Game 3 of the 1955 World Series was the last Fall Classic played in September. Who better to go at it then the Dodgers and Yankees for this one?
Brooklyn, up against New York again, were looking down and out. Behind 2-0 in the Series, and with Johnny Podres (11-13 on the 1955 season and no Fall Classic win to his name), on the hill. Things looked pretty grim for Da Bums. It was September 30, 1955. How would the Dodgers last very far into the next month?
It looked like another Yankee win. Bob Turley started for New York. What a difference a year makes! 14-15 with the Baltimore Orioles in 1954, to 17-13 with the Yankees the next year. Could Podres match up?
Podres' battery mate Roy Campanella, hit a 2-run shot in the bottom of the first. That was the kind of start the Dodgers needed. But what they didn't need was what happened to them in the top of the second inning!
Mickey Mantle, a year shy of the Triple Crown, smashed a home run of his own, the only good news was that it came with the bases empty. But a single by Phil Ruzzuto scored another run, and just like that the game was tied at 2.
But with one out in the bottom of the frame, it was Brooklyn's turn for some scoring! With one out, Jackie Robinson singled, and then Turley hit Sandy Amoros. Podres made it to first on a bunt! Jim Gilliam walked. Brooklyn was back on top, 3-2 and Turley was hitting the showers early.
Tom Morgan, the Yankees new pitched, then walked Pee Wee Reese, and the Dodgers suddenly had their 2-run lead back! Podres settled down and got the Yanks 1-2-3 in the 3rd and 4th innings.
In the bottom of the 4th, it was Campanella who singled home another run. Carl Furillo flied out, foul, to left, but than cashed in a run. Now, Brooklyn had some real breathing room! 6-2, Dodgers! Podres allowed no hits for the 3rd straight inning in the 5th.
In the sixth, the first two Yankees singled, but then Mantle did something he rarely did: he hit into a double play! The Yankees nonetheless got a run back the next inning as Andy Carey, batting for the pitcher, tripled home Rizzuto. But it was still 6-3, Dodgers! Then it was time for Jackie Robinson to weave some of that old magic.
With one out in the Dodgers half of the inning, the still fleet-footed Robby doubled to left, then took third on the throw to second. Jackie didn't steal home, as he had in the first game (The debate as to whether or not he made it there will probably never be settled), but he scored on Amoros' single. Podres failed with the bunt and forced Sandy at second, but a walk to Gilliam kept the inning alive. Reese stroked a single to make it 8-3 for Da Bums!
In the top of the 8th, Podres got 'em 1-2-3 on grounders. Moose Skowron started the 9th inning with a single for the Yankees. Podres got the next three batters to pop out. The Dodgers had their first win of the 1955 World Series thanks to Podres. Podres had lost a game to New York in 1953, so this was his first World Series win. They needed it! I guess this was a sign that this last September Fall Classic game was something special! And in the 7th game, it was the Brooklyn Dodgers who came through with a 2-0 win and their first championship!
Brooklyn, up against New York again, were looking down and out. Behind 2-0 in the Series, and with Johnny Podres (11-13 on the 1955 season and no Fall Classic win to his name), on the hill. Things looked pretty grim for Da Bums. It was September 30, 1955. How would the Dodgers last very far into the next month?
It looked like another Yankee win. Bob Turley started for New York. What a difference a year makes! 14-15 with the Baltimore Orioles in 1954, to 17-13 with the Yankees the next year. Could Podres match up?
Podres' battery mate Roy Campanella, hit a 2-run shot in the bottom of the first. That was the kind of start the Dodgers needed. But what they didn't need was what happened to them in the top of the second inning!
Mickey Mantle, a year shy of the Triple Crown, smashed a home run of his own, the only good news was that it came with the bases empty. But a single by Phil Ruzzuto scored another run, and just like that the game was tied at 2.
But with one out in the bottom of the frame, it was Brooklyn's turn for some scoring! With one out, Jackie Robinson singled, and then Turley hit Sandy Amoros. Podres made it to first on a bunt! Jim Gilliam walked. Brooklyn was back on top, 3-2 and Turley was hitting the showers early.
Tom Morgan, the Yankees new pitched, then walked Pee Wee Reese, and the Dodgers suddenly had their 2-run lead back! Podres settled down and got the Yanks 1-2-3 in the 3rd and 4th innings.
In the bottom of the 4th, it was Campanella who singled home another run. Carl Furillo flied out, foul, to left, but than cashed in a run. Now, Brooklyn had some real breathing room! 6-2, Dodgers! Podres allowed no hits for the 3rd straight inning in the 5th.
In the sixth, the first two Yankees singled, but then Mantle did something he rarely did: he hit into a double play! The Yankees nonetheless got a run back the next inning as Andy Carey, batting for the pitcher, tripled home Rizzuto. But it was still 6-3, Dodgers! Then it was time for Jackie Robinson to weave some of that old magic.
With one out in the Dodgers half of the inning, the still fleet-footed Robby doubled to left, then took third on the throw to second. Jackie didn't steal home, as he had in the first game (The debate as to whether or not he made it there will probably never be settled), but he scored on Amoros' single. Podres failed with the bunt and forced Sandy at second, but a walk to Gilliam kept the inning alive. Reese stroked a single to make it 8-3 for Da Bums!
In the top of the 8th, Podres got 'em 1-2-3 on grounders. Moose Skowron started the 9th inning with a single for the Yankees. Podres got the next three batters to pop out. The Dodgers had their first win of the 1955 World Series thanks to Podres. Podres had lost a game to New York in 1953, so this was his first World Series win. They needed it! I guess this was a sign that this last September Fall Classic game was something special! And in the 7th game, it was the Brooklyn Dodgers who came through with a 2-0 win and their first championship!
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