For the third time in four years, Brooklyn and the Bronx went head-to-head in what was becoming as common an occurrence in the "Big Apple" as traffic. Whether the perennial champion Yankees, or their long-time rivals the Dodgers and Giants, the World Series (otherwise known as the "Big Show") was becoming a New York institution and some writers joked that it should be given a permanent place on Broadway. The "Subway Series" as it was christened, was always a fan favorite and the '55 Series promised more competition than the previous meetings had. Of the Dodgers' seven World Series setbacks, the last five had come at the hands of the Yankees. However, this year, the "Bums from Brooklyn" won ten consecutive games to start the season, managed a 22-2 record in the first four weeks and cruised to the National League pennant with a 13½ game lead over the second-place Milwaukee Braves. The Yankees had missed the previous year's Classic (despite winning one-hundred three games) and were replaced by the Cleveland Indians. This season, they were back in top form and ready to add to their ever-growing collection of championships.
Don Newcombe, a twenty-game winner during the regular season, was called in for the Dodger start for Game 1. Despite a strong effort, the Yankees sluggers maintained the Brooklyn aces' winless Series streak as Joe Collins belted two home runs and rookie sensation Elston Howard (the first black Yankee) added a third. The Dodgers went down 6-5 and little would change the following day as Tommy Byrne, a thirty-five year-old lefthander, held the Dodgers to only five hits and posted a 4-2, Game 2, winner. Just as the Brooklyn faithful were on the verge of giving up hope, an unlikely hero named Johnny Podres took the mound. Podres had struggled to a 9-10 record for Brooklyn and was set to go up against the Yanks' seventeen-game winner, Bob Turley. A better script could not have been written for the occasion as the young man (on his twenty-third birthday) lit up Ebbets Field with a clutch, 8-3 triumph that put his teammates back in the hunt.
The Dodgers' renewed momentum continued in Game 4 as Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges and Duke Snider all added homers for another 8-5 victory that tied the Series up at two games apiece. Brooklyn's train "kept a rolling" in Game 5 when rookie pitcher Roger Craig worked six-plus innings for a 5-3 decision that put the Dodgers ahead for the first time in the contest. Many fans had started to take notice and some predicted that this was the beginning of the end for the Yankees dynasty. However, as history could have predicted, the Yankees showed why they had more banners than anyone and nailed starter Karl Spooner and relievers Russ Meyer and Ed Roebuck for a 5-1, Game 6 win that was complimented by a supreme, four-hit effort by Whitey Ford.
Dodgers' manager Walter Alston opted for Game 3 hero, Johnny Podres to close the deal in Game 7 while Yankees skipper Casey Stengel selected Game 2 winner Tommy Byrne. Both pitchers went head-to-head, holding each other scoreless for four innings, until Campanella doubled and scored on a single by Gil Hodges. The Dodgers continued to pick up the pace in the sixth as Pee Wee Reese added a clean single and Snider, attempting to sacrifice, reached base safely when he brushed the ball from Bill Skowron's glove while running down the line. Campanella came through a second time with a perfect bunt moving Brooklyn's base-runners to second and third. In an effort to prevent further damage the Yanks opted to intentionally walk Carl Furillo as Bob Grim came in as relief. Hodges fell victim to the fresh arm and lofted a sacrifice fly. A walk to Don Hoak reloaded the bases, but Grim and the Yankees escaped when George Shuba, batting for Don Zimmer, grounded out. Nevertheless, the Dodger's lead had grown to 2-0. In the bottom of the sixth, Jim Gilliam moved from leftfield to second, and reserve Sandy Amoros replaced Gilliam in left. As the Bombers came to bat, Billy Martin drew a leadoff walk and Gil McDougald followed with a bunt single. Yogi Berra sliced a long drive just inside the foul pole in left field but Sandy Amoros charged the line and made a spectacular glove-hand catch. The winded outfielder followed with a picture perfect relay to Reese - who went to Hodges - who caught McDougald at 1st. The double-play was undoubtedly the most crucial of the entire Series as it prevented the Yankees from tying up the contest and having a runner in scoring position with no one out.
