1954 World Series

The 1954 World Series matched the National League champion New York Giants against the American League champion Cleveland Indians. The Giants swept the Series in 4 games to win their first championship since 1933, defeating the heavily favored Indians, who had won an AL-record 111 games in the regular season. The Series is perhaps best-remembered for "The Catch", a sensational running catch made by Giants center fielder Willie Mays in Game 1, snaring a long drive by Vic Wertz near the outfield wall with his back to the infield. It is also remembered for utility player Dusty Rhodes' clutch hitting in three of the four games. Giants manager Leo Durocher won his only title among the three pennants he captured in his career.

Managers: Leo Durocher (New York), Al Lopez (Cleveland)

Umpires: Al Barlick (NL), Charlie Berry (AL), Jocko Conlan (NL), Johnny Stevens (AL), Lon Warneke (NL: outfield only), Larry Napp (AL: outfield only)
Note: Lon Warneke became the fifth person to appear in the Series both as a player and as an umpire.

Television: NBC (Jack Brickhouse and Russ Hodges announcing)

Summary

NL New York Giants (4) vs. AL Cleveland Indians (0)

Game	Score	Date	Location	Attendance
1	Indians – 2, Giants – 5 (10 innings)	September 29	Polo Grounds	52,751
2	Indians – 1, Giants – 3	September 30	Polo Grounds	49,099
3	Giants – 6, Indians – 2	October 1	Cleveland Stadium	71,555
4	Giants – 7, Indians – 4	October 2	Cleveland Stadium	78,102

Matchups

Game 1, September 29

Polo Grounds V, New York, New York

Team	1	3	6	9	10	R	H	E
Cleveland (A)	2	0	0	0	0	2	8	0
New York (N)		2	0	0	3	5	9	3
W: Marv Grissom (1-0) L: Bob Lemon (0-1)
HR: NYG – Dusty Rhodes (1)

Game 2, September 30

Polo Grounds V, New York, New York

Team	1	3	5	6	7	9	R	H	E
Cleveland (A)	1	0		0		0	1	8	0
New York (N)		0	2	0	1	x	3	4	0
W: Johnny Antonelli (1-0) L: Early Wynn (0-1)
HR: CLE – Al Smith (1) NYG – Dusty Rhodes (2)

Game 3, October 1

Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Team	1	3	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York (N)	1	3	1	1			0	6	10	1
Cleveland (A)		0		0	1	1	0	2	4	2
W: Ruben Gomez (1-0) L: Mike Garcia (0-1) S: Hoyt Wilhelm (1)
HR: CLE – Vic Wertz (1)

Game 4, October 2

Cleveland Stadium, Cleveland, Ohio

Team	2	3	5	6	7	9	R	H	E
New York (N)	2	1	4	0		0	7	10	3
Cleveland (A)		0	3	0	1	0	4	6	2
W: Don Liddle (1-0) L: Bob Lemon (0-2) S: Johnny Antonelli (1)
HR: CLE – Hank Majeski (1)

Reference

A Day in the Bleachers, by Arnold Hano (who later wrote Mays' biography). The author describes sitting in the left-center field bleachers at the Polo Grounds for Game 1. An entire chapter is devoted to The Catch.

Trivia

Hank Thompson set a World Series record for bases on balls received during a four (4) game Series with seven (7) AND Bob Lemon set a World Series record for bases on balls given up during a four (4) game Series with eight (8).

This was the first time the Cleveland Indians had been swept in a World Series and the second time the New York Giants swept an opponent — their first occurred during the 1922 World Series (though there was a tie during that Series).

External Links

World Series | 1954 in baseball | New York Giants (baseball) | Cleveland Indians | Major League Baseball on NBC

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