“Let’s Remember the 1955 World Series!” Subtitle: “Never Try To Get a Baseball Fan To Think Rationally!”

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“Let’s Remember the 1955 World Series!” Subtitle: “Never Try To Get a Baseball Fan To Think Rationally!”

(Hang on Dodger fans…this one’s for you!)

Dodger fans can hold their heads high, with back-to-back appearances in the Fall Classic! But before we put the 2018 World Series completely into the rear-view mirror, here’s one final reflection:

One of my baseball friends – who shall remain anonymous to protect his reputation! – is a live-long Yankee fan. So when the 2018 World Series between the Red Sox and Dodgers rolled around, I just assumed he’d be cheering for the Dodgers. I mean, what Yankee fan in good standing would ever cheer for the Red Sox to win the World Series? To turn it around, would any Red Sox fan of sound mind ever cheer for the Yankees? I didn’t think so…

But, to my surprise, my friend – who outside of the baseball world I know to be highly intelligent – informed me in no uncertain terms that, in this World Series, he was indeed cheering for the Red Sox. When I asked him to explain this highly unusual development, he replied rather succinctly, “I still haven’t gotten over 1955…”

Huh? Now that’s holding a grudge! Sixty-three years after the Dodgers won their only World Series championship in Brooklyn, he still can’t find it within himself to forgive and forget. Not only that, but 1955 was the only time in six previous tries that the Bums came away with a victory over the Bronx Bombers. They had fallen short in 1941, ’47, ’49, ’51, ’52, and ’53. Gosh, sooner or later, it had to happen. The odds had to be with them. And then, sure enough, the Yankees set the world back into its proper order by defeating the Dodgers in the 1956 World Series. You’d think that would’ve evened the score. But no…

Of course, my mistake was asking a lifelong baseball fan to think rationally. “For crying out loud,” I said, “try being a Cub fan like me. I’ve had only one measly championship in my entire lifetime…one! The Yankee have 40 pennants, 27 World Series championships, plus 18 division titles. No one’s even close to them. All those accomplishments in their glorious history…and you’re still upset over 1955?  For the love of Babe Ruth, can’t you get over it?”  

He simply replied again, “That’s one I’ll never get over…”  

OK…As I said, there’s no rationalizing with a lifelong baseball fan, no matter how intelligent and cogent they may be outside of baseball. All you can do is just try to humor them, try your best to understand them, and then accept them for what they are: baseball fans!

Anyway, here’s my salute to a great Dodger team. They fell short in the 2018 World Series, but, with back-to-back pennants, they can hold their heads high. Let’s just hope my friend doesn’t read this (Actually he’s a great baseball fan and a great guy.  I’m betting he won’t mind a little tongue-in-cheek humor at his expense!)

The 1955 World Series

In the featured photo above, from October 4, 1955 we see Dodger pitcher Johnny Podres jumping for joy after Elston Howard grounds out to PeeWee Reese. Catcher Roy Campanella converges on the mound to celebrate the final out in Game Seven of the 1955 World Series. The Dodgers had finally beaten the Yankees and had won their first and only World Series title in Brooklyn.

The sixth try proven to be the charm for the Dodgers. They had lost to the Yankees in 1941, ’47, ”49, ’52, and ’53 plus losses in 1916 to the Red Sox and ’20 to the Indians. They became the first team since the 1921 Giants to win the World Series after losing the first two games.

The Dodgers, managed by Walter Alston, went 98-55 (.641) in 1955, while Casey Stengel’s Yankees came in at 96-58 (.623).  The “Bums” won ten consecutive games to start the season, pulled out to a 22-2 record in the first four weeks, and then cruised to the National League pennant with a 13½ game lead over the second-place Milwaukee Braves. The Yankees had missed the 1954 Fall Classic despite winning one-hundred three games.

Game One: The Yankees won  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.

Game Two: Tommy Byrne tossed a five hit complete game victory and singled in New York’s final run during the Yanks’ big four-run fourth inning, putting New York up 2–0.

Game Three: 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.

Game Four: Brooklyn evened the Series at 2–2 as Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges and Duke Snider all hit home runs.

Game Five: Duke Snider hit two home runs (four in the Series) and Sandy Amorós helped the Dodgers beat the Yankees for the third straight day.

Game Six: Whitey Ford pitched a complete game, allowing one run (on Carl Furillo‘s RBI single in the fourth) and four hits as the Yankees forced a Game Seven with a 5–1 win.

The Decisive Seventh Game

In the crucial seventh game, the Dodgers scored in the fourth when Campanella doubled and Hodges singled him home. In the sixth, Reese, Snider, and Furillo loaded the bases and Hodges’ sacrifice fly off Bob Grim brought in the second, and final run, of the game. Podres scattered eight hits and two walks, but the Yankees couldn’t score. The closest they came was Berra’s fly ball to left on which Sandy Amoros made a sensational catch – one of the most memorable plays in World Series history. The Dodgers entered the ninth with a two-run lead. Bill Skowron started the Yankees’ last at-bat by hitting one back to Podres for an easy out. Next Bob Cerv flied out to Amoros in left and Elston Howard then grounded to Pee Wee Reese who tossed to Gil Hodges to end the game. The Dodgers had finally beaten the Yankees for their first World Championship title. 

Johnny Podres was the series MVP. The TV announcers were Mel Allen and Vin Scully. It was the first World Series televised in color. The umpires were Bill Summers (AL), Lee Ballanfant (NL), Jim Honochick (AL), Frank Dascoli (NL), Red Flaherty (AL: outfield), Augie Donatelli (NL: outfield).

There were plenty of future Hall-of-Famers in the Series: Dodgers: Walt Alston, Roy Campanella, Sandy Koufax, Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Tom Lasorda. Yankees: Casey Stengel,Yogi Berra, Whitey Ford, Mickey Mantle, Phil Rizzuto.

Gary Livacari

Photo Credits: The Brooklyn Collection of Barney Stein; Others from Google Search

Information: Excerpts edited from the 1955 World Series Wikipedia page; also from the 1955 World Series page on Baseball Almanac.

Check out my two books, both now available on Amazon in e-book and paperback:  “Paul Pryor in His Own Words: The Life and TImes of a 20-Year Major League Umpire”and “Memorable World Series Moments.” All profits go to the Illinois Veterans Foundation