1947 World Series
Encyclopedia
The 1947 World Series matched the New York Yankees
against the Brooklyn Dodgers
, with the Yankees winning the Series in seven games for their first title since , and the eleventh championship in team history. Yankees manager Bucky Harris
won the Series for the first time since managing the Washington Senators
to their only title in .
This was the first World Series involving an African-American player, as Jackie Robinson
had racially integrated Major League Baseball at the beginning of the 1947 season. It was also the first Series to be shown on television
although coverage was limited to New York City, Philadelphia, Schenectady NY, and Washington DC (and surrounding environs) as coaxial inter-connected stations, where October 1947 Billboard reported over 3.9 million viewing the games, but primarily on TV sets located in bars (5,400 tavern TV sets in NYC alone). The October 13, 1947 Time magazine reported that President Truman, who had just made the first Oval Office TV appearance on October 5, 1947 and had then been given the first TV for the White House, watched parts of the Series but "skipped the last innings".
At the direction of Commissioner Happy Chandler
, six umpires were used in the Series for the first time. In Series from 1918 through 1946, four umpires were used in the infield, with two alternates available for emergencies; however, no alternate had ever been needed, and Chandler believed they would be better used to make calls along the outfield lines. However, not until 1964 would the additional two umpires rotate into the infield during the course of the Series.
In Game 4, "The Cookie Game", Yankee pitcher Bill Bevens
was one out away from pitching a no-hitter
, when Brooklyn's Cookie Lavagetto
lined a base hit in the ninth inning, bringing home two runs for a miraculous 3–2 victory for the Dodgers.
This World Series was the last major-league appearance for Bevens, Lavagetto, and Al Gionfriddo
(q. v.).
in Brooklyn, New York
in Brooklyn, New York
. The Yankees entered the game leading the series two games to one and looking to take one step closer to the Series title. Bill Bevens
, the Yankee starter, had pitched innings of a no-hitter
, a feat never before accomplished in a World Series game, and his team was ahead 2–1. Bevens got Bruce Edwards
to fly out, and then walked Carl Furillo
. Spider Jorgensen fouled out. Al Gionfriddo
pinch-ran for Furillo. Pete Reiser
was pinch-batting for pitcher Hugh Casey
when Gionfriddo stole second base. Reiser was then intentionally walked. This was criticized in hindsight for two reasons. One was the old axiom of never intentionally putting the winning run on base. The other is that Reiser was playing injured, and the odds of getting him out seemed reasonable. In any case, Eddie Miksis
pinch-ran for Reiser. Eddie Stanky
was due up, but Cookie Lavagetto
was sent up to pinch-hit. On a 1–0 fastball
, Lavagetto lined to right field. The ball ricocheted off of the right field barrier with a peculiar bounce and hit Yankee right fielder Tommy Henrich
in the shoulder, as Gionfriddo and Miksis raced around to score. The play ended the no-hitter and won the game for the Dodgers.
Red Barber
, the Dodgers radio announcer made the call. Prior to the play call, he commented on the fact that Stanky had broken up Ewell Blackwell
's attempt at a second consecutive no-hitter, on June 22 of that season. In the background noise during that comment, the P.A. announcer can be heard saying that Miksis is running for Reiser:
Although the hit prevented the Dodgers from being down three games to one and may have provided a momentum swing, the Yankees went on to triumph in the series by winning the deciding seventh game. The hit proved to be the last of Cookie's career.
in Brooklyn, New York
The Dodgers won Game 6 to force a seventh and deciding game. The game is probably best remembered for a catch that has been replayed countless times.
In the top of the sixth, the Dodgers had scored four runs to take an 8–5 lead. In the last of the sixth, Al Gionfriddo
was sent to left field as a defensive replacement for Eddie Miksis
, and Joe Hatten
came in to pitch. With two on and two outs, Joe DiMaggio
came to bat representing the potential tying run. The voice of broadcaster Red Barber
often accompanies the film footage of this play:
This may have been a re-creation, but it was done with gusto by Barber, and his "back-back-back" expression has been copied by many announcers, especially Chris Berman of ESPN
. It is worth pointing out that most announcers tend to describe the ball itself as going "back-back-back", whereas in Barber's call it was the outfielder who was going "back-back-back".
The ball was hit so hard and deep that Gionfriddo, already playing deep, did not have time to turn around, literally having to "back-back-back"-pedal to snare the ball just in front of the bullpen-alley fence, near the 415 feet (126.5 m) marker posted to the center field side of the bullpen alley (the sign on the left field side of the alley was posted as 402). It is also worth noting that had DiMaggio hit the ball in Ebbets Field
, whose left-center area was some 50 feet (15.2 m) closer, it might have landed in the upper deck and certainly would have been a game-tying homer.
