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Home , Billy Herman, Billy Loes, Bill Dahlen, Burleigh Grimes, Burt Shotton, Buzzie Bavasi

Played As : Bridegrooms (1890-1898) Brooklyn Superbas (1899-1910) Brooklyn Trolley Dodgers (1911-1912) Brooklyn Dodgers (1913) Brooklyn Robins (1914-1931) Brooklyn Dodgers (1932-1957) Logo 1952-57 Logo 1912-1927 Dodgers (1958-Present)

Best Season : 1953 (105-49)

Managers : (22) Bill McGunnigle 1890 1909 1947 Monte Ward 1891-1892 1910-1913 1948 1893-1896 1914-1931 1948 Billy Barnie 1897-1898 1932-1933 Burt Shotten 1948-1950 Mike Griffin 1898 1934-1936 1951-1953 Charlie Ebbets 1898 1937-1938 1954-1957 1899-1905 Leo Durocher 1939-1946 1906-1908 1947

Stadiums : (4) Washington Park 1890 1891-1897 Washington Park II 1898-1912 1913-1957

AWARDS Rookie of the Year : (4) MVP : (8) 1955 C 1947 2B 1913 1B 1956 RHP 1949 Don Newcombe RHP 1924 RHP 1952 RHP 1941 Dolf Camilli 1B MVP: 1953 2B 1949 Jackie Robinson 2B 1955 LHP 1951 Roy Campanella C : (1) 1953 Roy Campanella C 1956 Don Newcombe RHP

Hall of Famers :(39) Walter Alston MGR 1954-1957 Max Carey OF 1926-1929 Burleigh Grimes RHP 1918-1926 SS 1928-1929 OF 1938 Ned Hanlon MGR 1899-1905 1B 1892-1893 RHP 1956-1957 2B 1941-43, 1946 Roy Campanella C 1948-1957 Leo Durocher MGR 1939-46, 1948 RHP 1932, 1937-1938 Wee OF 1893, 99-02 LHP 1915-1920 OF 1947-1957 OF 1899-1901 Tommy McCarthy OF 1896 Casey Stengel MGR 1934-1936 1B 1932 Joe McGinnity RHP 1900 Dazzy Vance RHP 1922-1932, 1935 LHP 1955-1957 OF 1940-1943, 1946 IF 1942-43, 1947-48 3B 1939 Walter O'Malley Owner 1950- OF 1944 OF 1936 1957 OF 1943-1944 C 1931 SS 1940-42, 46-58 Monte Ward 2B 1891-1892 Larry MacPhail President 1938-42 President 1943-50 OF 1909-1926 OF 1937-1938 Jackie Robinson 2B 1947-1956 OF 1932-1934 SS 1926 Wilbert Robinson MGR 1914-1931

Song for Jackie : The 40's and 50's featured several songs about players. One of the most famous is the one in honor of Jackie Robinson. Taps Miller, who performed with the Count Basie Orchestra, performed the Song "Did You See Jackie Robinson That Ball".

Unofficial Band : A group of fans calling themselves the Dodgers Sym-phony were regulars at Dodger games often playing their off key music in the stands of Ebbets Field, and parading around the field before games.

Hilda : Many years before interactive TV, and the Internet Ebbets Field which was small and close to the action, was an interactive . One of the most interactive fans was Hilda Schusta a regular in the Upper Center Field Bleachers who would come to Dodger games with cowbells and large signs stating, "Hilda is here". Hilda would quite often drop Leo Durocher suggestions on what the Dodgers had to do to win the game.

Win a Suit : Abe Stark a local Brooklyn Clothier placed a sign under the RF scoreboard exclaiming "Hit this sign win a suit." There was one catch though Stark did not want anyone to hit the sign, let alone a player from an opposing team. So Stark made a deal with Dodger RF giving him a suit if he made sure no opposing players ever touched the sign.

Kids TV : The Dodgers would a live Children's television show before Sunday Home Games. The Show "Happy Felton's Knothole Gang" featured area little leaguers getting instruction from players and coaches. It was show of its kind.

1955 World Champion Brooklyn Dodgers

The 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers played 153 games during the regular season, won 98 games, lost 55 games, and finished in first position. They played their home games at Ebbets Field where 1,033,589 fans witnessed their 1955 Dodgers finish the season with a .641 .

