Vintage Athletes - Part 16

1955 World Series

The 1955 World Series pitted the New York Yankees against the Brooklyn Dodgers.  Above, a typical locker room scene after a game.  Yankees pitcher Don Larsen is being interviewed at right while the naked player at center is ignored by the crowd.

(Photo by LIFE photographer George Silk)

A celebration in the Dodgers locker room.  The Dodgers won the World Series for their first time ever.

(Photo by LIFE photographer Grey Villet)

Dodgers pitcher Karl Spooner heading to or from the showers.

(Photo by LIFE photographer Grey Villet)

I don't know who the player is who's receiving manly kisses from his teammates, but he must have helped them to their sweet victory.

(Photo by LIFE photographer Grey Villet)

Dodgers pitcher Johnny Podres, right, pitched a shutout in the 7th game, clinching the series for the Dodgers.  He was awarded the first MVP in World Series history.  Even his foes congratulated him.  Here, Yankees catcher Yogi Berra (left) is giving Podres what the caption called a "congratulatory pat."  To me, it looks a little friendlier than just a pat, more like Yogi is about to pull Johnny in for a congratulatory smooch.

(Photo from New York Daily News)

Vintage Athletes - Part 11

1945 World Series

In October, 1945, when the Detroit Tigers played the Chicago Cubs for the World Series, World War II had just ended, but many of the best major league players were still in military service.  When asked which team would win the series, one commentator said "I don't think either one of them can win it."

These photos are from the LIFE photo archive.  None of them were published in the magazine.

Congratulating a player in the Cubs locker room.  Note they're both smoking, something that was common then but unthinkable for pro athletes today.  Photo by Myron Davis.

Detroit won the series 4-3.  This is the Tigers locker room after the final game.  Reporters are clustered around slugger Hank Greenberg, who had been discharged from military service early and was clearly the star of the series, hitting two home runs for the Tigers, scoring seven runs and driving in another seven.  In the background, you can see some other players naked.  Players didn't worry about being naked around reporters, or even photographers.  Photo by Frank Scherschel.

And in this classic Frank Scherschel photo, we see Hank Greenberg, casually naked, swigging a beer to celebrate the World Series win as reporters interview him.

It's such a striking image, I couldn't resist colorizing Hank in the photo, just for fun.  The guy at the bottom is looking out as if to say to me, "Really?  You colorized it?"