The final segment of that clip usually shows the normally cool-and-calm DiMaggio kicking dirt around second base in frustration.
It has often been pointed out that three of the 1947 Series' prominent figures, Gionfriddo, Lavagetto and Bevens, finished their playing careers in this Series. Gionfriddo, in fact, did not play in Game 7, and his famous catch of DiMaggio's drive was his only put-out in this game. So Gionfriddo's famous catch was his final put-out in his major league career.
(A.L.) over Brooklyn Dodgers
(N.L.)
Yogi Berra
pinch-hit for Sherm Lollar
in the seventh inning of Game 3 and hit the first ever World Series pinch-hit home run off Ralph Branca
.
1947 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 45th season in New York, and its 47th season overall. The team finished with a record of 97-57, winning their 15th pennant, finishing 12 games ahead of the Detroit Tigers. New York was managed by Bucky Harris. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee...
against the Brooklyn Dodgers
1947 Brooklyn Dodgers season
On April 15, Jackie Robinson was the opening day first baseman for the Brooklyn Dodgers, becoming the first black player in Major League Baseball since . Robinson went on to bat .297, score 125 runs, steal 29 bases and be named the very first Rookie of the Year...
, with the Yankees winning the Series in seven games for their first title since , and the eleventh championship in team history. Yankees manager Bucky Harris
Bucky Harris
Stanley Raymond "Bucky" Harris was a Major League Baseball player, manager and executive. In 1975, the Veterans Committee elected Harris, as a manager, to the Baseball Hall of Fame.-Biography:...
won the Series for the first time since managing the Washington Senators
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are a professional baseball team based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They play in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. The team is named after the Twin Cities area of Minneapolis and St. Paul. They played in Metropolitan Stadium from 1961 to 1981 and the...
to their only title in .
This was the first World Series involving an African-American player, as 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...
had racially integrated Major League Baseball at the beginning of the 1947 season. It was also the first Series to be shown on television
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
although coverage was limited to New York City, Philadelphia, Schenectady NY, and Washington DC (and surrounding environs) as coaxial inter-connected stations, where October 1947 Billboard reported over 3.9 million viewing the games, but primarily on TV sets located in bars (5,400 tavern TV sets in NYC alone). The October 13, 1947 Time magazine reported that President Truman, who had just made the first Oval Office TV appearance on October 5, 1947 and had then been given the first TV for the White House, watched parts of the Series but "skipped the last innings".
At the direction of Commissioner Happy Chandler
Happy Chandler
Albert Benjamin "Happy" Chandler, Sr. was a politician from the US state of Kentucky. He represented the state in the U.S. Senate and served as its 44th and 49th governor. Aside from his political positions, he also served as the second Commissioner of Major League Baseball from 1945 to 1951 and...
, six umpires were used in the Series for the first time. In Series from 1918 through 1946, four umpires were used in the infield, with two alternates available for emergencies; however, no alternate had ever been needed, and Chandler believed they would be better used to make calls along the outfield lines. However, not until 1964 would the additional two umpires rotate into the infield during the course of the Series.
In Game 4, "The Cookie Game", Yankee pitcher Bill Bevens
Bill Bevens
Floyd Clifford "Bill" Bevens was a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He stood 6' 3" and weighed 210 lb. Bevens was signed by the New York Yankees at the age of 20 in , and spent seven seasons in the minor leagues, where he threw two no-hitters for the Wenatchee Chiefs...
was one out away from pitching a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
, when Brooklyn's Cookie Lavagetto
Cookie Lavagetto
Harry Arthur "Cookie" Lavagetto was a third baseman, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball. He is most widely known as the pinch hitter whose double ruined Bill Bevens' no-hitter in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series and gave his Brooklyn Dodgers a breathtaking victory over the New...
lined a base hit in the ninth inning, bringing home two runs for a miraculous 3–2 victory for the Dodgers.
This World Series was the last major-league appearance for Bevens, Lavagetto, and Al Gionfriddo
Al Gionfriddo
Albert Francis "Al" Gionfriddo was a slightly built 5' 6" and 165 lb. professional baseball outfielder who batted and threw left-handed. He made his major league debut on September 23, at the age of 22 with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
(q. v.).
