Ron Griffitts
Contributing Columnist
In October 1956, the Brooklyn Dodgers (93-61) who completed only one sport forward of the Milwaukee Braves and two video games forward of the Cincinnati Reds, met for the 6th time within the ultimate ten years the New York Yankees (97-57) in what proved to be the Dodger’s ultimate World Series prior to shifting to Los Angeles after the 1957 season.
The Dodgers had been controlled by way of Walt Alston of Darrtown, Ohio with normal supervisor Buzzie Bavasi whilst the Yankees had been controlled by way of Casey Stengel and had as normal supervisor George Weiss.
The Dodgers had been led by way of centerfielder Duke Snider (34 HR, 101 RBI, .292 BA, 112 RS), catcher Roy Campanella (20 HR), Gil Hodges (32 HR, 87 RBI, 86 RS), Carl Furillo (21 HR, 83 RBI, .289 BA) and Jim Gilliam (.300 BA, 21 SB) as smartly long run Hall of Famers and each 37 years outdated Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese.
Brooklyn’s pitching personnel used to be anchored by way of Don Newcombe, 27-7, Roger Craig, 12-11, 39 yr outdated Sal Maglie, 13-5, 2.87 ERA, and Carl Erskine, 13-11. In the bullpen they’d Clem Labine, 10-6, 19 saves and 19 yr outdated Don Drysdale and 20 yr outdated Sandy Koufax.
The Yankees had been led by way of 24 yr outdated switching hitting American League Triple Crown Winner Mickey Mantle (52 HR, 130 RBI, .353 BA, 132 RS), catcher Yogi Berra (30 HR, 105 RBI, .298 BA, 93 RS), Bill Skowron (23 HR, 90 RBI, .308. BA) and Hank Bauer (26 HR, 84 RBI, 96 RS). They additionally had 38 yr outdated Phil Rizzuto and 40 yr outdated Enos Slaughter.
Lefthander Whitey Ford, 19-6. 2.47 ERA, Johnny Kucks, 18-9, Don Larson, 11-4, Tom Sturdivant, 16-8 and Bob Turley, 8-4, had been their starters whilst Bob Morgan 11 saves and Tommy Byrne 7-3, 6 saves had been the relievers.
Game one used to be in historical Ebbets Field in Brooklyn with Whitey Ford pitching for New York and Sal Maglie going for the Dodgers. Despite house runs by way of Mickey Mantle and Billy Martin, Maglie pitched an entire sport 6-3 victory. He used to be helped by way of house runs by way of Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges.
Game two used to be a top scoring affair as starters Don Larson and Don Newcombe each lasted lower than two innings. Brooklyn prevailed 13-8 with the assistance of a three-run house run by way of Duke Snider whilst Yogi Berra added a grand slam for the Yankees because the Dodgers took a 2-0 lead within the sequence.
For sport 3, the groups moved throughout the city to Yankee Stadium within the Bronx with Whitey Ford again on best two days relaxation to start out towards Roger Craig.
Ford fared higher this time with an entire sport 5-3 victory, helped by way of house runs by way of Billy Martin and Enos Slaughter with Slaughter’s being a 3 run affair within the 6th scoring. It proved to be the successful run and the Yankees pull to inside of one sport, 2-1 within the sequence.
In sport 4, the Yankees were given some other entire sport. This time a six hitter by way of Tom Sturdivant and with the assistance of house runs by way of Mantle and Hank Bauer, the Bronx Bombers tie the sequence 2-2 with a win.
In the World Series, no pitcher had ever pitched a no hitter however that used to be about to modify as Yankee starter Don Larsen went to the mound to start out the 5th sport of the 1956 World Series-arguably probably the most historical World Series sport ever performed.
Against a lineup that featured 5 long run Hall of Famers, Hodges, Snider, Campanella, Jackie Robinson, and Pee Wee Reese, Larsen slowly labored throughout the lineup with out permitting now not best no hits but in addition no baserunners.
With Larsen desiring just one extra out for the very best sport, Dodger supervisor Walt Alston despatched up Dale Mitchell to pinch hit for Sal Maglie. Larsen were given two moves on Mitchell and at the subsequent pitch house plate umpire Babe Pirelli’s arm went out calling Mitchell out on a referred to as 3rd strike and Don Larsen had pitched the one easiest sport in World Series historical past.
A Mickey Mantle solo house run off of Maglie equipped one of the most runs Larsen wanted because the Yankees just right pitching persevered and they received 2-0 to move up 3-2 within the sequence.
Game six used to be again at Ebbets Field and Walt Alston despatched out reliever Clem Labine to start out towards the Yankees Bob Turley and they attached in a pitching duel with the rating 0-0 because the Dodgers started to bat within the backside of the 10th inning.
In one of the most ultimate at bats of his historical occupation, Jackie Robinson singled in Junior Gilliam with the successful run and the Dodgers tie the sequence up at 3 video games every.
In sport seven, which used to be their ultimate sport ever in Ebbets Field, the Dodgers had a forgettable sport.
Their ace, Don Newcombe, began however Yogi Berra homered with one on in each the second one and fourth innings and Elston Howard and Bill Skowron added house runs because the Yankees received the sport 9-0 and their 17th World Series identify.
Don Larsen were given the sequence MVP in that almost all historical World Series. It used to be the ultimate one in Brooklyn, the ultimate main league sport for Jackie Robinson (he retired after the World Series reasonably than report back to the Giants to whom he have been traded) and Larsen’s easiest sport.
Major league baseball used to be a lot other in 1956 than in 1947 when Jackie Robinson built-in the sport.
The Yankees had been again the following yr and the Dodgers because the Los Angeles Dodgers in 1959.
Statistics from this newsletter had been from baseball-reference.com and Youtube.com.