Many fans are more than a little bit disgruntled with the lack of action by the Dodgers this offseason. Most felt they would make a move to retain at least one of their own top free agents besides Kershaw. But it did not happen. And fans are left to wonder why. Especially since there was no real explanation coming from Andrew Friedman and Company. We were told that they were…
Knothole gangs came about long before Happy Felton formed his in Brooklyn. The term came from a time when baseball fields had wooden fences. Kids who could not afford the price of a ticket found they could watch the game for free when knots in the fence fell out, creating a knothole. Naturally, gangs of kids would gather around these to watch the games. The first actual knothole gang came…
The Forgotten Man Before Justin Turner, the Dodgers had another redhead. He played 1st and the outfield and spent 12 years of his 21-year MLB career as a Dodger. And in the overall scheme of things, he is somewhat of a forgotten man. Ronald Ray Fairly was born on July 12, 1938, in Macon, Georgia. He was the son of Carl and Marjorie Fairly. Ron’s dad had a 10-year career…
I would like to introduce you all to a very colorful character, Frenchy Bordagaray. Frenchy played 11 years in the majors, six of them with the Brooklyn Dodgers. He was born Stanley George Bordagaray in Coalinga, California, on January 3rd, 1910. He was one of seven children born to Dominique and Louise Bordagaray, who were among the original settlers of the San Juaquin Valley. His father was a hotel owner…
I have been wondering about this. The new bigger bases are supposed to improve the running game, IE, stolen bases. This has been a winter of change. The Dodger’s two best thieves of bags have left the team. Trea Turner, 27, and Cody Bellinger 14 have left via free agency. # 3 on the team last year was Freddie Freeman with 13. Mookie had 12, and Chris Taylor had 10….
Why do I dislike it so much? Well, the dearth of baseball news except for the period of the winter meetings and the flurry of movement during free agent signings. Then usually after the holidays start, things are really slow as most of the big-time stars have found new homes. There will be the occasional pre-spring training trade, or as is usual all years, a lot of minor league deals…
Over the years, many times the Dodgers have brought in MLB veterans who were very good at one time and were acquired by the Dodgers when the end was near. And it happened in Brooklyn many times too. Lefty O’Doul was 34 when he joined Brooklyn. The guy was a great hitter as shown by his .349 career batting average. In three years with the Dodgers O’Doul hit .340. He…
Let’s face it, over the past several seasons’ Dodger fans have been spoiled. The team has both excited and exasperated us. Nine division titles in 10 years, 3 World Series, and one World Championship in a shortened season that was probably one of the hardest seasons for both fans and players to live through. Favorite players leaving by either free agency or trade. Just a trying and exhilarating 10-year span….
Van Lingle Mungo was born in Pageland, South Carolina, on June 8th, 1911. His father was Van, and his mother was Martha. His middle name was his mother’s maiden name. His father was a cotton grower and retailer. He himself had been a pitcher in the Sally League in the early years of the 20th century. His father gave him his big break in 1926. Van, 15 at the time,…
William Ellis Russell was born Oct 21, 1948, in Pittsburgh, Kansas. He would spend his entire career as a Dodger. Eighteen years, 2,181 games, four pennant winners, and one World Series Championship. He took over as manager in 1996 after Lasorda had his heart attack. Russell is second to only Zack Wheat on the list of games played as a Dodger. He was drafted in the 9th round of the…