The
1955 World Series matched the
Brooklyn DodgersIn , 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 YankeesThe 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 CupThe 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 LeagueThe 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 PiratesThe 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 York
The Yankees took Game 1 behind two homers from
Joe CollinsJoseph Edward Collins was an American Major League Baseball player, born in Scranton, Pennsylvania....
and one by rookie
Elston HowardElston 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 FurilloCarl 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 SniderEdwin 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 RobinsonJack 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 York
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.
Game 3
Friday, September 30, 1955 at
Ebbets FieldEbbets 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 PodresJohn 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 CampanellaRoy 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 MantleMickey 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 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 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 York
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.
Game 7
Tuesday, October 4, 1955 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New York
The Dodgers scored one run in the fourth and sixth innings on a single and sac fly, both by
Gil HodgesGilbert 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 fielderIn 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 AmorósEdmundo "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 BerraLawrence 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 playIn 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 ReeseHarold 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 HodgesGilbert 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 McDougaldGilbert 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 HowardElston 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 RobinsonJack 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 HoakDonald 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 PodresJohn 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 DodgersThe 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 YankeesThe 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.)
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