1955 World Series
Encyclopedia
The 1955 World Series matched the Brooklyn Dodgers
against the New York Yankees
, with the Dodgers winning the Series in seven games to capture their first championship in franchise history. It would be the only Series the Dodgers won in Brooklyn (the team relocated to Los Angeles after the ). The last time the Brooklyn franchise won a World Championship was in 1900. The team was called the Brooklyn Superbas, the event was called the Chronicle-Telegraph Cup
, and the opponent was their fellow National League
Pittsburgh Pirates
.
This was the fifth time in nine years that the Yankees and the Dodgers met in World Series, with the Yankees having won in , , and .
This Series also marked the end of a long period of invulnerability for the Yankees in World Series. It was the Yankees' first loss in a World Series since and only their second since . While the Yankees were 15–2 in Series appearances during that time, they would lose again in , , , and , for a record of 4–5 in World Series over the next decade.
The Yankees took Game 1 behind two homers from Joe Collins
and one by rookie Elston Howard
in his first World Series at bat. Carl Furillo
homered for Brooklyn and Duke Snider
hit his first of the Series, all of which would eventually help establish a new HR record for a seven-game series (17). Jackie Robinson
stole home, but Whitey Ford won with relief help in the ninth from Bob Grim.
Tommy Byrne tossed a five-hit complete game victory and singled in New York's final run during the Yank's big four-run fourth inning, putting New York up 2–0.
in Brooklyn, New York
Johnny Podres
went all the way and won with home run help from Roy Campanella
. A limping Mickey Mantle
hit his only home run of the Series. As of 2011, this was the last World Series game to take place in the month of September.
in Brooklyn, New York
Brooklyn evened the Series at 2–2 as Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges and Duke Snider all hit home runs.
in Brooklyn, New York
Duke Snider hit two home runs (four in the Series) and Sandy Amoros helped the Dodgers beat the Yankees for the third straight day. Dodgers rookie Roger Craig won in his first World Series start. Bob Cerv and Yogi Berra hit Yankee homers off Craig and reliever Clem Labine.
Snider became the only player from either league with four home runs in two different Series.
Whitey Ford held the Dodgers to four hits and a single run while striking out eight as the Yankees evened the series at 3–3. New York scored all five runs in the first inning, led by Bill Skowron's three-run blast.
The Dodgers scored one run in the fourth and sixth innings on a single and sac fly, both by Gil Hodges
.
With runners on first and second and one out, left fielder
Sandy Amorós
made a dramatic game-saving catch of a deep fly ball down the left field line off the bat of Yogi Berra
in the sixth inning of Game 7, to start a double play
(as Amoros threw to Pee Wee Reese
to Gil Hodges
, who tagged Yankee Gil McDougald
before McDougald could get back to first) and stymie possibly the Yankees' best chance of the day.
Elston Howard
grounded out to Reese for the final out; the two shared the dubious record for playing in the most losing World Series (six each).
This would be the only World Series game Jackie Robinson
's team played in which he did not play during his career. Don Hoak
played third base in place of Robinson.
For the first time in Series history, an MVP was selected—Johnny Podres
(winning Games 3 and 7). He was 2–0, with two complete games and an ERA of 1.00, Game 7 was a shutout.
(N.L.) over New York Yankees
(A.L.)
1955 Brooklyn Dodgers season
In , the Brooklyn Dodgers finally fulfilled the promise of many previous Dodger teams. Although the club had won several pennants in the past, and had won as many as 105 games in 1953, it had never won a World Series. This team finished 13.5 games ahead in the National League pennant race, leading...
against the New York Yankees
1955 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 53rd season in New York, and its 55th season overall. The team finished with a record of 96-58, winning their 21st pennant, finishing 3 games ahead of the Cleveland Indians. New York was managed by Casey Stengel. The Yankees played their home games at...
, with the Dodgers winning the Series in seven games to capture their first championship in franchise history. It would be the only Series the Dodgers won in Brooklyn (the team relocated to Los Angeles after the ). The last time the Brooklyn franchise won a World Championship was in 1900. The team was called the Brooklyn Superbas, the event was called the Chronicle-Telegraph Cup
Chronicle-Telegraph Cup
The Chronicle-Telegraph Cup was the trophy awarded to the winner of a postseason competition in American professional baseball in 1900. The series, played only once, was a precursor to the current World Series....
, and the opponent was their fellow National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
Pittsburgh Pirates
Pittsburgh Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates are a Major League Baseball club based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. They play in the Central Division of the National League, and are five-time World Series Champions...
.
This was the fifth time in nine years that the Yankees and the Dodgers met in World Series, with the Yankees having won in , , and .
This Series also marked the end of a long period of invulnerability for the Yankees in World Series. It was the Yankees' first loss in a World Series since and only their second since . While the Yankees were 15–2 in Series appearances during that time, they would lose again in , , , and , for a record of 4–5 in World Series over the next decade.
