1959 World Series
Encyclopedia
The 1959 World Series featured the National League
champion Los Angeles Dodgers
beating the American League
champion Chicago White Sox
, four games to two. It was the first pennant for the White Sox in 40 years (since the Black Sox Scandal
). They would have to wait until 2005
to win another championship. The Dodgers won their first pennant since moving from Brooklyn in 1958 by defeating the Milwaukee Braves
, two games to none, in a best-of-three-games pennant playoff
. It was the Dodgers' second World Series championship in five years, their first in Los Angeles, and marked the first Championship for a West Coast team. It was the first ever World Series in which no pitcher for either team pitched a complete game.
Vin Scully
remarked at the beginning of the official World Series film, "What a change of scenery!" This was the first Series since 1948
in which no games were played in New York
, breaking the streak of the city that documentary filmmaker Ken Burns
later called the 1950s' "Capital of Baseball". The Yankees won the AL pennant every year from 1949
through 1964
, except for 1954, when the Cleveland Indians
finished first, and 1959 when the White Sox finished first. Al Lopez
was the manager of both these teams.
The Dodgers found an unlikely hero when Chuck Essegian
, who hit only one home run in 1959 and had only six in his career to that point, set a World Series record with two pinch-hit home runs.
Due to the best-of-three playoff, Game 1 was deferred from Wednesday, September 30, to Thursday, October 1. The normal travel days were retained between Games 2 and 3, and Games 5 and 6, resulting in the rare event of a Series with no Saturday game scheduled.
Games 3, 4 and 5 were:
Larry Sherry
of the Dodgers was the fifth consecutive pitcher to win the World Series Most Valuable Player Award (in only the fifth year it was awarded), following Johnny Podres
(Brooklyn
, 1955
), Don Larsen
(New York
, 1956
), Lew Burdette
(Milwaukee
, 1957
), and Bob Turley
(New York
, 1958
). Sherry, who had been born with club feet, finished all four games the Dodgers won, winning two and saving two. His brother Norm
was the Dodgers' backup catcher.
Ted Kluszewski
played for the losing "Pale Hose", but still managed to drive in a World Series record ten runs, and became the first player to have double-digit RBI totals for any length Series.
The Dodgers became the second National League team to win a World Series after relocating (the Milwaukee Braves
being the first).
This was the most recent World Series to host the final World Series games of its host venues, a "distinction" it lost to the 2003 World Series
after the original Yankee Stadium (1923) closed following the 2008 Major League Baseball season
and the Florida Marlins
moved out of Sun Life Stadium after the 2011 season
.
in Chicago, Illinois
Historic Comiskey Park is host to its first World Series in 40 years as Game 1 unfolds and Early Wynn opposes Roger Craig. After scoring twice in the first inning, the Sox pound across seven runs in the third and two more in the fourth on two titanic home runs by first baseman Ted Kluszewski. White Sox bang the ball all over the park and rout the Dodgers 11–0.
in Chicago, Illinois
Game 2 features Bob Shaw vs. Johnny Podres. Again the Sox jump out to a quick 2–0 lead and hold it until the fifth when Charlie Neal homers for the first Dodger run of the series. During that home run, White Sox's left fielder Al Smith got an unexpected beer shower. With the game tied 2–2 in the seventh, Neal hits his second home run of the day to put the Dodgers ahead for the first time, 4–2. During a Sox uprising in the eighth against Larry Sherry, Al Smith doubles to left with two men on. However, in the bonehead play of the series, Sherm Lollar is thrown out by a mile at the plate trying to score, and the Dodgers still lead the game. (Wally Moon faked a catch, fooling Lollar completely. By the time he saw the ball still on the ground, it was too late to score.) This is the turning point of the Series, as Sherry closes the door in the ninth to notch a save and give the win to Podres.
in Los Angeles, California
The tie-breaker playoff crowd at the Los Angeles Coliseum (36,528) had fallen well short of the stadium's baseball seating capacity of 92,000-plus. In contrast, the three World Series games in the Coliseum would draw Series record crowds that will likely never be equalled. It's Dick Donovan vs. Don Drysdale in Game 3 and both pitchers throw goose eggs through six, with Donovan giving up only one hit. However, Donovan's control deserts him in the seventh inning, and with the bases loaded, Carl Furillo
bats against reliever Staley and singles in two runs to put the Dodgers in front. After Drysdale gives up a run in the eighth, Sherry comes in to relieve and shuts down the Sox as the Dodgers win, 3–1.
