Postwar Era Famous Firsts

Television takes over and a black player finally makes it onto a Major League baseball field. The leagues will grow more than ever as the game truly becomes America's pastime.

Legends of yesterday walk onto the field and talk to the legends of tomorrow as memories are shared from fathers to sons in the Postwar Era.

Baseball Almanac Top Quote

"Baseball is almost the only orderly thing in a very unorderly world. If you get three strikes, even the best lawyer in the world can't get you off." - Bill Veeck

The Postwar Era

1946 - 1960

02-19-1946 Danny Gardella is the first player to leave the major leagues to join the Mexican League.
04-18-1946 Jackie Robinson plays his first game in the International League.
05-28-1946 The Senators beat the Yankees 2-1 in the first Yankee Stadium night game.
05-30-1946 Bama Rowell is the first player at Ebbets Field to smash the Bulova clock, which becomes the inspiration for a scene in 'The Natural.'
06-09-1946 Mel Ott is the first manager to be thrown out of both games of a doubleheader.
07-14-1946 Lou Boudreau sets a major league mark and is the first player with five extra-base hits in one game.
07-14-1946 Lou Boudreau is the first manager to shift his players to the right to combat Ted Williams.
08-09-1946 For the first time in both leagues, all games are scheduled for play at night and each game is actually played (at night).
1947 Bill Voiselle, from a town named Ninety-Six, is the first player to wear his hometown name as a uniform number.
1947 Johnny Mize became the first player in history to hit 50 or more home runs and strikeout less than 50 times in a season.
04-15-1947 Jackie Robinson plays in his first major league game and is the first black player this century.
05-01-1947 Cleveland plays their first full season in Municipal Stadium.
06-13-1947 The first night game is played at Fenway Park and the Red Sox beat the White Sox 5-3.
07-05-1947 Larry Doby is the first black American League player.
07-08-1947 Spec Shea is the first rookie pitcher to win an All-Star game.
07-08-1947 Schoolboy Rowe is the first player in an All-Star game, once from each league.
08-21-1947 The first Little League World Series is played.
08-26-1947 Dan Bankhead is the first black pitcher in the major leagues.
09-17-1947 Jackie Robinson is the first player named Rookie of the Year.
10-02-1947 Yogi Berra hits the first World Series pinch homer.
04-16-1948 The first televised game in Chicago occurs on WGN-TV.
06-15-1948 The first night game in Tigers' Briggs Stadium is played.
06-30-1948 Bob Lemon is the first American League pitcher to throw a no-hitter at night.
07-26-1948 The first showing of The Babe Ruth Story in New York premiers - Babe Ruth attends premier.
08-13-1948 Satchel Paige pitched his first major league game and simultaneously earned his first major league shutout.
03-01-1949 The Cardinals are the first team evicted by their own stadium.
07-08-1949 The first time a black hitter and pitcher are matched up in a game: Hank Thompson versus Don Newcombe.
08-27-1949 The Boston Braves outfielder Jeff Heath became the first player in Major League history to hit a ninth inning game-tying pinch-hit home run and then later win that game with an extra-inning walk-off home run.
04-18-1950 The first opening day night game is played and the Cardinals defeat the Pirates 4-2.
04-18-1950 President Truman is the first President to throw two first pitches - one left handed and one right handed.
07-11-1950 The first All-Star game is broadcast on television.
08-11-1950 Joe DiMaggio is benched for the first time in his career after going four for thirty-eight.
08-19-1951 Eddie Gaedel is the first midget to play in a major league game.
10-01-1951 The first coast-to-coast televised game hits the airwaves and the Dodgers beat the Giants 3-1.
10-03-1951 The first uttering of Shot Heard Round the World occurs when Bobby Thomson hits a pennant winning home run.
10-09-1951 Gil McDougald is the first rookie to hit a grand slam in a World Series game.
11-18-1951 Chuck Connors is the first player to oppose the major league draft.
04-23-1952 Hoyt Wilhelm wins his first game and hits his first home run which will be the only home run he hits in 1,070 games.
09-29-1952 Stan Musial makes his first and last pitching appearance in relief.
01-21-1953 Joe DiMaggio is passed over by the Hall Of Fame in his first year of eligibility.
03-18-1953 After seventy-seven years, the Braves move and play their first games in Milwaukee.
