May 11, 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers 11 Game Winning Streak Comes To An End
Jackie Robinson forced out at second base as Ernie Banks leaps over him May 11, 1955 photo: UPI
The New York Mets recent 10 game winning streak in 2015 may be a sign from the baseball gods that good things are in store for them. For inspiration the Mets can look back 60 years to the winning streak the Brooklyn Dodgers assembled on their way to their only World Series Championship.
The caption for this news photo says:
Chicago: Jackie Robinson, Brooklyn, forced at second in 7th inning of Dodgers – Cubs game here 5/11 as shortstop Ernie Banks throws to first for double play on grounder hit to second baseman Gene Baker by Carl Furillo. Umpire Art Gore calls the play. Cubs won 10-8 halting Dodgers’ winning streak at 11. photo United Press 5/11/55
What many fans may forget is that the Dodgers opened the season on April 13 and won their first ten games. By the time their 11 game winning streak was broken by the Cubs on May 11 they were 22-3 and held on to first place for the entire season.
The Dodgers finished 98-55 in that glorious 1955 championship season. Dodgers catcher Roy Campanella was named the National League’s MVP batting .318 with 32 home runs and 107 RBI’s.
At age 36, Jackie Robinson’s career was winding down as he played in only 105 games batting .258 with 8 home runs and 36 RBI’s. On the other side of this play, Cubs shortstop Ernie Banks was on the way to the first of his many great seasons with the Cubs. Banks hit .295 while walloping 44 home runs and driving in 117 runs.
