The 1958 World Series marked the 55th edition of Major League Baseball’s championship series and was played between the New York Yankees and the Milwaukee Braves. The Yankees won the series 4-3, making it the first time in World Series history that a team had come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series. This was the Yankees’ 18th World Series championship and the Braves’ second. This article will provide a detailed look at the 1958 World Series, including a look at the teams that participated, the individual players and performances, and the events that led to the Yankees’ victory.
The Teams
The New York Yankees were the American League champions, having won the pennant with a record of 92–62, 3.5 games ahead of the second-place Chicago White Sox. The Yankees had the best team batting average in the American League, at .267, and finished second in runs scored. The team was led by manager Casey Stengel and featured such stars as Mickey Mantle, Yogi Berra, Elston Howard, and Whitey Ford.
The Milwaukee Braves were the National League champions, having won the pennant with a record of 92–62, 2 games ahead of the second-place San Francisco Giants. The Braves were the top-scoring team in the National League, scoring 809 runs, and featured such stars as Hank Aaron, Eddie Mathews, Warren Spahn, and Lew Burdette.
The Players
The 1958 World Series was an opportunity for some of the top players in baseball at the time to showcase their talents. Mickey Mantle, arguably the most famous player of the era, had a productive series, hitting .320 with two home runs and six RBIs. Yogi Berra, who was the Yankees’ catcher and the American League’s Most Valuable Player, hit a game-winning home run in Game 5. He also batted .308 with two home runs and six RBIs in the series.
On the Braves’ side, Hank Aaron, who was the National League’s Most Valuable Player, hit .333 with one home run and four RBIs. Third baseman Eddie Mathews batted .321 with one home run and four RBIs, and pitcher Warren Spahn picked up two wins in the series.
The Games
The 1958 World Series was a best-of-seven series, with the Yankees taking the first two games in Milwaukee. The Braves bounced back with two wins in New York and took a 3-2 series lead. The Yankees then won the last two games in Milwaukee to clinch the championship.
Game 1: Yankees 5, Braves 4
The Yankees opened the series with a 5-4 win in Game 1. The Yankees scored five runs off Braves’ starter Bob Buhl in the first five innings and held on for the win. Mickey Mantle hit a two-run home run in the first inning to give the Yankees the lead.
Game 2: Yankees 6, Braves 2
The Yankees took a 2-0 series lead with a 6-2 win in Game 2. The Yankees scored four runs in the fourth inning off Braves starter Warren Spahn and cruised to the victory. Elston Howard hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to give the Yankees a 3-2 lead.
Game 3: Braves 5, Yankees 0
The Braves got back in the series with a 5-0 win in Game 3. The Braves scored five runs off Yankees starter Whitey Ford in the first three innings and held on for the win. Hank Aaron drove in two runs with a double in the third inning to give the Braves a 4-0 lead.
Game 4: Braves 6, Yankees 2
The Braves evened the series with a 6-2 win in Game 4. The Braves scored six runs off Yankees starter Bob Turley in the first three innings and cruised to the victory. Hank Aaron hit a two-run home run in the second inning to give the Braves a 3-1 lead.
Game 5: Yankees 5, Braves 4
The Yankees regained the lead in the series with a 5-4 win in Game 5. The Yankees scored five runs off Braves starter Bob Buhl in the first four innings and held on for the win. Yogi Berra hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to give the Yankees a 5-3 lead.
Game 6: Braves 4, Yankees 2
The Braves tied the series with a 4-2 win in Game 6. The Braves scored four runs off Yankees starter Art Ditmar in the first three innings and held on for the win. Hank Aaron drove in two runs with a single in the second inning to give the Braves a 3-1 lead.
Game 7: Yankees 6, Braves 2
The Yankees clinched the championship with a 6-2 win in Game 7. The Yankees scored six runs off Braves starter Lew Burdette in the first four innings and cruised to the victory. Mickey Mantle hit a two-run home run in the fourth inning to give the Yankees a 5-2 lead.
The Aftermath
The Yankees’ victory in the 1958 World Series marked the team’s 18th World Series championship and its first since 1956. The Yankees went on to win the World Series again in 1960, making this the start of one of the most successful periods in Yankees history.
The Braves, meanwhile, would go on to win the World Series in 1957, making this the only time in history that the same two teams won the World Series in consecutive years, albeit with different results. The Braves would win the National League pennant again in 1959, but would lose the World Series to the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Notable Performances
The 1958 World Series saw some of the top players in baseball at the time put forth some memorable performances. Mickey Mantle hit .320 with two home runs and six RBIs, while Yogi Berra hit .308 with two home runs and six RBIs. Hank Aaron hit .333 with one home run and four RBIs, and Eddie Mathews batted .321 with one home run and four RBIs.
Legacy
The 1958 World Series is remembered as one of the most memorable World Series in history. It was the first time in World Series history that a team had come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series and cemented the Yankees’ legacy as one of the greatest teams in baseball history.
Conclusion
The 1958 World Series was a classic matchup between two of the top teams in baseball at the time. The Yankees were led by stars such as Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra, while the Braves were led by Hank Aaron and Eddie Mathews. In the end, the Yankees were able to come back from a 3-1 deficit to win the series and capture their 18th World Series championship. The legacy of the 1958 World Series is one that will live on for years to come.