The year 1963 consisted of Sports Championship winners Boston Celtics (NBA), Los Angeles Dodgers (MLB), Toronto Maple Leafs (NHL)
HIGHLIGHTS
The
1963 NBA championship final series between the
Boston Celtics and
Los Angeles Lakers was a classic matchup between two of the greatest teams in the history of the
NBA. The Celtics, led by Bill Russell, were the defending champions and had won the previous four titles. The Lakers, led by Elgin Baylor and Jerry West, were looking to end the Celtics' dominance. The series went to a seventh and deciding game, with the Celtics coming out on top, winning 110-107. The Celtics won their fifth consecutive
NBA championship and cemented their legacy as one of the greatest dynasties in
NBA history.
The
1963 World Series featured a classic matchup between the
Los Angeles Dodgers and the
New York Yankees. The Dodgers had won the National League pennant for the second year in a row, while the Yankees had won the American League pennant for the fourth consecutive year. The series went to the full seven games, with the Dodgers winning the decisive seventh game 2-1 in 10 innings. Sandy Koufax was the hero of the series, pitching three complete game victories and striking out a record 15 batters in Game 7. The Dodgers won the series 4-3, their second championship in three years. It was the first time since
1956 that the Yankees had lost a World Series.
The
1963 Stanley Cup Final was a best-of-seven series between the
Toronto Maple Leafs and the
Detroit Red Wings. The Red Wings had a 3–1 series lead, but the Maple Leafs won the next three games to win the Stanley Cup. The Maple Leafs' victory was their 13th Stanley Cup championship in franchise history. In the six games, the Maple Leafs outscored the Red Wings 22–14. Dave Keon was named the Conn Smythe Trophy winner as the most valuable player of the playoffs. Keon led the Maple Leafs in scoring with seven goals and four assists. Red Wings' goaltender Roger Crozier was also impressive, stopping 141 of the 156 shots he faced in the series. The Maple Leafs' victory was the first time in seven years that the team had won the Stanley Cup.