in Los Angeles, California
Opening game pitchers Wynn and Craig face each other again in Game 4, a 5–4 Dodger victory. Lollar's homer caps a game-tying seventh inning for the Sox, but Gil Hodges
blasts one only an inning later to give the Dodgers and relief pitcher Larry Sherry the win.
in Los Angeles, California
For the first time in series history, three pitchers combine for a shutout as White Sox starter Bob Shaw, Billy Pierce
and Dick Donovan all stop the Dodgers 1–0 in Game 5, which sends the series back to Chicago
. The game's only run scores in the fourth off starter Sandy Koufax, when Nellie Fox scores as Lollar grounds into a double play.
in Chicago, Illinois
The victory in Game 5 gives the Sox hope heading home to again play in a "real ballpark", but the change in scenery is no help. Pitcher of the Year, Early Wynn, starting with only two days rest, squares off against Podres, but after scoring two runs in the third inning off him, the Dodgers break open the game with six runs in the fourth for an 8–0 lead. Podres, however, is also knocked out in the fourth by Chicago's last gasp, another towering home run by the leading hitter by the Sox in the series, Ted Kluszewski. In the ninth inning, Chuck Essegian sets a World Series record with his second pinch-hit homer of the series, and the Dodgers capture the World Championship, four games to two.
This would be this Comiskey Park's final World Series game. It would also be the last World Series game to be played in the Windy City until the White Sox returned in 2005
.
(N.L.) over Chicago White Sox
(A.L.)
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
champion Los Angeles Dodgers
1959 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished in a first-place tie with the Milwaukee Braves, then won the pennant as they swept the Braves in a best-of-three playoff series. They went on to defeat the Chicago White Sox in the 1959 World Series in just their second season since leaving Brooklyn.- Offseason :*...
beating the American League
American League
The American League of Professional Baseball Clubs, or simply the American League , is one of two leagues that make up Major League Baseball in the United States and Canada. It developed from the Western League, a minor league based in the Great Lakes states, which eventually aspired to major...
champion Chicago White Sox
1959 Chicago White Sox season
The Chicago White Sox season was the team's 59th season in the major leagues, and its 60th season overall. They finished with a record 94-60, good enough to win the American League championship, five games ahead of the second place Cleveland Indians...
, four games to two. It was the first pennant for the White Sox in 40 years (since the Black Sox Scandal
Black Sox Scandal
The Black Sox Scandal took place around and during the play of the American baseball 1919 World Series. Eight members of the Chicago White Sox were banned for life from baseball for intentionally losing games, which allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win the World Series...
). They would have to wait until 2005
2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
to win another championship. The Dodgers won their first pennant since moving from Brooklyn in 1958 by defeating the Milwaukee Braves
1958 Milwaukee Braves season
The Milwaukee Braves season was a season in American baseball. The Braves finished first in the National League with a 92-62 record and returned to the World Series for the second consecutive year, losing to the New York Yankees in seven games.-Offseason:...
, two games to none, in a best-of-three-games pennant playoff
1959 National League tie-breaker series
The 1959 National League tie-breaker series was a best-of-three playoff series to decide the winner of Major League Baseball's National League pennant. The games took place on September 28 and 29, 1959 between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Milwaukee Braves. The first game was played in...
. It was the Dodgers' second World Series championship in five years, their first in Los Angeles, and marked the first Championship for a West Coast team. It was the first ever World Series in which no pitcher for either team pitched a complete game.