Despite surrendering eight hits and two walks, Podres managed to hold "the Pinstripes" at bay and entered the ninth with a two-run lead. Skowron started the Yankees' last at-bat by putting back to Podres for the easy out. Next Bob Cerv flied out to Amoros in left and Elston Howard grounded to shortstop Pee Wee Reese who made the schoolboy toss to Hodges to end the game. And then it was over, the Dodgers had finally beaten the Yankees for their first World Championship title. The "Bums from Brooklyn" would win another National League pennant the following year, but their days were numbered and they would play only two more seasons in the "Big Apple" before moving to sunny California.
"Please don't interrupt, because you haven't heard this one before. Brooklyn Dodgers, champions of the baseball world. Honest." - Povich, Shirley. Washington Post. 5 October 1955.
1955 World Series1955 World Series Commemorative Pin ← 1954 | Brooklyn Dodgers (4) vs New York Yankees (3) | 1956 → |
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1955 World Series Fast Facts | |||
Game 1 | Date | Box Score | 09-28-1955 | |
Location | Yankee Stadium | ||
1st Pitch | From: | Robert F. Wagner II (Mayor of NYC, 1954-65) | |
To: | Yogi Berra | ||
Attendance | 63,869 | ||
National Anthem | Lucy Monroe (Yankees National Anthem Singer) | ||
Game 2 | Date | Box Score | 09-29-1955 | |
Location | Yankee Stadium | ||
Attendance | 64,707 | ||
National Anthem | Lucy Monroe (Yankees National Anthem Singer) | ||
Game 3 | Date | Box Score | 09-30-1955 | |
Location | Ebbets Field | ||
1st Pitch | From: | W. Averell Harriman (Governor of NY, 1955-58) | |
To: | Not Yet Determined (--) | ||
Attendance | 34,209 | ||
Game 4 | Date | Box Score | 10-01-1955 | |
Location | Ebbets Field | ||
Attendance | 36,242 | ||
Game 5 | Date | Box Score | 10-02-1955 | |
Location | Ebbets Field | ||
Attendance | 36,796 | ||
Game 6 | Date | Box Score | 10-03-1955 | |
Location | Yankee Stadium | ||
Attendance | 64,022 | ||
National Anthem | Lucy Monroe (Yankees National Anthem Singer) | ||
Game 7 | Date | Box Score | 10-04-1955 | |
Location | Yankee Stadium | ||
Attendance | 62,465 | ||
National Anthem | Lucy Monroe (Yankees National Anthem Singer) | ||
1955 World Series | |||
1955 World Series History | Research by Baseball Almanac |
Game 1 of the 1955 World Series1955 World Series Yankee Stadium Official Program Line Score | Box Score |
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1955 World Series Game 1 Capsule | ||||||||||||
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
Brooklyn | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 5 | 10 | 0 |
New York | 0 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | x | 6 | 9 | 1 |
Brooklyn Pitcher(s) | New York Pitcher(s) | |||||||||||
Don Newcombe (L) Don Bessent (6th) Clem Labine (8th) |
Whitey Ford (W) Bob Grim (S, 9th) - |
|||||||||||
Brooklyn Home Runs | New York Home Runs | |||||||||||
Carl Furillo (2nd) Duke Snider (3rd) - |
Elston Howard (2nd) Joe Collins (4th) Joe Collins (6th) |
Game 2 of the 1955 World SeriesLine Score | Box Score |
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1955 World Series Game 2 Capsule | ||||||||||||
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
Brooklyn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
New York | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 4 | 8 | 0 |
Brooklyn Pitcher(s) | New York Pitcher(s) | |||||||||||
Billy Loes (L) Don Bessent (4th) Karl Spooner (5th) Clem Labine (8th) |
Tommy Byrne (W) - - - |
|||||||||||
Brooklyn Home Runs | New York Home Runs | |||||||||||
None | None |
Game 3 of the 1955 World Series1967 World Series Ebbets Field Official Program Line Score | Box Score |
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1955 World Series Game 3 Capsule | ||||||||||||
