World Series: Did You Know?

Bill Martin was back at it in 1956, but didn't stand atop the leaderboard. The batting average leader in '56 was Yogi Berra. Not that Martin didn't contribute some big hits.

Well, 1956 was the same old story. Yankees. Dodgers. World Series. Game seven. It was becoming all-too common. Brooklyn had their ring from the year before, and now it was time for New York to get even. By winning it all in '55, the Brooklyn Dodgers could not longer be "Bums". And the team they came back with the next year was just as talented if not more. After, all, another Hall-of-Famer was added, but he'd have just a short cameo in the fourth contest of the Fall Classic.

The Yankees didn't lose too many World Series back then. With Casey Stengel at the helm, they'd won five in a row from 1949-1953. Their loss to the Dodgers in 1955 had been a bad taste for many. A first taste, too. But New York had the characters to bounce back. It was time to get the show on the road. Speaking of which, that's where the Bronx Bombers found themselves at the start of the 1956 Grand Finale.

And the Fall Classic started in a ballpark Billy Martin liked, Ebbets Field. And Sal Maglie started for Brooklyn. Maglie had been a key pickup by the Dodgers that season, going 13-5.

Martin's buddy Mickey Mantle tried to help. Enos Slaughter hit a ball, with one away, to first. Gil Hodges, the Dodgers' first basemen, got a piece of it, but not enough. It was scored a hit. Big trouble now for the Dodgers. Mickey Mantle was up. 52 home runs to his name in 1956. He deposited a Maglie offering to deep right, over the tall wall. 2-0, Yankees. Could Martin contribute, too?

But that was essentially it for New York, with the exception of Martin. Sal Maglie got him out the first time up, and Brooklyn surged ahead of New York, routing Whitey Ford from the mound. 5-2 for the Dodgers in the fourth. Up came Billy Martin. He'd seen his old pal Jackie Robinson go yard earlier in the contest, so why couldn't he do that? The Kid wasted no time, belting the first thing he saw from the Brooklyn pitcher to the seats in left. The Yankees were still in the contest.

Martin wasn't able to do much after that, alas. All he could do is draw a bases on balls off Maglie in the top of the eighth. Sal Maglie just went about his business that frame. He fanned two New York batters, cruising on from there. He got Mantle to end the game by hitting into a double play.

Game two was a wild one. It seemed New York had it. They scored a run in the top of the first, and five more in the second. Martin had started the second with a single, and of course eventually scored. Brooklyn somehow put a "6" on the board in their half of the inning, so it was back to the drawing board for New York. Neither starting pitcher, Don Newcombe nor Don Larsen, had been good.

Martin hit into a double play in the third, and couldn't get untracked in this game, and neither could his team. Reliever Don Bessent fanned Martin twice, ending up the winner in a 13-8 Dodger win.

Well, maybe Ebbets Field wasn't such a nice ballpark after all, eh Billy?

But Yankee Stadium was nice to play in. Sure, Brooklyn got ahead 1-0 early. But then our boy came up in the last of the second, blasting a Roger Craig offering to deep left. Into the stands! 1-1.

Although Martin wasn't quite able to contribute more this contest, that home run by him got New York back on track. Sure, the game stayed close, but now you sort of figured the momentum was the Yankees.

Enos Slaughter blasted a three-run home run in the last of the sixth, erasing a 2-1 Brooklyn lead. Now, it was the home team ahead for good. The Yankees' second basemen had to be content with a 1-4 day. But that "1" was one big hit!

Game four was a big one. The Yankees offence had been excellent so far this 1956 Fall Classic. They'd scored at least three runs each game, but so had the Dodgers. The Yankees struck first. Martin, who'd been retired first time up, looked to help. The score was now tied by the time he grabbed a bat again. But the Yankees would be ahead by the time Martin was done his plate appearance.

Mickey Mantle had opened the fourth with a walk. Then turned on the jets. Yogi Berra fanned as Mantle swiped second. Enos Slaughter was walked intentionally, the partisan Stadium fans unhappy. Martin picked their spirits up with a base hit to left. 2-1, New York. Before the inning would end, Gil McDougald added a sacrifice fly.

Hank Bauer hit a two-run home run off a rookie named Don Drysdale in the seventh, to effectively seal the deal. Martin, who was 1-3, would face the big right-handed hurler in the eighth. The youngster of Brooklyn showed plenty of poise. Yogi Berra, Enos Slaughter and Billy Martin were retired on grounders, part of a 1-2-3 inning for Drysdale.

The game was a decisive win for New York, 6-2. A great number of people believed that Martin had the big blow in the contest, back in the fourth.

The winning pitcher was Tommy Sturdivant, who believe Billy Martin was one of the big reason the Yankees always seemed to have the edge in Fall Classics.

"I felt that Billy Martin was an average major league ballplayer." Tom though, was quick to point out that when the chips were down, Martin willed himself to be great. "But I believe that in ballgames you had to win, like in the series, that Billy could build hisself (sic) up to where Billy was a super-star during games that you had to have." In his mind, the pitcher was unequivocal about the play of the second basemen behind him.

"For a given number of games, Billy could even carry a ballclub."

So game five would determine who was heading back to Ebbets Field with the lead. As it turns out, all eyes were on Yankee pitcher Don Larsen in this contest. You will see why.

The Yankees, though, didn't seem to be any problem for Sal Maglie. 1-2-3 they went in the first. 1-2-3 they went in the second, with Maglie fanning Billy Martin. 1-2-3 in the third. Mickey Mantle stopped the bleeding with a solo home run in the fourth. But this was gonna be a struggle all the way. Don Larsen was a career 81-91 pitcher. He seemed unlikely to be able to protect a 1-0 lead.

Enos Slaughter opened the fifth with a walk. Billy Martin and the Yankees were playing for one run, so he bunted. Alas, the fielding of Brooklyn had been excellent this day, and this play was no exception. They got the force at second. Gil McDougald made a bid for a hit with a shot to short. Pee Wee Reese made the nice catch, and Martin had started to second. Too far off the bag. Brooklyn had a double play to escape.

The Yankees added a run in the bottom of the sixth, but that was it. So this was their worst game in terms of offence. They tried in the seventh for more. With two away, our boy was back up. 0-2, but Billy was every bit the competitor that Sal Maglie was. He got just the fifth hit off Sal on his 1-1 offering, to keep the inning alive. The ball just found the hole between Jackie Robinson at third and Pee Wee Reese at short.

