1955 World Series recap

Dodgers defeat Yankees, 4 games to 3

September 27th, 2022

Normalcy returned in 1955, as the Dodgers and Yankees resumed their rivalry after taking 1954 off. New York ace Whitey Ford wasn't as sharp as usual in Game 1, but he was sharp enough to beat Dodger stalwart Don Newcombe, 6-5. Bomber first baseman Joe Collins provided plenty of punch with two home runs. Game 2 also went to the Yanks, as Tommy Byrne topped the Bums with a complete-game, 4-2 effort. All four Yankee runs came in the fourth inning, and Byrne accounted for two of them with a bases-loaded single.

With no travel time necessary, Game 3 was played the next day in Brooklyn. Roy Campanella singled, doubled and homered, propelling the Dodgers to an 8-3 win, the Bums scoring two runs in four different frames. And Brooklyn evened the Series at two apiece with an 8-5 victory in Game 4. Gil Hodges and Duke Snider provided much of the offense with two- and three-run homers, respectively. The Dodgers made it three straight in Game 5, and again they made it look easy, topping the Yankees 6-3. Snider went 3-for-4, including a pair of solo home runs.

Facing elimination in Game 6, the Yankees exploded for five runs in the first inning off Dodger starter Karl Spooner. A pair of Brooklyn relievers held the Bombers scoreless from there, but five runs was more than enough for Whitey Ford, who limited Brooklyn to four hits and one run, making the final 5-1 and forcing a decisive Game 7.

Johnny Podres, winner of Game 3, drew the Game 7 start for Brooklyn, with Tommy Byrne taking the mound for New York. The Dodgers grabbed a 1-0 lead in the fourth on Hodges' RBI single, and made it 2-0 when Hodges lifted a sacrifice fly in the sixth. In the bottom of the sixth, Dodger manager Walt Alston sent Sandy Amoros to play left field, with Junior Gilliam shifting from left to second base. This move would prove fateful as, with runners on first and second, Yogi Berra sliced a line drive down the left-field line. The speedy Amoros made a spectacular running catch, then threw back to the infield, where Gil McDougald was doubled up. The next batter made out, and the Dodgers still led. Podres escaped another jam in the eighth, then retired the Yankees in order in the ninth, and the Dodgers had finally won their first World Series.

Managers: Walter Alston, BRO; Casey Stengel, NYY

MVP: Johnny Podres, BRO: 2-0, 1.00 ERA, 2 CG