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
New York | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 7 | 0 |
Brooklyn | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | x | 8 | 11 | 1 |
New York Pitcher(s) | Brooklyn Pitcher(s) | |||||||||||
Bob Turley (L) Tom Morgan (2nd) Johnny Kucks (5th) Tom Sturdivant (7th) |
Johnny Podres (W) - - - |
|||||||||||
New York Home Runs | Brooklyn Home Runs | |||||||||||
Mickey Mantle (2nd) | Roy Campanella (1st) |
Game 4 of the 1955 World SeriesLine Score | Box Score |
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1955 World Series Game 4 Capsule | ||||||||||||
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
New York | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 9 | 0 |
Brooklyn | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | x | 8 | 14 | 0 |
New York Pitcher(s) | Brooklyn Pitcher(s) | |||||||||||
Don Larsen (L) Johnny Kucks (5th) Rip Coleman (6th) Tom Morgan (7th) Tom Sturdivant (8th) |
Carl Erskine Don Bessent (4th) Clem Labine (W, 5th) - - |
|||||||||||
New York Home Runs | Brooklyn Home Runs | |||||||||||
Gil McDougald (1st) - - |
Roy Campanella (4th) Gil Hodges (4th) Duke Snider (5th) |
Game 5 of the 1955 World SeriesLine Score | Box Score |
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1955 World Series Game 5 Capsule | ||||||||||||
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
New York | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 |
Brooklyn | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | x | 5 | 9 | 2 |
New York Pitcher(s) | Brooklyn Pitcher(s) | |||||||||||
Bob Grim (L) Bob Turley (7th) |
Roger Craig (W) Clem Labine (S, 7th) |
|||||||||||
New York Home Runs | Brooklyn Home Runs | |||||||||||
Bob Cerv (7th) Yogi Berra (8th) - |
Sandy Amoros (2nd) Duke Snider (3rd) Duke Snider (5th) |
Game 6 of the 1955 World SeriesLine Score | Box Score |
||||||||||||
1955 World Series Game 6 Capsule | ||||||||||||
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
Brooklyn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 4 | 1 |
New York | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | x | 5 | 8 | 0 |
Brooklyn Pitcher(s) | New York Pitcher(s) | |||||||||||
Karl Spooner (L) Russ Meyer (1st) Ed Roebuck (7th) |
Whitey Ford (W) - - |
|||||||||||
Brooklyn Home Runs | New York Home Runs | |||||||||||
None | Bill Skowron (1st) |
Game 7 of the 1955 World SeriesGame 7 Celebration Line Score | Box Score |
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1955 World Series Game 7 Capsule | ||||||||||||
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E |
Brooklyn | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 |
New York | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 1 |
Brooklyn Pitcher(s) | New York Pitcher(s) | |||||||||||
Johnny Podres (W) - - |
Tommy Byrne (L) Bob Grim (6th) Bob Turley (8th) |
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Brooklyn Home Runs | New York Home Runs | |||||||||||
None | None |
1955 World SeriesBrooklyn Dodgers 1955 World Series Composite Hitting Statistics |
|||||||||||||
Name | Pos | G | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | Avg | BB | SO | SB |
Sandy Amoros Don Bessent Roy Campanella Roger Craig Carl Erskine Carl Furillo Jim Gilliam Don Hoak Gil Hodges Frank Kellert Clem Labine Billy Loes Russ Meyer Don Newcombe Johnny Podres Pee Wee Reese Jackie Robinson Ed Roebuck George Shuba Duke Snider Karl Spooner Don Zimmer |
of p c p p of 2b-5,of-4 3b-1 1b ph p p p p p ss 3b p ph of p 2b |
5 3 7 1 1 7 7 3 7 3 4 1 1 1 2 7 6 1 1 7 2 4 |
12 1 27 0 1 27 24 3 24 3 4 1 2 3 7 27 22 0 1 25 0 9 |
4 0 7 0 0 8 7 1 7 1 0 0 0 0 1 8 4 0 0 8 0 2 |
0 0 3 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 0 0 |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 |
1 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 |
