The Phillies gave the defending World Champion Yankees a run in the first three games of the 1950 World Series, but fell short by a single run in each of the games. New York was heading into Game Four with a chance to sweep for their 13th World Series title.
New York had rookie Whitey Ford as their scheduled starter and the Phillies had Bob Miller.
Ford showed signs of the post-season pitcher he would be with his outing, while the Yankees drove Miller from the game early.
Ford walked Eddie Waitkus to start the game and one out later Willie Jones doubled to put two runners into scoring position. But, Del Ennis sent a grounder to third and Waitkus was out at the plate. Ford struck out Dick Sisler looking and the Phillies didn't have another chance like that until late in the game.
New York started on Miller right away, no thanks to the defense. Gene Woodling started the first by reaching on an error by Mike Goliat. He went to second on a grounder and scored on a Yogi Berra single. Miller threw a wild pitch to send Berra to third, but it didn't matter. Joe DiMaggio was next and he doubled to send Berra home. That double also drove Miller out of the game. Jim Konstanty, who started Game One and relieved in Game Three for the Phillies, must have been warming up early because he was in the game after the DiMaggio double. He got the final two outs, but the Phillies trailed 2-0 after one inning.
Ford worked a 1-2-3 second. He allowed a hit in the third, but no runs. In the fourth, Ford gave up a lead off single to Ennis and a one out single to Granny Hammer. Then, he got an inning ending double play.
In the fifth, Ford gave up another hit, but, he still protected that 2-0 lead. In the sixth, an error allowed Ennis to reach with one out. Ford got Dick Sisler to ground into a double play.
The Yankees were not having any luck extending their lead against Konstanty as he retired 14 of the first 16 batters after coming on in relief.
But, Berra homered to lead off the sixth for a 3-0 lead. DiMaggio was hit by a pitch. One out later, Bobby Brown tripled to drive in DiMaggio. Then, Hank Bauer's sacrifice fly sent Brown home for a 5-0 lead. That put the Yanks nine outs for the title.
Ford pitched a perfect frame in both the seventh and eighth innings. He looked like he would get a complete game shutout in his first World Series start. But, it turns out he needed a little help.
Jones singled and Ennis was hit by a pitch. A force play and a strikeout got the Yankees to the brink. Then, Gene Woodling committed an error on an Andy Seminick grounder. That allowed both runners to score. A single by Goliat sent Ford out of the game and Allie Reynolds had the opportunity to close down the game. He would face pinch hitter Stan Lopata, the tying run.
Lopata had hit one homer over just 129 at bats in the 1950 season. Reynolds had pitched 10 ininngs and picked up the win in Game Two. Lopata had appeared as a defensive replacement earlier in the series, but this was his first at bat.
This would also be his only World Series at bat...ever.
Reynolds struck out Lopata and the Yankees celebrated their second straight World Series Title.
New York would go on to win the Series again in 1951, 1952 and 1953. The Phillies would not make it back to the Fall Classic until 1980.
The current incarnations of the Yankees and Phillies play Game Four of the 2009 World Series tonight. At least it won't be a sweep.
Game Four box score
Below is the closest thing I could find to usable highlights from the 1950 World Series. It's a newsreel of a preview for the 1951 season for both World Series participants.
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