It seemed to inspire the home team again. Gil McDougald was up, and Maglie seemed to loose all control. Ball one. Ball two. Ball three. Ball four. Roy Campanella, the Dodger catcher, went out to the mound to talk things over with his suddenly wild pitcher.

The talk worked. Although Don Bessent started to get loose in the Dodgers' bullpen, Maglie got ahead 1-2 on Andy Carey. On the fourth pitch of the at bat, Carey then hit into a force. Billy Martin would not bat again this game, as his team was retired in order in the eighth (All strikeouts).

But, no Dodger could do anything with Don Larsen. So the game moved to the top of the ninth, as tension mounted. Larsen's second basemen behind him had three putouts and three assists through eight. When Campanella grounded out to Martin, there were two away. One more out, and it would result in a World Series first: A perfect game!

Larsen fanned pinch hitter Dale Mitchell to nail down the historic achievement. 27 men up. 27 men down. It was back to Ebbets Field and New York would have two chances to close out a stubborn Brooklyn team.

New York didn't get it done in game six, but on this day, Martin did some talking to his manager after the affair that was key. The Yankees sent out Bob Turley. The Dodgers, Clem Labine. It was a classic pitching contest that Billy Martin took a huge backsead to.

Martin went 1-4, but the problem was left fielder Enos Slaughter. In the bottom of the third, Jim Gillam had singled to left, when the Yankees' left fielder lost track of the projectile in the sun. Plus, he'd stranded two men in the top of the eighth. The game went intro extras, where Jackie Robinson won it with a walk-off single to left, in which Slaughter misjudged. "It's a tough one for Turley to lose, and a grand one for Labine to win." A tough loss for the Yankees, too.

Martin was no exception. He was one unhappy camper. He was probably pretty ticked about leaving two on in the top of the sixth. But he hadn't liked what he saw from Slaughter. After the game, Billy sought out his manager on the team bus. The second basemen was fuming. "Most of the Yankees were deeply annoyed by Slaughter's fielding in left," wrote Peter Golenbock years later, "but no one had the audacity to complain to Stengel. Except Martin." The Yankee second basemen knew lineup changes were needed. A sudden youth movement, for game seven of a World Series. Only Billy Martin and Casey Stengel could talk of such subjects during trying times!

"Billy told Casey to get the forty-three year old Slaughter out of the lineup," added Bill Pennington in Billy Martin: Baseball's Flawed Genuis, "Billy wanted him to play twenty-seven year old Elston Howard in left. And he wanted twenty-five Bill "Moose" Skowron to replace thirty-three year old Joe Collins at first base." Their little talk didn't escape one scribe, who pressed the Bronx Bombers star for his version of the lineup for the deciding game. Martin didn't waiver. Skowron at first, Howard in left.

So, game seven got underway, with Martin's version of the Yankees in place! The decision might have raised some eyebrows. Howard hadn't played at all in the World Series, suffering from a strep throat. Joe Collins had been hitting .238, but that was better than Moose Skowron.Skowron had played games one and two, going a combined 0-5. Enos Slaughter had looked like a hero, hitting .350, one home run, four RBI and six runs scored. This was a Martin / Stengel decision that could blow up in their face. Also, Stengel chose not to start Whitey Ford, instead going with unheralded Johnny Kucks.

Kucks didn't have much reason to feel good about his chances. However, the Yankees made things a little easier for him, right of the bat, literally.

Hank Bauer got it all going with a leadoff single off Don Newcombe. Stengel had penned Martin in to bat second. The move looked bad. On a 1-1 pitch, Bauer stole second. But on a 2-2 delivery, Newk fanned Martin. Down went Mickey Mantle on strikes. But then Yogi Berra belted a two-run home run.

When Kucks came out to pitch the first, he saw the Yankees' bullpen busy. Would his day be short?

Brooklyn got two men on, and then Jackie Robinson was up. One out. Brooklyn had a chance to get right back in it. But Robinson's comebacker was fielded by Kucks. He turned and saw Martin. Martin took it, erasing Duke Snider at second. Over to first...Double play! Martin must have liked that. He'd relaxed his worried pitcher, too.

But the Yankees went quickly in the second inning, with Elston Howard failing to deliver. Skowron had fanned in the first. The momentum stayed with the Yankees, though. Gil Hodges batted Kucks to 3-2, then grounded out to Andy Carey. The next two men had Martin saying, "I've got your back, Johnny!" Indeed. First pitch to Sandy Amoros, Billy Martin got the grounder, threw to Skowron at first. Two away. Next pitch, Carl Furillo also hit a grounder. Martin to Skowron, inning over. 

Hank Bauer grounded out trying to bunt, and Billy Martin got his second crack at Don Newcombe. He fouled off the first pitch. The second was a ball. The third was to his liking, and Billy slapped it to centre. And it was just beyond the grasp of shortstop Pee Wee Reese. Mickey Mantle fanned. Good thing Berra was back up. Bad for Newcombe. Same result as the first frame: Two-run home run!

So a little bit more breathing room for young Johnny Kucks. His second basemen behind him took Roy Campanella's grounder, whipping it to first. One out. Part of a 1-2-3 inning.

The big moment for Elston Howard was next. He hit Newcombe's second pitch in the fourth inning outta here. Shower time for the Brooklyn hurler. The game was becoming a rout!

But Martin could only ground out in the fifth. But he was certainly involved on the field. When the dust settled on this winner-take all affair, Billy had two putouts and six assists, as Johnny Kucks kept the Dodgers at bay with his sinker ball. The visiting team looked for more run support for the pitcher, putting two on after Martin was retired in that fifth. Alas, Howard stranded both of them.

The seventh inning put things to bed on the 1956 baseball season. Martin got a single off the third Dodger pitcher, Roger Craig. Mickey Mantle drew a bases on balls. A wild pitch moved two buddies into scoring position for Yogi Berra. But Craig walked him. Moose Skowron was up.

First pitch swinging, Skowron took Craig out of the park! The grand slam made this one a 9-0 laugher for the Yankees. Howard again sent a pitcher to the shower, following up this big blast with a double.

The Yankees' second basemen finished the game 2-5. Skowron was only 1-5, but came up with the game's biggest blow. Howard matched Martin, 2-5. And Kucks, his toothy grin would be seen after completing a three-hit shutout. But their manager went to talk to Martin after the game. He really knew how to pick 'em, eh?

Despite the let-down in game seven, it had been another great Fall Classic between these two titans. Somewhere in the middle of the fight, had been the fiery second basemen of the Yankees. Billy Martin finished the 1956 Fall Classic with a .296 batting average and two home runs.

