The
1954 World Series matched the
National League champion
New York Giants against the
American League champion
Cleveland Indians. The Giants swept the Series in four games to win their first championship since , defeating the heavily favored Indians, who had won an AL-record 111 games in the regular season; it has since been broken by the
1998 New York Yankees (114) and again by the
2001 Seattle Mariners (116, tying the
1906 Chicago Cubs for the most wins ever). The Series is perhaps best-remembered for "
The Catch", a sensational running catch made by Giants center fielder
Willie Mays in Game 1, snaring a long drive by
Vic Wertz near the outfield wall with his back to the infield. It is also remembered for utility player
Dusty Rhodes' clutch hitting in three of the four games, including his
walk-off hit for
Monte Irvin that won Game 1, probably the best-known hit to be described as a "
Chinese home run", since it barely cleared the right-field fence at the
Polo Grounds. Giants manager
Leo Durocher, who had managed teams to three National League championships, won his first and only World Series title in his managerial career. After moving West, the
San Francisco Giants would not win a World Series until the
2010 season.