1950 World Series News Reel

Baseball Historian Podcast

Baseball Historian-1950s World Series News Reel http://oldtimeradiodvd.com

The Philadelphia Phillies were champions of the National League and the New York Yankees were champs of the Ameircan. The Series began on Wednesday, October 4, and concluded Saturday, October 7. The Phillies had home field advantage, but the Yankees won their 13th championship in their 48-year history, sweeping the Phils in four games. The final game result was a 5-2 Yankee win, and was the only game in the Series decided by more than one run. This World Series title would be the second of a record five straight titles for the New York Yankees (1949–1953). This was also the last all-white World Series as neither club had integrated in 1950. The Phillies, a particularly young team which came to be known as the "Whiz Kids", had won the National League pennant in dramatic fashion on the final day of the season to garner their second pennant—their first in 35 years. But writing in the New York Times on October 3, 1950, John Drebinger picked the Yankees to win the Series in five games: "The Stengelers simply have too much over-all pitching. They have the long range power. They possess rare defensive skill, and they have the poise and experience gained through the past four years which brought them two world championships and three pennants." Oddsmakers made the Yankees 2–5 favorites to win the Series. Curt Simmons, a 17-game winner for the Phillies in 1950, had been called to military duty in September and was unavailable for this Series. Simmons was stationed at Camp Atterbury and requested and was granted a leave on October 4 to attend the Series. The Phillies chose not to request that Commissioner Chandler rule Simmons eligible for the Series but Simmons chose to attend to support the team. Simmons' place on the Series roster was taken by pitcher Jocko Thompson. Phillies ace Robin Roberts didn't start Game 1 because he had had three starts in five days including the pennant winner on the final day of the regular season—played October 1, 1950 (three days before Game 1).