1955 World Series Replay (Game 3)

Game 3

Friday, September 30th

Ebbets Field

Attendance: 34,209

Day game

BRO: Johnny Podres - Grade C-X

NYY: Bob Turley - Grade B-XYW

With the series tied 1-1, the Brooklyn Dodgers wanted to make an opening statement at home, while trying to take advantage of the momentum of the series.

The Dodgers took advantage early on a two-out single in the 1st inning by Duke Snider, which resulted in Snider advancing to second due to the error by Elston Howard in right. The next batter Roy Campanella made the Yankees pay dearly with an RBI double, which was then followed by RBI single by Carl Furillo. If you recall, Furillo was one of the heroes for the Dodgers in Game 2, hitting a three-run homer in the 7th to help lead the Dodgers to a 6-0 victory.

With the Dodgers up 2-0, Roy Campanella added another RBI on a single off Yankees hurler Bob Turley during the bottom of the 3rd. The Yankees threatened during the top of the 4th, with bases loaded and one out, until Bill "Moose" Skowron hit into an inning-ending 4-6-3 double play.

During the bottom of the 4th, Brooklyn struck again as the Dodgers added pressure on the base paths with Jackie Robinson & Dodgers pitcher Johnny Podres pulling off a double steal with one out. With runners on 2nd & 3rd, Jim Gilliam drew a tough walk, loading up the bases. On the next play, Pee Wee Reese's lined hit, nailed Yankees third baseman Gil McDougald in the wrist, advancing the runners one base, while knocking out McDougald for the remainder of the game. Andy Carey would come in to take McDougald's place at third base. With bases loaded, and the Dodgers now up 4-0, Turley would walk in a run, walking the dangerous Duke Snider, and ending Turley's night.

Turley allowed 8 hits, 3 walks & 5 runs (4 earned) in only 3 1/3 innings. The Yankees would call on pitcher Johnny Kucks, who would go on to strike out Campanella and get Furillo to end the Yankees' suffering.

The Yankees would finally score during the top of the 6th, with pinch-runner Irv Noren scoring on a 4-6-3 Andy Carey double play.

Top of the 7th, the Dodgers decide to give the ball over to pitcher Clem Labine (Grade B-Y). Podres allowed 4 hits, 1 walk & 1 earned run through 6 innings, while striking out 4 Yankees in the process. The Dodgers appeared to be in complete control at this point, and as a manager I saw bringing in Labine as an APBA upgrade, plus I had to bring in a pitcher, since Podres was lifted during the bottom of the 6th for the pinch-hitter Don Hoak.

Trailing 5-1, Mickey Mantle led off the 7th by drawing a Labine walk. Game 3 was Mantle's first game of action, he had a single earlier in the 4th inning, which loaded the bases at the time until Skowron's double play ended the threat. This time, Bill Skowron would deliver, by slamming a two-run homer over the left field wall. Elston Howard would hit a double over third. Billy Martin with no outs, would knock a single past Pee Wee Reese at short, Howard rounds third, heading for home, but the Dodgers' left fielder Sandy Amoro's throw was right on target, gunning down Howard at the plate. The Yankees' Phil Rizzuto and pinch-hitter Hank Bauer would fail to get Martin home, but suddenly it's a 5-3 game, with the Dodgers clinging to the lead.

Top of the 8th, Bob Cerv was walked by Clem Labine. The Yankees' Andy Carey would hit into a force, to record the Yankees' first out of the inning. The Yankees' Yogi Berra, 1-for-8 this series, would take advantage of a mistake pitch, sending the ball over Amoros' head in left -- This one is tied, folks! Brooklyn fans have got to be sick to their stomachs at this moment, the game seemingly appeared to be over through the first 6 innings.

The game went to extras, bottom of the 10th with 2 outs, no one on. On the mound for the Yankees is the Game 2 starter in Tommy Byrne. The great Jackie Robinson would smack a hard ball towards short where Phil Rizzuto doesn't come up with the ball cleanly, E-6! On the very next play, Sandy Amoros hits a single to right. Runners on the corners, and the Dodgers had a tough decision to make.

Up to bat was their pitcher Russ Meyer, who they brought in for the top of the 10th, and planned on using him for multiple innings if need be... or they could call on a pinch-hitter, while running out of good arms in the pen. The Dodgers' Walter Alston decided to stick with Meyer, which he rewarded his manager by drawing a walk, and loading the bases up for Jim Gilliam. The Yankees' Tommy Byrne (Grade B-YW) having a hard time finding the strike zone, would then walk Gilliam, which forced in Jackie Robinson, the game-winning run! A World Series game ending with a walk-off walk... WOW!

The Yankees came back from a late 5-0 deficit to tie the game at 5-5, only to lose the game in the 10th inning in the worst imaginable way possible.

Dodgers lead the series 2-1, with the next two games in Brooklyn.