1952 World Series
Encyclopedia
The 1952 World Series featured the three-time defending champion New York Yankees
beating the Brooklyn Dodgers
in seven games. The Yankees won their fourth straight title—tying the mark they set between 1936 and 1939 under manager Joe McCarthy, and Casey Stengel
became the second manager in Major League history with four consecutive championships. It was the 15th championship in the Yankees' history, and the third defeat of the Dodgers in six years.
In Game 7, the Yankees' second baseman
Billy Martin
made a game-saving catch. Also, the home run hit by Mickey Mantle
during the eighth inning of Game 6 was significant because it was the first of his record 18 career World Series
home runs.
The NBC telecasts of Games 6 and 7 are believed to be the oldest surviving television broadcasts of the World Series, as they were preserved by sponsor Gillette.
, paced the NL in runs scored (775), home runs (153) and stolen bases (90). Duke Snider
, Jackie Robinson
and George Shuba batted over .300, while Roy Campanella
(97) and Gil Hodges
(102) paced the team in RBI’s. The Dodgers had no dominant pitchers with Carl Erskine (206.2) the lone pitcher with over 200 innings and rookie Joe Black
leading the team with 15 wins. Manager Dressen used 14 starting pitchers on the year, but as a unit, the pitchers combine to finished second in the NL in team ERA. Defensively, the Dodgers led the NL with a .982 fielding percentage, and Campanella gunned down 29 of 52 (56%) would-be base stealers.
The Yankees, led by the effusive Casey Stengel
, recovered from the retirement of Joe DiMaggio, and the loss of Bobby Brown, Joe Coleman and Tom Morgan to the service. The Yankees matched the Dodgers in hitting as they finished first or second in the AL in runs scored, home runs, batting average, and slugging percentage. Mickey Mantle had a breakout season leading the Yankees in batting (.311), and slugging (.530). Yogi Berra led the Yanks in runs (97), HR’s (30) and RBI’s (98). The Yankees had a solid pitching staff that led the AL in ERA (3.14). Allie Reynolds led the team with 20 wins and led the league with 2.08 ERA. Casey Stengel rotated his pitchers all year with seven having at least 12 starts, but none working more than 35 games. Defensive standout Phil Rizzuto led AL shortstops with 458 assists and made only 19 errors.
in Brooklyn, New York
in Brooklyn, New York
in Brooklyn, New York
In Game 6, with a 3–2 Series lead and the final two at Ebbets Field, the Dodgers looked to chase away the demons of 1951. Billy Loes (13–8) faced Vic Raschi (16–6). Dodger Manager Chuck Dressen made a curious lineup change with George Shuba batting fifth, replacing Andy Pafko. Dressen placed Roy Campanella in the sixth spot and left Gil Hodges to bat seventh.
In the Dodger half of the first inning, with Duke Snider on second and Jackie Robinson on first, Shuba grounded out to Billy Martin to end the inning. In the Yankee fourth Yogi Berra reached second base when Pee Wee Reese uncorked a wild throw on a double-play attempt, but the Yankees could not capitalize. In the fifth inning the Dodgers turned a remarkable double play. Yankee Irv Noren led off with a single, followed by a Vic Raschi bunt. Gil Hodges picked up the bunt, turned and fired to Reese at second, who in lightning succession fired to Robinson covering first just in time to retire Raschi. In the Dodger sixth, Snider sent Raschi’s first pitch over the 40 feet (12 m) of screen in back of right field and onto Bedford Ave for 1–0 lead. In the top of the seventh, Yogi Berra matched Snider blast with one of his own, again onto Bedford Avenue. Gene Woodling followed with a single and Dodger pitcher Billy Loes balked him to second. Raschi then made up for his bunt-turned-double-play by getting a hit, literally off Loes. The ball ricocheted off Loes and into right field bringing Woodling home for a 2–1 lead. In another curious move Dressen allowed pitcher Billy Loes to hit for himself in the seventh. Loes singled and promptly stole second. But Raschi struck out Billy Cox to end the inning. Mantle led off the Yankee eighth inning with the first of his 18 World Series home runs. Mantle’s shot set a record for home runs by one team and for both teams in a single Series at 13. Snider continued the homerun fest by launching another shot in the bottom of the eighth. Jackie Robinson then sent left fielder Gene Woodling to the wall for an out and Shuba doubled to send Raschi to the showers. Allie Reynolds
relieved and quickly ended the Dodger eighth. Reynolds, known as “The Chief” again made quick work of the Dodgers in the ninth including striking out Rocky Nelson, who had pinch hit for Hodges, preserving the 3–2 win.