It had been a nice comeback for the Bronx Bombers. The year before, they'd been up 2-0, then lost four of the next five games, including the finale at home. This year, it was the Yankees down 2-0, and then won four of the next five, including the seventh contest on the road. The team would sort of trump that two years later, as they rallied from 3-1 down to beat Milwaukee. 

Sadly for Martin, this was his last World Series as a player. The Yankees had given a young kid named Bobby Richardson a look-see that year, and clearly was the successor to Billy Martin. It was too bad he was traded to Kansas City in 1957. Mantle, Ford, and many others missed him. Billy wasn't the most talented Yankee, but when they needed a key hit in a big game, he was the man! And Martin didn't shy away from being him.

"Whenever the series started, they always wanted to take pictures of the Mantles, the Berras, whoever the top hitters on the Yankees are. I told the guys, 'Take a picture of me now, [or] you're gonna make a mistake if you don't."

References

Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005.


Effrat, Louis. “Bombers Call Martin’s Run-Producing Single in 4th Turning Point of Game.” New York Times, 8 Oct. 1956, p. 32, https://timesmachine.nytimes.com/timesmachine/1956/10/08/121453379.html?pageNumber=32. Accessed 13 Apr. 2023. 

Ford, Whitey, and Phil Pepe. Slick. W. Morrow, 1987.

Gallagher, Mark. Explosion!: Mickey Mantle's Legendary Home Runs. Arbor House, 1987.

Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Contemporary Books, 2000. 

Major League Baseball Productions. World Series Films, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1958.  DVD / Youtube.

Mantle, Mickey, and Herb Gluck. The Mick. Easton Press, 1996.

------------------and Mickey Herskowitz. All My Octobers: My Memories of Twelve World Series When the Yankees Ruled Baseball. HarperCollins, 1994.


Miller, Lawrence, director. New York Yankees (The Movie). Youtube, Philo / Magig Video, 1987, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AMWAt3v1I0w. Accessed 14 Apr. 2023. 

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. St. Martin's Press, 1992. 

--------------. The World Series: Complete Play-By-Play of Every Game, 1903-1989, St. Martin's Press, 1990.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Publications International, 1993. 


1956 World Series: Game 5. National Broadcasting Company, 8 Oct. 1956. 

Society For American Baseball Research, SABR. https://sabr.org/. 13 Apr. 2023.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. 13 Apr. 2023.


Turkin, Hy, and S. C. Thompson. The Vest-Pocket Encyclopedia of Baseball. A.S. Barnes, 1956. 

Whiteford, Mike, and Taylor Jones. How To Talk Baseball. Revised ed. Dembner, 1987.

Wikipedia, Wikimedia Foundation, https://en.wikipedia.org/. 13 Apr. 2023.

YouTube, Google, https://www.youtube.com/. 13 Apr. 2023.

World Series: Did You Know?

The 1956 Fall Classic had it all. A classic Yankees / Dodgers matchup. Mantle vs. Snider in centre. Yogi vs. Roy behind the dish. The veteran Enos Slaughter in left. Pee Wee Reese at short for Brooklyn. The only perfect game (or no-hitter for that matter). It was the last subway series featuring teams from New York until the year 2000.

However, another World Series "first" gets overlooked. 1956 was the first time their were seven games won by seven different pitchers.

Well, game one appeared to be Whitey Ford's game to win, as he did tend to win 'em in the Fall Classic. Ten to be exact. But it was not to be in the opening tilt in Brooklyn. Ebbets Field. Ford's pal Mickey Mantle got him off on the right foot with a two-run home run off Sal Maglie in the top of the first. Mickey had hit 52 round-trippers in the regular season. Later, another pal of Ford's, Billy Martin, took Maglie downtown. However, that was all the offence New York got. Maglie fanned ten, and Brooklyn strafed Ford and Johhny Kucks for six runs in the first four innings. To be fair, the rest of the game was well-pitched, but the Dodgers had it all under control, winning 6-3.

The Dodgers took game two at home as well, 13-6, even though the Yankees were ahead 6-0 after just 1 1/2 innings. Don Larsen took the loss. Don Newcombe didn't exactly pitch well, but his bullpen did the the trick. It was Don Bessent who pitched the last seven innings of the ballgame to pick up the win.

At Yankee Stadium for the next three games, New York began to assert themselves. Roger Craig was working on a 2-1 lead over Ford after 5 1/2. But Old Country, Enos Slaughter, saved the day with a three-run home run that scored Hank Bauer and Yogi Berra. Each team tallied one more run, making Ford a 5-3 winner.

Tom Sturdivant then won game four for the Yankees, 6-2. It was all square. Mantle hit another home run and Bauer blasted a two-run shot off of some kid named Don Drysdale. But game five, is the game no one will forget when they think about the 1956 Fall Classic.

Don Larsen took the hill, and retired all 27 batters to face him. Mantle hit a home run off Sal Maglie to make it 1-0 in the bottom of the fourth. The Yankees seemed hancuffed by Maglie, too. They scored just one other run. But Larsen did not need it.

Mantle robbed Gil Hodges of a hit in the top of the fifth. Earlier, in the top of the second, Jackie Robinson, playing in his last season, was thrown out at first on a nice play by Gil McDougald. Larsen used up just 97 pitches for the win, getting pinch hitter Dale Mitchell to fan to end it.

Bob Turley then led the Yankees back to Brooklyn and looked to put it away. He was in fine form for the Yankees, nearly as good as Larsen the previous game. However, it was Clem Labine, who out-pitched him, winning 1-0 in 10 innings. Still, Turley had held the mighty Dodgers to just four hits.

And in game seven, Johnny Kucks held Brooklyn to just three hits. And no runs. New York, going for the kill, hammered Newcombe and Craig out of there with an aggressive attack that produced nine runs and ten hits. It was a fitting end to a rivalry (The New York portion of it, at least) that New York had come out on top all the time, with the exception of 1955.

It was also fitting that seven different pitchers won games. Sure, you had Ford, sure you had Maglie. But both teams had tremendous pitching depth. Brooklyn may have moved to Los Angeles in 1958, but within a year, they were back in the World Series, winning it in six over Chicago. The pitching depth was still strong on the Yankees in '58, as Turley and Larsen both won games again. Of the pitchers who threw in the Fall Classic in '56, only two made the Hall Of Fame (Ford and Drysdale). But it would be wrong to overlook guys like Newcombe (Who sadly never won a World Series game), Labine, Turley, Larsen, Maglie and the other pretty good pitchers that New York and Brooklyn had. They helped make all those World Series memorable.

