There are some seasons that you could make a movie about. The kind where a scrappy team of underdogs rally together, defy the odds and go on an inspired run that no one thought possible. They take the league by surprise, overcome their rivals and claim a spot in the championship. Then, in an award worthy climax, they pull off a once in a lifetime upset over their heavily favored opponent in the final game to claim the championship as the screen fades to black on their celebration...or they get swept in the World Series by the New York Yankees.
The 1950 edition of the Yankees went into the summer with Manager Casey Stengel looking to defend their '49 championship. The American League offered their usual competitors in the first division with Boston and Cleveland, but it was the Detroit Tigers that gave them the most trouble, splitting the season series 11-11 and coming the closest to dethroning them from the top, but the Yankees held on by 3 games to win the pennant with a 98-56 record.
Opposing the Yankees in the World Series were the feel good story of the year Philadelphia Phillies. The Whiz Kids had just completed a thrilling season where they started hot, struggled, then rallied together to hold off the defending NL champs in Brooklyn to pull off an unlikely pennant. If this were a movie, next up would be where they'd use their scrappy team style to shock the polished and professional juggernaut Yankees...but life isn't a movie.
The World Series was by no means a cake walk for the Yankees, though. Game 1 featured Vic Raschi matching up against NL MVP Jim Konstanty in a pitching duel that saw the Yankees grind out a 1-0 victory. Game 2 saw Joe DiMaggio make an over the shoulder catch to rival Willie Mays while keeping the game tied 1-1 going to extra innings where he would prove the difference maker with his Home Run to give the Yankees a 2-0 series lead.
Shifting the scene to Yankee Stadium, the Phillies led Game 3 late, when the Yankees rallied to tie the game at 2, then Jerry Coleman walked things off in the 9th with an RBI Single. The sweep was completed in Game 4 where the Yankees finally poured on some runs to take a 5-0 lead. The Phillies looked like they were going to pull off a movie-type comeback in the 9th inning when Gene Woodling dropped the potential final out, allowing the Phillies to score 2 runs and stay alive, but Allie Reynolds came in and struck out a pinch hitter to secure the win and complete the championship defense.
Holy cow! Rizzuto was the spark plug for the Yankee offense, leading the team with 200 Hits, a .324 Average and 12 Stolen Bases as the all star won the MVP award.
Just another all star season for Joltin' Joe as he led the team with 32 Home Runs, led the league with a .585 Slugging Percentage and a top 10 finish in MVP voting.
The rise of Yogi Berra was continuing in '50 as the all star set career highs (so far) across the board including his team high of 12 RBI and a 3rd place finish for MVP. He added a Home Run in the World Series clinching Game 4.
Other regulars. Jerry Coleman was another all star who provided the walk-off hit in Game 3 of the World Series while Johnny Mize also accumulated some MVP votes.
Bench guys. Henrich was usually the starter, but injuries held him back in 1950 and he'd retire after the season, but not before pulling off one last all star nomination.
Vic Raschi was the ace yet again for the Bombers, as he led the staff with 21 Wins in 256.2 Innings and netted a top 10 MVP finish. He took the ball for Game 1 of the World Series and spun a 2 hit Shutout, setting the tone for the Yankees and their stifling pitching.
Reynolds led the Yankees with 160 Strikeouts while joining Raschi at the all star game. He took the ball for Game 2 against Philadelphia and pitched all 10 innings to get the Win in the extra inning thriller. He then returned from the bullpen in Game 4 to pick up the Save in the clincher.
Other Starters. Lopat won 18 games and got the start in Game 3 against the Phillies. Byrne would join the others at the all star game despite his wild streak; leading baseball with 160 Walks and (more alarming for opposing hitters) 17 Hit Batsmen.
Page suffered some struggles in 1950, no longer the ace Reliever in the Yankee bullpen, but he did still get the final 13 Saves of his career.
The bullpen and other pitchers. Ferrick was the only one of these men called upon in the World Series, as he pitched a scoreless inning in Game 3 and picked up the Win when Coleman hit the walk-off. And yes, that is a young Lew Burdette before the Yankees would trade him to the Braves, who he would later make the Yankees regret it by picking up World Series MVP honors in a victory over them in 1957.
If the 1950 season had any sort of movie taking place, perhaps it would be more suited to cover the emergence of an all time great in the World Series. Whitey Ford would debut during the year, winning 9 games late, submitting a 2.81 ERA, getting runner-up for Rookie of the Year, then fittingly getting the Win in his first ever World Series game, the 1st victory of his record 10 in the fall classic.