04-14-1953 Bill Bruton hits the first home run at Milwaukee's County Stadium.
04-14-1953 Cleveland Indians righty Bob Lemon, versus the Chicago White Sox, became the first pitcher in Major League history to toss a shutout and and hit a home run in an Opening Day game (first in NL click here / see 2013).
04-29-1953 Joe Adcock is the first player to homer in the Polo Grounds over the centerfield wall.
08-23-1953 Phil Paine is the first ex-major league player to ever play in Japan.
09-06-1953 Roy Campanella sets the major league record by becoming the first catcher with thirty-eight single season home runs.
09-07-1953 Roy Campanella sets the major league record by becoming the first catcher with one-hundred twenty-five single season runs batted in.
11-17-1953 The Browns change their name and the first appearance of the modern Baltimore Orioles occurs.
03-29-1954 Phil Cavarretta is the first manager fired during spring training.
04-15-1954 Clint Courtney hits the first home run in Memorial Stadium
04-23-1954 Hank Aaron, the future all-time home run king, hits his first Major League home run.
05-02-1954 Stan Musial is the first player to hit five home runs on the same day in a doubleheader.
07-31-1954 Joe Adcock is the first and only player with eighteen total bases in one game.
1954 The first rule not permitting opposing teams to leave their gloves on the playing field is instituted.
04-12-1955 The Athletics play their first season in Kansas City.
04-14-1955 Elston Howard is the first black New York Yankee player.
09-05-1955 Sandy Koufax pitches his first game which is his first start, first win, and first shutout.
10-04-1955 Brooklyn Dodgers win their first World Championship and Sandy Amoros makes one of the most memorable defensive catches in World Series history.
04-28-1956 Frank Robinson, a 500 Home Runs Club member, hits his first major league home run.
1956 The first season in the major leagues without a single player-manager.
1956 Robin Roberts is the first pitcher to give up forty-six home runs in a single season.
04-18-1956 Ed Rommell is the first umpire to wear glasses in a regular season game.
05-30-1956 Mickey Mantle is almost the first player to hit a home run out of Yankee Stadium, missing by eighteen inches.
10-08-1956 Don Larsen is the first pitcher to throw a perfect game in a World Series.
11-21-1956 The first Cy Young Award is given to Don Newcombe.
11-21-1956 Don Newcombe is the first player to win the Cy Young and Most Valuable Player awards in the same season.
1957 Warren Spahn is the first southpaw to win a Cy Young Award.
01-04-1957 The Dodgers are the first team to purchase their own team airplane.
06-13-1957 Ted Williams is the first American League player to have two three-home run games in a single season.
08-17-1957 Richie Ashburn is the first batter to hit the same fan twice in the same at-bat with foul balls.
03-11-1958 The first rule requiring American League players to wear batting helmets appears
04-15-1958 The first game is played at Seals Stadium and the Giants defeat the Dodgers 8-0.
06-02-1958 Brooks Robinson hits into his first triple play and will eventually set the major league record with four in a career.
09-13-1958 Warren Spahn is the first left-handed pitcher with nine twenty win seasons.
09-20-1958 The Orioles get their first no hitter in a rare start by Hoyt Wilhelm.
05-26-1959 Harvey Haddix is the first pitcher to throw twelve perfect innings then lose the game in the thirteenth.
07-21-1959 Pumpsie Green is the first black player on the Red Sox.
1960 The first official crediting for a pitcher's saves is adopted.
1960 Bill Veeck is the first owner to put a player names on the back of their uniforms.
05-15-1960 Don Cardwell is the first pitcher to throw a no-hitter in his first start after being traded.
05-27-1960 Clint Courtney is the first catcher to use the knuckleball "big mitt".
Famous Firsts in the Postwar Era
baseball almanac flat baseball

baseball almanac fast facts

Jackie Robinson played in his first Major League game and became the first black player this century. Baseball Almanac has the entire box score of this historic game online for you to review, learn from and share with others.

The ever-wise Satchel Paige pitched his first Major League game on August 13, 1948, and got his first Major League shutout (in that same game) during the Postwar Era.

Did you know that when Sandy Koufax pitched his first big league game it was also his first start, first win and first career shutout?