1957 World Series recap

Braves defeat Yankees, 4 games to 3

September 27th, 2022

Nine years earlier, the Boston Braves had reached the World Series, but in 1953 they moved to Milwaukee. Now, led by perennial 20-game winner Warren Spahn and future Hall of Famers Henry Aaron and Eddie Mathews, the Braves were back atop the National League. For the Yankees, of course, October action was de rigueur.

Game 1 featured a matchup of aces, New York's Whitey Ford versus Milwaukee's Spahn. Ford was better this day, allowing just five hits and topping Spahn 3-1 in Yankee Stadium. In Game 2, the Braves scored four runs in the first four innings against Bobby Shantz, and Milwaukee right-hander Lew Burdette made it stand up, going the distance for a 4-2 victory.

Game 3 marked the City of Milwaukee's first-ever World Series experience, but not many of the home fans went home happy. The Bronx Bombers knocked out Brave starter Bob Buhl in the first inning, and had their way with a number of relievers as well. The final was 12-3, Don Larsen gaining the decision with seven-plus innings of solid relief work. Game 4 was a lot closer. Spahn carried a 4-1 lead into the ninth, but with two outs Elston Howard hit a game-tying, three-run homer, and the contest moved to extra frames. The Yanks went back on top in the 10th, when Hank Bauer's triple plated Tony Kubek. The Braves weren't through, though. With one out, Johnny Logan doubled home Felix Mantilla, tying the game, and Eddie Mathews followed with a dramatic, game-ending home run over the right-field fence.

Burdette faced Ford in Game 5, and both pitchers were brilliant. The game's only run came in the bottom of the sixth, when Braves first baseman Joe Adcock singled to right field, Mathews scoring from third base. Ford allowed only six hits in seven innings, but Burdette topped that with a seven-hit shutout.

Back in New York, the Yankees captured Game 6, 3-2, behind the complete-game pitching of Bob Turley. The big blow was Yogi Berra's two-run homer in the third inning. Lew Burdette, already a two-time winner, started Game 7 and duplicated his Game 5 effort with another seven-hit shutout. Meanwhile, Milwaukee hitters knocked out Larsen in the third inning, and rolled to a 5-0, Series-clinching decision.

Managers: Fred Haney, MIL; Casey Stengel, NYY

MVP: Lew Burdette, MIL: 3-0, 0.67 ERA, 13 K