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February 27
Duke Snider Passes Away February 27
February 27, 2011 — The “Duke of Flatbush”, Hall of Famer Duke Snider dies in Escondido, CA at age 84. Snider was a power-hitting centerfielder for the great Brooklyn Dodgers teams of the 1950s and is immortalized in Terry Cashman’s song “Willie, Mickey and the Duke”.
Snider was Brooklyn’s entry into one of the most passionate debates in baseball history. New York sportswriter Red Smith once wrote, “(Duke) Snider, (Mickey) Mantle, and (Willie) Mays. You could get a fat lip in any saloon by starting an argument as to which was the best.”
Sharing the big city spotlight with fellow future Hall of Fame centerfielders Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, Snider was part of a magical period in New York baseball that saw a team from the nation’s largest city win the World Series in nine out of the 10 seasons between 1949 and 1958.
The Dodgers appeared in the Fall Classic five times during that time, winning their only championship in Brooklyn in 1955. Although the Dodger lineup also featured other outstanding performers such as Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Gil Hodges throughout much of the period, no one on the team wielded a more potent bat than Snider. And, even though the Brooklyn centerfielder usually came out third best in comparisons to Mays and Mantle, Snider hit more home runs during the 1950s (326) than any other player in baseball.
Snider is the only man in baseball history to twice hit four homers in a World Series. He did it in 1952 and 1955 and on September 22, 1957 he hit last homerun at Ebbets Field.
Hall of Famer Ralph Kiner once noted, “I’d say Duke covers more ground, wastes less motion, and is more consistent than anyone since DiMaggio.” And Stan Musial named Snider, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron as his all-time National League outfield.
Enjoy the Duke giving his Hall of Fame Speech on the Podcast and take a deeper dive over at the blog.
Enjoy!
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Today’s Featured Clip: Duke Snider Tops on Sports
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Trivia:
Duke Snider hit his 400th homerun as a New York Met on June 17, 1963. Just like his career he got very little press, (how did he not win the NL MVP in 56?) and one of his teammates in protest ran the bases backwards after he hit a homerun. Who was he?
Hint: The answer is below
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February 27, 1935, Babe Ruth signs a contract with the Boston Braves. Released by the New York Yankees only one day earlier, Ruth will serve the Braves as a player, coach, and team vice-president.
February 27, 1948, Pie Traynor and Herb Pennock win election to the Hall of Fame. Traynor batted .320 over a 17-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates. Pennock’s election comes less than a month after his death. The ‘Knight of Kennett Square’ posted a .590 win-loss percentage during his 22 seasons in the majors, including a 162-90 stint for the Yankees from 1923-1933. Pie Traynor is elected to the National Baseball Hall of Fame. He narrowly missed getting elected in 1947, falling two votes shy of the minimum 75% of the votes required to gain entrance into the Hall.
February 27, 1970, a threat to Chicago Cubs great Ernie Banks is removed when the FBI arrests Lawrence Bankhead in Chicago. Bankhead is charged with making threatening phone calls to the future Hall of Famer.
February 27, 1973, Chicago White Sox first baseman Dick Allen signs the richest contract in baseball history-a three-year deal worth $250,000 per season. Allen won the American League’s MVP Award in 1972 after leading the league in home runs, RBIs, and slugging percentage.
February 27, 1984 -- The San Francisco Giants send pitcher Fred Breining and outfielder Max Venable to the Montreal Expos in exchange for first baseman Al Oliver. Because Breining is found to be injured, the Giants will send pitcher Andy McGaffigan to Montreal on March 31st to complete the trade. Al Oliver learned he had been traded by Montreal Expos to San Francisco Giants was in a telephone call he received from a friend watching television
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February 27, 1989, Washington State first baseman John Olerud undergoes surgery to remove an aneurysm from his brain. Olerud had collapsed on January 11 after a workout. As a result of the aneurysm, Olerud will wear a helmet at all times while on the playing field. Olerud will go on to enjoy a successful 17-season major league career with the Blue Jays, Mets, Mariners, Yankees and Red Sox, winning a batting title in 1993 and two All-Star berths.
February 27, 2011 -- The "Duke of Flatbush", Hall of Famer Duke Snider dies in Escondido, CA at age 84. Snider was a power-hitting centerfielder for the great Brooklyn Dodgers teams of the 1950s and is immortalized in Terry Cashman's song "Willie, Mickey and the Duke".
Quote of the day:
“The sport to which I owe so much has undergone profound changes, but it's still baseball. Kids still imitate their heroes on playgrounds. Fans still ruin expensive suits going after foul balls that cost five dollars. Hitting streaks still make the network news and hot dogs still taste better at the ballpark than at home.”
Duke Snider
MILESTONES
Birthday Boys!
Bruce Kison, Cal Neeman, Dal Maxvill, Frank House, Jerry Morales, Joe Gordon, Joe Tipton, Jon Mayberry, Manny Mota, Syd O’Brien, Rafael Ramirez and Luis Arroyo
Passings.
Harry Caray, Jim Davenport, Juan Pizarro, Luke Hamlin, Bill Ott, Buddy Lewis, Chuck Hostetler and Eddie Mathews
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Trivia Answer: Jimmy Piersall, June 23, 1963 when he hit his 100th career homerun.
