washington (1956: 59-95, 7th place, Manager: Chuck Dressen)
The Senators avoided last place in 1956 only because the Athletics were so much worse. While it is likely these two teams will fight it out for seventh place again, Washington has already started their youth movement and are going into the season with one of the youngest rosters in the AL. Veterans Eddie Yost, Roy Sievers, and Jim Lemon will have to lead the offensive charge this year though. Pedro Ramos and Camilo Pascual should help improve the team ERA and their prized bonus baby, Harmon Killebrew will be finally able to get some minor league time in this season and their hope is that he will be ready to blossom when the rest of the "kids" on the roster are ready to blossom as well. Manager Chuck Dressen may be in a bad spot but if he can get the younger players to produce maybe the Senators can become something in a few years.
Kansas City (1956: 52-102,8th place, Manager: Lou Boudreau)
The glory days of the old Connie Mack Philadelphia Athletics teams are long gone and the new Kansas City Athletics finished with the worst record in all of baseball in 1956. They have cleared the roster many of their older players and have made spots for some newcomers to get their shot, and while that is not a guarantee of success, it is a step in the right direction. Can Lou Skizas help settle their outfield? Can veteran Gus Zernial have another good year at the plate? Can Arnie Portocarrero step up and help an aging pitching staff? Can they finish ahead of the Senators? These are all questions that are yet to be answered as Manager Lou Boudreau will have his hands full trying to keep these guys above .400 ball this season.
National League
Brooklyn (1956: 93-61, 1st place, Manager: Walter Alston)
Walter Alston
The Dodgers have dominated the NL for the past decade and see no reason why this shouldn’t continue in 1957. However, age may be catching up with the champs so 1957 may provide an opportunity for the rest of the league to slip past last year's pennant winners. Jackie Robinson is gone and Pee Wee Reese is slowed, but the Dodgers think they can just reload with Charlie Neal and Jim Gilliam up the middle. Duke Snider and Roy Campanella are still strong in the field and at-bat and the pitching staff will be adding Don Drysdale to the rotation. Manager Walter Alston fully intends to get the Dodgers back into the World Series this year.
Milwaukee (1956: 92-82, 2nd place, Manager: Fred Haney)
Since having left Boston a few years previous the Braves have suddenly become a quite competitive team, finishing in second place in 1956 and giving the NL champs Brooklyn Dodgers all they could handle. Of course, adding Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews and Joe Adcock to your everyday lineup has a way of doing that. Warren Spahn is still the ace on the mound, ably abetted by Lew Burdette and Bob Buhl. If their relief can hold together 1957 just might be there year for manager Fred Haney and the Braves.
Cincinnati (1956: 91-63, 3rd place, Manager: Birdie Tebbetts)
Cincinnati has all the makings of a team to be reckoned with in the future, and maybe even this year. They feature good power (the Reds hit 221 homeruns in 1956) with Ted Kluszewski, Frank Robinson, Wally Post, Gus Bell, and Ed Bailey in the forefront of their powerful offense. The Reds also have a solid up-the-middle defense with Johnny Temple and Roy McMillan. What they do lack is a deep starting rotation and bullpen. It's good to have an ace like Brooks Lawrence, but a couple of other starters are going to have to step up before the Reds can move up. Manager Birdie Tebbetts hopefully will have some tricks up his sleeves if he wants to keep the Reds competitive in 1957.
St. Louis (1956: 76-78, 4th place, Manager: Fred Hutchinson)
Somehow, the Cardinals always seem to be competitive, year after year, and 1957 should be no different. Unfortunately, the Stan Musial led Redbirds have always had the Brooklyn Dodgers to contend with for the past decade and the pennant had eluded them since 1946. This year, Musial will stick to first base and let younger legs roam the outfield. Veteran Al Dark will play short, but youngsters Don Blasingame and Ken Boyer will get their turn to shine. Larry Jackson and newly acquired Sam Jones lead the mound staff, but hopes are that young Lindy McDaniel can make a major contribution. St. Louis fans have confidence that manager Fred Hutchinson can get the best out of their Cardinals.
Philadelphia (1956: 71-83, 5th place, Manager: Mayo Smith)
The Phillies aren't quite the team they were when they went to the World Series in 1950, but they are still a team that feels they should be challenging for the top. Richie Ashburn and Willie Jones anchor the offense and pitchers Robin Roberts, Curt Simmons, and Harvey Haddix leads a strong rotation. Harry "The Horse" Anderson should be a good addition to the outfield and pitchers Jack Sanford and Turk Farrell are expected to be welcome additions to the pitching staff. Manager Mayo Smith would really like to get this team to break through and get back to the top.
New York (1956: 67-87, 6th place, Manager: Bill Rigney)
The Giants are another team whose best days might be behind them. Willie Mays is one of the best players in the game, but the rest of the team is not young and the Giants defense is a little shaky except for Mays. Johnny Antonelli and Ruben Gomez anchor the rotation, but the rest of the pitching staff gets pretty thin after that. Manager Bill Rigney may have a tough time improving the Giants chances in 1957.
Pittsburgh (1956: 66-88, 7th place, Manager: Bobby Bragan)
The Pirates were a pretty bad team earlier in the decade, and frankly, aren't much better this year either, but they do have a group of young talent that might be able to take this team somewhere over the next few years. That talent starts with Roberto Clemente, but also includes young players like Bill Mazeroski, Dick Groat, Bill Virdon and Bob Skinner. Bob Friend, Ron Kline, and Vern Law are back to lead the pitching rotation, Roy Face will be coming out of the pen again, but the rest of the staff is pretty thin. This may be a rough year yet again for manager Bobby Bragan, but the Pirates fans may have something to look forward to in a few years.
Chicago (1957: 60-94, 8th place, Manager: Bob Scheffing)
The Cubs are in the middle of a decade long tailspin but unlike Pittsburgh or Cincinnati there is no prominent group of youngsters on the roster to give hope to the home fans. Ernie Banks leads the offense, but both the offense and defense get a little shaky after that. Moe Drabowsky and Dick Drott will join Bob Rush at the head of the rotation this year, but it is expected to be a long year on the north side of Chicago for manager Bob Scheffing and the Cubs fans this year.
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