On This Date in Sports October 7, 1952: Billy Bashes Brooklyn
In collaboration with the Sportsecyclopedia.com
It's wait ‘til next year again for the Brooklyn Dodgers as they lose another heartbreaking World Series Game 7 to the New York Yankees 4-2. The turning point of the game at Ebbets Field came in the seventh inning when the Dodgers loaded the bases with one out. After Bob Kuzava got Duke Snider to pop up, Jackie Robinson hit an infield fly over the mound caught by Billy Martin, who dashed in from second to save the day.
The New York Yankees came into the World Series seeking a fourth straight title 95-59 season. The Yankees, managed by Casey Stengel, won the American League Pennant, despite the retirement of Joe DiMaggio and Bobby Brown and Jerry Coleman away from the team due to military service in Korea. The Brooklyn Dodgers, meanwhile managed by Chuck Dressen after a 96-57 came in looking to erase the frustration of three other series defeats at the hands of the Yankees.
The Dodgers' offense was led by Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, and Pee Wee Reese, who each hit home runs. Joe Black, the National League Rookie of the Year, got the ball in Game 1 against Allie Reynolds at Ebbets Field and pitched a complete game, allowing two runs on six hits as the Dodgers earned a 4-2 win. It was the first time an African American won a game in the Fall Classic.
The Yankees bounced back to take Game 2 by a score of 7-1, as Vic Raschi pitched a complete game, allowing just three hits. The game turned in the Bronx Bombers' favor in the sixth inning when they pushed across five runs, highlighted by a three-run homer from Billy Martin.
As the series shifted to Yankee Stadium, the Dodgers used the speed of Jackie Robinson to create havoc on the bases. First scoring on a sacrifice fly in the eighth, Robinson came home from second on a passed ball by Yogi Berra in the ninth inning to seal a 5-3 win to regain control of the series.
In Game 4, it was all about Allie Reynolds, who pitched a complete game four-hitter while striking out four batters as the Yankees evened the series with a 2-0 win. Johnny Mize provided the offense, who hit a home run in the fourth inning. In contrast, Mickey Mantle provided insurance with a triple to center in the eighth inning as Joe Black was a hard-luck loser allowing just one run on three hits over seven innings.
With the series tied two games apiece, Carl Erskine pitched 11 innings for the Dodgers despite allowing five runs in the fifth inning. The big blast was a three-run homer off the bat of Johnny Mize, erasing an early 4-0 Brooklyn lead. Duke Snider tied the game with a single in the seventh as the game went into extra innings tied 5-5. In the 11th, Snider recorded his fourth RBI of the game with a double to give the Dodgers a 6-5 lead. In the bottom of the inning retired Mickey Mantle, Johnny Mize, and Yogi Berra to preserve the lead. Duke Snider ended the game just needing a triple for the cycle, as he had four RBI and went 3-for-5.
The series shifted back to Brooklyn, with the Dodgers looking to win their first World Series, leading 3-2. Game 6 quickly developed into a pitchers’ duel as Vic Raschi and Billy Loes matched zeroes over the first five innings. In the sixth inning, the Dodgers got on the board first with a leadoff home run by Duke Snider. However, Yogi Berra answered with a home run to lead off the seventh. Raschi then aided his cause with an RBI single to give the Yankees a 2-1 lead. Mickey Mantle added to the lead in the eighth inning with the first of his record 18 career World Series home runs. Snider would hit another home run in the eighth, but it was not enough as Allie Reynolds recorded the final four outs for the save.
In Game 7, the Yankees turned to Reynolds again as he came on in relief of Eddie Lopat to earn his second win of the series, pitching the middle three innings. The Yankees and Dodgers traded runs in the fourth and fifth innings, with the Yankees taking the lead for good on a home run by Mickey Mantle in the sixth inning. Mantle followed up with an RBI single in the seventh inning to give the Yankees a 4-2 lead. In the bottom of the seventh, the Dodgers had their chances, loading the bases with one out against Vic Raschi. Bob Kuzava came on and got the Dodgers' hottest hitter Duke Snider to pop up to third baseman Gil McDougald. Jackie Robinson followed up and hit a pop fly into no man’s land in the middle of the infield. The ball appeared to be lost until Billy Martin, running in from deep second, made a thrilling shoe-top catch to end the Dodgers' last rally. Kuzava would finish off the game as the Yankees won their 15th World Series in 30 years.
In a losing effort, Duke Snider had a monster series, batting .345 with four home runs and eight RBI, while Johnny Mize hit .400 with three home runs and six RBI for the Yankees. The big heroes for the Yankees had to be pitchers Allie Reynolds and Vic Raschi, who won two games each.