Top five moments in Yankees-Dodgers World Series history

The Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Yankees are playing in the World Series for the 12th time in MLB history, the most common matchup. Of the previous 11 Fall Classics between the two, the Yankees have won eight titles to the Dodgers’ three.

When two teams face each other eight times from 1941-1963 and three times from 1977-1981, there are bound to be moments that will evoke memories in the fans of these franchises.

Here are the top five moments in World Series history between the Dodgers and Yankees:

No. 5: Dodgers win first World Series title - 1955

Associated Press

In 1955, the Brooklyn Dodgers faced the Yankees in the Fall Classic for the third time in four years. More so, the Dodgers were playing in their eighth World Series, having lost the previous seven, five of them to the Yankees.

However, things would be different for Brooklyn and the Yankees. The Dodgers would be facing a Mickey Mantle-less offense. Battling a leg injury, Mantle only played two complete games in the series before making a pinch-hitting appearance in Game 7.

It was too late for the Yankees, as the Dodgers won Game 7 by a score of 2-0 to win their first championship.

The Dodgers’ offense was powered by Duke Snider, one of baseball’s most prominent figures in the 1950s, as he led Brooklyn with four home runs while hitting .320 and driving in seven runs.

On the pitching side, Johnny Podres won two games and finished with an ERA of 1.00 over 18 innings and 10 strikeouts. Padres was named the inaugural World Series MVP.

No. 4: Yankees win fifth consecutive title on Bobby Richardson’s walk-off - 1953

MLB

Just three years after Joe McCarthy- who led the Yankees to four consecutive World Series titles from 1936 to 1939 and 1941 and 1943- resigned as Yankees manager, fans wondered who would be the next great skipper. In 1949, the Yankees got their man in Casey Stengel.

In his first year as the Yankee skipper, Stengel led the Yankees to a 97-57-1 record and took them to the World Series, where they won 4-1 over the Brooklyn Dodgers. In a franchise that has come to be known as championship-or-failure, Stengle certainly set the tone.

He would lead the Yankees to four consecutive titles from 1949 to 1952, matching McCarthy’s record.

In 1953, Stengle found his Yankees facing Brooklyn for the third time in five years.

Going into Game 6 at Yankee Stadium, New York held a 3-2 series lead. Through eight innings, the Yankees led 2-1 before Carl Furillo tied the game with a two-run home run in the ninth.

In the bottom half of the inning, Hank Bauer walked and later advanced to second on a Mickey Mantle single.

With one out, Bobby Richardson smacked a single up the middle and won the game and the World Series for the New York Yankees, their fifth straight championship.

No. 3: Jackie Robinson steals home - 1955

Associated Press

In the eighth inning of Game 1 of the 1955 World Series, Jackie Robinson shocked the world as he left third base, broke for a steal of home plate and scored a run. With Whitey Ford on the mound and Yogi Berra behind the plate, Robinson slid in under the tag.

However, the play has sparked much debate over the years, and nobody was more vocal about it than Berra. He would always repeat the same three words when talking about it: he was out.

Meanwhile, Robinson claimed the experience as one of the greatest thrills of his life.

No. 2: Reggie Jackson blasts three home runs - 1977

Associated Press

In 1977, the Yankees were looking to snap a bad streak, just as they had done the year prior. 1976 marked the first time New York reached the World Series since 1964 and was trying to win for the first time since 1962.

After George Steinbrenner purchased the New York Yankees in 1973, he made a plethora of moves which included signing free agents Catfish Hunter and Reggie Jackson.

With captain Thurman Munson leading the Yankees into October, New York faced off again against the Dodgers for the first time since 1963.

In Game 6, one win away from their first championship win in 15 years, Reggie Jackson stepped up to the plate against Burt Hooton in the fourth inning. He smacked the first pitch into the right field seats to give the Yankees a 4-3 lead.

Later, in the fifth inning against Elías Sosa, Jackson once again swung at the first pitch and hit it on a line drive over the right field wall to extend the Yankee lead to 7-3.

Finally, in the eighth inning against Charlie Hough, Jackson launched his third home run of the game to straight-away center, giving the Yankees an 8-3 lead.

The Yankees won and clinched their 21st World Series championship. Jackson’s five home runs during the series earned him MVP honors and he will forever be known as “Mr. October.”

No. 1: Don Larsen’s perfect game - 1956

Associated Press

Don Larsen might not be in the National Baseball Hall of Fame or even have a plaque in Yankee Stadium’s “Monument Park.” But besides being in the trade package that brought Roger Maris to New York, Yankees fans will always remember Don Larsen for Game 5 of the 1956 World Series

After a series of unfortunate events that led to Larsen only recording five outs and blowing New York’s 6-0 lead in Game 2, Larsen got another shot in Game 5.

Larsen pitched with only two runs of support that came off the bats of Mantle and Bauer.

Down to their last out, the Dodgers pinch-hit Dale Mitchell, but it was useless. Mitchell struck out on a check swing. Larsen threw his perfect game on only 97 pitches.

Larsen’s perfect game remains the only one in postseason history.

Daniel Studer is a third-year majoring in broadcast journalism. To contact him, email dbs5866@psu.edu.