1959 World Series Game 5 vs Chicago White Sox
The Dodgers sealed their first West Coast title with a dramatic comeback at Comiskey Park.
The 1959 World Series Game 5 stands as a pivotal turning point in Los Angeles Dodgers history, marking the franchise's first championship victory on the West Coast. Facing elimination against the Chicago White Sox at Comiskey Park, the Dodgers secured a dramatic 9-3 victory to clinch the series and bring the title back to California for the first time since departing Brooklyn.
- Series Outcome
- Dodgers win 4 games to 2
- Location
- Comiskey Park, Chicago
- Winning Pitcher
- Larry Sherry
- MVP of Series
- Larry Sherry
- Final Score
- 9-3
- Key Moment
- Dodgers rally in the bottom of the 7th inning
Lore & Background
By 1959, the Dodgers had only been in Los Angeles for two seasons, still fighting to prove they belonged in their new home. The team, led by manager Walter Alston and stars like Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, and Sandy Koufax (who struggled with a sore arm that series), found themselves in an improbable position: down three games to one against the powerful Chicago White Sox. Many expected the 'Go-Go Sox' to sweep them home.
In Their Own Story
The air in Comiskey Park was thick with the scent of popcorn and cigar smoke as the seventh inning stretched into a nightmare for Chicago. The Dodgers trailed, but the crowd remained silent, sensing a shift in momentum. Then, Wally Moon stepped up, his bat cracking against the night sky to send a moonshot over the left-field fence. The roar that followed was not just from Dodger fans; it was the sound of history being rewritten on foreign soil.
Reader's Guide
This game occurred during the 1959 World Series, pitting the National League champion Los Angeles Dodgers against the American League champion Chicago White Sox. Entering Game 5 with a 3-1 series deficit, the Dodgers faced elimination and needed a victory to stay alive. The atmosphere was tense as the White Sox took an early lead, but the game turned in the bottom of the seventh inning.
The Dodgers mounted a massive offensive explosion, scoring six runs to take a commanding lead. Key contributions came from Wally Moon, who hit a crucial home run, and Jim Gilliam, who delivered timely hits that dismantled the Chicago pitching staff. Larry Sherry, who had already saved Game 4, took the mound in relief and held the fort, eventually earning the win as the Dodgers secured a 9-3 victory.
This match is remembered not only for the score but for its historical significance. It was the first World Series title won by a team based on the West Coast of the United States. The victory validated the franchise's move from Brooklyn and cemented the Dodgers' status as a major league powerhouse in California, ending years of waiting for fans who had followed the team through the transition.
Did You Know?
- Larry Sherry became the first player to win World Series MVP without starting a game.
- This was the first World Series title won by a franchise located west of the Mississippi River.
- The White Sox had not appeared in the World Series since 1917, ending a 42-year drought before losing this series.
- Wally Moon's home run in Game 5 is often cited as the catalyst for the Dodgers' historic comeback.