Summary
Game 1
Tuesday, September 30, 1947 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkGame 2
Wednesday, October 1, 1947 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkGame 3
Thursday, October 2, 1947 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
Game 4
Friday, October 3, 1947 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
Baseball lore: The Cookie Game
Game 4 of the 1947 World Series has become known as The Cookie Game due to a ninth inning, game-winning hit by Cookie LavagettoCookie Lavagetto
Harry Arthur "Cookie" Lavagetto was a third baseman, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball. He is most widely known as the pinch hitter whose double ruined Bill Bevens' no-hitter in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series and gave his Brooklyn Dodgers a breathtaking victory over the New...
. The Yankees entered the game leading the series two games to one and looking to take one step closer to the Series title. Bill Bevens
Bill Bevens
Floyd Clifford "Bill" Bevens was a former right-handed Major League Baseball pitcher. He stood 6' 3" and weighed 210 lb. Bevens was signed by the New York Yankees at the age of 20 in , and spent seven seasons in the minor leagues, where he threw two no-hitters for the Wenatchee Chiefs...
, the Yankee starter, had pitched innings of a no-hitter
No-hitter
A no-hitter is a baseball game in which one team has no hits. In Major League Baseball, the team must be without hits during the entire game, and the game must be at least nine innings. A pitcher who prevents the opposing team from achieving a hit is said to have "thrown a no-hitter"...
, a feat never before accomplished in a World Series game, and his team was ahead 2–1. Bevens got Bruce Edwards
Bruce Edwards (baseball)
Charles Bruce Edwards was an American professional baseball player. He played for ten seasons as a catcher in Major League Baseball from to and from to , most notably for the Brooklyn Dodgers.- Baseball career:...
to fly out, and then walked 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...
. Spider Jorgensen fouled out. Al Gionfriddo
Al Gionfriddo
Albert Francis "Al" Gionfriddo was a slightly built 5' 6" and 165 lb. professional baseball outfielder who batted and threw left-handed. He made his major league debut on September 23, at the age of 22 with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
pinch-ran for Furillo. Pete Reiser
Pete Reiser
Harold Patrick "Pete" Reiser , nicknamed "Pistol Pete," was an outfielder in Major League Baseball during the 1940s and early 1950s. He played primarily for the Brooklyn Dodgers, and later for the Boston Braves, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cleveland Indians.-Early career:A native of St...
was pinch-batting for pitcher 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 ....
when Gionfriddo stole second base. Reiser was then intentionally walked. This was criticized in hindsight for two reasons. One was the old axiom of never intentionally putting the winning run on base. The other is that Reiser was playing injured, and the odds of getting him out seemed reasonable. In any case, Eddie Miksis
Eddie Miksis
Edward Thomas Miksis was an American Major League Baseball player. Born in Burlington, New Jersey, he stood 6' 0" and weighed 185 lbs...
pinch-ran for Reiser. Eddie Stanky
Eddie Stanky
Edward Raymond Stanky , nicknamed "The Brat", was an American second baseman and manager in Major League Baseball. He played for the Chicago Cubs , Brooklyn Dodgers , Boston Braves , New York Giants , and St. Louis Cardinals...
was due up, but Cookie Lavagetto
Cookie Lavagetto
Harry Arthur "Cookie" Lavagetto was a third baseman, manager and coach in American Major League Baseball. He is most widely known as the pinch hitter whose double ruined Bill Bevens' no-hitter in Game 4 of the 1947 World Series and gave his Brooklyn Dodgers a breathtaking victory over the New...
was sent up to pinch-hit. On a 1–0 fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
, Lavagetto lined to right field. The ball ricocheted off of the right field barrier with a peculiar bounce and hit Yankee right fielder 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...
in the shoulder, as Gionfriddo and Miksis raced around to score. The play ended the no-hitter and won the game for the Dodgers.
Red Barber
Red Barber
Walter Lanier "Red" Barber was an American sportscaster.Barber, nicknamed "The Ol' Redhead", was primarily identified with radio broadcasts of Major League Baseball, calling play-by-play across four decades with the Cincinnati Reds , Brooklyn Dodgers , and New York Yankees...
, the Dodgers radio announcer made the call. Prior to the play call, he commented on the fact that Stanky had broken up Ewell Blackwell
Ewell Blackwell
Ewell Blackwell was a right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball. Nicknamed "The Whip" for his sidearm, snap-delivery, Blackwell played for the Cincinnati Reds for most of his career ....