in Brooklyn, New York
Game 7 pitted Joe Black (15–4) vs Eddie Lopat (10–5). Black, who came out of the Negro Leagues and was not even on the Dodgers Spring Training roster, had already pitched a complete game win in Game 1 of the Series, pitched seven innings in a 4–2 loss in Game 4 and would be starting his third game in seven days. At that time there were no days off between games as both teams played in New York. For the Yankees, Billy Martin continued his solid play. Martin sat on the bench for most of the season’s first two months and took over second base duties when Casey Stengel moved Gil McDougal from second to third base to replace military bound Bobby Brown.
Phil Rizzuto led off the Yankee fourth with a double and Johnny Mize singled him home for a 1–0 lead. In the Dodger fourth, a single by Snider followed by two consecutive sacrifice attempts by Robinson and Campanella, intended to move runners over, loaded the bases instead. Allie Reynolds replaced Lopat and retired Hodges with a fly to left that scored Snider. Reynolds struck out Shuba, then induced Furillo to groundout, leaving Robinson at third and the game tied 1–1. In the fifth inning, Gene Woodling homered for the Yanks, and the Dodgers Billy Cox doubled followed by a Pee Wee Reese single kept the game tied at 2–2. Mickey Mantle demonstrated his penchant for coming up big in World Series play with a home run in the sixth inning and RBI single in the seventh to give the Bronx Bombers a 4–2 lead. The Brooklyn boys loaded the bases again in the seventh, when Vic Raschi walked Furillo, Cox singled and Reese walked. Stengel called on Bob Kuzava who retired Snider, setting the stage for Billy Martin. With two out and the runners moving, Jackie Robinson popped-up to the right of the mound. Kuzava hesitated looking to his fielders. Martin charged hard from his position deep at second and caught the ball off his shoetops, to end the inning and save a run. Kuzava then quickly put the Dodgers down in the eighth and ninth to give the Yankees their fourth consecutive World Championship.
(A.L.) over Brooklyn Dodgers
(N.L.)
1952 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 50th season for the Yankees in New York and their 52nd overall, going back to their origins in Baltimore. The team finished with a record of 95-59, winning their 19th pennant, finishing 2 games ahead of the Cleveland Indians. New York was managed by Casey...
beating the Brooklyn Dodgers
1952 Brooklyn Dodgers season
The Brooklyn Dodgers rebounded from the heartbreaking ending of 1951 to win the National League pennant by four games over the New York Giants. However, they dropped the World Series in seven games to the New York Yankees...
in seven games. The Yankees won their fourth straight title—tying the mark they set between 1936 and 1939 under manager Joe McCarthy, and Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
became the second manager in Major League history with four consecutive championships. It was the 15th championship in the Yankees' history, and the third defeat of the Dodgers in six years.
In Game 7, the Yankees' second baseman
Second baseman
Second base, or 2B, is the second of four stations on a baseball diamond which must be touched in succession by a base runner in order to score a run for that player's team. A second baseman is the baseball player guarding second base...
Billy Martin
Billy Martin
Alfred Manuel "Billy" Martin, Jr. was an American Major League Baseball second baseman and manager. He is best known as the manager of the New York Yankees, a position he held five different times...
made a game-saving catch. Also, the home run hit by Mickey Mantle
Mickey Mantle
Mickey Charles Mantle was an American professional baseball player. Mantle is regarded by many to be the greatest switch hitter of all time, and one of the greatest players in baseball history. Mantle was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1974.Mantle was noted for his hitting...
during the eighth inning of Game 6 was significant because it was the first of his record 18 career World Series
World Series
The World Series is the annual championship series of Major League Baseball, played between the American League and National League champions since 1903. The winner of the World Series championship is determined through a best-of-seven playoff and awarded the Commissioner's Trophy...
home runs.
The NBC telecasts of Games 6 and 7 are believed to be the oldest surviving television broadcasts of the World Series, as they were preserved by sponsor Gillette.
