Game Seven Four Consecutive Years
The Visitor Won the Seventh Game of the World Series From 1955-1958
Oct 3, 2007
The Brooklyn Dodgers won the 1955 World Series in seven games over the New York Yankees. It marked the only time that four consecutive World Series went seven games, the only time that one team, the Yankees, played four consecutive World Series that went seven games, and the only time that the visiting team won the seventh game. In 1955, Brooklyn won in the Bronx, in 1956, the Yankees beat Brooklyn at Ebbets Field, in 1957 Milwaukee beat the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, and in 1958 the Yankees beat Milwaukee at County Stadium.
The 1955 and 1956 World Series Followed the Same Pattern
The 1955 and 1956 World Series were almost mirror images. In 1955, the Yankees won the first two games at home, lost the next three on the road, won the sixth game at home, but lost the seventh game at home. In 1956, Brooklyn won the first two games at home, lost the next three on the road, won the sixth game at home, and then lost Game 7 at home.
The Yankees and the Braves Each Win One
In 1957, the Yankees and Braves split the first two games at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won the third game in Milwaukee but lost the next two to trail in the series. When the teams returned to the Bronx, the Yankees won Game 6, but the Braves won the seventh game. The next year the series opened in Milwaukee and the Braves won the first two games. Back at Yankee Stadium, the Yankees won the third game but the Braves won Game 4 to take a 3-1 series lead. The last time a team had won after trailing, three games to one was in 1925, when the Pirates beat Washington, winning Game 5 on the road and the final two games at home. The 1958 Yankees won Game 5 at home and then took the next two games in Milwaukee.
The Pressure of the Series
There is nothing more exciting than Game 7 of the World Series. Pressure builds up more and more as each game played. The sixth game is almost as pressure packed as the seventh because the team that is ahead can end it while the team that behind must pull out all stops to win. The manager of the team that is ahead often is faced with the choice of using a top pitcher in an attempt to close out the series or saving him for a possible game the next day. The manager of the trailing team must do what ever is necessary to win the game.
There Were No Playoffs
When four consecutive World Series went to a seventh game, there were no playoffs, which made the World Series even more significant, if that is possible. The two teams that won the pennants went directly to the World Series. Unlike today, the losing team could not rationalize that it had won two playoff series to get to the World Series.
The Playoffs and a Good Season
The 2006 Tigers collapsed the second half of the season and were caught by the Twins, but they had the wild card to fall back onto, and they did. The Tigers then upset the Yankees and handily beat Oakland to get the chance to lose to the Cardinals. The Tigers were considered to have had a good season. The 1955 Yankees, the 1956 Dodgers, the 1957 Yankees, and the 1958 Braves did not have good seasons.
Reference:
Baseball Reference World Series
