Los Angeles Dodgers

Los Angeles Dodgers — page 3 — CHAPTER 1 FINALLY

Los Angeles Dodgers — page 4 — I t did not seem to matter when the Brook lyn Dodgers won 98 games and the 1955 National League NL pennant It did not seem to matter that pitcher Don New combe compiled a brilliant 20 5 record that year It did not seem to matter that outfielder Duke Snider smashed 42 home runs or that the team led the NL in every important offensive statistical category The Dodgers were bound to lose to the New York Yankees in the World Series They had always lost to the Yankees in the World Series They had fallen to the mighty American League AL champions in 1941 1947 1949 1952 and 1953 So when the 1955 World Series began Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot Hot The 1955 Dod rs ran awa with The 1955 Dodgers ran away with The 1955 Dodgers ran away with the NL pennant right from the start the NL pennant right from the start of the regular season They won of the regular season They won their first 10 games and soon had a their first 10 games and soon had a 22 2 record By June 23 the Dodge s 222 2 record By June 23 the Dodgers 22 2 record By June 23 the Dodgers owned a 49 16 mark They coasted owned a 49 16 mark They coasted owned a 49 16 mark They coasted the rest of the way and won the title the rest of the way and won the title the rest of the way and won the title by a whopping 13¹¹ ¹¹ games ²² games games games y by a whopping 13 by a whopping 13 ²²²² pp g Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe brought a 20 5 record into the Dodgers pitcher Don Newcombe brought a 20 5 record into the 1955 World Series against the New York Yankees 1955 World Series against the New York Yankees FINALLY 5

Los Angeles Dodgers — page 5 — the Dodgers fans in Brooklyn New York awaited the inevi table When their beloved team lost the first two games of the Series at Yankee Stadium that fear only grew But suddenly the Dodg ers came to life They won their next three games at home at Ebbets Field Snider and catcher Roy Campanella com bined for five home runs The Yankees rebounded to win Game 6 But the Dodgers had a chance to make up for all their losses to the Yankees by win ning the do-or-die Game 7 at Yankee Stadium The Dodgers entered the bottom of the sixth inning with a 2 0 lead They were led by the brilliant pitching of left-hander Johnny Podres Then the Yan kees put two runners on base with nobody out Yogi Berra sliced a long line drive down the line Dodgers left fielder Right Move Right Move Right Move Right Time Right Time Dodgers Mana r Walter Alston Dodgers Manager Walter Alston Dodgers Manager Walter Alston inserted Sandy Amoros into Game 7 inserted Sandy Amoros into Game 7 inserted Sandy Amoros into Game 7 inserted Sandy Amoros into Game 7 of the 1955 World Series at the ideal of the 1955 World Series at the ideal of the 1955 World Series at the ideal moment Amoros did not start the moment Amoros did not start the game because the Yankees started game because the Yankees started game because the Yankees started a left-handed pitcher However he a left-handed pitcher However he replaced Jim Gilliam in left field in replaced Jim Gilliam in left field in the sixth inning That was just in the sixth inning That was just in time to catch the line drive off the time to catch the line drive off the time to catch the line drive off the bat of the Yankees Yogi Berra and bat of the Yankees Yogi Berra and bat of the Yankees Yogi Berra and save two runs from scoring It is save two runs from scoring It is generally accepted that the right generally accepted that the right generally accepted that the right generally accepted that the right ha d d G ll am would have never handed Gilliam would have never handed Gilliam would have never caught up to that ball caught up to that ball caught up to that ball Sandy Amoros sprinted 150 feet into the corner and made a spectacular catch He then turned and fired the ball back into the infield Shortstop Pee Wee Reese caught the ball and caught the runner off first base for a double play The rally was squelched That was all Podres needed He completed the 2 0 shutout to give the Dodgers their World Series title 6 LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Los Angeles Dodgers — page 6 — Pitcher Johnny Podres gets a lift from catcher Roy Campanella after the Dodgers won Game 7 of the 1955 World Series The win set off hysteria in the New York borough in which the Dodgers resided Wrote one Brooklyn fan after the tri umph It was our national pastime as the phrase goes at its best And the underdog Brooklyn beloved bedraggled un-glamorous Brooklyn always the also-ran the runner-up the butt of jokes emerging bloody bowed but victorious after so many long years The celebration in Brook lyn lasted well into the night It was a moment captured by Sports Illustrated writer Robert Creamer O n the night of October 4 in the year 1955 there really was dancing in the streets of for Brooklyn and weeping FINALLY 7

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