1941 World Series
Encyclopedia
The 1941 World Series matched the New York Yankees
against the Brooklyn Dodgers
, with the Yankees winning in five games to capture their fifth title in six years, and their ninth overall.
The name "Subway Series
" arose for a World Series played between two New York City
teams. The series was punctuated by the Dodgers' Mickey Owen
's dropped third strike
of a sharply breaking curveball
(a suspected spitball
) pitched by Hugh Casey
in the ninth inning of Game 4. The play led to a Yankees rally and brought them one win away from another championship.
The Yankees were back after a one-year hiatus, having won 13 of their last 14 Series games and 28 of their last 31.
This was the first Subway Series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees, who had already faced the crosstown New York Giants five times, and the Series was now 1–0 in favor of the Bronx Bombers. These two teams would meet a total of seven times from 1941–1956 — the Dodgers' only victory coming in 1955 — with an additional four matchups after the Dodgers left for Los Angeles
, most recently in 1981.
in Brooklyn, New York
With the veteran Fitzsimmons dueling young southpaw Russo, there was no score into the top of the seventh. With two outs, Russo lined a drive off Fitz's knee that broke the kneecap. The ball caromed into Pee Wee Reese's glove for the third out, but Fitzsimmons was through. Hugh Casey
, who came out to pitch in the eighth for Brooklyn, promptly gave up four hits and two runs, and Russo hung on to win, 2–1.
in Brooklyn, New York
The Dodgers led by one run going to the top of the ninth inning but would lose the game. The Yankees' Tommy Henrich
swung and missed with two strikes (would have ended the game), but Dodger catcher Mickey Owen
failed to hold on to the ball allowing Henrich to reach first base. Owen recollected the incident:
Joe DiMaggio
followed Henrich's at bat with a single before Charlie Keller
hit a double to drive in Henrich and DiMaggio. Bill Dickey
would follow up with a walk and, along with Keller, would score on a Joe Gordon double to make the final score 7–4.
in Brooklyn, New York
The only excitement of the game occurred in the fifth inning, when Wyatt and Joe DiMaggio almost came to blows on the mound as Joe returned to the dugout after flying out. Wyatt had low-bridged DiMagggio was cutting across the infield some sharp words were exchanged. The umpires separated the men, and the game rolled forward to its—for Brooklyn—dreary conclusion.
(A.L.) over Brooklyn Dodgers
(N.L.)
New York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
against the Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, with the Yankees winning in five games to capture their fifth title in six years, and their ninth overall.
The name "Subway Series
Subway Series
The Subway Series is a series of Major League Baseball games played between teams based in New York City. The term's historic usage has been in reference to World Series games played between New York teams...
" arose for a World Series played between two New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
teams. The series was punctuated by the Dodgers' Mickey Owen
Mickey Owen
Arnold Malcolm "Mickey" Owen was a catcher for St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball. Between 1937 and 1954, Owen played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Brooklyn Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox...
's dropped third strike
Dropped third strike
In baseball, an uncaught third strike occurs when the catcher fails to cleanly catch a pitch for the third strike. A pitch is considered uncaught if the ball touches the ground before being caught, or if the ball is dropped after being grasped...
of a sharply breaking curveball
Curveball
The curveball is a type of pitch in baseball thrown with a characteristic grip and hand movement that imparts forward spin to the ball causing it to dive in a downward path as it approaches the plate. Its close relatives are the slider and the slurve. The "curve" of the ball varies from pitcher to...
(a suspected spitball
Spitball
A spitball is an illegal baseball pitch in which the ball has been altered by the application of saliva, petroleum jelly, or some other foreign substance....
) pitched by Hugh Casey
Hugh Casey
Hugh Thomas "Fireman" Casey was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Chicago Cubs , the Brooklyn Dodgers , the Pittsburgh Pirates , and the New York Yankees ....
in the ninth inning of Game 4. The play led to a Yankees rally and brought them one win away from another championship.
The Yankees were back after a one-year hiatus, having won 13 of their last 14 Series games and 28 of their last 31.
This was the first Subway Series between the Brooklyn Dodgers and New York Yankees, who had already faced the crosstown New York Giants five times, and the Series was now 1–0 in favor of the Bronx Bombers. These two teams would meet a total of seven times from 1941–1956 — the Dodgers' only victory coming in 1955 — with an additional four matchups after the Dodgers left for Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, most recently in 1981.
Summary
Game 1
Wednesday, October 1, 1941 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkGame 2
Thursday, October 2, 1941 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkGame 3
Saturday, October 4, 1941 at Ebbets FieldEbbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
in Brooklyn, New York
With the veteran Fitzsimmons dueling young southpaw Russo, there was no score into the top of the seventh. With two outs, Russo lined a drive off Fitz's knee that broke the kneecap. The ball caromed into Pee Wee Reese's glove for the third out, but Fitzsimmons was through. Hugh Casey
Hugh Casey
Hugh Thomas "Fireman" Casey was a Major League Baseball pitcher. He played for the Chicago Cubs , the Brooklyn Dodgers , the Pittsburgh Pirates , and the New York Yankees ....
, who came out to pitch in the eighth for Brooklyn, promptly gave up four hits and two runs, and Russo hung on to win, 2–1.
Game 4
Sunday, October 5, 1941 at Ebbets FieldEbbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
in Brooklyn, New York
The Dodgers led by one run going to the top of the ninth inning but would lose the game. The Yankees' Tommy Henrich
Tommy Henrich
Thomas David "Tommy" Henrich , nicknamed "The Clutch" and "Old Reliable", was a Major League Baseball right fielder. He played his entire baseball career for the New York Yankees . He led the American League in triples twice and in runs scored once, also hitting 20 or more home runs four times...
swung and missed with two strikes (would have ended the game), but Dodger catcher Mickey Owen
Mickey Owen
Arnold Malcolm "Mickey" Owen was a catcher for St. Louis Cardinals in Major League Baseball. Between 1937 and 1954, Owen played for the St. Louis Cardinals , Brooklyn Dodgers , Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox...
failed to hold on to the ball allowing Henrich to reach first base. Owen recollected the incident:
Joe DiMaggio
Joe DiMaggio
Joseph Paul "Joe" DiMaggio , nicknamed "Joltin' Joe" and "The Yankee Clipper," was an American Major League Baseball center fielder who played his entire 13-year career for the New York Yankees. He is perhaps best known for his 56-game hitting streak , a record that still stands...
followed Henrich's at bat with a single before Charlie Keller
Charlie Keller
Charles Ernest "Charlie" Keller was a left fielder in Major League Baseball. From 1939 through 1952, Keller played for the New York Yankees and Detroit Tigers...
hit a double to drive in Henrich and DiMaggio. Bill Dickey
Bill Dickey
William Malcolm Dickey was a Major League Baseball catcher and manager.He played his entire 19-year baseball career with the New York Yankees . During Dickey's playing career, the Yankees went to the World Series nine times, winning eight championships...
would follow up with a walk and, along with Keller, would score on a Joe Gordon double to make the final score 7–4.
Game 5
Monday, October 6, 1941 at Ebbets FieldEbbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
in Brooklyn, New York
The only excitement of the game occurred in the fifth inning, when Wyatt and Joe DiMaggio almost came to blows on the mound as Joe returned to the dugout after flying out. Wyatt had low-bridged DiMagggio was cutting across the infield some sharp words were exchanged. The umpires separated the men, and the game rolled forward to its—for Brooklyn—dreary conclusion.
Composite box
1941 World Series (4–1): New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(A.L.) over Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(N.L.)