Damn Yankees by Edward Drobinski - HTML preview

Damn Yankees

Page 64

Cleveland Indians, New York was scheduled to play 18 of its final 21 games on the road; while the Indians had only two of their final 22 away from home.

The Indians went 18-4 over this stretch to do their part. Unfortunately for Cleveland, the Yankees did theirs as well, going 16-5 to hold off the Indians and take their fourth straight AL pennant by two games.

Though the Yankees got top performances from Yogi Berra, who held team highs with 30 homers and 98 RBIs, and 37 year old right hander Allie Reynolds, a 20-8 record and league best 2.06 earned run average, Mantle was the key. His numbers were not the glamorous kind to be seen in later years, but his total productivity helped to place him at the top of the charts in

batting average; third in the AL at .311, on base percentage third at .394, and slugging percentage second at .530. Such output from a 20 year old was enough for the other AL teams to recoil in frustration at the continuing, ever cyclical succession of Yankee legends.

By the numbers, the Indians looked to have the stronger team, thanks to league leaders Larry Doby - 32 home runs, Al Rosen -105 RBIs, and three starting pitchers; Early Wynn, Mike Garcia and Bob Lemon, who each won at least 22 games each. Surprisingly,