The Yankees and Orioles Complete Baseball's Largest Trade

On December 1, 1954, the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles finalized a trade involving 17 players, the largest deal in major league history. The swap had begun on November 18, when the clubs agreed to exchange their first batch of players, and it required nearly three weeks to sort out the full roster of names heading in each direction.

Baltimore sent pitchers Bob Turley and Don Larsen, shortstop Billy Hunter, and four additional players to the Yankees. New York shipped outfielder Gene Woodling, pitchers Harry Byrd and Jim McDonald, shortstop Willie Miranda, minor league catchers Gus Triandos and Hal Smith, and three other players to Baltimore. The final pieces were not confirmed until after the December major league draft, when the last "players to be named later" were identified.

The Yankees needed younger arms. Their rotation had aged badly, with Allie Reynolds, Eddie Lopat, and Johnny Sain all nearing the end. Turley, who led the American League in strikeouts and walks in 1954, brought a power arm that the Yankees lacked. Larsen had gone 3-21 with a dreadful 1954 Orioles club, but the Yankees saw raw ability underneath the losses.

Baltimore, in its first year after relocating from St. Louis, needed everyday players and depth across the roster. Woodling was a proven outfielder with World Series experience. Triandos developed into a solid catcher and made three All-Star teams with the Orioles.

The Yankees got the better end of the deal by a wide margin. Turley won the 1958 Cy Young Award after going 21-7 and anchored the rotation for four consecutive pennant-winning teams. Larsen partnered with Yogi Berra on October 8, 1956, to throw the only perfect game in World Series history. The December 1 trade delivered two of the most memorable pitching performances of the 1950s.