Editor’s note: Tournament games are played with Strat-o-Matic cards and dice.
A late rally by the New York Giants led to a 5-2 victory over the Brooklyn Dodgers at Ebbets Field in the semifinals of the 1955 Tournament.
With the contest tied 2-2 after seven innings, the Giants manufactured what turned out to be the winning run in the top of the eighth against Dodgers starter Billy Loes.
Dusty Rhodes singled to begin the frame and then Monte Irvin walked. Wes Westrum followed with an infield single to load the bases, which set Loes to the showers.
Billy Gardner‘s sacrifice fly off Don Bessent gave the Giants a 3-2 lead.
In the ninth, the Giants added the final two runs on a long blast by Rhodes.
Jim Hearn went the distance for the Giants as he scattered 10 hits and gave up a run in the fourth and another in fifth.
Don Hoak had a RBI single before Roy Campanella tied the affair at 2-2 with a sacrifice fly.
The Giants grabbed an early lead when Hank Thompson had a RBI single in the first. Westrum made it 2-0 with a run-scoring single in the third.
New York advances to the championship title that will be at the Polo Grounds. The Giants will face the winner of the Philadelphia Phillies at Chicago White Sox semifinal contest.
1955 IN REAL LIFE: Gardner was in the second season of his 10-year career. He played in 59 games with three homers and 17 RBI. He batted .203 and had just one sacrifice fly.
Gardner was sold to the Baltimore Orioles before the 1956 season. His best season came in 1957 when he batted .262 and topped the American League with 36 doubles.
He was traded to the Washington Senators for the 1960 season and then sent to the New York Yankees, who won the World Series in 1961.
The infielder was started with the Yankees in 1962, but he was sent to the Boston Red Sox early in the season. He retired from the Red Sox in 1963.
Semifinal Schedule and Results
(3) New York Giants 5, (1) Brooklyn Dodgers 2
(4) Philadelphia Phillies at (3) Chicago White Sox
Championship Game
(4) Philadelphia Phillies at (3) Chicago White Sox winner at (3) New York Giants
Second Round Results
Upper Bracket
(1) Brooklyn Dodgers 6, (5) Cincinnati Reds 4
(3) New York Giants 5, (7) St. Louis Cardinals 0
Lower Bracket
(3) Chicago White Sox 5, (7) Baltimore Orioles 3
(4) Philadelphia Phillies 7, (8) Pittsburgh Pirates 1
First Round Results
Upper Bracket
(1) Brooklyn Dodgers 4, (8) Washington Senators 0
(5) Cincinnati Reds 7, (4) Boston Red Sox 3
(3) New York Giants 2, (6) Kansas City Athletics 1
(7) St. Louis Cardinals 6, (2) Cleveland Indians 1
Lower Bracket
(7) Baltimore Orioles 6, (2) Milwaukee Braves 1
(3) Chicago White Sox 8, (6) Chicago Cubs 4
(4) Philadelphia Phillies 3, (5) Detroit Tigers 1
(8) Pittsburgh Pirates 3, (1) New York Yankees 2