Brooklyn Dodgers' hero Podres dies at 75

0 Comments | AFP, January, 2008

GLENS FALLS, New York (AFP) — Johnny Podres, who pitched the Brooklyn Dodgers to their only World Series title with a seventh-game gem over the arch-rival New York Yankees in 1955, died Sunday night at age 75.

A hospital spokesman here confirmed the passing of Podres, who was only 23 when he hurled an eight-hit 2-0 shutout in the 1955 World Series decider over the Yankees, the Bronx-based rivals who won five prior Series over Brooklyn.

But after southpaw Podres made the Dodgers the first team to win a World Series after dropping the first two games, the joy was short-lived. Just two years later, the Dodgers would move to Los Angeles.

Podres, who remained with the Dodgers through 1965, also pitched for San Diego and Detroit in a 15-year career which saw him...