No. 20

The American League race had been a blazer, but in the closing fortnight the New York Yankees climbed into the lead and stayed there. Last week, three days before the season's end, they clinched their 17th pennant, wound up three games ahead of the faltering Detroit Tigers.

In the National League, Philadelphia's Whiz Kids had seemed set to win in a downhill glide. On Sept. 19 they were 7 1/2 games ahead of the Boston Braves, nine games ahead of the third-place Brooklyn Dodgers. Then things began to happen. Bereft of star Southpaw Curt Simmons, who had been called up by the National Guard (TIME, Aug. 7), the Phillie pitching staff fell apart at the seams. At the same moment, the hitters stopped hitting, and the infielders began booting ground balls. The Phillies lost eight of their next eleven games.

In Brooklyn, where fans had settled into a morose "wait till next year" mood, the Dodgers came to life. By last week's end, after winning twelve out of 15, they were only two games behind, and Flatbush was in a resurrection frenzy. When the Phillies moved into Ebbets Field for the last two games, the Dodgers took the first one, 7-3.

The payoff game was a pitchers' duel all the way: Don Newcombe for the Dodgers, Robin Roberts for the Phillies--each trying to win his 20th game. The Phillies got a run in the sixth, but Dodger Peewee Reese promptly tied things up with a home run. It was still tied, 1-1, at the end of the ninth. In the tenth, the Phillies settled matters. With two men on, Leftfielder Dick Sisler shoved a fast ball into the left-field stands. It was the Phillies' first pennant in 35 years.

This week, somewhat aged, the Whiz Kids went into the World Series against the well-rested Yankees.

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