Skowron powers Yanks over Reds in BBW 1961 World Series

If you missed it, here is the 1961 AL summary and here is the 1961 NL summary.  On to the postseason!

Game 1

Reds 4 Yankees 1

This was a pretty solid pitching duel between Jim O’Toole and Whitey Ford.  Both teams got off to good starts, and after one inning it was 2-1 Cincinnati on Vada Pinson’s two run homer.  Roger Maris answered with a solo shot of his own in the bottom of the inning. 

Both pitchers settle down and nobody scored until pinch hitter Wally Post slams a Ford fastball over the wall for a homer.  Cincinnati scores again on a Pinson double and the Reds hold on for the win.

Game 2

Yankees 7 Reds 6

Unlike the opener, this one was a wild affair with the Reds jumping out to a big lead with a 5-run outburst in the 3rd inning on a series of singles and a two run double by Gene Freese.

Unfortunately for Cincinnati, Joey Jay tired out late in the 7th inning and New York puts two on the board to cut the lead to 6-3.  The Yankees get to the Reds bullpen for 4 in the 8th, including Yogi Berra’s solo shot with one out.  Luis Arroyo comes on for the save and the Bombers head to Cincinnati with a tie series.

Game 3

Reds 3 Yankees 2

As the series heads to Ohio, the pitching returns to dominate again.  Bob Purkey outlasts Levitt Daley as the Reds even the series on back to back singles by Vada Pinson and Frank Robinson in the first inning.  Robinson, who abused pitchers all year long has been pretty quiet so far in this series.  Bill Henry picks up the save.

Game 4

Yankees 10 Reds 1

Given the score you would think the bombers finally started bashing the ball around, but it was actually a constant string of singles here and there.

Ken Hunt only lasted 4.1 innings as Mickey Mantle’s shot to deep center in the 5th inning was an epic blast.  Ralph Terry gets the win and Bob Turley goes three innings for the old school save.

Game 5

Yankees 10 Reds 0

For the second straight day New York pounds Reds pitching.  Jumping on starter Sherman Jones for 3 in the second set the tone, particularly Elston Howard’s mammoth shot down the right field line with one out.

With Jones struggling, Cincinnati turns the game over to the bullpen, hoping to keep this close until the bats could come around.  Unfortunately, that didn’t happen, although Jay Hook did look sharp, it was when Jim Maloney came in that it went south in a hurry.  Maris and Mantle crushed back to back homers and the Yankees put 6 on the board in the 8th and the series looks all but over as we head back to New York.

Game 6

Yankees 6 Reds 3

In a game one rematch, both hurlers get touched up a bit early as the Reds scored first on an RBI double by Vada Pinson, who has been the most consistent Cincinnati hitter.  New York scores on a couple of singles by Billy Richardson and Yogi Berra. 

The Yankees take the lead in the second with an RBI single by Bill Skowron and it’s 2-1 Yankees.  The Reds, sensing they needed to get going right now, push across two runs on a two out double by Frank Robinson, who has finally begun to hit in this series, but unfortunately the Yankees get it right back on a homer by Elston Howard.

New York finally puts this one away with a two run 7th inning and Whitey Ford, who had allowed just 5 hits through eight innings gives the ball to Luis Arroyo, who set the single season save record during the season for a quick 9th inning and the Yankees have won the World Series for the first time in my replay history!

Skowron is named series MVP, hitting .455 with 10 hits, 2 homers and 6 RBI.