References

Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.

Fonseca, Lew, director. World Series Of 1956. Performance by Lew Fonseca, Major League Baseball Productions, 1956. DVD.

Ford, Whitey, and Phil Pepe. Slick. New York: W. Morrow, 1987. Print.

Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.

Mantle, Mickey, and Mickey Herskowitz. All My Octobers: My Memories of Twelve World Series When the Yankees Ruled Baseball. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Retrosheet. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.  <www.retrosheet.org>

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 25 Feb. 2016.

World Series: Did You Know?

Duke Snider got the first and last Brooklyn hits in their last ever Fall Classic game. Neither of them helped. The New York Yankees won it easily, 9-0. Brooklyn had lost another game seven to New York, here in 1956. The Duke and the Dodgers would be in Los Angeles the next time they played in a World Series.

The irony is, the deciding game was at home, in Brooklyn's Taj Mahal, Ebbets Field. The Yankees sent the unheralded Johnny Kucks to the hill. The Dodgers had Don Newcombe on the hill, winner of 27 games that season. Mismatch!

Well, it was. For the Yankees.

Yogi Berra came up with two down and a runner on second in the top of the first. Newk had fanned two, and seemed ready to hand it to the Yankees all game long. Berra disrupted those thoughts, though, with a two-run home run to put New York ahead. Newcombe ended the inning with a K, but now was behind.

It seemed also, however, that Brooklyn would be scoring a lot of runs again this game. They'd scored six in game one at home, thirteen in game two at home. In game six, they needed ten innings to score just one run after being shutout in game five (Via Don Larsen's perfect game), so they were due. And Ebbets Field was a tiny ballpark.

So with one out in the bottom of the first, Pee Wee Reese walked. Duke Snider singled. The tying run was on first and the Dodgers had two speedsters on the base paths. Jackie Robinson was the batter. But instead of a hit to score a run or two, Jackie grounded into an inning-ending double play. This was a huge lift for young Johnny Kucks. The Yankees did not score of Newcombe in the top of the first, but Johnny came back to the mound in the bottom of the frame and got 'em 1-2-3. Brooklyn didn't even get it out of the infield. It was a small venue, alright. But if you can't even hit it that far, you are doomed!

And Yogi Berra came up in the top of the third. Billy Martin on first, two down. Another two-run home run. 4-0. And then another 1-2-3 inning by Kucks. This was his, Yogi's and New York's day.

A solo home run by Elston Howard in the top of the fifth was the final nail in the coffin of Don Newcombe. Not only did it make it 5-0, Yankees, but the Dodgers were a beaten ballclub. Kucks continued his one-hitter in the bottom of the frame, and it looked like Brooklyn would never score. They didn't.

Moose Skowron slugged a grand slam in the top of the seventh inning, as the Yankees were living up to their nickname of the Bronx Bombers. After Snider popped out, Robinson reached on a walk. But Gil Hodges hit into an inning-ending double play. Kucks was humming along.

Carl Furillo got Brooklyn's second hit in the bottom of the eighth, but the contest was already decided at this point. None of the other three Dodger batters could get it out of the infield. And after Carl Erskine, Brooklyn's fifth pitcher of the afternoon, had a 1-2-3 inning of his own in the top of the ninth, the poised Kucks looked for the coupe-de-gras.

Jim Gilliam grounded to Skowron at first. Reese tried to bunt and popped out to Berra back behind the dish. Snider was up, and got his second hit of the game. But it was also only the third by a Dodger on this day. Jackie Robinson, in the last plate appearance of his illustrious career, fanned. Berra dropped the ball and threw him out at first to complete the putout. The Brooklyn Dodgers World Series history had reached an end with a whimper.




Kucks never again pitched this well again. He'd been 18-9 in 1956, but never again started a Fall Classic game. Instead, he was just 8-10 in 1957, 8-8 in '58 and off to Kansas in 1959. He pitched in organized ball until 1963. When that season came to an end, Kucks was 31, and out of baseball.

Snider hit 40 home runs in 1957, the Dodgers last year in Brooklyn, and was there in 1959 when the brand new Los Angeles Dodgers made it back to the World Series. That one ended better, as the Dodgers beat the Chicago White Sox in six games. But for many, the Dodgers' history ended in 1957, and the Yankees / Dodgers rivalry ended in 1956. The Duke did his share to be a part of that, right down to the very end.


References


British Pathé. “Baseball - Yankees Regain World Championship AKA Baseball: World Series Final (1956).” YouTube, British Pathé, Web, 13 Apr. 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=OtH-Tb8567c.

Fonseca, Lew, director. World Series Of 1956. Major League Baseball Productions, 1956. DVD.

Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 16 Dec. 2015.

Retrosheet. Retrosheet. Web. 16 Dec. 2015. www.retrosheet.org. 

Common Denominator: The Catch And The Perfect Game

That would be Dale Mitchell. Poor Dale was on the losing side of the 1954 Cleveland Indians and 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers.

There they were, the Indians in game one of the '54 Fall Classic vs. the New York Giants. There they were, tied at two in the top of the eighth inning, when The Catch happened. Actually, at the time, it looked like Cleveland was about to have a big inning. Right at the Polo Grounds.

Especially when it all started with a Larry Doby walk of Sal Maglie. Al Rosen singled. Maglie was gone. Vic Wertz was the batter. Don Liddle was the pitcher. Lefty / Lefty matchup. The ball to centre...Home run? Triple? Take your pick.

But here comes The Say Hey Kid. He's got it. Big iconic moment in sports. Almost no one sees Doby tag and make it to third. Hank Majeski goes up to bat for Dave Philley. Odd since Philley is a switch hitter. The Giants get Marv Grissom in to pitch to him. Cleveland counters with Dale Mitchell. Dale coaxes a walk, and the bases are loaded. The Catch will soon be a forgotten memory if the ball makes it to the outfield again.

It does not as the next two batters fail to deliver. The Giants have dodged a bullet, thanks to Willie Mays. Sam Dente comes in to play short, and Dale Mitchell is out of the game. New York wins it dramatically on a three-run home run by Dusty Rhodes in the bottom of the tenth.



The Giants are winning game three 6-1, in the bottom of the eighth when Mitchell does another pinch hit job for Cleveland. He does not come through, but the Indians score a run. But it's really meaningless. New York has the game, 6-2 and with that, are up 3-0 in the 1954 Fall Classic.





New York won game four, 7-4 for the sweep. Mitchell, again pinch-hitting, is the last out.