Vin Scully
Vin Scully
Vincent Edward Scully is an American sportscaster, known primarily as the play-by-play voice of the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team on Prime Ticket, KCAL-TV and KABC radio...
remarked at the beginning of the official World Series film, "What a change of scenery!" This was the first Series since 1948
1948 World Series
The 1948 World Series matched the Cleveland Indians against the Boston Braves. The Braves had won the National League pennant for the first time since the "Miracle Braves" team of . The Indians spoiled a chance for the only all-Boston World Series by winning a one-game playoff against the Boston...
in which no games were played in New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, breaking the streak of the city that documentary filmmaker Ken Burns
Ken Burns
Kenneth Lauren "Ken" Burns is an American director and producer of documentary films, known for his style of using archival footage and photographs...
later called the 1950s' "Capital of Baseball". The Yankees won the AL pennant every year from 1949
1949 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the team's 47th season in New York, and its 49th season overall. The team finished with a record of 97-57, winning their 16th pennant, finishing 1 game ahead of the Boston Red Sox. New York was managed by Casey Stengel. The Yankees played their home games at Yankee...
through 1964
1964 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 62nd season for the Yankees. The team finished with a record of 99-63, winning their 29th pennant, finishing 1 game ahead of the Chicago White Sox. New York was managed by Yogi Berra. The Yankees played at Yankee Stadium. In the World Series, they were defeated...
, except for 1954, when the Cleveland Indians
1954 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians advanced to the World Series for the first time in six years. It was the team's third American League championship in franchise history...
finished first, and 1959 when the White Sox finished first. Al Lopez
Al Lopez
Alfonso Ramon "Al" Lopez was an American catcher and manager in Major League Baseball, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1977....
was the manager of both these teams.
The Dodgers found an unlikely hero when Chuck Essegian
Chuck Essegian
Charles Abraham Essegian, Jr. is a former backup outfielder who played from through in Major League Baseball. Listed at 5' 11", 200 lb., he batted and threw right-handed....
, who hit only one home run in 1959 and had only six in his career to that point, set a World Series record with two pinch-hit home runs.
Due to the best-of-three playoff, Game 1 was deferred from Wednesday, September 30, to Thursday, October 1. The normal travel days were retained between Games 2 and 3, and Games 5 and 6, resulting in the rare event of a Series with no Saturday game scheduled.
Games 3, 4 and 5 were:
- The first World Series games ever played on the West Coast;
- The first and only played in Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles Memorial ColiseumThe Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
; - The only games in World Series history to exceed 90,000 in attendance: Game 5 drew 92,706 fans (a major league record as of 2008, unlikely to be broken under current arrangements, as no current MLB stadium has a capacity of even 70,000)
Larry Sherry
Larry Sherry
Lawrence Sherry was an American right-handed relief pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Detroit Tigers...
of the Dodgers was the fifth consecutive pitcher to win the World Series Most Valuable Player Award (in only the fifth year it was awarded), following Johnny Podres
Johnny Podres
John Joseph Podres was an American left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
(Brooklyn
1955 Brooklyn Dodgers season
In , the Brooklyn Dodgers finally fulfilled the promise of many previous Dodger teams. Although the club had won several pennants in the past, and had won as many as 105 games in 1953, it had never won a World Series. This team finished 13.5 games ahead in the National League pennant race, leading...
, 1955
1955 World Series
The 1955 World Series matched the Brooklyn Dodgers against the New York Yankees, with the Dodgers winning the Series in seven games to capture their first championship in franchise history. It would be the only Series the Dodgers won in Brooklyn . The last time the Brooklyn franchise won a World...
), Don Larsen
Don Larsen
Donald James Larsen is a former Major League Baseball pitcher. During a 15-year baseball career, he pitched from 1953-67 for seven different teams. Larsen is best known for pitching the sixth perfect game in baseball history, doing so in game 5 of the 1956 World Series...
(New York
1956 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 54th season for the team in New York, and its 56th season overall. The team finished with a record of 97-57, winning their 22nd pennant, finishing 9 games ahead of the Cleveland Indians. New York was managed by Casey Stengel. The Yankees played their home games...
, 1956
1956 World Series
The 1956 World Series of Major League Baseball was played between the New York Yankees and the defending champion Brooklyn Dodgers during the month of October 1956. The Series was a rematch of the 1955 World Series...
), Lew Burdette
Lew Burdette
Selva Lewis Burdette, Jr. was an American right-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played primarily for the Boston and Milwaukee Braves...
