-
Yogi BerraHOF3x MVP
- Age: 25-34
- Years: 1950-1959
- Positions: C
- Teams: New York Yankees
Yogi Berra Hitting Stats WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS 47.2 1,396 5,214 848 1,499 222 33 256 997 20 19 531 263 .287 .356 .490 .846 -
Ted Kluszewski
- Age: 25-34
- Years: 1950-1959
- Positions: 1B
- Teams: Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh Pirates, Chicago White Sox
Ted Kluszewski Hitting Stats WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS 29.4 1,272 4,565 683 1,380 220 23 239 823 16 9 408 274 .302 .361 .518 .879 -
Nellie FoxHOFMVP
- Age: 22-31
- Years: 1950-1959
- Positions: 2B
- Teams: Chicago White Sox
Nellie Fox Hitting Stats WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS 40.6 1,512 6,115 902 1,837 254 82 27 534 68 65 487 138 .300 .360 .382 .742 -
Eddie MathewsHOF
- Age: 20-27
- Years: 1952-1959
- Positions: 3B
- Teams: Boston / Milwaukee Braves
Eddie Mathews Hitting Stats WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS 53.5 1,177 4,346 821 1,221 181 42 299 777 36 16 726 678 .281 .383 .548 .931 -
Ernie BanksHOF2x MVP
- Age: 22-28
- Years: 1953-1959
- Positions: SS
- Teams: Chicago Cubs
Ernie Banks Hitting Stats WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS 42.3 922 3,562 582 1,051 156 48 228 661 35 34 327 433 .295 .355 .558 .913 -
Ted WilliamsHOF
- Age: 31-40
- Years: 1950-1959
- Positions: OF
- Teams: Boston Red Sox
Ted Williams Hitting Stats WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS 47.5 995 3,175 660 1,068 196 15 227 729 7 3 845 292 .336 .476 .622 1.098 -
Willie MaysHOFMVPRookie of the Year
- Age: 20-28
- Years: 1951-1959
- Positions: OF
- Teams: New York / San Francisco Giants
Willie Mays Hitting Stats WAR G AB R H 2B 3B HR RBI SB CS BB SO BA OBP SLG OPS 58.7 1,065 4,074 777 1,291 204 79 250 709 179 53 505 435 .317 .91 .590 .981 -
Whitey FordHOF
- Age: 21-30
- Years: 1950-1959
- Positions: SP
- Teams: New York Yankees
Whitey Ford Pitching Stats WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP 26.6 245 208 121 50 2.66 1,561.2 94 24 8 531 461 664 915 5.3 1.258 -
Warren SpahnHOFCy Young
- Age: 29-38
- Years: 1950-1959
- Positions: SP
- Teams: Boston / Milwaukee Braves
Warren Spahn Pitching Stats WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP 57.3 389 350 202 131 2.92 2,822.2 215 33 17 1,022 915 790 1,464 4.7 1.180 -
Billy Pierce
- Age: 23-32
- Years: 1950-1959
- Positions: SP
- Teams: Chicago White Sox
Billy Pierce Pitching Stats WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP 43.7 353 306 155 121 3.06 2,383 162 33 18 898 809 840 1,487 5.6 1.237 -
Robin RobertsHOF
- Age: 23-32
- Years: 1950-1959
- Positions: SP
- Teams: Philadelphia Phillies
Robin Roberts Pitching Stats WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP 60.4 405 370 199 149 3.32 3,011.2 237 30 19 1,229 1,110 525 1,516 4.5 1.129 -
Early WynnHOFCy Young
- Age: 30-39
- Years: 1950-1959
- Positions: SP
- Teams: Cleveland Indians, Chicago White Sox
Early Wynn Pitching Stats WAR G GS W L ERA IP CG SHO SV R ER BB SO SO/9 WHIP 37.1 374 339 188 119 3.28 2,562 162 33 12 1,046 934 1,028 1,544 5.4 1.267 - Catcher – Roy Campanella
- First Base- Gil Hodges
- Second Base- Jim Gilliam
- Third Base- Al Rosen
- Shortstop- Pee Wee Reese
- Outfield – Duke Snider
- Outfield – Stan Musial
- Starting Pitcher – Johnny Antonelli
- Starting Pitcher – Bob Lemon
The 1950s was the beginning of some legendary baseball careers. Hank Aaron, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays all began their careers. Franchises were on the move as the Braves moved to Milwaukee, the St. Louis Browns moved to Baltimore and changed their nickname to the Orioles, the Philadelphia Athletics moved to Kansas City, and the biggest of all the New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers moved to San Francisco and Los Angeles respectively. The only individual statistical milestone reached was when Stan Musial joined the 3,000 hit club.
