MLB record for most players on a team in a season?

The Game Room
1

Scott Baker, out nearly two seasons with injury, will be the starting pitcher for the Cubs today. He will become the 55th player to appear in at least one game for the Cubs this season.

In addition, the Cubs recently acquired Daniel Bard, and they have a September call-up catcher on their roster who has not yet appeared in any games. When these players make their inevitable appearances the total will rise to 57.

Will this be a record? This seems like it would be an easy thing to look up, but I am unable to find a combination of words that works in Google.

Regardless, that’s a big honking load of players. Remember the Kameron Loe era? Or the memorable Cub career of journeyman outfielder Thomas Neal, who suffered a season-ending injury in his second game? Neither does anyone else.

2

Dunno about 1998 - present but I have a book with rosters from 1901 to '97. The most I could find is the Red Sox fielding 53 players in '95.

3

Bard is a long-term reclamation project. I don’t think the Cubs would mess with his head by putting him in a meaningless game against major-leaguers, not yet anyway.

4

It looks like the 2002 Indians, 2002 Padres, and 2008 Padres are tied for first with 59, from what I can come up with.