1947 World Series recap

Yankees defeat Dodgers, 4 games to 3

September 27th, 2022

With everyone finally back from the war, the Yankees and Dodgers resumed the rivalry that had begun in 1941. The Series opened in the Bronx, and the Bombers took advantage with a 5-3 victory, all five Yankee runs coming in the fifth inning. Outfielders Johnny Lindell and Tommy Henrich both knocked in two runs. Game 2 was no contest, as Lindell drove home two more runners and the Yanks won 10-3.

The World Series shifted to Ebbets Field for Game 3, and the Dodgers responded with six runs in the second inning. The Yankees battled back, but Brooklyn held on for a 9-8 squeaker, Yogi Berra grounding out to end the game.

Game 4 of the 1947 World Series was, at the time, a true sensation. After eight innings, Yankee starter Bill Bevens was working on a no-hitter, though the Yanks led just 2-1 because the Dodgers scored once in the fifth on two walks and an RBI fielder's choice. In the bottom of the ninth, Bevens retired Bruce Edwards on a long fly, walked Carl Furillo, and got Spider Jorgensen to foul out. One out left for the no-hitter. After pinch-runner Al Gionfriddo stole second base, Pete Reiser was intentionally walked. And then Cookie Lavagetto, pinch-hitting for Eddie Stanky, collected Brooklyn's first hit of the game ... a double off the right-field wall that scored both Gionfriddo and Reiser, thus ending not only Bevens' no-hit bid, but also the game.

Yankee right-hander Spec Shea, who won Game 1, pitched even better in Game 5, limiting the Dodgers to four hits and a single run. Shea helped his own cause, driving in the first of New York's two runs with an RBI single in the fourth, and Joe DiMaggio accounted for the other with a solo homer in the fifth.

Back at the Stadium, the Dodgers finally cut loose in Game 6 with eight runs, which was just barely enough for an 8-6 triumph. That forced a Game 7, in which the Dodgers grabbed a 2-0 lead in the second inning, knocking out Spec Shea in the process. From there it was all Yankees, however. They chipped away for five runs in four different innings, and Joe Page thwarted the Dodgers with five innings of one-hit relief work, the Yanks clinching the Series with a 5-2 victory.

Managers: Bucky Harris, NYY; Burt Shotton, BRO