From MLB.com & Associated Press:
The left-hander was picked for four All-Star games and was the first Most Valuable Player in World Series history. He became a hero to every baseball fan in Brooklyn when the Dodgers ended decades of frustration by beating the Yankees to win the World Series.
It was the first time a team had won a best-of-seven World Series after losing the first two games, and it was Brooklyn's only World Series victory. The Dodgers moved to Los Angeles after the 1957 season.
The Dodgers lost the first two games of at Yankee Stadium, then the Dodgers won the third 8-3 at Ebbets Field. Podres, going the distance on his 23rd birthday, scattered seven hits.
In the climactic seventh game, at Yankee Stadium, Podres shut out New York 2-0 on eight hits, relying on his fastball and a deceptive changeup.
As the story goes, Podres told his teammates to get him just one run and the Dodgers would win Game 7. They got him two, and the franchise celebrated its first and only championship while playing in Brooklyn.
Years later, Podres was uncertain he made such a brash statement.
"I don't know if I said it or not. That's what they said I said," a grinning Podres recalled in 2005. "Probably young and dumb -- something like that would haunt you your whole life. ... You put on a big league uniform, you've got to think you're pretty good."
Tommy Byrne, the losing pitcher in that game, died Dec. 20.
Podres' career spanned 15 years with the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, the Detroit Tigers and San Diego Padres. He retired in 1969 at age 36 with a lifetime record of 148-116.
Podres also served as a pitching coach when he was older, helping develop Frank Viola when he was with the Minnesota Twins and Curt Schilling when he was on the Philadelphia Phillies staff.
.............................................................................................................From the Post-Star
January 14, 2008
"Podres, who usually went home right after the season, stayed in Brooklyn for the next couple of months.
He was introduced in the audience of the Ed Sullivan show, appeared as a guest on the TV show "What’s My Line," did an appearance on the "Steve Allen Show" and appeared with Jackie Robinson and Duke Snider on the "Today" show, hosted by Dave Garroway.
"What a great life that was that winter," Podres told The Post-Star in 1995. "I was a big deal."
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After his success in the World Series, a song was quickly created in his honor. From what we can gather here at BSOD, from research that led us to the Global Dog Productions web site, Jubilee Records released the song in 1955. The song was released as a 45 and possibly also as a 78 recording as well. The "a" side of the vinyl was, "Has a Halo Round His Head" and the "b" side was "Temper is a Terrible Thing."
We have not been privy to listen to a copy of the song, nor have found a link or a version to it on any web site to date. However, we have found a few lines of what looks to be the lyrics on this site:
http://mozartzbitch.livejournal.com/
Johnny Podres Has a Halo Round His Head Lyrics
Johnny brought the crowd to Ebbet's Field at last
No more wait 'til next year! No! Next is passed!
Casey's mighty men struck men struck out
You can hear all Brooklyn shout,
"Johnny Podres has a halo 'round his head.
2 comments:
My father was a fervent Brooklyn Dodger fan and he and my mom used to sing this song to me all the time. They are alas both dead (in heaven watching Podras pitch no doubt) so I can't give you more words or a tune, but I was delighted to find mention of this tune here. Thank you.
I used to have a 78 rpm copy when I was a kid. Wish someone would post it on YouTube. I'd love to hear it again
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