Topic: Johnny Podres

John Joseph Podres (September 30, 1932–January 13, 2008) was an American left-handed starting pitcher in Major League Baseball who spent most of his career with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers. He is perhaps best remembered for being named the Most Valuable Player of the 1955 World Series, pitching a shutout in Game 7 against the New York Yankees to help bring the Dodgers their first World Series title. He later led the National League in earned run average and shutouts in 1957, and in winning percentage in 1961.

Podres helped his Dodgers teams win the World Series in 1955, 1959 and 1963. His performance in the 1955 Series was especially remarkable. After the Dodgers lost the first two games to the New York Yankees, Podres pitched a complete game 7-hit victory on his 23rd birthday in Game 3. In the climactic Game 7, Podres pitched a shutout, winning 2-0, to bring Brooklyn its first and only World Series championship. Podres was given the first-ever World Series MVP Award by Sport magazine and presented with a red two-seater Corvette. Later he was honored as the Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated magazine.

In his 15-season career, Podres compiled a 148-116 record with 1435 strikeouts, a 3.68 ERA, and 24 shutouts in 440 games. He was at his best in the World Series, losing his first Series game (in 1953), then winning four straight decisions over the next decade. In six Series games, he allowed only 29 hits in 38⅓ innings, with a 2.11 ERA adorning his 4-1 won/loss record.