A Forgotten Hero

1955

Overshadowed by the likes of Duke Snider, Peewee Reese, Roy Campanella and the rest of The Boys of Summer, Sandy Amoros will never be forgotten by the Brooklyn fans of 1955. He made the catch that very likely allowed the Dodgers to finally win a World Series. A key play in  Game 7 was the solidly hit ball down the left field line at Yankee Stadium by Yogi Berra in the 7th inning with two men on and Johnny Podres protecting a 2 run lead. With Amoros playing in right-center,not expecting Berra to pull the ball, he came out of nowhere to catch the sure extra-base hit. The runners, equally sure it was a hit, took off running but Amoros turned and fired the ball to SS Reese who relayed it to 1B Hodges to tag out Gil McDougal trying to get back to first.  Podres preserved the 2-0 shutout victory.

Sandy Amoros had a short 5 year major career after being purchased from the Cuban Giants of the Negro League in 1950. He carried a mediocre bat but he was fast and sure could play the outfield. After his release from the Dodgers in 1960, he returned to Cuba to learn that Castro had taken over his farm and ordered him to manage the Cuban baseball team. He refused and was refused permission to leave Cuba. When finally able to leave in 1967 he returned to the USA broke with nowhere to turn. He turned to the Dodgers who saw him as extended family and put him on their roster for a few days to qualify for the Major League pension. Sandy moved to the Bronx, very close to the location of his greatest moment at Yankee Stadium.