Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 57

1951 World Series

The '51 season has been referred to by some as "The Season of Change" as it witnessed the departure of several of the games veteran superstars and the introduction of a new generation of talent. Many of the games biggest names from the previous two decades were nearing the end of their careers and the empty spaces on the line up cards would need to be filled by players of the same caliber. Luckily for the managers and the fans, there was no shortage of up and coming talent in the various farm systems around the league. Several new rookies on the scene

included a young switch hitter named Mickey Mantle. The nineteen year old Mantle was called up to the big leagues from the Yankees Kansas City franchise and hit thirteen home runs in ninety-six games. It seems fitting that in his first year of professional play, the future Hall of Famer found himself

competing in the biggest game of the year; the 1951 World Series.

Just a day after Bobby Thomson’s miracle theatrics, the World Series commenced with the Yankees taking on a Giants squad. On an emotional high, things continued to go the Giants way as they went on to shock the Yankees in a 5-1 Series opening triumph. Dave Koslo held the Yankees to just seven hits and Alvin Dark

came up big with a three run homer. Eddie Lopat got his team back in the running in Game 2 while pitching a five hitter and