16 teams competing in 2 leagues
The 1956 Major League Baseball season was played by 16 teams. The New York Yankees won the World Series, defeating the Brooklyn Dodgers. Mickey Mantle led with 52 home runs, Mickey Mantle led with 130 RBI, and Hank Aaron led with 200 hits. This page carries the 1956 standings, league leaders, postseason results, and a link to every team's season.
- W (Wins):
- Games credited to a pitcher whose team took a lead it never surrendered while he was the pitcher of record.
- L (Losses):
- Games charged to the pitcher of record when the opposing team took a lead it never surrendered.
- Win% (Winning Percentage):
- Wins divided by games decided.
- GB (Games Back):
- How far a team trailed the division or league leader.
Data updated
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American League
The 1956 season in brief
1956 belonged, by record, to the New York Yankees: 97-57. Nobody in 1956 fared worse than the Kansas City Athletics (52-102). In the standings, the National League went to the Brooklyn Dodgers by the narrowest of margins over the Milwaukee Braves, 93-61 to 92-62 and the Cleveland Indians (88-66) finished a distant second to the New York Yankees (97-57) in the American League. The New York Yankees won the World Series over the Brooklyn Dodgers, 4 games to 3. The home run board is topped by Mickey Mantle at 52, ahead of Duke Snider with 43. The qualified batting-average board starts with Mickey Mantle at .353, with Ted Williams next at .345. Mickey Mantle cleared the 480-plate-appearance line that 1956's 155 team games set. The batting tiles keep returning to Mickey Mantle, first in batting average, OPS, home runs, RBI, and runs. The ERA board, limited to qualified pitchers, starts with Whitey Ford at 2.47; Herb Score followed at 2.53. First place on the remaining pitching boards: Don Newcombe in wins (27), Herb Score in strikeouts (263), and Clem Labine in saves (19). The stolen-base tile is headed by Willie Mays with 40. For the complete tables behind these tiles, see the 1956 leaders page.
1956 MLB Season: Frequently Asked Questions
- Who won the World Series in 1956?
- The New York Yankees won the 1956 World Series, beating the Brooklyn Dodgers.
- How many teams played in 1956?
- 16 teams played in the 1956 major league season.
- Who led MLB in home runs in 1956?
- Mickey Mantle led with 52 home runs in 1956.
- Who led MLB in RBI in 1956?
- Mickey Mantle led with 130 RBI in 1956.
- Who led MLB in hits in 1956?
- Hank Aaron led with 200 hits in 1956.