Summary
Game 1
Wednesday, September 28, 1955 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkThe Yankees took Game 1 behind two homers from Joe Collins
Joe Collins
Joseph Edward Collins was an American Major League Baseball player, born in Scranton, Pennsylvania....
and one by rookie Elston Howard
Elston Howard
Elston Gene Howard was an American Negro League and Major League Baseball catcher, left fielder and coach. During a 14-year baseball career, he played from 1955–1968, primarily for the New York Yankees...
in his first World Series at bat. Carl Furillo
Carl Furillo
Carl Anthony Furillo , nicknamed "The Reading Rifle" and "Skoonj," was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
homered for Brooklyn and Duke Snider
Duke Snider
Edwin Donald "Duke" Snider , nicknamed "The Silver Fox" and "The Duke of Flatbush", was a Major League Baseball center fielder and left-handed batter who played for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers , New York Mets , and San Francisco Giants .Snider was elected to the National Baseball Hall of...
hit his first of the Series, all of which would eventually help establish a new HR record for a seven-game series (17). Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
stole home, but Whitey Ford won with relief help in the ninth from Bob Grim.
Game 2
Thursday, September 29, 1955 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkTommy Byrne tossed a five-hit complete game victory and singled in New York's final run during the Yank's big four-run fourth inning, putting New York up 2–0.
Game 3
Friday, September 30, 1955 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
Johnny Podres
Johnny Podres
John Joseph Podres was an American left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
went all the way and won with home run help from Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella , nicknamed "Campy", was an American baseball player, primarily at the position of catcher, in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball...
. A limping Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
hit his only home run of the Series. As of 2011, this was the last World Series game to take place in the month of September.
Game 4
Saturday, October 1, 1955 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
Brooklyn evened the Series at 2–2 as Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges and Duke Snider all hit home runs.
Game 5
Sunday, October 2, 1955 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
Duke Snider hit two home runs (four in the Series) and Sandy Amoros helped the Dodgers beat the Yankees for the third straight day. Dodgers rookie Roger Craig won in his first World Series start. Bob Cerv and Yogi Berra hit Yankee homers off Craig and reliever Clem Labine.
Snider became the only player from either league with four home runs in two different Series.
Game 6
Monday, October 3, 1955 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkWhitey Ford held the Dodgers to four hits and a single run while striking out eight as the Yankees evened the series at 3–3. New York scored all five runs in the first inning, led by Bill Skowron's three-run blast.
Game 7
Tuesday, October 4, 1955 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkThe Dodgers scored one run in the fourth and sixth innings on a single and sac fly, both by Gil Hodges
Gil Hodges
Gilbert Ray Hodges was an American Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played in 1943 and from 1947–63, spending most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
.
With runners on first and second and one out, left fielder
Left fielder
In baseball, a left fielder is an outfielder who plays defense in left field. Left field is the area of the outfield to the left of a person standing at home plate and facing towards the pitcher's mound...
Sandy Amorós
Sandy Amorós
Edmundo "Sandy" Amorós Isasi was a Cuban left fielder in Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers. Amorós was born in Havana. He both batted and threw left-handed...
made a dramatic game-saving catch of a deep fly ball down the left field line off the bat of Yogi Berra
Yogi Berra
Lawrence Peter "Yogi" Berra is a former American Major League Baseball catcher, outfielder, and manager. He played almost his entire 19-year baseball career for the New York Yankees...
in the sixth inning of Game 7, to start a double play
Double play
In baseball, a double play for a team or a fielder is the act of making two outs during the same continuous playing action. In baseball slang, making a double play is referred to as "turning two"....
(as Amoros threw to Pee Wee Reese
Pee Wee Reese
Harold Peter Henry "Pee Wee" Reese was an American professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball as a shortstop for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers from to . A ten-time All Star, Reese contributed to seven National League championships for the Dodgers and, was inducted...
to Gil Hodges
Gil Hodges
Gilbert Ray Hodges was an American Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played in 1943 and from 1947–63, spending most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
, who tagged Yankee Gil McDougald
Gil McDougald
Gilbert James McDougald was an American infielder who spent all ten seasons of his Major League Baseball career with the New York Yankees from 1951 to 1960. He was a member of eight American League pennant winners and five World Series Champions. He was also the AL Rookie of the Year in 1951 and...
before McDougald could get back to first) and stymie possibly the Yankees' best chance of the day.
Elston Howard
Elston Howard
Elston Gene Howard was an American Negro League and Major League Baseball catcher, left fielder and coach. During a 14-year baseball career, he played from 1955–1968, primarily for the New York Yankees...
grounded out to Reese for the final out; the two shared the dubious record for playing in the most losing World Series (six each).
This would be the only World Series game Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
's team played in which he did not play during his career. Don Hoak
Don Hoak
Donald Albert Hoak was a Major League Baseball player. Nicknamed "Tiger," Hoak was a third baseman who played ten seasons in the Majors with the Brooklyn Dodgers , Chicago Cubs , Cincinnati Reds , Pittsburgh Pirates and Philadelphia Phillies...
played third base in place of Robinson.
For the first time in Series history, an MVP was selected—Johnny Podres
Johnny Podres
John Joseph Podres was an American left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
(winning Games 3 and 7). He was 2–0, with two complete games and an ERA of 1.00, Game 7 was a shutout.
Composite box
1955 World Series (4–3): Brooklyn DodgersLos 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.) over New York Yankees
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...
(A.L.)
External links
- Kodak Presents - Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments: Brooklyn wins the World Series
- 1955 World Series: Rare, Never-Seen - slideshow by Life magazine | accessdate = }}