Two years later, he'd face another team from New York in the World Series. The Yankees. Mitchell is on the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The New York Yankees, in game two, are winning it 6-0. Ebbets Field is watching their Dodgers get destroyed. Dale Mitchell bats against Don Larsen as the Dodgers have scored one run in the bottom of the second. Batting for pitcher Ed Roebuck, he pops to third. Brooklyn, however, somehow comes back to tie the game, and ends up on top by the end of it, 13-8!

That win put the Brooklyn Dodgers up 2-0. But New York takes game three at Yankee Stadium. It's 4-1 New York in the top of the seventh, when Mitchell bats for Roebuck again. Roy Campanella is on first, two down. Mitchell cannot help Brooklyn, and ends the inning with a fly to left.

The next appearance for Mitchell is the one everyone remembers. Game five. Don Larsen retired the first 26 men to face him. Now, batting for Sal Maglie, it's Mitchell that is all that separates Larsen from immortality.

The first pitch is a ball. Larsen throws a strike to even the count. A 1-1 pitch is missed. One more strike. Mitchell stays alive by fouling off a pitch, but then Larsen throws his 97th of the afternoon. It's a called third strike, and Larsen has got the perfect game. Mitchell goes into the books as a historic footnote.



Mitchell batted again in game seven, and again failed to come through. Brooklyn lost it 9-0. Mitchell had played his last game. The Dodgers had also just played their last Fall Classic game in Brooklyn. And Mitchell had seen The Catch and The Perfect Game.



References

Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. New York: St. Martin's Griffin, 1992. Print.

Paper, Lewis J. Perfect: Don Larsen's Miraculous World Series Game And The Men Who Made It Happen. New York, NY: New American Library, 2009. Print.

Retrosheet .Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <www.retrosheet.org>.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 23 Sept. 2015.

Youtube. Web. 23 Sept. 2015. <https://www.youtube.com>.

World Series: Did You Know?

The 1956 Brooklyn Dodgers had some tall pitchers on their Fall Classic roster. There were two Don's, a Roger and Sandy!

The two Don's were Don Newcombe and Don Drysdale. They both made it to the hill. The Sandy, Koufax, did not. Sandy had been there in 1955 as a bonus baby. Drysdale himself was a rookie in 1956.

Newcombe, Newk as he was called, had a rough time. The menacing pitcher was 6'4 and looking to put his Dodgers up two games to none at the Fall Classic. Sal Maglie had won the opener, and now, it was game two. It was Newk's turn. The problem was, Brooklyn, opposed by the New York Yankees in this game at Ebbet's Field, got scored on in the top of the first. Then the floodgates opened in the top of the second.

Billy Martin got it all started with a single. Jerry Coleman drew a walk. Don Larsen (Hey, another Don!) the opposing pitcher, singled. That made it 2-0. Another single, a walk and a grand slam by Yogi Berra made it 6-0, New York and Newcombe was done. Brooklyn was not, however. They scored six times in the bottom of the frame, then outscored Brooklyn 7-2 the rest of the way to win 13-8. Well, both Don's didn't have it. But Brooklyn would take that tradeoff. The problem was, Larsen returned to the hill in game five and pitcher the only perfect game in World Series history.

New York went home and took game three, 5-3. Their ace, Whitey Ford, was in in fine form. Game four was all New York. It was 4-1 in the bottom of the seventh when Don Drysdale took the hill. Don was 20 years old, and 5-5 with a 2.64 ERA in 25 games. He was almost as imposing as Newk at this point. And he was actually taller. 6'5!

He quickly got Gil McDougald out on a grounder. But then, Andy Carey singled. Don fanned pitcher Tommy Sturdivant. However, any hope of getting out of the inning unscathed ended when Hank Bauer hit a home run. Shaken, Don walked Joe Collins before finally getting out of there. But it was now 6-1, New York.

Drysdale finished the game. He pitched the bottom of the eighth and got Yogi Berra to ground out. Enos Slaughter also grounded out. When Billy Martin became the third Yankee to do that in the inning, Don had 'em 1-2-3. New York would next hear from him in 1963. But they won this game, 6-2. The 1956 Fall Classic was knotted at two games apiece. The next game, the last at Yankee Stadium in '56, was on for the ages.

Don Larsen went out and pitched a perfect game, and New York won 2-0. Back at Ebbets Field for game six, the Dodgers showed they were not done. They took a ten-inning thriller, 1-0 behind the pitching of Clem Labine.

So it was down to a winner-take-all game seven. And Don Newcombe was back. It wasn't one of his finer efforts.

Hank Bauer got things rolling for New York with a single as the game's first batter. Don tamed Billy Martin on a K, but Hank took advantage of Newk's preoccupied state of mind with the batter. He stole second. Mickey Mantle went down on a strikeout as well. But Yogi Berra hit one out of the park. It was 2-0.

The Dodgers put the tying run on first with just one out in the bottom of the frame, but then Jackie Robinson hit into a inning-ending double play. Newk had a fairly easy second inning, save for a walk. But the Dodgers went down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the inning. It was going to be a long day for Brooklyn hitters.

But for Newk, the afternoon ended soon enough. Bauer led off the top of the third and Don got him. But Billy Martin singled. His buddy, Mantle, fanned again. However, Yogi Berra got New York two more with another two-run blast. It was 4-0. The Dodgers again were retired 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame.

Elston Howard's leadoff home run in the top of the fourth ended Newcombe's day. It ended the game for all intents and purposes. New York went on to win, 9-0. Drysdale did not come in to pitch.

The 1956 World Series had a bit of the old (Newcombe) and a bit of the new (Drysdale). Plus Koufax, who was 6'2. He may not of pitched, but clearly, Brooklyn had some idea they had two special newcomers that year. Newk's drinking got the better of him, and he was never quite as good as he'd been again.

The Dodgers left Brooklyn in 1958, for Los Angeles. And when they made it back to the Fall Classic, it was Drysdale and Koufax with a start each. Newk was gone. Johnny Podres, who'd missed the 1956 World Series, but was the hero in 1955, also was there. Thus, the Dodgers used the old in the new again, and this time it worked. But in their primes, beating Newk, Don and Don was certainly as tall an order as the height of each!


References

Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.

Fonseca, Lew, director. World Series Of 1956. Performance by Lew Fonseca, Major League Baseball Productions, 1956. DVD.

Ford, Whitey, and Phil Pepe. Slick. New York: W. Morrow, 1987. Print.

Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.

