I was wondering the other day how many players who took the field for the Brooklyn Dodgers are still living. According to what I have read, there are only nine. The most prominent is Sandy Koufax. Sandy is in his 80’s and when seen at the playoffs, he looked pretty good for a man his age. A couple of the names on the list would be completely foreign to most Dodger fans. But here are the 9. Koufax, Erskine, Craig, Aspromonte, T. Brown, Kipp, Morgan, Gentile, and Chris Haughey. Haughey pitched in one game during WWII at 18 years old. He finished with an 0-1 record and a 3.46 ERA. Gentile spent the bulk of his career in Baltimore, but at one time he was considered Hodges heir apparent.
Erskine lives in Indiana as he always has. A neighbor of sorts to Mark. Aspromonte spent most of his career on other teams as did Brown. Craig was an integral part of two Championship teams. Bobby Morgan and Tommy Brown played for the Dodgers for 3 and 7 years respectfully. Brown finished with the Cubs in 1953 and Morgan finished with the Cubs in 1958.
When we lost Vin this year, the closest thing to a Brooklyn Dodger most fans had known was gone. Vins stories and memories of Dodgers past, were always a joy to listen too because he had been there and seen those players every day. What I would have given to just listen to him in person for about an hour. I am sure it would have been one of the best and most informative hours I would ever spend with another human being.
9, only 9. Hard to believe that so much time has passed since they left Brooklyn. Eddie Basinski, who passed away on October 5th of this year was 99. He was at the time the oldest living Dodger. Now that mantle has passed to Haughey and Bobby Morgan. Koufax is the youngest at 86. Haughey and Morgan are 96. Erskine, 95.
When the Dodgers won their first Championship in LA, there were a handful of Brooklyn Dodgers left. Gilliam, Neal, Hodges, Craig, Labine, Koufax, Drysdale, Zimmer, Furillo, Roseboro, Podres, McDevitt, Pignatano, Snider and Amoros. Some were not around at the end, Amoros, but they were the last of the breed. Drysdale, who had to retire in 1969 because of rotator cuff problems, was the last player still active from the Brooklyn days on the Dodgers. Bob Aspromonte, who retired in 1971, was the last player active who had played in Brooklyn.
For those of us who were alive when the Dodgers moved here, or those who saw the Dodgers while they were still in Brooklyn, these are connections we can never get back. I saw the Dodgers on TV long before I went to my first game at the coliseum in 1958. My first view was on a very small black and white TV. No color in those days. I had to have their baseball cards in order to see what color the unis were.
Got my first baseball cards in 1956. My first Dodger card was Sandy Amoros. I really got into collecting after they moved to LA. Soon there will be no players left who donned the Dodger blue in Brooklyn. Sandy is the youngest of the bunch. I might be around longer than they will, but the memories will always be there with me.
Hope everyone had a nice Halloween. We had a pizza party here in my building, and for the first time since the pandemic, kids came by trick or treating. I am so happy for Justin Turner winning the Roberto Clemente award. It is well deserved. White Sox named their new manager, Pedro Grifol, one of the Royals coaches. Chris Sale will not opt out of his contract and the Twins owner expressed a willingness to re-sign Carlos Correa. Game 3 of the World Series tonight. November baseball in Philly??? No thanks.
Thanks OldBear48 for you great insights into the Dodger history. I look forward to reading your articles and reading your comments.
Very thought provoking. Also brings back many Dodger memories going back to the early 60’s for me.
Thank you Mr Bill. I appreciate it and it is good to know that people are enjoying what I write.
Don’t know what you are talking about man weather is amazing here in the NE and perfect for baseball. Will be around 60 first pitch tonight.
If you think this season seems to be going on forever just think, going into game 3 of the World Series it’s about 100 days until Spring Training.
Thanks Phil, I know after the Series is over, things will begin to happen. The non tenders, free agents and then the winter meetings. Should be a most interesting off season, and we shall see what AF has in store for us. Today is the NFL trade deadline which I am ignoring completely.
Hi Bear, Back in 2018 The number of former Brooklyn Dodgers had dwindled down to 20. In a little less than four years, 11 former Brooklyn Dodgers have passed on. The end of that era is soon approaching.
I always felt for the Brooklynites that had their hearts torn out by the move. They were in the upper tier in attendance at Ebbets and you could hardly blame the loyal fans for the Dodgers exodus. There was never the same anger from New York Giants fans for moving as there was for Dodgers doing so. Blame can be cast in numerous directions: O’Malley, Robert Moses, Stoneham all come to mind, but everyone seemed to share some of it and the times were changing. West Coast baseball was long overdue. Heck, half the players were from California.
I have always thought that the Dodgers early success in LA, (3 WS titles in their first 8 seasons) had to be like salt in the wound for Brooklyn fans who were so loyal for all those years and only once rewarded with a championship.
As the years have passed, I felt that too. Baseball returned to Brooklyn in the form of the Class-A Cyclones. But it has never been the same as it was when they were there. The writing was on the wall in 1957 when they played some home games in New Jersey.
Anyone know if there has been any discussion about putting an expansion team back in Brooklyn?
Cities like Nashville and Portland are mentioned as possible locations for an expansion team, but Brooklyn has about 3 times as big a population to draw from, not to mention the other four boroughs of New York. I realize that lots of Brooklyn residents are now Yankee or Met fans, but I’ll bet that Brooklyn could still support an MLB franchise.
