There’s No Tomorrow

1956 World Series New York Yankees vs. Brooklyn Dodgers Game 7

What happened in real life?

The Yankees rolled to an easy win in the deciding game. Johnny Kucks tossed a three hit shutout and Yogi Berra hit a pair of home runs, as the Yankees won, 9-0.

What happened in my replay?

New York still prevailed, but it was a nailbiter of a game.

New York 4 Brooklyn 3

WP-Johnny Kucks LP- Don Bessent SV-Tom Morgan

Home Runs- New York: Elston Howard, Mickey Mantle

Brooklyn: Roy Campanella

The first hit of the game didn’t come until the bottom of the second inning. Brooklyn left fielder, Sandy Amoros doubled but was stranded. In the top of the third, with one out, the Yankees’ Andy Carey hit a hard ground ball to Jim Gilliam at second base. Gilliam gloved the ball but then dropped it and threw wildly to first. The resulting overthrow allowed Carey to reach second base. One batter later, Hank Bauer singled in the game’s first run.

The Dodgers would answer immediately. Roy Campenella led off the last of the second with a double. Don Newcombe whiffed, then Gilliam redeemed himself with a rbi single, tying the game at one all.

Neither team scored until the top of the seventh. With two out, Bill Skowron tripled. Elston Howard clubbed a two-run home run, putting the Yankees up, 3-1. Newcombe then retired Gil McDougald for the final out of the inning. That would be the last batter he would face.

In what would be Johnny Kucks’ last inning, once again, Brooklyn responded. Roy Campanella’s solo blast cut the Yankees lead to 3-2. The eighth inning was scoreless for both teams.

New York’s Billy Martin led off the top of the ninth against Don Bessent, who had worked a scoreless eighth for the Dodgers. He struck out; however, Mickey Mantle gave the Yankees an important insurance run with a long home run. Brooklyn brought in rookie lefty, Sandy Koufax to pitch to Yogi Berra. Koufax issued a walk, but Roger Craig took over and got the final two outs.

Yankee ace reliever, Tom Morgan came on to work the ninth. Things didn’t exactly go well. Amoros worked a leadoff walk, then Carl Furillo belted a double, putting runners on second and third, with no outs. The corners came in on the Yankee infield. Campanella hit a sharp grounder to first. He was retired, with the runners having to hold. Rube Walker pinch hit for Craig and popped out to third. That left Jim Gilliam with Brooklyn’s last chance. A hard liner to second baseman Martin clinched the final game of the Series for New York.