The 1953 New York Yankees are on the verge of giving the franchise their second straight Great Teams of the Past championship. Heading into the final week of the season, the Yankees (19-9) are two games up with four to play.
The Yankees took three of four from the 1954 Cleveland Indians in week #7. The 1957 Milwaukee Braves couldn’t make up any ground, also winning three of four from the 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates. They had a chance to sweep but lost in the finale. The 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers and 1954 New York Giants couldn’t eliminate each other as they split their series, but that puts them both three games back with four to play.
The Braves do have one reason for hope in week #8. They’ll be facing the 1954 Cleveland Indians, who are tied for last place, while the Yankees will battle the Dodgers.
If the Yankees can win the series, they’ll set a new GTOP record for wins in a season. The previous three champions all won 21 games.
Kudos to the 1950 Philadelphia Phillies, who finally won their first series of the season by beating the 1959 Chicago White Sox three times.
There wasn’t much movement among the league leaders. Jackie Robinson (.382) increased his lead for the batting title and he’s now more than 40 points better than Willie Mays. Mays has the RBI lead, however, with 28 to Robinson’s 25. Wes Covington didn’t homer in week #7, but neither did Al Rosen. Covington has 10 to Rosen’s and Andy Seminick’s eight.
| Week 7 | W | L | PCT | GB | R | RA | +/- | AVG | ERA | Stats |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 New York Yankees | 19 | 9 | .679 | — | 117 | 94 | +23 | .228 | 3.14 | Stats |
| 1957 Milwaukee Braves | 17 | 11 | .607 | 2.0 | 110 | 109 | +1 | .240 | 3.66 | Stats |
| 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers | 16 | 12 | .571 | 3.0 | 124 | 107 | +17 | .220 | 3.66 | Stats |
| 1954 New York Giants | 16 | 12 | .571 | 3.0 | 118 | 120 | -2 | .235 | 3.72 | Stats |
| 1960 Pittsburgh Pirates | 13 | 15 | .464 | 6.0 | 96 | 97 | -1 | .237 | 3.01 | Stats |
| 1950 Philadelphia Phillies | 11 | 17 | .393 | 8.0 | 131 | 121 | +10 | .255 | 3.88 | Stats |
| 1954 Cleveland Indians | 10 | 18 | .357 | 9.0 | 94 | 101 | -7 | .227 | 3.42 | Stats |
| 1959 Chicago White Sox | 10 | 18 | .357 | 9.0 | 81 | 122 | -41 | .203 | 4.01 | Stats |
Week 7 results:
> Phillies d. White Sox 3-1
> Braves d. Pirates 3-1
> Yankees d. Indians 3-1
> Giants and Dodgers split 2-2
Week 7 recaps:
> Gameday #25
> Gameday #26
> Gameday #27
> Gameday #28
Week 7 featured YouTube broadcasts:
> 1953 Dodgers vs. 1954 Giants (Gameday #25)
> 1953 Yankees vs. 1954 Indians (Gameday #28)
BATTING LEADERS
Average
.382 Jackie Robinson, 1953 Dodgers
.339 Willie Mays, 1954 Giants
.336 Richie Ashburn, 1950 Phillies
.330 Bob Skinner, 1960 Pirates
.327 Bill Virdon, 1960 Pirates
.323 Mickey Mantle, 1953 Yankees
.307 Dick Sisler, 1950 Phillies
.304 Eddie Mathews, 1957 Braves
.294 Hank Bauer, 1953 Yankees
.291 Al Smith, 1954 Indians
Runs
22 Eddie Mathews, 1957 Braves
21 Jackie Robinson, 1953 Dodgers
21 Willie Mays, 1954 Giants
21 Pee Wee Reese, 1953 Dodgers
20 Richie Ashburn, 1950 Phillies
Hits
39 Jackie Robinson, 1953 Dodgers
37 Willie Mays, 1954 Giants
37 Richie Ashburn, 1950 Phillies
36 Bill Virdon, 1960 Pirates
35 Dick Sisler, 1950 Phillies
35 Bob Skinner, 1960 Pirates
Doubles
17 Willie Mays, 1954 Giants
10 Bob Skinner, 1960 Pirates
10 Eddie Mathews, 1957 Braves
10 Duke Snider, 1953 Dodgers
10 Eddie Waitkus, 1950 Phillies
Triples
6 Hank Bauer, 1953 Yankees
6 Red Schoendienst, 1957 Braves
5 Bill Virdon, 1960 Pirates
4 Bill Bruton, 1957 Braves
3 several
Home Runs
10 Wes Covington, 1957 Braves
8 Al Rosen, 1954 Indians
8 Andy Seminick, 1950 Phillies
7 Eddie Mathews, 1957 Braves
7 Ray Katt, 1954 Giants
7 Dick Stuart, 1960 Pirates
RBI
28 Willie Mays, 1954 Giants
25 Jackie Robinson, 1953 Dodgers
24 Duke Snider, 1953 Dodgers
21 several
Stolen Bases
10 Luis Aparicio, 1959 White Sox
8 Jackie Robinson, 1953 Dodgers
5 Duke Snider, 1953 Dodgers
5 Al Rosen, 1954 Indians
4 Al Smith, 1959 White Sox
4 Pee Wee Reese, 1953 Dodgers
PITCHING LEADERS
Wins
5 Vinegar Bend Mizell, 1960 Pirates
5 Gene Conley, 1957 Braves
5 Johnny Sain, 1953 Yankees
5 Whitey Ford, 1953 Yankees
4 several
ERA
1.87 Bob Friend, 1960 Pirates
1.95 Mike Garcia, 1954 Indians
2.15 Johnny Sain, 1953 Yankees
2.22 Vinegar Bend Mizell, 1960 Pirates
2.50 Bob Buhl, 1957 Braves
2.58 Whitey Ford, 1953 Yankees
2.72 Don Liddle, 1954 Giants
2.91 Gene Conley, 1957 Braves
2.93 Eddie Lopat, 1953 Yankees
2.94 Bob Shaw, 1959 White Sox
Complete Games
3 Vinegar Bend Mizell, 1960 Pirates
3 Bob Lemon, 1954 Indians
3 Early Wynn, 1954 Indians
2 several
Shutouts
2 Vinegar Bend Mizell, 1960 Pirates
2 Johnny Sain, 1953 Yankees
2 Billy Loes, 1953 Dodgers
Saves
8 Don McMahon, 1957 Braves
5 Roy Face, 1960 Pirates
5 Jim Konstanty, 1950 Phillies
5 Hoyt Wilhelm, 1954 Giants
5 Gerry Staley, 1959 White Sox
Strikeouts
61 Curt Simmons, 1950 Phillies
39 Early Wynn, 1954 Indians
27 Early Wynn, 1959 White Sox
36 Johnny Antonelli, 1954 Giants
36 Sal Maglie, 1954 Giants
ROGER SPORTS & GAMES 