Manager Jimmy Dykes Overestimated 1954 Orioles

Orioles manager Jimmy Dykes

As Baltimore awaited the arrival of the hapless St. Louis Browns franchise in November 1953, newly named Orioles general manager Arthur Ehlers fired Browns manager Marty Marion and replaced him with former Philadelphia Athletics manager Jimmy Dykes.

Dykes, 57, had managed in the major leagues for 14 years, and had played 22 years, mostly as a third baseman with the Philadelphia A’s.  He was part of Connie Mack’s powerful teams in 1929-1931, appearing in three World Series.

Ehlers fired Marion after meeting with him and declaring that the skipper “showed little optimism about the prospect of the club improving in the new environment.”

Ehlers, who had worked with Dykes in Philadelphia, said he liked Dykes’ “energy and hustle.”

Dykes signed a one-year contract with Baltimore for an estimated $25,000.

The Baltimore Evening Sun described Dykes as “an outspoken, umpire-baiting, cigar-smoking, diamond veteran and one of the most colorful figures in American League history.”

Dykes wasn’t fazed by taking over a team that went 54-100 in 1953 and finished 46.5 games behind the New York Yankees.

He said, “A number of players have more natural ability than they showed in St. Louis. They played under discouraging conditions and there was a letdown they couldn’t help.  In Baltimore, there will be great incentive for all of us to buckle down to work hard and give it all we have. The enthusiasm of the fans and the encouragement they will give the team is bound to have an effect on the entire club.”

The Orioles hoped for a rejuvenation similar to the one the Braves experienced when they moved from Boston to Milwaukee in 1953.  The Braves jumped from 68 wins to 92 wins, moving from seventh place to second place.  The club also topped the league in attendance, surpassing the one million mark compared to 281,000 the previous year.

Shortly after the Orioles opened spring training in Yuma, Arizona, Dykes said, “We are not aiming for the moon this year. If we can pull out of the cellar and land in fifth or sixth spot, we’ll have a start toward where we want to go.”

The veteran manager predicted to The Sporting News that the Orioles would win 20-30 games more than the old Browns. Realistically, however, he knew his club’s pitching was shaky, but he expected youngsters Bob Turley (2-6) and Don Larsen (7-12) to win 12-15 games each.  He hoped Dick Littlefield (7-12) and Duane Pillette (7-13) would improve in the new environment.  Plus, pitching coach Harry Brecheen was looking for surprises.

Baltimore got off to a 3-0 start in the Grapefruit League with what the Associated Press described as “17 players left over from the hapless Browns; a flock of minor league hopefuls and some rehabilitation cases obtained from the Philadelphia A’s.”

Dykes crowed: “The experts who are picking up for last place will be fooled.”

Hagerstown Daily Mail columnist Dick Kelly wasn’t sold on the team’s possible turnaround.  On March 23, he wrote, “This outfit may mark a new era in baseball history, but it isn’t going to add to Baltimore’s rich heritage of famous teams and players.”

As Opening Day approached, Dykes told the Associated Press, “The erstwhile Browns will offer Baltimore fans a sound club with good power and adequate catching. Our infield may be the best defensively in the league. I’m counting on it to aid and abet the pitching staff, and I don’t think the team will be lacking in power.”

The Orioles opened the 1954 season in Detroit, splitting a pair of games with the Tigers.  Opening Day at Memorial Stadium on April 15 featured a lineup of Bobby Young (2B), Eddie Waitkus (1B), Gil Coan (CF), Vic Wertz (RF), Sam Mele (LF), Vern Stephens (3B), Billy Hunter (SS), Clint Courtney (C) and Bob Turley on the mound.

Before a festive crowd of 46,354, the 23-year-old Turley stopped the Chicago White Sox, 3-1. He surrendered seven hits, five walks and struck out nine in a complete game performance.

By early May, the Orioles were 5-9, but Dykes said, “Don’t confuse the Orioles with anything which resembled the Browns. Our team is very much alive and confident that we can justify the tremendous faith shown by the people of Baltimore.”

After Opening Day, New York Herald columnist Red Smith wrote, “Perhaps by mid-May, the Orioles will have worn out their disguise and reverted to type as retreaded Browns.”  He wasn’t far off.

On May 28, the Orioles dropped a doubleheader to the Chicago White Sox, 11-6 and 14-8.  The Birds left 29 men on base and stretched their losing streak to 9 games as their record fell to 12-24.  The hometown crowd booed them for the first time.  It appeared the honeymoon was over.

On June 6, Baltimore was 16-30 and in last place.  Dykes moaned, “Our hitting is just anemic. That’s the trouble with us. No mistake about it.  We have scored fewer runs than any club in either league and it’s not even close.”

The Orioles were averaging just three runs a game and had lost 10 games by one run.  Slugger Vic Wertz, frustrated by his long line drives being caught in cavernous Memorial Stadium, had been traded to Cleveland for pitcher Bob Chakales on June 1.

The highlight of the Orioles season was a five-game winning streak from June 23-27.  But the team quickly reverted to its losing ways.  The club suffered through a 14-game losing streak from Aug. 11-25, falling to 39-86 and 50.5 games behind the Cleveland Indians.

Orioles President Clarence Miles announced that general manager Arthur Ehlers and manager Jimmy Dykes would be released after the season.  The New York Daily News wrote, “The glamour of the change from St. Louis to Baltimore paid off (attendance-wise), but on the ball field nothing is different except for the uniforms and a few new faces.”

Ironically, the Orioles posted their only winning month of the season after the announcement, going 11-10 in September.  On Sept. 12, Paul Richards, manager of the Chicago White Sox, accepted the role of general manager and manager of the Orioles for the upcoming season.

Baltimore finished the 1954 season with a 54-100 won-loss record (identical to the 1953 Browns) and 57 games behind the Cleveland Indians.  Only the Philadelphia A’s (51-103) had a worse record. The Orioles were winners at the box office, however, as attendance topped one million, compared to the Browns’ 297,200 in 1953.

The offensive struggles were evident as Vern Stephens led the team in RBI with 46 and home runs with eight. The team clouted just 52 homers and scored a measly, major league-low 483 runs.

On the mound, Bob Turley (14-15), Joe Coleman Sr. (13-17) and Duane Pillett (10-14) posted double-digit wins. Turley led the AL in walks (181) and strikeouts (185). Don Larsen was saddled with a 3-21 mark. The club’s 3.88 ERA was seventh in the league.

Although Jimmy Dykes overestimated the talent on the 1954 Orioles and failed to make them a winner, most observers agreed that he had an unenviable job.