1955 Brooklyn Dodgers season

1955 Brooklyn Dodgers
1955 World Series Champions National League champions
Major League affiliations
National League (since 1890)
National League (since 1890)
Location
Ebbets Field (since 1913)
Brooklyn, New York (since 1883)
Other information
Owner(s)	Walter O'Malley, James & Dearie Mulvey, Mrs. John L. Smith
General manager(s)	Buzzie Bavasi
Manager(s)	Walter Alston
Local television	WOR-TV
Local radio	WMGM Vin Scully, Connie Desmond, Andre Baruch, Al Helfer
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In 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers finally fulfilled the promise of many previous Dodger teams. Although the club had won several pennants in the past, and had won as many as 105 games in 1953, it had never won a World Series. This team finished 13.5 games ahead in the National League pennant race, leading the league in both runs scored and fewest runs allowed. In the 1955 World Series, they finally beat their crosstown rivals, the New York Yankees. It was the Dodgers first and only World Series championship won while located in Brooklyn.

Offseason

• October 8, 1954: Ray Moore was traded by the Dodgers to the Baltimore Orioles for Chico García.^[1]
• December 13, 1954: Billy Cox and Preacher Roe were traded by the Dodgers to the Baltimore Orioles for Johnny Jancse, Harry Schwegeman and cash.^[2]
• March 17, 1955: Erv Palica was traded by the Dodgers to the Baltimore Orioles for Frank Kellert and cash.^[3]

Regular season

Sandy Koufax earned his first major league win with the Dodgers on August 27, 1955.

This season was basically a culmination of the careers of many legendary Dodger players. Catcher Roy Campanella won the 1955 National League Most Valuable Player award, his third in five years. Center fielder Duke Snider led the league in runs batted in and was second in the MVP voting. He also hit his 200th career home run on May 10. Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese, both 36 years old, could still play. Gil Hodges, 31, hit 27 home runs (and drove in both Dodger runs in the seventh game of the Series), while Carl Furillo, 33, hit 26 home runs with a .314 batting average.

The pitching staff was anchored by Don Newcombe, who was 20–5. It was the first time a black pitcher had won 20 games in a season. The 22-year-old Johnny Podres was only 9–10 but became the hero of the 1955 World Series by shutting out the Yankees in the seventh game.

MVP controversy

Duke Snider finished second to teammate Campanella in the MVP voting by just five points, 226–221, with each man receiving eight first place votes. The voting then as now was conducted by the Baseball Writers' Association of America. Each voting member, one from each major league city, filled out a ballot selecting ten men. A player receiving a first place vote got 14 points, 9 points for second, and then values of 8–7–6–5–4–3–2–1 for those in places 3 through 10. A writer from Philadelphia who was sick and who had become hospitalized had turned in a ballot with Campanella listed in position number 1 as well as position number 5. The assumption had been that the writer had meant to write Snider's name into one of those slots. Unable to get a clarification from the ill writer the BBWAA, after considering disallowing the ballot, decided to accept it, count the first place vote for Campanella and count the fifth place vote as though it were left blank. Had the ballot been disallowed, the vote would have been won by Snider by three points. Had Snider gotten the fifth place vote, the final vote would have favored Snider 227–226. Duke did, however, win the Sporting News National League Player of the Year Award for 1955 and the Sid Mercer Award.^[4][5]

Season standings

National League	W	L	GB	Pct.
Brooklyn Dodgers	98	55	--	.641
Milwaukee Braves	85	69	13.5	.552
New York Giants	80	74	18.5	.519
Philadelphia Phillies	77	77	21.5	.500
Cincinnati Redlegs	75	79	23.5	.487
Chicago Cubs	72	81	26	.471
St. Louis Cardinals	68	86	30.5	.442
Pittsburgh Pirates	60	94	38.5	.390

Record vs. opponents

1955 National League Records Sources:
Team	BR	CHC	CIN	MIL	NYG	PHI	PIT	STL
Brooklyn	—	14–7–1	12–10	15–7	13–9	16–6	14–8	14–8
Chicago	7–14–1	—	11–11	7–15	12–10	10–12	11–11	14–8
Cincinnati	10–12	11–11	—	9–13	9–13	11–11	14–8	11–11
Milwaukee	7–15	15–7	13–9	—	14–8	14–8	11–11	11–11
New York	9–13	10–12	13–9	8–14	—	10–12	17–5	13–9
Philadelphia	6–16	12–10	11–11	8–14	12–10	—	15–7	13–9
Pittsburgh	8–14	11–11	8–14	11–11	5–17	7–15	—	10–12
St. Louis	8–14	8–14	11–11	11–11	9–13	9–13	12–10	—

Opening Day lineup

Opening Day Starters
Name	Position
Jim Gilliam	Second baseman
Pee Wee Reese	Shortstop
Duke Snider	Center fielder
Gil Hodges	First baseman
Sandy Amorós	Left fielder
Jackie Robinson	Third baseman
Carl Furillo	Right fielder
Roy Campanella	Catcher
Carl Erskine	Starting pitcher