No talks on that have ever been discussed as far as I can tell. First off, they would need the Mets permission, and that won’t happen. Also, it would put 3 teams in the NY area, and while back in the day that made sense, it does not bode economically well for three teams. Also, they would have to find a place in Brooklyn to build a state-of-the-art stadium. That won’t happen either. They have the Cyclones and seem to be pretty ok with that. You are right that Brooklyn could support a team of it’s own, but it seems like that ship has sailed.
I don’t know SB. Certainly many Brooklyn fans became Mets fans, but I don’t believe you’ll find many who became Yankees fans. I’ve been a Dodgers fan since ’53 (maybe earlier) although I lived in Jersey. I was taunted by Yankees fans constantly. The Yanks won the WS vs. the Dodgers in ’47, ’49, ’52 and ’53 and I was not allowed to forget that. Of course, in ’55 I finally got to see the Dodgers beat the Yanks in the WS. Oh happy day! 70 yrs. later I’m still a fan.
There is no way I could have ever become a Yankees fan. I think that would be the case for most Brooklyn Dodgers fans.
Guarantee that Hodges. I believe most of the fans that became Met fans did so out of a need for a team and because they despised O’Malley. I have a buddy who was born in Brooklyn. He has never forgiven O’Malley for moving the team. That despite the fact that a lot of the blame goes to Robert Moses. Had he been more flexible and willing to work with O’Malley instead of stonewalling his efforts for a stadium in Brooklyn and trying to shove the Queens location down his throat. O’Malley insisted if they built a stadium for the Dodgers, it had to be in Brooklyn, not one of the other boroughs.
Old Bear, you wrote a very good article on Dixie Walker recently. There was another Walker on the Dodgers in the 50’s. That would be Rube Walker. He wasn’t a star but he was on the team for 6 or 7 yrs. mainly as a backup catcher for Campy. Do you think he might be worth an article?
Yeah, I could do one on Rube. Might box it together with one about the guys who backed up Campy or were there just before Campy took over. One of the backups was Hodges.
I suspect the Yankees and Mets would block any attempt to add another NY franchise. Just seems like a non-starter to me.
We lived in San Jose for ten years and still own a home there. For years the city of San Jose was eager to build a downtown stadium to get the Athletics out of its football stadium and keep them in the Bay Area.
But the San Francisco Giants invoked its “territorial rights” to prevent such a move. Assholes.
This led to another plan involving Cisco Systems in a scheme to build an ultra high-tech stadium for the A’s in he City of Fremont, not far from the Tesla manufacturing plant. This would have kept the A’s in Contra Costa County–outside the Giants designated territory–and midway between Oakland and San Jose. But that plan collapsed too.
Now the big plan is for the Athletics to move to Las Vegas. Manfred says it’s not a done deal, because efforts continue in Oakland to approve a new stadium.
But if not for the Giants, the A’s could have known the way to San Jose….
Just want to say congrats to Justin Turner on the Clemente Award. It’s great to see a Dodger recognized for his off-the-field performance.
And congrats, also, to Mookie for nabbing his sixth Gold Glove. He is clearly deserving, having already received the Fielding Bible Award for right fielders. He’ll also be picking up another Silver Slugger too.
Mookie is sometimes the subject of criticism in our discussions here, perhaps because fans expect too much from a guy who has clearly been one of the best all-around players for many years. Over the past decade, perhaps nobody has delivered more game-winning plays–with the bat, with the legs, with glove, with the arm.
If AF really does manage to sign Judge, Mookie could probably win a Gold Glove at 2B or in center.
And one more thing….
How about them Phils!
I especially like how Dave Dombrowski’s midseason acquistions–Robertson, Marsh, Syndergaard–have contributed to the success.
Just occurred to me: AF stepped up to the plate with runners in scoring position–and he whiffed.
“An organizational failure.”
Phillies doggin’ the ‘Stros. Yes.
Those fans are putting on a show.
Mike Schmidt: As a freshman at Ohio U I walked over to watch a practice and noticed a lot of holes in the gym windows beyond left field. Pointed up at them and asked who’s done all that. They pointed out a guy named Schmidt. Couple pitches in and I realized this was possibly the best third baseman I had ever seen. Time proved me right. The complete package. What an arm and soft hands.
When ya know you know.
Bang those garbage cans.
I think I heard some trash cans banging from the Philly dugout tonight. 5 home runs makes me happy. Winning in front of the home crowd is the best.
Congratulations Justin Turner on the receiving the Clemente Award.
Duke Not Snider you made me smile when I read this.
Just occurred to me: AF stepped up to the plate with runners in scoring position–and he whiffed. “An organizational failure.”
I might feel a bit better if someone would publicly take responsibility for this debacle.
Hope we don’t become the Atlanta Braves 2.0
Phils with a 7-0 win to go up 2-1 in the series. If the Phils win this thing, it will mean no American League team has won since the Red Sox in 18. They were also accused of cheating that season. But they had such a good team, they would have won the series anyway. Dodgers were overmatched. How bad are the Lakers???? I am glad I quit watching them a few years ago.
The Dodgers were overmatched in 1988. The Phillies are overmatched this year…
But they just keep winning.
I think we all have to realize what the term “Best Team” means., and maybe it’s not “best team”… maybe it “winning team.” I am a true believer that the best team does not always win.
Lakers are unwatchable. When / how they get out of this is complicated. Lonnie Walker IV?? Who are these guys?
Tank and go all in on Wembanyama? He moves like Kareem and has all the tools. The chase for this kid will be a main topic this year for all teams. He is a generational talent.