54-NYY defeats 61-NYY to reach all '54 final

In a series that looked to be a promising start for the 1961 Yankees against their 1954 counterparts, the ’54 squad stunned the ‘61s with a 4 run ninth inning in game one to overcome a 5-2 deficit, then went on to win the final two games in all but shutout fashion.

The ’61 club had things in command in game one, as Roger Maris got them started quickly pounding a 3-run homer in the top of the first inning. Both teams tallied two runs after that through 8. Manager Bike Mike elected to lift a tiring Whitey Ford after 8, and brought in usually reliable reliever Luis Arroyo to close things down with a three run lead.

But in what seems to be a recurring theme of bizarre events in post season games for Bike Mike’s teams, Arroyo and his bullpen mates turned in to what would later be known as “Rick Ankiel syndrome”, sometimes called “Steve Blass disease”. The usually solid Arroyo gave up two walks, and two singles, getting out none of the four batters he faced.

On came Roland Sheldon, another strong hurler during the regular season. But this time Sheldon walked both hitters he faced.  Bike Mike tried Jim Coates, to see if he could stem the tide of the bases-loaded-no-out situation, with the score now 5-4. No go; Hank Bauer lined a game winning two-run single to complete the comeback.  The ’61 Yankee bullpen line for the inning showed  seven batters faced, no outs recorded, 3 hits, 4 walks, 4 runs. A legendary meltdown for the record books.

The game one collapse obviously did a number on the ’61 team’s confidence, as they never scored another run in the series. Well, technically they did manage to put one across in the bottom of the ninth inning of game 3 with two outs, but by then they were down 10-0 and the ’54 team’s players not on the field were already popping the champagne.

Bob Grim threw a 4-hit complete game shutout in game two, and Yogi Berra had 3 of the 9 ’54 hits

including a home run as the ’54 club took a commanding two game lead with a 3-0 victory.

Game three was all ’54, as they piled up 13 hits and 10 runs in a blowout. Andy Carey, Irv Noren, Bill Skowron, and Gil McDougald each had 2 hits, and Allie Reynolds went 8 1/3 innings striking out 7 without a walk to lead the onslaught.

Going back to game one for one final bit of the bizarre, the ’61 team had the early 3-0 lead on the Maris homer, as Mickey Mantle walked to open the top of the third. Elston Howard then singled, putting two on and no out. But wait, the game suddenly locked up!! It was a run time error, and thus we had to shut down and resume the game. Upon resuming, Howard had lost his hit, and was back at bat. This time he grounded out, with Mantle running on the play so Mick went to second. So now there is one on and one out, rather than two on and no out. Maris then walked, and Skowron singled. Mick tried to score from second on the hit with about a 2/3 chance to score, but was gunned down at the plate. Hector Lopez then struck out. Had the Elston Howard phantom hit stood, and Maris then walked to load the bases with no out, and Skowron then singled, could the ’61 team have put the game out of reach early? We will never know, but it just adds to the lore of the bizarre in that first game.

Such is life. Good luck to the ’54 Yankees, and hopefully we will see some exciting LCS games.

Bike Mike