Notable transactions

• June 7, 1955: Ron Negray was traded by the Dodgers to the Philadelphia Phillies for Dave Cole and cash.^[6]
• June 9, 1955: Joe Black was traded by the Dodgers to the Cincinnati Reds for Bob Borkowski and cash.^[7]
• September 12, 1955: Glenn Cox was purchased from the Dodgers by the Kansas City Athletics.^[8]

Roster

1955 Brooklyn Dodgers
Roster
Pitchers 46 Don Bessent 49 Joe Black 40 Roger Craig 17 Carl Erskine 18 Jim Hughes 32 Sandy Koufax 41 Clem Labine 27 Tommy Lasorda 30 Billy Loes 34 Russ Meyer 36 Don Newcombe 45 Johnny Podres 37 Ed Roebuck 48 Karl Spooner 28 Chuck Templeton		Catchers 39 Roy Campanella 54 Dixie Howell 10 Rube Walker Infielders 19 Jim Gilliam 43 Don Hoak 14 Gil Hodges 12 Frank Kellert  1 Pee Wee Reese 42 Jackie Robinson 23 Don Zimmer		Outfielders 15 Sandy Amorós 27 Bob Borkowski  6 Carl Furillo 51 Bert Hamric 49 Walt Moryn  8 George Shuba  4 Duke Snider		Manager 24 Walter Alston Coaches 33 Joe Becker 22 Billy Herman 31 Jake Pitler

Player stats

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = runs; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

Pos	Player	G	AB	R	H	Avg.	HR	RBI	SB
C	Campanella, RoyRoy Campanella	123	446	81	142	.318	32	107	2
1B	Hodges, GilGil Hodges	150	546	75	158	.289	27	102	2
2B	Gilliam, JimJim Gilliam	147	538	110	134	.249	7	40	15
SS	Reese, Pee WeePee Wee Reese	145	553	99	156	.282	10	61	8
3B	Robinson, JackieJackie Robinson	105	317	51	81	.256	8	36	12
LF	Amorós, SandySandy Amorós	119	388	59	96	.247	10	51	10
CF	Snider, DukeDuke Snider	148	538	126	166	.309	42	136	9
RF	Furillo, CarlCarl Furillo	140	523	83	164	.314	26	95	4

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; R = runs; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in; SB = Stolen bases

Player	G	AB	R	H	Avg.	HR	RBI	SB
Hoak, DonDon Hoak	94	279	50	67	.240	5	19	9
Zimmer, DonDon Zimmer	88	280	38	67	.239	15	50	5
Walker, RubeRube Walker	48	103	6	26	.252	2	13	1
Kellert, FrankFrank Kellert	39	80	12	26	.325	4	19	0
Shuba, GeorgeGeorge Shuba	44	51	8	14	.275	1	8	0
Howell, DixieDixie Howell	16	42	2	11	.262	0	5	0
Moryn, WaltWalt Moryn	11	19	3	5	.263	1	3	0
Borkowski, BobBob Borkowski	9	19	2	2	.105	0	0	0
Hamric, BertBert Hamric	2	1	0	0	.000	0	0	0

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; CG = Complete games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Bases on balls; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	GS	CG	IP	W	L	ERA	BB	SO
Newcombe, DonDon Newcombe	34	31	17	233.2	20	5	3.20	38	143
Erskine, CarlCarl Erskine	31	29	7	194.2	11	8	3.79	64	84
Podres, JohnnyJohnny Podres	27	24	5	159.1	9	10	3.95	57	114
Loes, BillyBilly Loes	22	19	6	128	10	4	3.59	46	85

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; CG = Complete games; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Bases on balls; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	GS	CG	IP	W	L	ERA	BB	SO
Spooner, KarlKarl Spooner	29	14	2	98.2	8	6	3.65	41	78
Craig, RogerRoger Craig	21	10	3	90.2	5	3	2.78	43	48
Meyer, RussRuss Meyer	18	11	2	73	6	2	5.42	31	26
Koufax, SandySandy Koufax	12	5	2	41.2	2	2	3.02	28	30
Lasorda, TommyTommy Lasorda	4	1	0	4	0	0	13.50	6	4

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; BB = Bases on balls; SO = Strikeouts

Player	G	IP	W	L	SV	ERA	BB	SO
Labine, ClemClem Labine	60	144.1	13	5	11	3.24	55	67
Roebuck, EdEd Roebuck	47	84	5	6	12	4.71	24	33
Bessent, DonDon Bessent	24	63.1	8	1	3	2.70	21	29
Hughes, JimJim Hughes	24	42.2	0	2	6	4.22	19	20
Black, JoeJoe Black	6	15.1	1	0	0	2.93	5	9
Templeton, ChuckChuck Templeton	4	4.2	0	1	0	11.57	5	3

1955 World Series

Game 1

September 28, 1955 at Yankee Stadium in New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Brooklyn (N)	0	2	1	0	0	0	0	2	0	5	10	0
New York (A)	0	2	1	1	0	2	0	0	x	6	9	1
W: Whitey Ford (1–0)   L: Don Newcombe (0–1)   S: Bob Grim (1)
HR: BRO – Carl Furillo (1), Duke Snider (1)    NYY – Elston Howard (1), Joe Collins (1, 2)

