The year 1956 consisted of Sports Championship winners Montreal Canadiens (NHL), New York Yankees (MLB), Philadelphia Warriors (NBA)
HIGHLIGHTS
The
1956 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the
Montreal Canadiens and the
Detroit Red Wings. The Canadiens won the series 4–1, with the Red Wings winning one game in overtime. The Canadiens won the opening game of the series 4–1 in
Detroit, and then won the second game 6–3 in
Montreal. The Red Wings won the third game in overtime, 4–3, but the Canadiens responded with a 4–2 win in the fourth game. The Canadiens won the fifth game in
Detroit 3–1 to win the series and their second consecutive Stanley Cup. Jean Beliveau was the leading scorer for the Canadiens, with six goals and four assists. Goaltender Jacques Plante was instrumental in the Canadiens' victory, recording two shutouts and allowing only nine goals in the five games.
The
1956 World Series was a classic match-up between two of baseball’s most storied franchises, the
New York Yankees and the
Brooklyn Dodgers. The Yankees had won the American League pennant for the 15th consecutive season, while the Dodgers had taken the National League pennant for the first time since moving to
Los Angeles. The Yankees took the series in seven games, with Don Larsen’s perfect game in Game 5 being the highlight of the series. The Yankees’ Mickey Mantle and Yogi Berra were the offensive stars of the series, while the Dodgers’ Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale were the pitching stars. The Yankees went on to win their 17th World Series title, while the Dodgers would not win another until
1965.
The
1956 NBA Championship Final Series was a hard-fought battle between the
Philadelphia Warriors and the
Fort Wayne Pistons. The Warriors, led by star center Neil Johnston, were the defending champions and had won the title the previous year. The Pistons, however, were determined to make their mark and had the home court advantage. The series went the full seven games, with the Warriors ultimately emerging victorious in a thrilling Game 7. Johnston was the star of the series, averaging a remarkable 34 points and 15 rebounds per game. The Warriors were able to outlast the Pistons in the end, winning the championship and cementing their place as one of the greatest teams in
NBA history.