The Yankees cruised to yet another American League title, but the Giants finished the schedule in a dead heat with the Los Angeles Dodgers, reminiscent of the 1951 campaign. And just as in '51, the Giants prevailed in a taut, three-game playoff series.

The World Series opened in San Francisco, where Whitey Ford continued his October excellence with a 6-2 victory. Roger Maris and Clete Boyer highlighted the Yankee hitting attack, with a two-run double and a two-run homer, respectively. In Game 2, the Giants scored in the first inning on a leadoff double, a sacrifice bunt and a ground-out. Willie McCovey made it 2-0 with a solo homer in the seventh, but one run was all Jack Sanford needed, as he held the Yankees to three hits and zero runs.

After a travel day, the Series resumed in New York. Game 3 was scoreless until the seventh, when Maris singled home two runs, then scored a few batters later on Boyer's ground-out. Giants catcher Ed Bailey made it 3-2 with his two-out, two-run homer in the ninth, but Yankee starter Bill Stafford then retired Jim Davenport to end the game.

Because he started the final playoff game against the Dodgers, San Francisco ace Juan Marichal wasn't able to start in the World Series until Game 4. Marichal was excellent, tossing four scoreless innings, but he was forced from the game after suffering a hand injury while batting in the top of the fifth. His replacements held on until the seventh, when Giant second baseman Chuck Hiller smashed a grand slam to give his club a 6-2 lead. The final was 7-3, and the World Series was evened at two games apiece. Game 5 was similarly deadlocked, two runs apiece, until the bottom of the eighth, when Yankee left fielder Tom Tresh hit a three-run homer off Jack Sanford. The Giants scored once in the top of the ninth, but it wasn't enough to keep Ralph Terry from pitching a complete game and earning the 5-3 decision.

Back in the Bay Area for Game 6 - delayed three days by rain -- the Giants captured a 5-2 victory behind the complete-game pitching of Billy Pierce, who allowed only three hits.

Given all the days off, Sanford and Terry faced off again in Game 7, and both were very good. The Yankees scored a single run in the fifth when Tony Kubek hit into a double play, and the score was still 1-0 when the Giants came up in the bottom of the ninth. Pinch-hitter Matty Alou led off with a bunt, and after two strikeouts he advanced to third when Willie Mays doubled. Willie McCovey then smashed a screaming line drive, but right at Yankee second baseman Bobby Richardson, who caught the ball to end the Series.

Managers: Ralph Houk, NYY; Alvin Dark, SF

MVP: Ralph Terry, NYY: 2-1, 1.80 ERA, 16 K