1957 Leaders & Numbers

Willie Mays helped make the Giants’ New York coda a memorable one as he was the third National Leaguer to total 20 doubles, triples and home runs each. Mickey Mantle added to his fast-growing Hall-of-Fame résumé with the highest batting average ever by a switch-hitter. Over the hill was a wonderful place to be in 1957, as shown by Ted Williams (age 39), Stan Musial (36) and Warren Spahn (36). With the help of Griffith Stadium’s ever-shrinking outfield real estate, Roy Sievers became the only Senator to pace the AL in homers before the team’s move to Minnesota. No one was going to miss Ebbets Field more than Duke Snider, who reached 40 homers for the fifth straight year. As Snider’s streak ended, Ernie Banks began a similar run lasting four years. Jim Bunning reduced a lot of future frustration by winning 20 games in his first full season as a starter; he would get to 19 four times in the future, but never more. Don Drysdale will always be associated with the Los Angeles Dodgers, but for one solid year he gave the folks at Flatbush something to remember. The White Sox’ offense must have been coming around; the typically unsupported Billy Pierce won 20 games for the second straight year. Give thanks to a stubborn Pale Hose roster led by Minnie Minoso and Nellie Fox. Jack Sanford and Ed Bouchee finished 1-2 in NL Rookie of the Year voting, but all the Phillies got for it was an even .500 finish. After a year in the Navy, Johnny Podres returned and led the NL in ERA and shutouts. Soon to be transformed into a full-time reliever, Bobby Shantz grabbed the AL ERA title in his last year pitching enough innings to qualify.

The Ten Best National League Hitters, 1957
Name	Team	G	BA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IB	HB	SB	CS	GD
1. Willie Mays	New York	152	.333	585	112	195	26	20	35	97	61	14	1	38	19	14
2. Hank Aaron	Milwaukee	151	.322	615	118	198	27	6	44	132	42	15	0	1	1	13
3. Stan Musial	St. Louis	134	.351	502	82	176	38	3	29	102	48	19	2	1	1	13
4. Ernie Banks	Chicago	156	.285	594	113	169	34	6	43	102	59	11	3	8	4	12
5. Eddie Mathews	Milwaukee	148	.292	572	109	167	28	9	32	94	85	5	0	3	1	6
6. Gil Hodges	Brooklyn	150	.299	579	94	173	28	7	27	98	57	6	2	5	3	11
7. Frank Robinson	Cincinnati	150	.322	611	97	197	29	5	29	75	39	5	12	10	2	13
8. Duke Snider	Brooklyn	139	.274	508	91	139	25	7	40	92	65	12	1	3	4	17
9. Ed Bouchee	Philadelphia	154	.293	574	78	168	35	8	17	76	78	6	14	1	0	15
10. Wally Moon	St. Louis	142	.295	516	86	152	28	5	24	73	50	12	1	5	6	14

The Ten Best American League Hitters, 1957
Name	Team	G	BA	AB	R	H	2B	3B	HR	RBI	BB	IB	HB	SB	CS	GD
1. Mickey Mantle	New York	144	.365	474	121	173	28	6	34	94	123	23	0	16	3	5
2. Ted Williams	Boston	132	.388	420	96	163	28	1	38	87	86	33	5	0	1	11
3. Roy Sievers	Washington	152	.301	572	99	172	23	5	42	114	65	11	7	1	1	9
4. Minnie Minoso	Chicago	153	.310	568	96	176	36	5	12	103	74	5	21	18	15	19
5. Vic Wertz	Cleveland	144	.282	515	84	145	21	0	28	105	72	6	2	2	3	9
6. Gene Woodling	Cleveland	133	.321	430	74	138	25	2	19	78	62	2	3	0	5	6
7. Nellie Fox	Chicago	155	.317	619	110	196	27	8	6	61	73	2	16	5	6	7
8. Jackie Jensen	Boston	145	.281	544	82	153	29	2	23	103	72	3	2	8	5	22
9. Al Kaline	Detroit	149	.295	577	83	170	29	4	23	90	36	7	3	11	9	10
10. Charlie Maxwell	Detroit	138	.276	492	75	136	23	3	24	82	69	7	5	3	2	6

The Ten Best National League Pitchers, 1957
Name	Team	ERA	W	L	PCT	SV	G	GS	IP	TB	ER	BB	IB	WP	HB	BK	SB	CS	GD
1. Warren Spahn	Milwaukee	2.69	21	11	.656	3	39	35	271	353	81	74	4	2	2	0	5	5	24
2. Bob Buhl	Milwaukee	2.74	18	7	.720	0	34	31	216.2	265	66	117	4	3	0	0	4	11	33
3. Don Drysdale	Brooklyn	2.69	17	9	.654	0	34	29	221	301	66	58	3	3	7	1	6	3	19
4. Johnny Podres	Brooklyn	2.66	12	9	.571	3	31	27	196	259	58	43	1	3	1	0	6	4	18
5. Lew Burdette	Milwaukee	3.72	17	9	.654	0	37	33	256.2	382	106	51	8	2	2	0	6	7	30
6. Bob Friend	Pittsburgh	3.38	14	18	.438	0	40	38	277	407	104	60	8	3	1	1	3	3	24
7. Jack Sanford	Philadelphia	3.08	19	8	.704	0	33	33	236.2	303	81	92	2	12	3	1	12	3	13
8. Larry Jackson	St. Louis	3.47	15	9	.625	1	41	22	210.1	296	81	49	8	4	4	0	5	5	26
9. Curt Simmons	Philadelphia	3.44	12	11	.522	0	32	29	212	307	81	39	11	2	2	0	4	4	20
10. Vern Law	Pittsburgh	2.87	10	8	.556	1	31	25	172.2	261	55	24	8	2	2	0	2	1	12

The Ten Best American League Pitchers, 1957
Name	Team	ERA	W	L	PCT	SV	G	GS	IP	TB	ER	BB	IB	WP	HB	BK	SB	CS	GD
1. Frank Sullivan	Boston	2.73	14	11	.560	0	35	30	242	302	86	65	1	6	3	0	1	12	12
2. Tom Sturdivant	New York	2.54	16	6	.727	0	28	28	201.2	241	57	78	2	3	4	0	5	15	19
3. Dick Donovan	Chicago	2.77	16	6	.727	0	28	28	220.2	286	68	37	8	1	8	2	13	6	24
4. Billy Pierce	Chicago	3.26	20	12	.625	2	37	34	257	338	93	62	9	3	1	1	3	6	12
5. Bobby Shantz	New York	2.45	11	5	.688	5	30	21	173	232	47	39	1	3	6	1	3	4	22
6. Connie Johnson	Baltimore	3.20	14	11	.560	0	35	30	242	302	86	65	1	6	3	0	1	12	12
7. Jim Bunning	Detroit	2.69	20	8	.714	1	45	30	267.1	353	80	67	5	4	11	2	8	9	11
8. Bob Turley	New York	2.71	13	6	.684	3	32	23	176.1	199	53	84	1	2	9	0	4	8	10
9. Billy Loes	Baltimore	3.24	12	7	.632	4	31	18	155.1	201	56	34	3	3	4	0	4	6	17
10. Ray Narleski	Cleveland	3.09	11	5	.688	16	46	15	154.1	200	53	65	6	2	4	0	3	2	9

Brown type indicates league leader.
Notes: Walks (BB) do not include intentional walks (IB). For pitchers, caught stealing (CS) also includes pickoffs.
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