Mantle, Mickey, and Mickey Herskowitz. All My Octobers: My Memories of Twelve World Series When the Yankees Ruled Baseball. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Neft, David S., and Richard M. Cohen. The World Series: Complete Play-by-play of Every Game, 1903-1989. 4th ed. New York: St. Martin's, 1990. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Paper, Lewis J. Perfect: Don Larsen's Miraculous World Series Game And The Men Who Made It Happen. New York, NY: New American Library, 2009. Print.

Retrosheet. Web. 21 Jan. 2015. <www.retrosheet.org>.

Seaver, Tom, and Martin Appel. Great Moments in Baseball. New York, NY: Carol Pub. Group, 1992. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 21 Jan. 2015.

World Series: Did You Know?

Dale Mitchell, who was the last out of Don Larsen's perfect game, was also the last out of the 1954 Fall Classic.

So two famous last outs, all rolled into one pretty good player. Dale batted .312 lifetime.

Mitchell, who was also on the 1948 Cleveland Indians for good measure, ended up playing in thirteen World Series games, so of course he was going to have some back luck along the way.

In 1948, the Indians needed no such luck. Nor did it appear they needed any in 1954. Cleveland came into the Fall Classic against the New York Giants with a record of 111 wins and only 43 losses. Mitchell was not even in the starting lineup that World Series. But he came into the game as a pinch hitter under the most bizzare of circumstances.

So, Willie Mays makes "The Catch" of Vic Wertz, right? You've seen that. Larry Doby, on second, advanced to third for Cleveland, who also had Al Rosen on first, who singled. One out, runners on the corners.

Hank Majeski came in to bat for Dave Philley. But the Giants had seen enough from pitcher Don Liddle, who gave up the long fly from Wertz. Marv Grissom came into to pitch for the Giants. Liddle did not leave quietly. He turned to Grissom and said, "Well, I got my man."

Well, he sure did. The score was tied at two when all this amazing stuff was happening! But now Grissom would have to get his man, Majeski. But Majeski would not hit. Dale Mitchell came into bat. Mitchell coaxed a walk from Grissom. So the bases were loaded despite "The Catch".

The Indians went to the well for another pinch hitter, Dave Pope, but Grissom fanned him. Jim Hegan was then retired and the threat was stuffed. Willie Mays' catch, however, was the only thing we should be talking about in that game, right? The Giants took this thing in extras, 5-2.

Further amazing was the fact that Mitchell batted only twice more in this Fall Classic. In game three hit batted by was retired with the Indians trailing 6-1. Cleveland managed to score that inning but lost the game 6-2. With that, New York was up three games to 0 and looking for the sweep.

They got it in game four, as they stormed out to a 7-0 lead. Majeski, of all people, got Cleveland back in this thing somewhat with a three-run home run in the bottom of the fifth. The Indians scored again in the bottom of the seventh and even got had a man on third before the Giants got out of there.

So, in the bottom of the ninth, with the Giants still up 7-4, it was up to Mitchell to keep the ball rolling on a comeback attempt. With Steve Dente on first and two outs, Mitchell stepped into the dish for Dave Pope. He popped out to third and the Giants were World Series champions in a most surprising of sweeps.

Dale Mitchell was with Cleveland in 1956, when Brooklyn purchased his contract July 29th. He only played 19 games for Brooklyn and batted .292.

He was on the roster for the postseason. Brookly took game one and Mitchell sat and waited. In game two, Brooklyn was behind 6-1 in the bottom of the second when he batted for pitcher Ed Roebuck. He failed to deliver, but Brooklyn tied the game that inning. And they went on to win, 13-8.

The Dodgers lost game three and Mitchell warmed the bench some more. In game four, he batted for Roebuck again, but again failed to deliver as Brooklyn lost again, 6-2.

And of course on to game five. Well, Don Larsen was pitching a perfect game, and up to 92 pitches after retiring 26 straight batters. Now, as Dale batted for Sal Maglie, just one more out to go.

Ball one was outside.

Larsen got a called strike.

Mitchell swung and misses the next pitch. 1-2. One more pitch...

Mitchell fouled it off.

But when Larsen's next pitch was called a strike on the outside corner, the only perfect game (or no-hitter for that matter) had been thrown. Mitchell had one more plate appearance left in him. And Brooklyn had one more win left in them.

The Dodgers took game six, 1-0 in 10 innings. But in game seven, it was all New York.

The Yankees took an early 5-0 lead off Don Newcombe. Another Don, Bessent, relieved. He held the Yankees scoreless in his three inning relief stint. But Brooklyn still trailed 5-0 in the bottom of the sixth and Bessent was the first scheduled batter there. Mitchell batted for him and grounded out. The next two men were also retired.

The Yankees went on to win the game, 9-0 and wrap up the World Series. Dale Mitchell had also played his last game.

World Series are sometimes remembered for one play, like a Mays' catch. Or one game with a majestic performance, like Don Larsen's perfect game. Dale Mitchell made the last out to ensure Willie Mays' catch jump started the Giants on a sweep. And he made the last out in Don Larsen's perfect game to make it official. The Fall Classic can be good and bad timing. Sadly for Mitchell, it was a batter in the right place and right time. It was only the result that wasn't what he was hoping for!


References


Enders, Eric. 100 Years Of The World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.

Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary Books, 2000. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Paper, Lewis J. Perfect: Don Larsen's Miraculous World Series Game And The Men Who Made It Happen. New York, NY: New American Library, 2009. Print.

Seaver, Tom, and Martin Appel. Great Moments in Baseball. New York, NY: Carol Pub. Group, 1992. Print.

Sports Reference LLC.  Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 17 Nov. 2014.

World Series: Did You Know?

Jackie Robinson got the first hit for the Dodgers in the 1956 World Series. He was also their last batter in games six and seven. And for good measure, Jackie was the first Brooklyn baserunner in game three. Another Brooklyn / New York World Series. Another seven games (In fact, they'd gone seven the previous year!). Another classic. And Jackie provided some drama it what was to be his final act as a player!

Brooklyn, looking to repeat on their great triumph of '55, sent one of their arch-enemies, Sal Maglie to the hill in game one. But Sal had gone 13-5 with a 2.89 ERA, so he was the right man to be there. Better still, Sal had finally done something that season that all pitchers dream about, a no-hitter!

The Barber, as he was called, was purchased from the Cleveland Indians on May 15th, and the Dodgers had needed him. Over and over again he came through. But in the opening tilt, it was Mickey Mantle that smacked a two-run home run in the top of the first inning to give the visiting Yankees a 2-0 lead.