Summary
Matchups
In 1952 the Dodgers, led by manager Chuck DressenChuck Dressen
Charles Walter Dressen , known as both "Chuck" and "Charlie," was an American third baseman, manager and coach in professional baseball during a career that lasted almost fifty years, and was best known as the manager of the powerful Brooklyn Dodgers of 1951–1953...
, paced the NL in runs scored (775), home runs (153) and stolen bases (90). Duke Snider
Duke Snider
Edwin Donald "Duke" Snider , nicknamed "The Silver Fox" and "The Duke of Flatbush", was a Major League Baseball center fielder and left-handed batter who played for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers , New York Mets , and San Francisco Giants .Snider was elected to the National Baseball Hall of...
, Jackie Robinson
Jackie Robinson
Jack Roosevelt "Jackie" Robinson was the first black Major League Baseball player of the modern era. Robinson broke the baseball color line when he debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947...
and George Shuba batted over .300, while Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella
Roy Campanella , nicknamed "Campy", was an American baseball player, primarily at the position of catcher, in the Negro leagues and Major League Baseball...
(97) and Gil Hodges
Gil Hodges
Gilbert Ray Hodges was an American Major League Baseball first baseman and manager. During an 18-year baseball career, he played in 1943 and from 1947–63, spending most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
(102) paced the team in RBI’s. The Dodgers had no dominant pitchers with Carl Erskine (206.2) the lone pitcher with over 200 innings and rookie Joe Black
Joe Black
Joseph Black was an American right-handed pitcher in Negro League and Major League Baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers, Cincinnati Redlegs, and Washington Senators who became the first black pitcher to win a World Series game, in 1952. Black died of prostate cancer at age 78.A native of Plainfield,...
leading the team with 15 wins. Manager Dressen used 14 starting pitchers on the year, but as a unit, the pitchers combine to finished second in the NL in team ERA. Defensively, the Dodgers led the NL with a .982 fielding percentage, and Campanella gunned down 29 of 52 (56%) would-be base stealers.
The Yankees, led by the effusive Casey Stengel
Casey Stengel
Charles Dillon "Casey" Stengel , nicknamed "The Old Perfessor", was an American Major League Baseball outfielder and manager. He was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in ....
, recovered from the retirement of Joe DiMaggio, and the loss of Bobby Brown, Joe Coleman and Tom Morgan to the service. The Yankees matched the Dodgers in hitting as they finished first or second in the AL in runs scored, home runs, batting average, and slugging percentage. Mickey Mantle had a breakout season leading the Yankees in batting (.311), and slugging (.530). Yogi Berra led the Yanks in runs (97), HR’s (30) and RBI’s (98). The Yankees had a solid pitching staff that led the AL in ERA (3.14). Allie Reynolds led the team with 20 wins and led the league with 2.08 ERA. Casey Stengel rotated his pitchers all year with seven having at least 12 starts, but none working more than 35 games. Defensive standout Phil Rizzuto led AL shortstops with 458 assists and made only 19 errors.
Game 1
Wednesday, October 1, 1952 at Ebbets FieldEbbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
in Brooklyn, New York
Game 2
Thursday, October 2, 1952 at Ebbets FieldEbbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
in Brooklyn, New York
Game 3
Friday, October 3, 1952 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkGame 4
Saturday, October 4, 1952 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkGame 5
Sunday, October 5, 1952 at Yankee Stadium (I) in Bronx, New YorkGame 6
Monday, October 6, 1952 at Ebbets FieldEbbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
in Brooklyn, New York
In Game 6, with a 3–2 Series lead and the final two at Ebbets Field, the Dodgers looked to chase away the demons of 1951. Billy Loes (13–8) faced Vic Raschi (16–6). Dodger Manager Chuck Dressen made a curious lineup change with George Shuba batting fifth, replacing Andy Pafko. Dressen placed Roy Campanella in the sixth spot and left Gil Hodges to bat seventh.