1955 Brooklyn Dodgers Most Games by Position

Catcher: Roy Campanella #39 Nickname: Campy Roy Campanella was born on Saturday, November 19, 1921, in , Pennsylvania. Campanella was 26 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 20, 1948, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Right, Throws Right Height 5' 8", Weight 200 lb. 1955 MVP & All Star Year Age Games At Bats Runs Hits HR RBI Bat.Avg. 1954 32 111 397 43 82 19 51 .207 1955 33 123 446 81 142 32 107 .318

First Base: #14 Gil Hodges was born on Friday, April 4, 1924, in Princeton, Indiana. Hodges was 19 years old when he broke into the big leagues on October 3, 1943, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Nickname: The Miracle Worker Bats Right, Throws Right Height 6' 2", Weight 200 lb. Year Age Games At Bats Runs Hits HR RBI Bat. Avg. 1954 30 154 579 106 176 42 130 .304 1955 31 150 546 75 158 27 102 .289

Second Base: Jim Gilliam #19 Nickname: Junior Jim Gilliam was born on Wednesday, October 17, 1928, in Nashville, Tennessee. Gilliam was 24 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 14, 1953, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Both, Throws Right Weight 175 lb. Year Age Games At Bats Runs Hits HR RBI Bat. Avg. 1954 25 146 607 107 171 13 52 .282 1955 26 147 538 110 134 7 40 .249

Third Base: Jackie Robinson #42 Jackie Robinson was born on Friday, January 31, 1919, in Cairo, Georgia. Robinson was 28 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 15, 1947, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Right, Throws Right Height 5' 11", Weight 204 lb. National League MVP 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1952, 1953 Year Age Games At Bats Runs Hits HR RBI Bat. Avg. 1954 35 124 386 62 120 15 59 .311 1955 36 105 317 51 81 8 36 .256

Short Stop: Pee Wee Reese #1 Nickname: Pee Wee or The Little Colonel or The Pee Wee Reese was born on Tuesday, July 23, 1918, in Ekron, Kentucky. Reese was 21 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 23, 1940, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Right, Throws Right Height 5' 9", Weight 175 lb. Year Age Games At Bats Runs Hits HR RBI Bat. Avg. 1954 35 141 554 98 171 10 69 .309 1955 36 145 553 99 156 10 61 .282

Left Field: Sandy Amoros #15 Birth Name: Edmundo (Isasi) Amoros Sandy Amoros was born on Thursday, January 30, 1930, in Havana, Cuba. Amoros was 22 years old when he broke into the big leagues on August 22, 1952, with the Brooklyn Dodgers Bats Left, Throws Left Weight 170 lb. Year Age Games At Bats Runs Hits HR RBI Bat. Avg. 1954 24 79 263 44 72 9 34 .274 1955 25 119 388 59 96 10 51 .247

Center Field: Duke Snider #4 Nickname: Duke or The Silver Fox Duke Snider was born on Sunday, September 19, 1926, in Los Angeles, . Snider was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 17, 1947, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Left, Throws Right Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb. Year Age Games At Bats Runs Hits HR RBI Bat. Avg. 1954 27 149 584 120 199 40 130 .341 1955 28 148 538 126 166 42 136 .309

Right Field: Carl Furillo #6 Nickname: Skoonj or The Reading Rifle Carl Furillo was born on Wednesday, March 8, 1922, in Stony Creek Mills, Pennsylvania. Furillo was 24 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 16, 1946, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Right, Throws Right Height 6' 0", Weight 190 lb. "Carrots might be good for my eyes, but they won't straighten out the curveball." Year Age Games At Bats Runs Hits HR RBI Bat. Avg. 1954 32 150 547 56 161 19 96 .294 1955 33 140 523 83 164 26 95 .314

Starting : #17 Nickname: Oisk Carl Erskine was born on Monday, December 13, 1926, in Anderson, Indiana. Erskine was 21 years old when he broke into the big leagues on July 25, 1948, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Right, Throws Right Height 5' 10", Weight 165 lb. 1954 – 18 wins, 15 losses, 4.15 ERA 1955 – 11 wins, 8 losses, 3.79 ERA

Starting Pitcher: #30 Billy Loes was born on Friday, December 13, 1929, in City, . Loes was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 18, 1950, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Right, Throws Right Height 6' 1", Weight 170 lb. "The Mets are a very good thing. They give everybody a job. Just like the W.P.A. (Works Project Association)." - Billy Loes (1962) in Baseball's Greatest Quotes (1982) 1954 – 13 wins, 5 losses, 4.14 ERA 1955 – 10 wins, 4 losses, 4.08 ERA

Starting Pitcher: Don Newcombe #36 Nickname: Don or Newk Don Newcombe was born on Monday, June 14, 1926, in Madison, New Jersey. Newcombe was 22 years old when he broke into the big leagues on May 20, 1949, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Left, Throws Right Height 6' 4", Weight 225 lb. "Newk, you better do something because when I signal for the express, you throw me the local." - Roy Campanella 1954 – 9 wins, 8 losses, 4.55 ERA 1955 – 20 wins, 5 losses, 3.20 ERA