Game 2

September 29, 1955 at Yankee Stadium in New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Brooklyn (N)	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	0	2	5	2
New York (A)	0	0	0	4	0	0	0	0	x	4	8	0
W: Tommy Byrne (1–0)   L: Billy Loes (0–1)

Game 3

September 30, 1955 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York (A)	0	2	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	3	7	0
Brooklyn (N)	2	2	0	2	0	0	2	0	x	8	11	1
W: Johnny Podres (1–0)  L: Bob Turley (0–1)
HR: NYY – Mickey Mantle (1)    BRO – Roy Campanella (1)

Game 4

October 1, 1955 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York (A)	1	1	0	1	0	2	0	0	0	5	9	0
Brooklyn (N)	0	0	1	3	3	0	1	0	x	8	14	0
W: Clem Labine (1–0)  L: Don Larsen (0–1)
HR: NYY – Gil McDougald (1)    BRO – Roy Campanella (2), Gil Hodges (1), Duke Snider (2)

Game 5

October 2, 1955 at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn, New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
New York (A)	0	0	0	1	0	0	1	1	0	3	6	0
Brooklyn (N)	0	2	1	0	1	0	0	1	x	5	9	2
W: Roger Craig (1–0)  L: Bob Grim (0–1)   S: Clem Labine (1)
HR: NYY – Bob Cerv (1), Yogi Berra (1)    BRO – Sandy Amorós (1), Duke Snider (3, 4)

Game 6

October 3, 1955 at Yankee Stadium in New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Brooklyn (N)	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	0	1	4	1
New York (A)	5	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	x	5	8	0
W: Whitey Ford (2–0)   L: Karl Spooner (0–1)
HR: NYY – Bill Skowron (1)

Game 7

October 4, 1955 at Yankee Stadium in New York

Team	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Brooklyn (N)	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	0	0	2	5	0
New York (A)	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	0	8	1
W: Johnny Podres (2–0)   L: Tommy Byrne (1–1)

Awards and honors

• National League Most Valuable Player
  • Roy Campanella
• World Series Most Valuable Player
  • Johnny Podres
• TSN Manager of the Year Award
  • Walter Alston
• TSN Executive of the Year Award
  • Walter O'Malley
• TSN Major League Player of the Year Award
  • Duke Snider
• TSN National League Player of the Year Award
  • Duke Snider

All-Stars

• 1955 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
  • Duke Snider starter
  • Roy Campanella reserve
  • Gil Hodges reserve
  • Don Newcombe reserve
• TSN Major League All-Star Team
  • Don Newcombe
  • Roy Campanella
  • Duke Snider

League top five finishers

Roy Campanella

• #4 in NL in batting average (.318)

Jim Gilliam

• #5 in NL in runs scored (110)
• #5 in NL in stolen bases (15)

Clem Labine

• #3 in NL in saves (11)

Don Newcombe

• #2 in NL in wins (20)
• #2 in NL in ERA (3.20)
• #2 in NL in complete games (17)
• #5 in NL in strikeouts (143)

Ed Roebuck

• #2 in NL in saves (12)

Duke Snider

• MLB leader in RBI (136)
• MLB leader in runs scored (126)
• #2 in NL in on-base percentage (.418)
• #2 in NL in slugging percentage (.628)
• #3 in NL in doubles (34)
• #3 in NL in bases on balls (104)
• #4 in NL in home runs (42)

Farm system

Level	Team	League	Manager
AAA	Montreal Royals	International League	Greg Mulleavy
AAA	St. Paul Saints	American Association	Max Macon
AA	Ft. Worth Cats	Texas League	Tommy Holmes
AA	Mobile Bears	Southern Association	Clay Bryant
A	Elmira Pioneers	Eastern League	Ray Hathaway
A	Pueblo Dodgers	Western League	Goldie Holt
B	Asheville Tourists	Tri-State League	Earl Naylor
B	Cedar Rapids Raiders	Illinois–Indiana–Iowa League	Ray Perry
B	Newport News Dodgers	Piedmont League	George Scherger
C	Bakersfield Indians	California League	Doc Alexson
C	Great Falls Electrics	Pioneer League	Lou Rochelli
D	Hornell Dodgers	Pennsylvania–Ontario–New York League	Boyd Bartley
D	Shawnee Hawks	Sooner State League	Jack Banta
D	Thomasville Dodgers	Georgia–Florida League	Pete Reiser
D	Union City Dodgers	Kentucky–Illinois–Tennessee League	Joe Hauser

Notes

1. Ray Moore at Baseball-Reference
2. Billy Cox at Baseball-Reference
3. Erv Palica at Baseball-Reference
4. The Duke of Flatbush by Duke Snider and Bill Gilbert
5. http://www.baseball-reference.com
6. Ron Negray at Baseball-Reference
7. Joe Black at Baseball-Reference
8. Glenn Cox at Baseball-Reference

References

• Baseball-Reference season page
• Baseball Almanac season page

External links

• 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers uniform
• Brooklyn Dodgers reference site
• Acme Dodgers page
• Retrosheet
• Hometown Piece for Messrs. Alston and Reese by Marianne Moore