's attempt at a second consecutive no-hitter, on June 22 of that season. In the background noise during that comment, the P.A. announcer can be heard saying that Miksis is running for Reiser:
Although the hit prevented the Dodgers from being down three games to one and may have provided a momentum swing, the Yankees went on to triumph in the series by winning the deciding seventh game. The hit proved to be the last of Cookie's career.
Game 5
Saturday, October 4, 1947 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
Game 6
Sunday, October 5, 1947 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkThe Dodgers won Game 6 to force a seventh and deciding game. The game is probably best remembered for a catch that has been replayed countless times.
In the top of the sixth, the Dodgers had scored four runs to take an 8–5 lead. In the last of the sixth, Al Gionfriddo
Al Gionfriddo
Albert Francis "Al" Gionfriddo was a slightly built 5' 6" and 165 lb. professional baseball outfielder who batted and threw left-handed. He made his major league debut on September 23, at the age of 22 with the Pittsburgh Pirates...
was sent to left field as a defensive replacement for Eddie Miksis
Eddie Miksis
Edward Thomas Miksis was an American Major League Baseball player. Born in Burlington, New Jersey, he stood 6' 0" and weighed 185 lbs...
, and Joe Hatten
Joe Hatten
Joseph Hilarian Hatten was a Major League Baseball pitcher.Hatten started in pro ball with Crookston in the old Northern League in 1937. Acquired by the Montreal Royals from the Minneapolis Millers of the American Association in the 1941-42 off-season, Hatten pitched for the Royals briefly in 1942...
came in to pitch. With two on and two outs, 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...
came to bat representing the potential tying run. The voice of broadcaster Red Barber
Red Barber
Walter Lanier "Red" Barber was an American sportscaster.Barber, nicknamed "The Ol' Redhead", was primarily identified with radio broadcasts of Major League Baseball, calling play-by-play across four decades with the Cincinnati Reds , Brooklyn Dodgers , and New York Yankees...
often accompanies the film footage of this play:
This may have been a re-creation, but it was done with gusto by Barber, and his "back-back-back" expression has been copied by many announcers, especially Chris Berman of ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
. It is worth pointing out that most announcers tend to describe the ball itself as going "back-back-back", whereas in Barber's call it was the outfielder who was going "back-back-back".
The ball was hit so hard and deep that Gionfriddo, already playing deep, did not have time to turn around, literally having to "back-back-back"-pedal to snare the ball just in front of the bullpen-alley fence, near the 415 feet (126.5 m) marker posted to the center field side of the bullpen alley (the sign on the left field side of the alley was posted as 402). It is also worth noting that had DiMaggio hit the ball in Ebbets Field
Ebbets 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...
, whose left-center area was some 50 feet (15.2 m) closer, it might have landed in the upper deck and certainly would have been a game-tying homer.
The final segment of that clip usually shows the normally cool-and-calm DiMaggio kicking dirt around second base in frustration.
It has often been pointed out that three of the 1947 Series' prominent figures, Gionfriddo, Lavagetto and Bevens, finished their playing careers in this Series. Gionfriddo, in fact, did not play in Game 7, and his famous catch of DiMaggio's drive was his only put-out in this game. So Gionfriddo's famous catch was his final put-out in his major league career.
Game 7
Monday, October 6, 1947 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkComposite box
1947 World Series (4–3): 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.)
Records and important events
This was the first World Series to produce total receipts over $2,000,000 dollars: Gate Receipts = $1,781,348.92, Radio Rights = $175,000.00 and Television Rights = $65,000.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...
pinch-hit for Sherm Lollar
Sherm Lollar
John Sherman Lollar was an American professional baseball player and coach. He played as a catcher in Major League Baseball for the Cleveland Indians , New York Yankees , St. Louis Browns , and the Chicago White Sox...
in the seventh inning of Game 3 and hit the first ever World Series pinch-hit home run off Ralph Branca
Ralph Branca
Ralph Theodore Joseph Branca is a former starting pitcher in Major League Baseball.From 1944 through 1956, Branca played for the Brooklyn Dodgers , Detroit Tigers , and New York Yankees...
.
External links
- Baseball's 25 Greatest Moments: Cookie Lavagetto beats Bill Bevens
- Audio: Bill Bevens describes his lost no-hit bid
- Audio: Al Gionfriddo's Catch of DiMaggio's Blast
- Bill Bevens No-Hit Bid in '47 World Series
- Audio: Cookie Lavagetto breaks up Bill Bevens' No-Hit Bid in 1947 World Series
- Gionfriddo Recalls His Famous Catch in Baseball Digest, February 1973