3 0 4 0 0 4 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 5 0 0 5 0 0 |
3 0 4 0 0 3 3 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 7 0 2 |
.333 .000 .259 .000 .000 .296 .292 .333 .292 .333 .000 .000 .000 .000 .143 .296 .182 .000 .000 .320 .000 .222 |
4 0 3 1 0 3 8 2 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 2 0 0 2 0 2 |
4 1 3 0 0 5 1 0 2 0 3 0 1 0 1 5 1 0 0 6 0 5 |
0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 |
Totals | 223 | 58 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 31 | 30 | .260 | 33 | 38 | 2 | ||
1955 World SeriesNew York Yankees 1955 World Series Composite Hitting Statistics |
|||||||||||||
Name | Pos | G | AB | H | 2B | 3B | HR | R | RBI | Avg | BB | SO | SB |
Hank Bauer Yogi Berra Tommy Byrne Andy Carey Tom Carroll Bob Cerv Jerry Coleman Rip Coleman Joe Collins Whitey Ford Bob Grim Elston Howard Johnny Kucks Don Larsen Mickey Mantle Billy Martin Gil McDougald Tom Morgan Irv Noren Phil Rizzuto Eddie Robinson Bill Skowron Tom Sturdivant Bob Turley |
of-5 c p-2 ph pr of-4,ph-1 ss p 1b-5,of-1 p p of p p of-2 2b 3b p of ss 1b-1 1b-3 p p |
6 7 3 2 2 5 3 1 5 2 3 7 2 1 3 7 7 2 5 7 4 5 2 3 |
14 24 6 2 0 16 3 0 12 6 2 26 0 2 10 25 27 0 16 15 3 12 0 1 |
6 10 1 1 0 2 0 0 2 0 0 5 0 0 2 8 7 0 1 4 2 4 0 0 |
0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 |
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 |
1 5 0 0 0 1 0 0 6 1 0 3 0 0 1 2 2 0 0 2 0 2 0 0 |
1 2 2 1 0 1 0 0 3 0 0 3 0 0 1 4 1 0 1 1 1 3 0 0 |
.429 .417 .167 .500 .000 .125 .000 .000 .167 .000 .000 .192 .000 .000 .200 .320 .259 .000 .063 .267 .667 .333 .000 .000 |
0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 2 0 1 5 2 0 0 0 |
1 1 2 0 0 4 1 0 4 1 0 8 0 0 2 5 6 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 |
Totals | 222 | 55 | 4 | 2 | 8 | 26 | 25 | .248 | 22 | 39 | 3 | ||
1955 World Series Composite Batting Statistics | Bold = World Series MVP |
1955 World SeriesBrooklyn Dodgers 1955 World Series Composite Pitching Statistics |
|||||||||||||
Name | W | L | G | GS | CG | S | Sh | IP | ERA | H | SO | ER | BB |
Don Bessent Roger Craig Carl Erskine Clem Labine Billy Loes Russ Meyer Don Newcombe Johnny Podres Ed Roebuck Karl Spooner |
0 1 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 |
0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 |
3 1 1 4 1 1 1 2 1 2 |
0 1 1 0 1 0 1 2 0 1 |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 |
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 |
3.1 6.0 3.0 9.1 3.2 5.2 5.2 18.0 2.0 3.1 |
0.00 3.00 9.00 2.89 9.82 0.00 9.53 1.00 0.00 13.50 |
3 4 3 6 7 4 8 15 1 4 |
1 4 3 2 5 4 4 10 0 6 |
0 2 3 3 4 0 6 2 0 5 |
1 5 2 2 1 2 2 4 0 3 |
Totals | 4 | 3 | 17 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 60.0 | 3.75 | 55 | 39 | 25 | 22 |
1955 World SeriesNew York Yankees 1955 World Series Composite Pitching Statistics |
|||||||||||||
Name | W | L | G | GS | CG | S | Sh | IP | ERA | H | SO | ER | BB |
Tommy Byrne Rip Coleman Whitey Ford Bob Grim Johnny Kucks Don Larsen Tom Morgan Tom Sturdivant Bob Turley |
1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
1 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 1 |
2 1 2 3 2 1 2 2 3 |
2 0 2 1 0 1 0 0 1 |
1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 |
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 |
14.1 1.0 17.0 8.2 3.0 4.0 3.2 3.0 5.1 |
1.88 9.00 2.12 4.15 6.00 11.25 4.91 6.00 8.44 |
8 5 13 8 4 5 3 5 7 |
8 1 10 8 1 2 1 0 7 |
3 1 4 4 2 5 2 2 5 |
8 0 8 5 1 2 3 2 4 |
Totals | 3 | 4 | 18 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 60.0 | 4.20 | 58 | 38 | 28 | 33 |
1955 World Series Composite Batting Statistics | Bold = World Series MVP |
When Duke Snider went deep during the third and fifth inning of Game 5 he became the first and only player from either league to date with four home runs in two different Series.
