Remembering New York Giants History (1954) Dusty Rhodes Helps Giants Sweep the Brooklyn Dodgers at the Polo Grounds

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June 29th - July 1st 1954: The New York Giants swept a three game series from their cross town rivals, the Brooklyn Dodgers at the Polo Grounds. 

The Giants entered the series up one game in first place in the National League. The sweep put New York up four games in as they went on to win the NL Pennant & the 1954 World Series. 

In 1954 Giants, Manager Leo Durocher had a great weapon off the bench, he was Dusty Rhodes.

In the first game of the Series, 51,464 came out to the Polo Grounds for this Tuesday night match up. The Giants, Sal "the Barber" Maglie went up against the Dodgers, Don Newcome.



In the Giants home 2nd inning, Monte Irvin hit a solo HR to put the Giants up 1-0. Davey Williams homered in the 2nd to make it 2-0.

Maglie shut out the dodgers until the 9th inning. With one out Jackie Robinson singled. After Gil Hodges struck out, Roy Campanella tied the game with a two run HR.

The game went to extra innings, with the Giants Marv Grissom going at it against the Dodgers, Billy Loes. In the top of the 13th, Don Hoak homered to put Brooklyn ahead 3-2.

In the bottom of the inning, Whitey Lockman walked. After Loes retired Thompson & Don Mueller, he walked Willie Mays & Monte Irvin to load the bases.

Manager Leo Durocher went to his best pinch hitter Dusty Rhodes. Rhodes lined a single to centerfield, scoring both, Lockman with the tying run & Mays with the winning run for an exciting walk off win.

In the 2nd game of that series, Giants pitching ace Johnny Antonelli pitched seven innings allowing only one run. Giants, reliever Hoyt Wilhelm closed out the last two innings as the Giants won 5-2. 

Giants first baseman, Whitey Lockman drove in three runs on the day, and Alvin Dark had an RBI single as well.

In the series finale', 21,560 showed up for a Thursday afternoon game as the Giants went for the series sweep. Today the Giants sent Ruben Gomez up against the Dodgers, Russ Meyer.


In the 3rd inning, the Giants' Alvin Dark drove in a run with a base hit, scoring Davey Williams. In the 5th, Williams hit a solo HR to make it 2-0, Giants.

In the 7th, Brooklyn came back, with back to back HRs from Roy Campanella & Carl Furillo to tie it up. 

With the score tied 2-2 in the 8th, Whitey Lockman singled & Hank Thompson reached on an error. Dodger pitcher, Erv Palica then intentionally walked Don Mueller to load the bases.

Giants manager, Leo Durocher called on Dusty Rhodes to pinch hit. Rhodes delivered with a single up the middle scoring the Mueller & Thompson in what would be the winning runs.

In the top of the 9th, Hoyt Wilhelm came on for the save. Although with two outs, he gave up a single to Gil Hodges & then walked Campanella & Furillo to make things exciting.

But he got the pitcher, Marv Grissom to line out to left to end the game.

The Giants went on to win it 5-2 to complete the sweep.



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