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Photograph by Richard Meek

"And so, when the country boy from the small mining village stands alone on the mound in Yankee Stadium in the most demanding moment of one of the world's few truly epic sports events, and courageously, skillfully pitches his way to a success as complete, melodramatic and extravagant as that ever dreamed by any boy, the American chapter of the International Order of Frustrated Dreamers rises as one man and roars its recognition."

Text by Robert Creamer
Issue Date: January 2, 1956

In the seventh game of the 1955 World Series, Dodgers pitcher Johnny Podres threw a complete-game shutout against the New York Yankees to bring Brooklyn its first and only championship. Podres pitched two of the Dodgers' victories over the Yanks, and earned World Series MVP honors. His heroics in the playoffs made up for his lackluster regular season, in which he had a record of 9-10 and an ERA of 3.95.