Did you know that 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 particular World Championship is their "foist" modern victory and this great poem pays homage to the event:
1955 World Series
It was late in the month of September, and all Baseball fans did know;
There were two Teams in New York City that were ready for the show.
Some fans were very happy, yet others very cranky;
It was World Series time again; the Dodgers vs the Yankees.
It was getting to be a habit that these two great teams would meet,
In another World Series: where the fans would get a treat.
Five times before the teams have met and the Yankees did always win.
The Dodger fans would reluctantly say, “Wait `til next year!”, with a grin.
The City was alive with excitement as the first game got underway.
It was played in Yankees Stadium and it turned out to be quite a day.
Don Newcombe walked out on the Mound, dressed in Dodger blue;
He would face the Yankees’ Whitey Ford; he knew what to do.
The Dodgers scored twice in the Second and in the “Toid” one more,
But each time the Yankees rallied and evened up the score.
Two Home Runs by Joe Collins, had the Home fans do a jive,
The New York Yankees won the Opener, by a score of 6-5.
The second game was played at Yankees Stadium too,
And with Tommy Byrne, pitching; New York won 4-2.
The Brooklyn Pitcher, Billy Loes, did his best but he got weary,
The Yankees scored four in the Fourth, and led 2-0 in the Series.
The Baseball World was wondering; would the outcome be the same?
Would the Yankees win this Series? Would the Dodgers win a game?
The Flatbush fans were confident that their heroes would come through;
Especially in games at Ebbets Field, amidst a sea of Dodger blue.
The Series shifted to Ebbets Field and the Brooklyn fans went wild.
The shouted, sang and waved their flags, cause to their team, “wuz’ loyal.
It was Bob Turley against Johnny Podres, the Pitchers who got the “Call”;
The “Toid” game got underway, when the Umpire yelled, “Play Ball”.
The Dodgers scored their runs in twos that totaled up to eight.
The Yankees had some trouble and failed to keep the pace.
A completed game by Johnny Podres, saw the Dodgers win 8-3,
And all the fans in Brooklyn, that day, were as happy as could be.
The Series resumed the following day and the Dodgers followed the script,
Campanella, Hodges and Snider hit HRs and the Yankees did get whipped.
Clem Labine picked up the Win; Now! What more could he do?
The Brooklyn Dodgers won, 8-5 and evened the Series at Two.
The fifth game was important and to the fans quite serious.
The Winner of this game would probably win the Series.
Both teams were very confident and their spirits did not sag.
For the Yankees, it was Bob Grim; For the Dodgers, Roger Craig.
Bob Cerv and Yogi Berra hit HRs for the Yankees, but that just wouldn’t do,
For the Dodgers, Sandy Amoros hit One, and Duke Snider, he hit Two.
The Dodger fans were very happy as their team won 5-3,
And leading the Series 3-2, they were in their glee.
Throughout the night, until the dawn, the Brooklyn fans did cheer;
Hoping the adage, “wait `til next year!”, would soon disappear.
No matter what would happen, the Dodger fans would be true.
Now! All da Bums had to do, “wuz” win One out of Two.
The Bronx Zoo was waiting for the Yankees to come Home.
Their fans were use to winning; they had no need to moan.
The fans arrived at the Stadium; they came by Trolley and Bus,
For the Yankees to win the Series, Two wins was a must.
Whitey Ford, had four days rest, he couldn’t pitch, no sooner.
The Yankee Great went to the Mound, to pitch against Karl Spooner.