In the Dodger half of the first inning, with Duke Snider on second and Jackie Robinson on first, Shuba grounded out to Billy Martin to end the inning. In the Yankee fourth Yogi Berra reached second base when Pee Wee Reese uncorked a wild throw on a double-play attempt, but the Yankees could not capitalize. In the fifth inning the Dodgers turned a remarkable double play. Yankee Irv Noren led off with a single, followed by a Vic Raschi bunt. Gil Hodges picked up the bunt, turned and fired to Reese at second, who in lightning succession fired to Robinson covering first just in time to retire Raschi. In the Dodger sixth, Snider sent Raschi’s first pitch over the 40 feet (12 m) of screen in back of right field and onto Bedford Ave for 1–0 lead. In the top of the seventh, Yogi Berra matched Snider blast with one of his own, again onto Bedford Avenue. Gene Woodling followed with a single and Dodger pitcher Billy Loes balked him to second. Raschi then made up for his bunt-turned-double-play by getting a hit, literally off Loes. The ball ricocheted off Loes and into right field bringing Woodling home for a 2–1 lead. In another curious move Dressen allowed pitcher Billy Loes to hit for himself in the seventh. Loes singled and promptly stole second. But Raschi struck out Billy Cox to end the inning. Mantle led off the Yankee eighth inning with the first of his 18 World Series home runs. Mantle’s shot set a record for home runs by one team and for both teams in a single Series at 13. Snider continued the homerun fest by launching another shot in the bottom of the eighth. Jackie Robinson then sent left fielder Gene Woodling to the wall for an out and Shuba doubled to send Raschi to the showers. Allie Reynolds
Allie Reynolds
Allie Pierce Reynolds was a pitcher in Major League Baseball.-Biography:...
relieved and quickly ended the Dodger eighth. Reynolds, known as “The Chief” again made quick work of the Dodgers in the ninth including striking out Rocky Nelson, who had pinch hit for Hodges, preserving the 3–2 win.
Game 7
Tuesday, October 7, 1952 at Ebbets FieldEbbets Field
Ebbets Field was a Major League Baseball park located in the Flatbush section of Brooklyn, New York, USA, on a city block which is now considered to be part of the Crown Heights neighborhood. It was the home of the Brooklyn Dodgers of the National League. It was also a venue for professional football...
in Brooklyn, New York
Game 7 pitted Joe Black (15–4) vs Eddie Lopat (10–5). Black, who came out of the Negro Leagues and was not even on the Dodgers Spring Training roster, had already pitched a complete game win in Game 1 of the Series, pitched seven innings in a 4–2 loss in Game 4 and would be starting his third game in seven days. At that time there were no days off between games as both teams played in New York. For the Yankees, Billy Martin continued his solid play. Martin sat on the bench for most of the season’s first two months and took over second base duties when Casey Stengel moved Gil McDougal from second to third base to replace military bound Bobby Brown.
Phil Rizzuto led off the Yankee fourth with a double and Johnny Mize singled him home for a 1–0 lead. In the Dodger fourth, a single by Snider followed by two consecutive sacrifice attempts by Robinson and Campanella, intended to move runners over, loaded the bases instead. Allie Reynolds replaced Lopat and retired Hodges with a fly to left that scored Snider. Reynolds struck out Shuba, then induced Furillo to groundout, leaving Robinson at third and the game tied 1–1. In the fifth inning, Gene Woodling homered for the Yanks, and the Dodgers Billy Cox doubled followed by a Pee Wee Reese single kept the game tied at 2–2. Mickey Mantle demonstrated his penchant for coming up big in World Series play with a home run in the sixth inning and RBI single in the seventh to give the Bronx Bombers a 4–2 lead. The Brooklyn boys loaded the bases again in the seventh, when Vic Raschi walked Furillo, Cox singled and Reese walked. Stengel called on Bob Kuzava who retired Snider, setting the stage for Billy Martin. With two out and the runners moving, Jackie Robinson popped-up to the right of the mound. Kuzava hesitated looking to his fielders. Martin charged hard from his position deep at second and caught the ball off his shoetops, to end the inning and save a run. Kuzava then quickly put the Dodgers down in the eighth and ninth to give the Yankees their fourth consecutive World Championship.
Composite box
1952 World Series (4–3): New York YankeesNew York Yankees
The New York Yankees are a professional baseball team based in the The Bronx, New York. They compete in Major League Baseball in the American League's East Division...
(A.L.) over Brooklyn Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
(N.L.)