Happy birthday, Jackie Robinson
Posted: January 31, 2022 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Brooklyn Dodgers, history, Jackie Robinson, Major League Baseball, MLB, sports, videos Leave a commentHappy birthday to Jackie Robinson, who was born on this day in 1919!
Here’s a short, but lovely, photo video tribute I found that was dedicated to this important man.
This day in baseball: Charles Ebbets becomes president of the Dodgers
Posted: January 4, 2022 Filed under: 19th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Brooklyn Bridegrooms, Brooklyn Dodgers, Charles Byrne, Charles Ebbets, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, National League, sports Leave a commentIn the wake of the death of Charles H. Byrne, team secretary Charles Ebbets became president of the Bridegrooms (Dodgers) on January 4, 1898. The team’s future owner also managed the Brooklyn team for the last 110 games of the season, finishing tenth among the twelve teams of the National League.
Charles Ebbets, c. 1915 (Wikipedia)
Quote of the day
Posted: December 19, 2021 Filed under: Quote of the day | Tags: Baseball, Brooklyn Dodgers, Major League Baseball, MLB, Pee Wee Reese, quotes, Rube Walker, sports, St. Louis Cardinals, Stan Musial 2 CommentsWhen we played the Dodgers in St. Louis, they had to come through our dugout, and our bat rack was right there where they had to walk. My bats kept disappearing, and I couldn’t figure it out. Turns out, Pee Wee Reese was stealing my bats. I found that out later, after we got out of baseball. He and Rube Walker stole my bats.
~Stan Musial
This day in baseball: Nick Maddox’s no-hitter
Posted: September 20, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Boston Braves, Brooklyn Dodgers, Brooklyn Superbas, Cliff Chambers, Exposition Park, history, Major League Baseball, MLB, Nick Maddox, Pittsburgh Pirates, sports Leave a commentOn September 20, 1907 at Exposition Park, Pittsburgh pitcher Nick Maddox tossed a no-hitter against the Brooklyn Superbas (Dodgers) to win, 2-1. At the age of 20 years and ten months, the Pirates hurler was the youngest pitcher and only the second rookie to throw a no-hitter. Maddox’s feat would also be the last no-hitter thrown by a Pittsburgh pitcher until 1951, when Cliff Chambers threw one against the Braves.
Nick Maddox, 1911 (Library of Congress)
This day in baseball: King and Robinson given honorary degrees
Posted: June 7, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Brooklyn Dodgers, Civil Rights, Civil Rights Movement, history, Howard University, Jackie Robinson, Major League Baseball, Martin Luther King Jr., MLB, sports Leave a commentOn June 7, 1957, Howard University awarded honorary Doctor of Law degrees to Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and to recently-retired Dodgers infielder Jackie Robinson. In the years that followed, the former baseball great and the Baptist minister frequently appeared together at Civil Rights rallies, fundraising events, and demonstrations.
The Battle of Chavez Ravine
Posted: May 24, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century | Tags: Baseball, Brooklyn Dodgers, Chavez Ravine, documentaries, history, Los Angeles, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, Missing Chapter, MLB, politics, racism, sports, Vox Leave a commentThe move of the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles was before my time, and I sheepishly have to confess that I was not aware of this bit of history before I came across this short documentary by Vox. While these sorts of events are certainly not unique to Los Angeles, I do think it is important to ensure that episodes like this stay at the forefront of the public consciousness (or get introduced to folks who, like me, are not aware of these kinds of details).
Jackie Robinson biography
Posted: April 15, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century | Tags: Baseball, Brooklyn Dodgers, history, Jackie Robinson, Jackie Robinson Day, Kansas City Monarchs, Major League Baseball, MLB, Negro league baseball, Negro Leagues, sports Leave a commentHappy Jackie Robinson Day! In celebration, here is a video biography of Robinson, posted by Biography this past January.
Quote of the day
Posted: February 19, 2021 Filed under: Quote of the day | Tags: Baseball, Brooklyn Dodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, MLB, quotes, Sandy Koufax, sports 2 CommentsShow me a guy who can’t pitch inside and I’ll show you a loser.
~Sandy Koufax
Sports Illustrated
RIP Tommy Lasorda
Posted: January 9, 2021 Filed under: 20th Century, 21st Century | Tags: Baseball, Baseball Hall of Fame, Brooklyn Dodgers, Kansas City Athletics, Los Angeles Dodgers, National Baseball Hall of Fame, National League, sports, Tommy Lasorda, World Series Leave a commentTommy Lasorda was born September 22, 1927. He was a hardcore baseball lifer, playing for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1954 and 1955 and for the Kansas City Athletics in 1956. After retiring from playing, Lasorda worked as a scout for the Dodgers and eventually worked his way into coaching. He coached for the Dodgers from 1973 through 1976 before taking over as manager of the club. Lasorda led the Dodgers to four NL pennants and two World Series championships during his tenure. Upon retiring from the managerial position in 1996, he continued to work for the Dodgers in a variety of roles for the rest of his life.
Lasorda was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1997 as a manager in his first year of eligibility. He died January 7, 2021 from a cardiopulmonary arrest in Fullerton, California at the age of 93.
Rest in peace.
LA Dodgers
This day in baseball: Alston named manager of the Dodgers
Posted: November 24, 2020 Filed under: 20th Century, This day in baseball | Tags: Baseball, Brooklyn Dodgers, Charlie Dressen, Los Angeles Dodgers, Major League Baseball, MLB, Pee Wee Reese, sports, Walter Alston, Walter O'Malley, World Series Leave a commentOn November 24, 1953, Dodger owner Walter O’Malley announced that Walter Alston would be the new manager of the Brooklyn team, replacing Chuck Dressen. The announcement came as a shock to reporters, as the leading candidate for the job had been the fan-favorite Pee Wee Reese. Alston would go on to win seven pennants and four World Series during his 23 years with the team.
Wikipedia
