Only Perfect Game In World Series History example essay topic

It is the greatest franchise in all of sports. The history of the New York Yankees is virtually the history of baseball (Anderson 7). They have captivated the soul and entertained the mind during the last century. In addition, they have claimed 26 World Championships to show for it. When speaking of the Yankees, one can point to the glory of Babe Ruth, or the grace of Mantle and DiMaggio. Sometimes it seems as if the legions of Yankee immortals are endless.

Although the New York Yankees have existed since 1903, the Yankees, as we know them were born in 1920, with the acquisition of George Herman Ruth. One year prior, Harry Frazee, owner of the Boston Red Sox was in serious debt. Unknowing of the consequences Boston would face over the next 80 years or so, he decided to sell Babe Ruth to the Yankees for $100,000, thereby creating "The Curse of the Bambino". Since that day, the Red Sox have been known as an unfortunate wreck. Their drought still stands to this day, having not won a World Series since 1918. Lou Gehrig was virtually unknown prior to the 1925 season.

Wally Pipp was then the Yankee's everyday first baseman, thereby not giving Gehrig the opportunity to display his Hall of Fame potential. One fine day, Pipp sat out a game due to a headache, finally giving Gehrig the chance he'd been waiting for. Gehrig excelled at the plate and went on to take the starting position. In 1932, he hit four consecutive home runs, a major league record. He's also hit three homers in a game three times. Already possessing Ruth, and now discovering Gehrig, the Yankees had the most powerful 1-2 punch in baseball.

Gehrig was overshadowed in publicity terms by Ruth and later by Joe DiMaggio, But he was admired as a straightforward and steady performer who played day after day - for 2,130 straight games - and thus became known as "The Iron Horse". (Gallagher 7) Many baseball historians regard the 1927 Yankees "The Greatest Team Ever". The almost ridiculously talented lineup included Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Tony Lazzeri, Earle Combs, and Bob Meuse l. This collection of players is now fittingly known as Murderer's Row. Most notably though, is what Ruth had accomplished that year. He slugged an amazing 60 home runs in a 154 game schedule, en route to delivering New York it's second title.

The Yankees had a very similar cast in 1928, and capping it off with the same outcome as well, beating the Cardinals in the Fall Classic (Gallagher 8). Another gripping World Series was to follow four years later, in 1932 against the Chicago Cubs. The Yanks swept that series in four. Ruth added his own icing on the cake, pointing with his bat into the left field bleachers and on the very next pitch, delivering the "Called Shot". Many debate whether Ruth really called the home run, but it certainly adds to the Babe's legend (O'Brien 192). Ruth's contract was eventually sold to the Boston Braves.

This was a huge jolt to the franchise, leaving a large void in the 1935 Yankees. The following year though, the hole was filled by two Yankee scouts who acquired an outfielder from the Pacific Coast League by the name of Joe DiMaggio (Gallagher 8). DiMag excelled in every aspect of the game, while always keeping a low profile. He could field, run, throw, hit for average and power. Some would even say he was baseball's first five - tool player.

He led the Yankees to four straight World Championships, from 1936 - 39. The 1939 campaign held much sadness. On July 4, shortly after he was diagnosed with ALS, Lou Gehrig made the most famous speech in sport's history: "Today, I consider myself the luckiest man on the face on the earth. I may have been given a bad break, but I have an awful lot to live for. Thank you (Gallagher 8)". The impact was so tremendous, that they now commonly refer to it as "Lou Gehrig's Disease".

After the Bomber's 1940 disaster, in which they finished third, they quickly rebounded to create a historic season. 1941 saw the year that DiMaggio set one of sport's most prolific records. DiMag hit safely in 56 consecutive games, a record that many people claim will never be broken. That year also belonged to the newest Yankee phenom, Phil Rizzuto. In his rookie year he batted. 307, and eventually went on to capture the MVP award in 1950.

He is regarded as the best Yankee shortstop ever, possibly with the exception of Derek Jeter, who is presently carving a niche for himself in the modern day Yankees. The 1941 World Series was also a notable one. It was the first ever Yankee - Dodger Subway Series. This one was won by the Bronx Bombers in five games, helped by a Hugh Casey spitball that eluded catcher Mickey Owen in the ninth inning of Game 4, allowing New York to rally and capture an unbelievable victory (Gallagher 8). During the years of World War II, baseball found itself in a chaotic state. Many of the stars, including those on the Yankees, abandoned the game in order to fight for their country.

Being the juggernaut that they were, the Yanks captured the pennant in both '42 and '43. The '42 World Series was a hard fought one, though the Bombers came out the losers to the Cardinals, ending their 8 consecutive World Series wins in which they appeared. They avenged their loss a year later, and beat St. Louis in 5 games to win the '43 World Series. 1949 introduced the most successful baseball manager of all time. A man by the name of Casey Stengel seized the reigns of this already prosperous franchise. He led the Yankees to five World Series victories in his first five years as manager, a feat that still stands unduplicated to this day.

In addition, he also captured 10 pennants in 12 years Gallagher 11). The Yankees were on a high in 1951, coming off back to back World Series victories. Little did they know how good things would actually turn out. Enter, Mickey Mantle. What was to become the greatest switch hitter of all time took center stage that year. He went on to dominate one of baseball's most famous dynasties.

His Hall of Fame plaque (he was inducted in 1974) proclaims in bronze lettering his 536 homers, 4 league home run titles, 2,415 hits, 3 MVP awards, and his 20 All Star teams. His lifetime batting average is skipped, along with his 1,710 strikeouts, still a league record. Mickey was not a. 300 hitter, finishing at. 298 after subpar years in 1967 and 1968, his last two seasons. (Anderson 109) One of Mickey Mantle's career highlights was the shot he hit off of Pedro Ramos of the Washington Senators at Yankee Stadium in 1953 (Anderson 111).