(Milwaukee
1957 Milwaukee Braves season
The Milwaukee Braves season was the year that the team won its first and only World Series championship while based in Milwaukee. The Braves won 95 games and lost 59 to win the National League pennant by eight games over the second-place St. Louis Cardinals....
, 1957
1957 World Series
The 1957 World Series featured the defending champions, the New York Yankees , playing against the Milwaukee Braves . After finishing just one game behind the N.L. Champion Brooklyn Dodgers in 1956, the Braves came back in 1957 to win their first pennant since moving from Boston in 1953...
), and Bob Turley
Bob Turley
Robert Lee Turley was a Major League Baseball pitcher.Turley was signed as an amateur free agent by the St. Louis Browns in . He played his first game on September 29, 1951 for the Browns and moved with them to Baltimore in...
(New York
1958 New York Yankees season
The New York Yankees season was the 56th season for the team in New York, and its 58th season overall. The team finished with a record of 92-62, winning their 24th pennant, finishing 10 games ahead of the Chicago White Sox. In the World Series, they defeated the Milwaukee Braves in 7 games. New...
, 1958
1958 World Series
The 1958 World Series was a rematch of the 1957 Series, with the New York Yankees beating the defending champion Milwaukee Braves in seven games for their eighteenth title, and their seventh in ten years...
). Sherry, who had been born with club feet, finished all four games the Dodgers won, winning two and saving two. His brother Norm
Norm Sherry
Norman Burt Sherry is an American former catcher, manager, and coach in Major League Baseball. He is best known as the man who, while still an active player as the second-string catcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers, helped the great lefthanded pitcher Sandy Koufax harness his talent and transform...
was the Dodgers' backup catcher.
Ted Kluszewski
Ted Kluszewski
Theodore Bernard "Big Klu" Kluszewski was a Major League first baseman from 1947 through 1961. He batted and threw left-handed.-Career:...
played for the losing "Pale Hose", but still managed to drive in a World Series record ten runs, and became the first player to have double-digit RBI totals for any length Series.
The Dodgers became the second National League team to win a World Series after relocating (the Milwaukee Braves
Atlanta Braves
The Atlanta Braves are a professional baseball club based in Atlanta, Georgia. The Braves are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Braves have played in Turner Field since 1997....
being the first).
This was the most recent World Series to host the final World Series games of its host venues, a "distinction" it lost to the 2003 World Series
2003 World Series
The 2003 World Series marked the 99th baseball World Series event. The Florida Marlins defeated the New York Yankees in six games, 4–2.-Background:...
after the original Yankee Stadium (1923) closed following the 2008 Major League Baseball season
2008 Major League Baseball season
The 2008 Major League Baseball season began on March 25, 2008 in Tokyo, Japan with the 2007 World Series champion Boston Red Sox defeating the Oakland Athletics at the Tokyo Dome 6–5 in the first game of a two-game series, and ended on September 30 with the host Chicago White Sox defeating the...
and the Florida Marlins
Florida Marlins
The Miami Marlins are a professional baseball team based in Miami, Florida, United States. Established in 1993 as an expansion franchise called the Florida Marlins, the Marlins are a member of the Eastern Division of Major League Baseball's National League. The Marlins played their home games at...
moved out of Sun Life Stadium after the 2011 season
2011 Major League Baseball season
The 2011 Major League Baseball season began on Thursday, March 31, and ended on Wednesday, September 28. This marked the first time a season began on a Thursday since , and the first time a regular season ended on a Wednesday since...
.
Summary
Game 1
Thursday, October 1, 1959 at Comiskey Park (I)Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
in Chicago, Illinois
Historic Comiskey Park is host to its first World Series in 40 years as Game 1 unfolds and Early Wynn opposes Roger Craig. After scoring twice in the first inning, the Sox pound across seven runs in the third and two more in the fourth on two titanic home runs by first baseman Ted Kluszewski. White Sox bang the ball all over the park and rout the Dodgers 11–0.
