World Series Phlashback: 1950 World Series – Game Two

The 1950 Phillies, affectionately nicknamed the Whiz Kids due to their youthful age, clinched the National League pennant on the final day of the regular season.

Led by the likes of Robin Roberts and Richie Ashburn the Phillies would make their second trip to the World Series.

Their opponents would be the defending world champion New York Yankees, who were looking to add their 13th title to their historic franchise history. The experienced Yankees would sweep the Whiz Kids, although all but one was a one run game.

This is part two of the four part series and focuses on game two of the 1950 World Series.

1950 World Series

Philadelphia Phillies (91-63) vs. New York Yankees (98-56)
Game Two: Yankees Win 2-1, Take 2-0 Series Lead

Robin Roberts,an eventual Hall of Fame pitcher for the Phillies, made his World Series debut and may have pitched one of the best games of his life. Unfortunately for the Phillies, Roberts’ ten inning complete game would turn out to be a loss, sending the Phillies up to New York in a tough 0-2 hole against the defending World Series champions.

Roberts had pitched three games in five days down the stretch of the regular season and was unavailable for game one of the World Series. Instead he would pitch game two on full rest. Roberts allowed ten hits in those ten innings and struck out five Yankees batters.

Opposing Roberts on the mound was Allie Reynolds, who pitched a masterful game himself. Also pitching all ten innings, Reynolds picked up the win along with six strike outs and just one run allowed.

The Yankees got on the score board first when Jerry Coleman scored on a base hit by Gene Woodling in the second inning. The Phillies would respond in the fifth inning, tying the game on Richie Ashburn’s sacrifice fly to left field brought Mike Goliat home.

Yankees legend Joe DiMaggio made a fantastic catch to keep the Phillies from starting a rally.

Del Ennis lead off for the Phillies in the sixth inning and hit a deep fly ball to right center field. DiMaggio though was in a hurry to track it down and made a Willie Mays type catch before Mays ever had the chance to do it himself.

The game would remain tied at the end of the ninth inning and went to extra innings tied at one.

It did not take long for the Yankees to take a lead though. Joe DiMaggio hit a lead off solo home run off of Roberts to deep left field, giving the Yankees the 2-1 lead. Roberts retired the next three batters to give the offense a chance in the bottom of the tenth.

After pinch hitter Jackie Mayo forced a lead off walk, first baseman Eddie Waitkus used a sacrifice bunt to move Mayo to second base. Ashburn failed to advance Mayo though with a fly foul ball out and left fielder Dick Sisler struck out looking to end the ball game.

The Yankees took both games in Shibe Park and were heading home to try and wrap up their thirteenth World Series championship.