The ball hit the facade on the right field roof approximately 108 feet above ground and 374 feet away from home plate. Virtually every spectator believed that the ball was still rising as it was stopped in mid-flight. Based on that notion, it is estimated that the ball would have traveled 620 feet if left unobstructed (Jenkinson). No one has ever hit a fair ball out of Yankee Stadium, old or new. But that one came the closest (Anderson 111). The 1956 Bombers were an exciting team as well.

Mantle produced one of the best years of his brilliant career, while winning the coveted Triple Crown. The '56 Fall Classic was a memorable one as well. The Yankees edged the Dodgers in 7 games, but the highlight of this series came in Game 5. Many say it was the best baseball game ever played. Don Larson took the mound for the Yankees on that chilly day in October and needed only 97 pitches to record the only perfect game in World Series history (Anderson 121). After the final pitch, Yogi Berra leapt into Larsen's arms and the Yankees had a 3 -2 lead in the series.

Unfortunately, the Yanks reached their high point and the only way to go was down. They lost the '57 World Series to the Milwaukee Braves but then reclaimed the crown the following year, coming back from a 3 -1 deficit. The 1959 campaign was disastrous for the Yanks. But behind this sorrowful 79 -75 season, they were about to claim five pennants in a row (Gallagher 13). The 1960 World Series was a peculiar one. It was one that Yankee fans would love to forget.

They outscored Pittsburgh 38 -3 in three of the games, but the Pirates held on to force a Game 7. This set the stage for one of the most dramatic moments in baseball history. In the bottom of the ninth, tie score, Pirates second baseman Bill Mazeroski hit a homer off Ralph Terry and the Series was over. This also marked the end of the Casey Stengel era, who was fired soon after. Rookie manager Ralph Hour led the '61 Bombers to a commendable 109 -53 record. Mantle hit 54 homers and Maris 61, breaking Ruth's record set back in 1927.

The Yankees also hit a major league record 240 home runs that season, en route to another World Championship in five games over Cincinnati (Gallagher 15). The following year, the Yanks faced San Francisco in the World Series. A seventh game was forced and Ralph Terry, the scheduled starter was looking for redemption. In true pinstripe pride he responded, pitching a 1 - 0 complete game and retiring Willie Mc Covey for the final out. The mid - 60's started a depression for the once glorious Yankees.

The dynasty fell in '65, the Yankees dropping out of the first division for the first time since 1925 (Gallagher 15). The years following, they finished no better than fifth. Mickey Mantle retired before the '69 season, adding even more sorrow to the recent distress of this faltering club. A wealthy Cleveland er by the name of George Steinbrenner bought the franchise from CBS in 1973. This transaction would mark the New Era for the Yanks.

Steinbrenner would spend as much money as required in order to bring a title back to New York. He acquired players such as Reggie Jackson, Goose Goss age, and Tommy John. They finally had prosperity on their side again, winning the AL pennant in 1976, the first one in a dozen years. 1977 brought even more relief, as the Yankees won another title beating Los Angeles in six games.

Reggie Jackson was the man of the hour, hitting three consecutive first pitch home runs. One of the greatest mid-season comebacks took place in the summer of '78. Under the reign of skipper Billy Martin, the Yanks fell 14 games behind the Red Sox in the standings by July. Steinbrenner, known for his fury, immediately dismissed Martin and replaced him with Bob Lemon. Amazingly, the Yankees finished the season tied with Boston.

They then went on to beat them 5 - 4 in a one game playoff, defeated the Royals in the ALCS, and eventually derailed the Dodgers in the World Series for back to back championships. The 1980's didn't provide much excitement for the Yankees. Although they finished the decade with the best overall record, they only had one pennant to show for it, in 1981. One of the few highlights was the infamous Pine Tar Game, played on July 24, 1983. George Brett hit a homer in the top of the ninth to put the Royals ahead. Manager Billy Martin looking like a prophet departed from the dugout and convinced the umpires that a rule had been violated.

He claimed that the pine tar on Brett's bat was applied too high up on the handle. The home run was taken away and the Yanks held on to win. A few days later though Lee MacPhail, American League president, reversed the umpire's decision and ruled in a home run. The game would continue from the point of the home run and this time the Royals would hold on and win (Gallagher 18).

Don Mattingly was one of the most popular New York Yankee players ever. Why? Nine gold gloves, two-hundred plus hits three times, more than thirty home runs three times, and more than a hundred RBI's five times (Jenkinson)! The early '90's were dismal for the Yankees, especially 1991, compiling a 71 - 91 record.

Though they never entered the playoffs, there were signs of light showing through their farm system. Players like Scott Kame nicki, Pat Kelly, and Bernie Williams were tearing up the minors, giving hope to the Yankee's future. Things finally started turning around in 1994. Unfortunately, the discord between players and owners over salaries caused a strike and wiped out that season. It was the eighth work stoppage since 1972 and owners more than ever were pushing for a salary cap.

Baseball could very well be heading for a ninth stoppage following the 2001 season. The current labor contract expires shortly after the World Series and both sides still want different things. Since 1995, the Bronx Bombers have showed no mercy. Under the guidance of Joe Torre and the wallet of George Steinbrenner, they have won 4 World Series in the past 5 years. They are also the first team to three-peat since the '72-'74 Athletics. Key players have always stepped up in crucial spots when needed.

They show leadership and command respect. This is why they are proud to be called Yankees.