Game 2
Friday, October 2, 1959 at Comiskey Park (I)Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
in Chicago, Illinois
Game 2 features Bob Shaw vs. Johnny Podres. Again the Sox jump out to a quick 2–0 lead and hold it until the fifth when Charlie Neal homers for the first Dodger run of the series. During that home run, White Sox's left fielder Al Smith got an unexpected beer shower. With the game tied 2–2 in the seventh, Neal hits his second home run of the day to put the Dodgers ahead for the first time, 4–2. During a Sox uprising in the eighth against Larry Sherry, Al Smith doubles to left with two men on. However, in the bonehead play of the series, Sherm Lollar is thrown out by a mile at the plate trying to score, and the Dodgers still lead the game. (Wally Moon faked a catch, fooling Lollar completely. By the time he saw the ball still on the ground, it was too late to score.) This is the turning point of the Series, as Sherry closes the door in the ninth to notch a save and give the win to Podres.
Game 3
Sunday, October 4, 1959 at Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
The tie-breaker playoff crowd at the Los Angeles Coliseum (36,528) had fallen well short of the stadium's baseball seating capacity of 92,000-plus. In contrast, the three World Series games in the Coliseum would draw Series record crowds that will likely never be equalled. It's Dick Donovan vs. Don Drysdale in Game 3 and both pitchers throw goose eggs through six, with Donovan giving up only one hit. However, Donovan's control deserts him in the seventh inning, and with the bases loaded, Carl Furillo
Carl Furillo
Carl Anthony Furillo , nicknamed "The Reading Rifle" and "Skoonj," was a right fielder in Major League Baseball who played his entire career for the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers...
bats against reliever Staley and singles in two runs to put the Dodgers in front. After Drysdale gives up a run in the eighth, Sherry comes in to relieve and shuts down the Sox as the Dodgers win, 3–1.
Game 4
Monday, October 5, 1959 at Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
Opening game pitchers Wynn and Craig face each other again in Game 4, a 5–4 Dodger victory. Lollar's homer caps a game-tying seventh inning for the Sox, but 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...
blasts one only an inning later to give the Dodgers and relief pitcher Larry Sherry the win.
Game 5
Tuesday, October 6, 1959 at Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
in Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
For the first time in series history, three pitchers combine for a shutout as White Sox starter Bob Shaw, Billy Pierce
Billy Pierce
Walter William Pierce is a former left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who played most of his career for the Chicago White Sox. He was the team's star pitcher between 1952 and 1961, and was named the American League's top pitcher in 1956 and 1957 after being runner-up in both 1953...
and Dick Donovan all stop the Dodgers 1–0 in Game 5, which sends the series back to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
. The game's only run scores in the fourth off starter Sandy Koufax, when Nellie Fox scores as Lollar grounds into a double play.
Game 6
Thursday, October 8, 1959 at Comiskey Park (I)Comiskey Park
Comiskey Park was the ballpark in which the Chicago White Sox played from 1910 to 1990. It was built by Charles Comiskey after a design by Zachary Taylor Davis, and was the site of four World Series and more than 6,000 major league games...
in Chicago, Illinois
The victory in Game 5 gives the Sox hope heading home to again play in a "real ballpark", but the change in scenery is no help. Pitcher of the Year, Early Wynn, starting with only two days rest, squares off against Podres, but after scoring two runs in the third inning off him, the Dodgers break open the game with six runs in the fourth for an 8–0 lead. Podres, however, is also knocked out in the fourth by Chicago's last gasp, another towering home run by the leading hitter by the Sox in the series, Ted Kluszewski. In the ninth inning, Chuck Essegian sets a World Series record with his second pinch-hit homer of the series, and the Dodgers capture the World Championship, four games to two.
This would be this Comiskey Park's final World Series game. It would also be the last World Series game to be played in the Windy City until the White Sox returned in 2005
2005 World Series
The 2005 World Series, the 101st Major League Baseball championship series, saw the American League champion Chicago White Sox sweep the National League champion Houston Astros four games to none in the best-of-seven-games series, winning their third championship and first since 1917.Home-field...
.
Composite box
1959 World Series (4–2): Los Angeles DodgersLos 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.) over Chicago White Sox
Chicago White Sox
The Chicago White Sox are a Major League Baseball team located in Chicago, Illinois.The White Sox play in the American League's Central Division. Since , the White Sox have played in U.S. Cellular Field, which was originally called New Comiskey Park and nicknamed The Cell by local fans...
(A.L.)