The Great NY Debate - 1954

 The difference between 1953 and 1954 in New York was like night and day. Willie Mays was back, and made up for lost time, Mantle stayed healthy for the most part, but October would not be featuring the familiar Yankees v Dodgers matchup.

All three would make valuable additions to your lineup, but it's hard to argue against the MVP Willie Mays taking the cake for '54. Not only that, but he finally got to stand atop the baseball mountain. For the first time in what seemed like forever, the Yankees played the role of bridesmaid at the end of the regular season, being topped by the Indians and their 111 win season. But as record setting as the Indians were in 1954, they still had to figure a way around Mays and the NL champion Giants.

Perhaps they felt this was their only opportunity, but the Giants didn't miss their chance. Someone not named the Yankees were in the World Series, and the Giants gave them a rude introduction to the NL side of NY baseball. Willie Mays set the tone with his iconic catch in center and the Giants swept their way to the title. It would be the final taste of glory for the Giants in New York, while the Indians would have to wait around 40 years to get close again.

Elsewhere in baseball, Larry Doby was leading the charge to finally conquer the Yankees in the AL. He led the league in homers and RBI, named to the all star team and just barely got edged for the MVP. 1954 also happened to be the earliest appearance of Chief Wahoo on the hats of the Cleveland players. And we all know Wahoo is one of the greatest logos in baseball history.