World Series; became the first player to hit a home run in his first World Series at bat, while going 11-for-25 (.440) with three homers, two doubles, six runs batted in and three two-hit games for a slugging average of .880 in the seven-game Series loss to Pittsburgh. December 11 – Jim Bottomley, 59, Hall of Fame first baseman and 1928 National League MVP Award winner, who in his 11-season tenure with the St. Louis Cardinals drove in 100 or more runs six years in a row from 1924–1929, leading the league twice in RBI, doubles and fielding putouts, and once in hits, triples and home runs, while establishing Major League records for the most unassisted double plays in a season by a first baseman with eight in 1936, and for driving in 12 runs in a nine inning game in 1924, which was matched 69 years later by fellow Cardinals outfielder Mark Whiten in 1993. December 11 – Doc Marshall, 84, backup catcher who played for seven teams over parts of four seasons from 1904–1909, being a member of the 1908 Chicago Cubs club that won the National League pennant, but he did not play in the World Series. December 16 – Lee Dashner, 72, pitcher for the 1903 Cleveland Naps. December 17 – Del Young, 74, outfielder who played with the Cincinnati Reds in 1909, and for the Buffalo Blues of the outlaw Federal League from 1914 to 1915. December 24 – Bill Friel, 83, infield and outfield utility who debuted with the Milwaukee Brewers of the American League in 1901, and remained with the franchise in 1902-03 after it moved and became the St. Louis Browns. December 30 – Lew Whistler, 91, 19th century first baseman who played from 1890 through 1893 for the New York Giants, Baltimore Orioles, Louisville Colonels and St. Louis Browns. Sources External links Baseball Almanac - Major League Baseball Players Who Were Born in 1959 Baseball Almanac – Major League Baseball Players Who Died in 1959 Baseball Reference – 1959 MLB Season Summary ESPN – 1959 MLB Season History