Polo Grounds, Manhattan, NY, September 29, 1954 – The Indians Dave Pope is seen here leaping for the Giants pinch-hitter Dusty Rhodes home run in game one of the 1954 World Series. Rhodes three-run blast off the Indians ace Bob Lemon in the 10th inning gave the Giants a stunning first game win over the heavily favored Cleveland squad, who came into the series with an impressive 111-43 win-loss record. The 111 regular season wins was an AL record at the time.
The Indians had jumped to an early 2-0 lead in the first inning on a Vic Wertz triple scoring Al Smith and Bobby Avila. But the Giants would tie the game up at 2-2 in the third inning and both teams would hold court until Rhodes heroics in the extra innings that gave New York a 5-2 victory. The Giants would build off the win and pull off an unlikely sweep to win their first World Series title since 1933.