Whitey Ford, New York's starter, got the Dodgers in order in the bottom of the frame. But in the bottom of the second, it was Robinson hitting a home run of his own to lead it off. It proved to be the last round-tripper he would ever hit. Inspired by this, Brooklyn tied the game. And then, the next inning, it was Gil Hodges that smashed a three-run home run to put the Dodgers up 5-2.

Maglie allowed a solo blast by Billy Martin in top of the fourth, but the Dodgers the three-run lead back in the bottom of the frame on a single by Sandy Amoros. The score was 6-3, Brooklyn and it remained that way for the rest of the game.

Game two also went the way of the Dodgers, as they took it 13-8. But when the Series moved to Yankees Stadium for games three, four and five, it's as if the momentum shifted, too.

Jackie walked to start things in the top of the second against Whitey Ford in game three. He later crossed the plate with the first run. The Dodgers actually took a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the sixth inning. But a three-run home run by Enos Slaughter put New York up for good.

Robinson got a hit and a walk in game four, but this one was all New York. They thumped the Dodgers, 6-2. Jackie did score the last run of the game, and the Dodgers loaded the bases with just one out. But they could not get another man home. In the next game, it became even more difficult.

Sal Maglie was back. Actually, he had just appeared on the show, "What's My Line" the day before. His performance that game would have normally won many a game for Brooklyn. In the World Series, you need these performances. But the Yankees got a perfect game from Don Larsen. And on only five hits and two runs (one on another Mickey Mantle special), New York took game five of the 1956 World Series, 2-0. Now, they led three games to two.

In game six, back at the Taj Mahal of Brooklyn's Ebbet's Field, more good pitching. This time, it would prove to be enough for the Dodgers to prevail and square this series at three.

The problem for Brooklyn in this game was, while Clem Labine tossed a complete-game shutout, Bob Turley stayed right with him. It was a pitcher's duel that was not far off Maglie / Larsen's efforts in game five.

Jackie popped out to leave a man on in the bottom of the first frame. He drew a walk in the bottom of the fourth, but was stranded. The Dodgers looked like they were due for a breakout when Turley walked two men in the bottom of the sixth. There was just one out when Robinson came to bat. But all Jackie could do was pop out. When Gil Hodges did the same, the inning was over.

In the bottom of the eighth, Brooklyn got a leadoff ground-rule double from Clem Labine, who seemed to be doing it all on this day. But Turley fanned Jim Gilliam (before the day was over, Bullet Bob would finish with 11 K's). Pee Wee Reese flied out to Mickey Mantle in centre. Then the other great centerfielder in this Fall Classic, Duke Snider, was given an intentional walk. But Jackie Robinson popped out to third to end the inning.

Labine finished the ninth inning with a shutout, and got New York 1-2-3 in the top of the tenth inning. But he had only five strikeouts. The Yankees had gotten seven hits off him.

In the bottom of the frame, Labine himself popped up to Billy Martin at second. Gilliam drew Turley's seventh walk of the afternoon. Reese, hitless on the day, bunted to Turley, who got it to first for the second out. Gilliam was now on second and Snider was now at the dish. Turley walked him intentionally. And, leave it to Jackie to finish it!

Lashing a single over Enos Slaughter's head in left, Gilliam trotted home with the winning run. The 1956 World Series would go to a deciding seventh game. But it turned out to be anti-climatic.

The Yankees stormed out of the game, going for the quick kill of Don Newcombe and Brooklyn in game seven. Hank Bauer singled and stole second to start things. But Newk fanned Billy Martin and Mickey Mantle. Against Berra, he got a little to careful and Yogi smashed a home run over the tall wall in right. It was 2-0, New York. Bill Skowron fanned to end it. Newk had fanned the side, but he and the Dodgers needed Jackie and his mates to get him some runs. They failed to do so.

Johnny Kucks, not exactly a good pitcher, started the game for New York. Jim Gilliam grounded out to Skowron at first, but Reese walked and Snider (the first of two hits for the Duke) singled. The tying run was on first just like that. A hit by Jackie here could tie the game. Alas, Robinson hit into an inning-ending double-play. As it turns out, the Dodgers would never get another chance to win this game.

Newk had a easy inning in the top of the second, despite a walk. But Brooklyn went down 1-2-3 as Kucks' confidence must have soared. And, in the top of the third, it all came undone for Don Newcombe and company.

Bauer grounded out, but Martin singled. Newk fanned Mantle again. Now, all that remained was Berra, as had been the case in the first. But Yogi again went yard. As he rounded the bases, Yogi said to Newk, who had been widely criticized for his failure to win a game in the World Series, "It was a good pitch, Newk!" Newcombe nodded in agreement, but New York was now up 4-0. Skowron popped up. But Brooklyn's bats just were failing them. And worse, it was against three pitchers (Larsen, Turley and now Kucks), who weren't exactly in Whitey Ford's class.

Brooklyn went 1-2-3 in the bottom of the frame, and Elston Howard's home run to lead off the top of the fourth inning finished off Newcombe and the Dodgers. Don Bessent, as he had all series long, came in and shut down the Yankees. No one will ever remember that.

Reese led off the bottom of the fourth with a walk. But Duke Snider forced him at second. Robinson tried to bunt, but it ended up being a harmless pop up. Hodges grounded out.

Bessent held the Yankees scoreless in the top of the fifth and sixth, but Kuck retired Brooklyn in order in the meantime. Then, in the seventh inning (Bessent having bee pinch hit for in the bottom of the 6th), Skowron hit a grand slam off Roger Craig to make it 9-0, Yankees.

Snider popped out in the bottom of the frame, but Robinson drew a walk. Gil Hodges then did what you don't want to do in these situations: he grounded into an inning-ending double play!

Ed Roebuck had got the last three men out in the bottom of the seventh. In the eighth, he had a 1-2-3 inning. Carl Erskine also had a 1-2-3 ninth for the Dodgers. But this was all too late. And with no offence to speak off, it was also pretty useless, even if New York had only scored a single tally.

The Dodgers got their second hit of Johnny Kucks in the bottom of the eighth by Carl Furillo, but it led nowhere. And in the bottom of the ninth, the defiant Dodgers came up one last time in the World Series as the Brooklyn Dodgers.