Starting Pitcher: Johnny Podres #45 Johnny Podres was born on Friday, September 30, 1932, in Witherbee, New York. Podres was 20 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 17, 1953, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Left, Throws Left Height 5' 11", Weight 192 lb. "I have said this many times: I've had many good on my teams during my career, including the best in the business in Sandy Koufax, and I am sure that all these pitchers will agree that if a club had to win one game, it would be (Johnny) Podres that would get the call." - Brooklyn Dodgers General Manager on Bloomberg.com (Larry DiTore, 01/14/2008) 1954 – 11 wins, 7 losses, 4.27 ERA 1955 – 9 wins, 10 losses, 3.95 ERA

Relief Pitcher: #46 Birth Name: Fred Donald Bessent Nickname: The Weasel Don Bessent was born on Friday, March 13, 1931, in Jacksonville, Florida. Bessent was 24 years old when he broke into the big leagues on July 17, 1955, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Right, Throws Right Height 6' 0", Weight 175 lb 1955 – 8 wins, 1 loss

Relief Pitcher: Jim Hughes #18 Jim Hughes was born on Wednesday, March 21, 1923, in Palo Heights, Illinois. Hughes was 29 years old when he broke into the big leagues on September 13, 1952, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Right, Throws Right Height 6' 1", Weight 200 lb. 1954 – 8 wins, 4 losses, 3.22 ERA 1955 – 0 wins, 2 losses, 4.22 ERA

Relief Pitcher: #41 Clem Labine was born on Friday, August 6, 1926, in Lincoln, Rhode Island. Labine was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 18, 1950, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Right, Throws Right Height 6' 0", Weight 180 lb. "Clem Labine was one of the main reasons the Dodgers won it all in 1955. He had the heart of a lion and the intelligence of a wily fox." - Hall of Fame Broadcaster in the (Steve Henson, 03/03/2007) 1954 – 7 wins, 6 losses, 4.15 ERA 1955 – 13 wins, 5 losses, 3.24 ERA

Pitcher: #37 Ed Roebuck was born on Friday, July 3, 1931, in East Millsboro, Pennsylvania. Roebuck was 23 years old when he broke into the big leagues on April 18, 1955, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Right, Throws Right Height 6' 2", Weight 185 lb. 1955 – 5 wins, 6 losses, 4.71 ERA

Pitcher: Sandy Koufax #32 Birth Name: Sanford Braun Nickname: Koo-foo or Sandy or The Man With The Golden Arm Sandy Koufax was born on Monday, December 30, 1935, in Brooklyn, New York. Koufax was 19 years old when he broke into the big leagues on June 24, 1955, with the Brooklyn Dodgers. Bats Right, Throws Left Height 6' 2", Weight 210 lb. "The (golf) pro kept telling me since I hit right-handed I had to keep my left arm straight. I told him, 'If I could do that, I'd still be pitching.'" - Sandy Koufax (1970)

Additional Roster: #8 #27 Karl Spooner #48 #10 Chuck Templeton #28 Joe Black #49 #12 #34 Walt Moryn #49 #23 #40 Bert Hamric #51 Bob Borkowski #27 #43 #54

June 1955 Schedule

GAME DATE OPPONENT FINAL SCORE SEASON RECORD

The Dodgers take the lead in the NL from the start of the season, and were never challenged as they walked away win the by 13 and a half games with a 98-55 record. Roy Campanella wins his 3rd MVP award, while OF Duke Snider, has one of his most productive seasons. On the mound Don Newcombe with a 20-5 record paces the league's best pitching staff. The Dodgers would face the New York Yankee in the World Series for the 6th time in 15 years. The Dodgers would lose the first two games in Yankee giving fans that sickening feeling of deja vu. However Johnny Podres with a in Game 3 , would get the Dodgers on the board. The Dodgers would win the next 2 games to return to up 3 games to 2. However, after the Yankees used a 5-run 1st to force Game 7 some fans used to heartbreak began their familiar refrain "wait 'till next year." Game 7 was to be started by Johnny Podres, who all ready shut down the Yankees once in the Series. While the Dodgers grabbed a 2-0 lead, the Yankees had men on base all day, but Podres kept them off the board. In the 6th inning sent a screaming line drive down the leftfield line that seemed destined to break Dodgers hearts, but Sandy Amoros made a brilliant catch running toward the line, and was able to Gil Mc Dougal off at first. That ended up being the last Yankee threat. Podres kept the score where it was at and the Dodgers would win their first World Series. There was no more wait 'til next year, 1955 was next year!!!

Image of Ebbets Field