Yankees-Dodgers World Series history: A look back at the 11 previous matchups
New York Yankees catcher Yogi Berra (8) jumps into the arms of pitcher Don Larsen after Larsen pitched the first perfect game in World Series history, defeating the Dodgers 2-0 at New York's Yankee Stadium, Oct. 8, 1956. Credit: AP
1941: YANKEES 4, DODGERS 1
The most famous passed ball in history occurred in the ninth inning of Game 4. Brooklyn led 4-3 with two outs and a full count on the Yankees’ Tommy Henrich. Henrich then missed a low pitch (said to be a spitball) from Hugh Casey, but the ball got past Mickey Owen and Henrich raced to first. Casey then gave up four runs as the Yankees won, 7-4, to take a 3-1 series lead.
1947: YANKEES 4, DODGERS 3
Pinch hitter Cookie Lava- getto’s two-out, two-run double in the ninth inning of Game 4 broke up Bill Bevens’ no-hitter. The Dodgers won, 3-2, to even the series. In the Dodgers’ 8-6 win in Game 6, the Yankees had two on with two outs in the sixth when Al Gionfriddo caught Joe DiMaggio’s drive to the bullpen fence in left-center, prompting the usually unflappable DiMaggio to kick the dirt. Joe Page worked five shutout innings in relief in a 5-2 Game 7 Yankees’ win.
1949: YANKEES 4, DODGERS 1
Henrich’s leadoff homer in the bottom of the ninth broke up a pitchers’ duel between Don Newcombe and Allie Reynolds as the Yankees scratched out a 1-0 win in Game 1. Reynolds yielded two hits and Newcombe struck out 11. It was Casey Stengel’s first season as Yankees manager.
1952: YANKEES 4, DODGERS 3
The Yankees won their fourth straight world championship. Second baseman Billy Martin made a shoetop catch on Jackie Robinson’s bases-loaded pop-up in Game 7 at Ebbets Field, saving the Yankees’ 4-2 victory.
1953: YANKEES 4, DODGERS 2
The Yankees won a record fifth consecutive World Series. Martin’s record-tying 12th hit, a ninth-inning single to centerfield, drove in Hank Bauer with the winning run as the Yankees earned a 4-3 win in Game 6. Martin led all batters with a .500 average, hitting two home runs and recording eight RBIs. Mickey Mantle hit a grand slam in the Yankees’ 11-7 win in Game 5.
1955: DODGERS 4, YANKEES 3
This was the Yankees’ first loss in a World Series since 1942 and only their second since 1926. Game 3 winner Johnny Podres scattered eight hits in the finale, with Gil Hodges driving in both runs. In the bottom of the sixth, the Yankees’ Yogi Berra sliced a line drive down the leftfield line. Sandy Amoros made a spectacular running catch — aided by the fact that he was lefthanded — and threw back to the infield, where Gil McDougald was doubled off. Podres retired the side in order in the ninth and the Dodgers had their first Series title.
1956: YANKEES 4, DODGERS 3
After dropping the first two games at Ebbets Field, the Yankees won Game 3 behind Whitey Ford. Homers by Mantle and Bauer gave the Yankees a 6-2 win in Game 4. Game 5 was the most magical day in Series history — Don Larsen’s perfect game. Berra homered twice in Game 7.
1963: DODGERS 4, YANKEES 0
Johnny Roseboro hit a three-run homer and Sandy Koufax registered a Series-record 15 strikeouts in Game 1. Podres stopped the Yankees, 4-1, in Game 2 and Drysdale pitched a three-hitter to win Game 3, 1-0. Koufax completed the sweep with a 2-1 win in Game 4 that featured homers by Mantle and the Dodgers’ Frank Howard.
1977: YANKEES 4, DODGERS 2
Ron Guidry gave the Yankees a 3-1 edge with a four-hitter in Game 4, but Reggie Jackson, “Mr. October,” hit three home runs on three straight pitches in Game 6 to beat Los Angeles. Jackson homered off Burt Hooton in the fourth inning, Elias Sosa in the fifth and Charlie Hough in the eighth.
Reggie Jackson hits home runs on three consecutive pitches from three different Los Angeles Dodgers pitchers in Game 6 of the World Series, Oct. 18, 1977. Credit: AP/Ray Stubblebine
1978: YANKEES 4, DODGERS 2
The Yankees became the first team to win in six games after losing the first two. Lou Piniella’s 10th-inning single gave the Yankees a 4-3 win in Game 4 and Brian Doyle had three hits to back Catfish Hunter’s 7-2 victory in Game 6.
1981: DODGERS 4, YANKEES 2
The Yankees grabbed a 2-0 series lead, but Ron Cey’s three-run homer and Fernando Valenzuela’s complete game won Game 3 for L.A., and the Dodgers rallied to win Game 4 after trailing, 6-3. Homers by Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager won Game 5, and L.A. romped to a 9-2 win in Game 6 behind Guerrero’s five RBIs.
Compiled by Dave Whitehorn