Gilliam grounded out to Skowron at first. Reese tried to bunt, but ended up popping out to Berra behind the plate. Duke Snider collected his second hit of the game. But it was with two outs and it was also just the third hit of the game for the Dodgers. Jackie Robinson struck out, but the ball got away from Yogi and Robinson dashed to first and Snider to second. But Robinson did not make it in time. Brooklyn had lost, 9-0. It was a sad end for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

The Dodgers would never return to the World Series in Brooklyn. Jackie Robinson had played his last game. From his rookie season in 1947 to 1956, Brooklyn had reached the World Series six of those years. Some of the other important Dodgers of 1956 would also not be there when they returned to the fall classic in 1959: Newcombe, Maglie, Campanella and Erskine!

But by 1958 it was the Los Angeles Dodgers. The 1956 World Series marked the end of a glorious era in baseball from the Yankees, Dodgers and Giants. All had been great for long enough that their memory still lingers on nearly sixty years later!

References

Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.

Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 25 Jun. 2014.

Thorn, John, and Pete Palmer. Total Baseball. Vers. 1994. Portland, OR: Creative Multimedia Corp., 1994. Computer software. CD-ROM.

Fonseca, Lew, director. World Series Of 1956. Performance by Lew Fonseca, Major League Baseball Productions, 1956. DVD.

World Series: Did You Know?

Don Drysdale did pitch in a World Series for the Dodgers…while they were still in Brooklyn!

As a rookie for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956, Drysdale got into 25 games. He even got 12 starts.

He actually posted a pretty good ERA, although he was just a .500 pitcher that season (5-5). The Dodgers, nonetheless, put him on the postseason roster.

Drysdale waited 3 games. Then his first World Series moment came in game 4. It was not what Don was hoping for, however.

It was October 7^th, 1956. Don Drysdale was 20 years old. And at this point, he wasn’t even the second meanest pitcher on the Dodgers. Gotta remember that Don Newcombe and Sal Maglie pitched this year. Gotta think Don took some serious lessons from each!

Drysdale would later state that Sal Maglie was, “an important influence. I learned more from Sal than from and other individual.”

Gee, I wonder what Sal taught Don? Anyone?

But by game 4 of the 1956 World Series, Maglie and Newcombe had already pitched games 1 and 2. No way were they coming in. The Yankees won game 2 over Roger Craig.

Game 4 was between the Yankees Tom Sturdivant to the hill against Carl Erskine. Erskine already had 2 no-hitters to his name. One of them was earlier that season against the Giants on May 12.

So that’s three no-hitters by the Dodgers staff coming into game 4. Sal Maglie pitched one on September 25^th against the Phillies. There would be a no-hitter tossed in game 5 of this Series. Not by a Dodger pitcher. But we are only at game 4 at this point.

Erskine was gone after 4 innings, and the Yankees were up 3-1. Another run against Ed Roebuck (on a majestic solo blast by Mickey Mantle) and New York was poised for the kill of Brookyln.

Then, in the bottom of the 7^th inning, came Don Drysdale out of the bullpen!

Gil McDougald grounded out to short. But then Andy Carey singled. Drysdale then K’d his mound opponent, Sturdivant. But Hank Bauer belted a 2-run home run to left. It was now 6-1 Yankees and the game was hopelessly lost. Drysdale then walked Joe Collins but retired Mantle on a grounder.

Drysdale then retired Yogi Berra, Enos Slaughter and Billy Martin (1-2-3) on groundouts in the bottom 8^th. So of the 6 outs Drysdale got, 5 were groundouts.

Not that it mattered. The Yankees won the game 6-2, took game 5 (on Don Larsen’s perfect game) then wrapped it up in 7 games. Drysdale did not get into a game this Series. He would not make his first World Series start until game  4 of the 1959 World Series.

But, at least Drysdale got into a game this Series. The Dodgers had another promising pitcher who was actually there in 1955 and ’56 as well. But he didn't pitch in either World Series.

His name was Sandy Koufax.

My Top 10 Favourite World Series

Okay, I know I'm going to create controversy. Get ready to think, "What about ?" Remember, this is my list!

10) 1977 World Series

Game 6: Reggie once, twice, three times...

9) 1903 World Series

The first World Series. You gotta start somewhere!

8) 2004 World Series

1918 is uttered no more by long suffering Red Sox fans!

7) 1952 World Series

The Mick wins games 6 and 7 with homeruns. It doesn't get any better than that!

6) 1956 World Series

Grand Larsen(y) in game 5!

5) 1991 World Series

Would be a lot higher on the list if the Twins didn't beat my beloved Jays in the ALCS

4) 1975 World Series

Game 6, need I say more?

3) 1986 World Series

Same as #10 and #4, but with a little roller up along first...

2) 1992 World Series

My beloved Jays finally get it done. Devo makes The Catch That Should Have Resulted In A Triple Play!

1) 1993 World Series

Two words: Joe Carter!

References

Enders, Eric. 100 years of the World Series. New York: Sterling Publishing Co., Inc. 2005. Print.

Kendall, Brian. Great Moments in Canadian Baseball. Toronto, Ont., Canada: Lester Pub., 1995. Print.

Mantle, Mickey, and Mickey Herskowitz. All My Octobers: My Memories of Twelve World Series When the Yankees Ruled Baseball. New York: HarperCollins, 1994. Print.

Neft, David S., Richard M. Cohen, and Michael L. Neft. The Sports Encyclopedia: Baseball, 1992. 12th ed. New York: St. Martin's Press, 1992. Print.

Nemec, David et all. 20th Century Baseball Chronicle: A Year-by-year History of Major League Baseball. Collector's Edition. Lincolnwood, Ill: Publications International, 1993. Print.

Seaver, Tom, and Martin Appel. Great Moments in Baseball. New York, NY: Carol Pub. Group, 1992. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 09 Oct. 2012.

Baseball Playing Card Of The Day: Whitey Ford

The Chairman Of The Board! Ford has some fine World Series records.

Not to mention an impressive .690 winning % in his career 1950, 1953-1967. If you subtract his last three years, it's even better, .720.

In looking at Ford's World Series performance I'm amazed to find somethings amazing:

Ford never started a game 7!

But no doubt, Ford was the man you wanted if you went to a World Series. Consider that he holds World Series' records for:

Games Started (22)

Innings Pitched (146)

Wins (10) [Okay, fine! Also losses (8)]

Strikeouts (94)

Consecutive Scoreless Innings (33 2/3)


References


Golenbock, Peter. Dynasty: The New York Yankees, 1949-1964. Lincolnwood, IL: Contemporary, 2000. Print.

Snyder, John S. World Series!: Great Moments and Dubious Achievements. San Francisco: Chronicle, 1995. Print.

Sports Reference LLC. Baseball-Reference.com - Major League Statistics and Information. http://www.baseball-reference.com/. Web. 02 May 2011.