The Duke of Brooklyn

Duke Snider VintageCardtraders

Back when the baseball fans in New York were split among three teams, Duke Snider was the glory of the Brooklyn (now Los Angeles) Dodgers. As a free agent signed by the Dodgers in 1943, Snider made his debut in 1947 against the Boston Braves. Although he helped to win that game with a pinch-hit single, his debut was overshadowed by Jackie Robinson, who broke the color barrier in Major League Baseball two days prior. Snider played his first full season with the Dodgers in 1949, finishing with a .292 batting average and 92 RBI.’s. Snider earned himself a fan club the following year.

Snider is the only person to hit four home-runs twice in a World Series. While still in Brooklyn, he took the Dodgers to the World Series five times, leading them to their only World Series win against the New York Yankees in 1955 after years of defeat. This gave Brooklyn its first and only World Series championship. Snider was awarded 1955 ML Major League Player of the year.

Snider's teammate Tommy Lasorda offer this in regards to his recent passing, “I was Duke’s teammate and looked up to him with respect. Duke was not only a great player, but he was a great person, too. He loved his family and loved the Dodgers. He was the true Dodger and represented the Dodgers to the highest degree of class, dignity and character. He was my teammate and friend and I will really miss him.” Source: TimesUnion


1955 World Series Duke Snider