The New York team wasted little time, Moose Skowron showed the way;
He hit a three Run Homer, and for the Yankees, made their day.
The Yankee Lefty tossed a gem; an important game was won.
With five Runs in the First Inning, they were Winners, 5-1.
Ford had pitched a complete game win, for all of us to see.
Game six was over, the Yanks had won, and the Series was tied at Three.
It was the seventh game of the Series, a game a team can’t lose.
The fans did pack the Stadium; a Winner was hard to choose.
It was another Classic Series for all Baseball fans to see,
It was a case of …que sera, sera; or what will be, will be.
The fans were all excited as they came inside the gate.
They looked to see who was pitching; they could hardly wait.
When the Starting Pitchers were announced; some heads did toss and turn,
For the Dodgers, it was Johnny Podres; for the Yankees, Tommy Byrne.
The two Lefties dueled through Three with ease; the game went rather quick.
In the Fourth, some fans cheered louder, when Roy Campanella got a hit.
Campy stopped at Second Base; he couldn’t advance no more;
He waited for a team-mate to hit the ball, so that he could score.
Carl Furillo, didn’t get a hit; although he made the try.
Gil Hodges, stroked a Single, and he got an RBI.
The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead, their fans did shout for more;
But the Yankee Lefty Tommy Byrne, quickly closed the door.
Two Innings later, in the Sixth, the Dodgers scored another Run.
A Lead-off Single by Pee Wee Reese, was how it all begun.
A Yankee error on a Sacrifice Bunt, and things seemed to go awry;
Three Batters later, Gil Hodges had another RBI.
The Dodgers Manager made a change that had some people guessin’.
He put Sandy Amoros in Left-field and moved Jim Gilliam to Second.
Why Walter Alston made that move, nobody else could say;
Before the Inning was over, Amoros would save the day.
When the first two Yankees got on Base, the Dodger fans did whine.
Especially when Yogi Berra, sliced the ball, down the Left-field line.
The fans were standing and yelling, as Amoros raced toward the ball.
Some hoped that he would make the Catch, others hoped the ball would fall.
With Amoros running at top-speed, towards the Left-field line;
“Catching the ball”, was the only thought, he had on his mind.
With the right arm fully extended and his feet gliding over the ground;
He “snagged” the ball in his glove and the Catch became renowned.
When the Yankee Runners saw the catch; much to their dismay.
They tried to re-trace their steps, without further delay.
Amoros hit the “Cut-off” man, to start the “famed” relay,
And Reese threw the ball to First, for a Double-play.
In the Inning, next to last, before it was too late;
With one man out, the Yankees put two men on Base.
Johnny Podres, was fast becoming, the hero of the hour;
He quickly retired Yogi Berra and Struck-out, Hank Bauer.
The excitement continued throughout the game, the air was never still.
The Yankees couldn’t get a Run with Podres on the Hill.
The outcome of the seventh game was no longer in doubt.
The final Out was recorded when Elston Howard, grounded-out.
The Dodger fans were ecstatic as they walked along the street.
It was a great feeling that was very hard to beat.
They celebrated throughout the night, until the morning dawn.
The jinx the Yankees had over Brooklyn, now! Was surely gone.
The Flatbush fans wuz flying high, soarin’ like da boids.
Dey tawked all nite about de Bums, with complimentary woids.
Some people sez ‘der wuz no way, dat Brooklin’ wuz gonna win;
Now that the Series is over, all der fans is wearin’ a grin.
If you’d ever lived in Brooklyn and saw the Dodgers play;
You'd know the reason why, 4th October is a special day.
It only happened once, but to the Brooklyn fans, it’s serious;
That’s the day the Dodgers won their “Foist” World Series.
Source / Author: Jim Keats (2004).
The catch by Sandy Amoros, the steal of home by Jackie Robinson, the most valuable pitching of Johnny Podres, the previously unbeaten opponent, and the pressure to finally win one for the Borough made this Fall Classic one of the best. Share your opinion of this Series and others on our Baseball Almanac Facebook Group, on Baseball Almanac Twitter, via Baseball Almanac Messenger, or our baseball forum — Baseball Fever..