These rankings are part of The Baseball Scholar’s MLB All-Decade Teams, which evaluates the greatest players in Major League Baseball history across every position.
Catcher
First Base
Second Base
Third Base
Shortstop
Outfield
Outfield
Outfield
Starting Pitcher
Starting Pitcher
Starting Pitcher
Starting Pitcher
Honorable Mention
All underlying data used in this analysis is available in The Baseball Scholar Data Library.
Discover more from The Baseball Scholar
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Nice job on the 1950’s Best Team and Honorable Mentions.
Ted Williams and Stan Musial are on the 1940s best team. I have a slightly different opinion of Honorable mentions:
SS Harvey Kuenn
CF Richie Ashburn (with Mantle, Mays and Snider starting)
1B is not obvious. Both Hodges’ and Kluszewski’s production fell off after 1956.
C Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra
1B Stan Musial, Gil Hodges, Ted Kluzewski
2B Nellie Fox, Red Schoendienst
3B Eddie Mathews, Eddie Yost
SS Roy McMillan, Johnny Logan, Ernie Banks, Harvey Kuenn
LF Ted Williams, Del Ennis
CF Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Duke Snider, Whitey Ashburn, Gus Bell
RF Carl Furillo, Jackie Jenson
SUB Jim Gilliam, Granny Hamner
SP Warren Spahn
SP Robin Roberts
SP Early Wynn
SP Whitey Ford
SP Billy Pierce
RP Clem Labine
RP Ellis Kinder
RP Hoyt Wilhelm
RP Fritz Dorish
RP Ray Narleski
1B should be Stan Musial. It’s not even close.
Nellie Fox played 2nd not catcher
All Time 50’s Team
2B Jackie Robinson
1B Stan Musial
CF Mickey Mantle
RF Hank Aaron
LF Ted Williams
SS Ernie Banks
3B Eddie Matthews
C Yogi Berra
P Warren Spann, White Ford & Robin Roberts
Hard team to beat with that offense!! Honestly, you could put Ted Williams & Musial on the 40’s decade team also. Robinson led in WAR in 49, 51, & 52, he finished 2nd in 50 among position players, and was 4th in 53 in WAR. Mantle had the best decade of any player in the 50’s. Roy Campanella misses the last two years because of the car accident, so Berra takes it, but they were each others equal, both winning 3 MVPs in the decade (so put him in and take Nellie Foxx out who wasn’t even a catcher). Aaron plays six seasons in the decade, wins an MVP and places third place or higher in MVP votes in 4 of his 6 seasons in this decade. No DH, none is needed. For all are HoFers, therefore please take Ted Kluszewski (not a Hofer) out and put Musial at 1B.
This one fits like a puzzle, by the way they showed clips of the 55 All Star Game!! Amazing, this probably the best team offensively.
Great decade for baseball and as a kid I got to see it for real!!
Ashburn has to be mentioned as not only was he the optimal lead off hitter but, I believe, fourth all time in chances by an outfielder, behind only Ty Cobb, Willie Mays and Tris Speaker!
Ashburn had 500 or more put outs in seven seasons while it’s only been accomplished once, by two other outfielders, all time!
Finally enshrined, long overdue, he could have been enshrined for his broadcasting as well!
I recommend the book “We Played the Game,” for an interesting look at what many have called The Golden Age of Badeball!”
Your team is missing an outfielder. Shows Ted Williams and Willie Mays. You are missing Mickey Mantle during his prime and peak. A nice job overall, maybe Stan Musial at 1B.