The 1936 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball (MLB) for the 1936 season. It was a best‑of‑seven series contested between the American League (AL) champion New York Yankees and the National League (NL) champion New York Giants. The Yankees won the series four games to two, securing their seventh World Series title.
Background
- American League champion: New York Yankees, who finished the regular season with a 102–51 record, led by manager Joe McCarthy.
- National League champion: New York Giants, who posted a 92–62 record under manager Bill Terry.
Both clubs represented New York City, marking the third “Subway Series” in MLB history (previously in 1905 and 1921).
Series summary
| Game | Date (1936) | Venue | Winner | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 2, 1936 | Yankee Stadium (Bronx) | New York Yankees | 6–2 |
| 2 | October 3, 1936 | Polo Grounds (Manhattan) | New York Giants | 8–4 |
| 3 | October 5, 1936 | Yankee Stadium | New York Yankees | 8–3 |
| 4 | October 6, 1936 | Yankee Stadium | New York Yankees | 5–2 |
| 5 | October 7, 1936 | Polo Grounds | New York Giants | 9–5 |
| 6 | October 8, 1936 | Yankee Stadium | New York Yankees | 13–5 |
The Yankees clinched the championship in Game 6, held at Yankee Stadium. Notable performances included Lou Gehrig’s three‑run home run in Game 2 and the debut World Series appearance of rookie outfielder Joe DiMaggio, who recorded two hits and two runs scored.
Broadcast history
The 1936 World Series is historically significant for being the first World Series televised. NBC aired a limited‐time broadcast of Game 2 from the Polo Grounds to a handful of experimental television receivers in the New York area. Radio coverage continued to be the primary medium, with national broadcasts carried by NBC’s Red and Blue networks.
Aftermath and significance
- The Yankees’ victory began a period of dominance in the late 1930s, with the club winning three consecutive World Series titles (1936–1938).
- The series helped cement Joe DiMaggio’s reputation as a future star; he would become a central figure of the Yankees’ lineup throughout the 1940s.
- The televised broadcast demonstrated the feasibility of televising live sports, paving the way for broader television coverage of baseball in subsequent decades.
Key personnel
New York Yankees
- Manager: Joe McCarthy
- Notable players: Lou Gehrig (1B), Joe DiMaggio (CF), Bill Dickey (C), Lefty Gomez (P)
New York Giants
- Manager: Bill Terry
- Notable players: Mel Ott (RF), Carl Hubbell (P), Frankie Frisch (2B)
The 1936 World Series remains a landmark event in MLB history for both its competitive narrative and its role in the early development of televised sports.