I am Grateful to have Lived Long Enough to See the Greatest World Series of All Time
Op-ed by TheWiseOldFart
I am enjoying every word I write in this article. I have
been focused on the worst thing to happen to my country in history for the last
ten years. This story is about heroes, determination, teamwork, and a passion
for the game of baseball.
I was nine years old in 1955. I had become interested in
sports. Los Angeles did not have a major league team, and when baseball games
were televised, the New York Yankees would most likely be one of the teams I
saw on television. The first book I ever checked out of the library was titled “The
Magnificent Yankees.” It was published by Tom Meany in 1952.
I enjoyed reading the sports section of the Los Angeles
Times. In 1955, when the Winners of the National League, Brooklyn Dodgers, and
the American League, New York Yankees, became combatants in the upcoming World
Series, the world of professional sports experienced an emotional high.
The Dodgers had been in the World Series seven times, and
lost: five of those to the Yankees. In World Series play, the Yankees had a
record of 15 wins and only 2 losses.
The Dodgers defeated the Yankees 4 games to three. The final
game was won by Johnny Podres by a score of 2-0.
Little did I know that just two years later the Brooklyn
Dodgers would become the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Last night’s game completed the 70th World Series
I was lucky enough to watch. Like the Super Bowl, the NBA Championships, and
the Stanley Cup, not all World Series games were “fun” to watch. Anyone who watched
all seven games this year, will tell you that this was the greatest of all
time.
Players who were expected to perform did not disappoint, but
there were others who performed beyond expectations when needed.
I will not deny that baseball is often boring, but that word
did not apply to a single game this year.
The MVP was the greatest story of all. Yoshinobu Yamamoto won three of the four
games, including a relief appearance last night after winning game six on
Friday.
Shohei Ohtani won his second World Series. His statistics: 265 batting average with 18
hits, 8 home runs, 14 RBIs, and 13 runs scored in 17 games.
Game three was literally two continuous games in one night.
In the bottom of the 18th inning, Dodgers’ first baseman, Freddie
Freeman smashed a ball over the center field wall a giving a “walk-off” victory to the home
team.
Last night, in game seven, Dodger shortstop, Miguel Rojas,
tied the game in the ninth inning with a homerun over the left field wall.
Yamamoto took the mound and shut down the Blue Jays, and in the top of the 11th,
Dodger catcher, Will Smith hit a solo homerun, giving his team a one run lead.
In the bottom of the 11th, Yamamoto forced
Alejandro Kirk to hit into a double play, giving Los Angeles the first back-to-back
World Series victory in 25 years.
I ceased to be a Major League Baseball fan after free agency
ended the “team concept” in 1976. Players I hoped to see the following year
were often traded, or released. I never knew who would be a part of my favorite
team each year. My new passion became the Pittsburgh Steelers and the NFL.
However, I will remember the last seven games as the
greatest World Series of all time. Both teams deserved the victory. The Dodgers
and Blue Jays were clearly the best two teams in the league.
Op-ed by James Turnage
Follow my blog and be an informed American
Sources: https://www.baseball-reference.com/postseason/1955_WS.shtml
https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2025/nov/02/dodgers-win-world-series-game-7-blue-jays-baseball
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