Sunday, February 27, 2011

Dodgers Lose Sir Duke

He had an iconic name, wore an iconic number, and was a rare slugger among the pitching greats in the pantheon of Dodgers retired numbers. Duke Snider was truly Dodgers royalty, and he passed away this morning at the age of 84.

The Dodgers released this statement by Vin Scully:

“He was an extremely gifted talent and his defensive abilities were often overlooked because of playing in a small ballpark, Ebbets Field. When he had a chance to run and move defensively, he had the grace and the abilities of DiMaggio and Mays and of course, he was a World Series hero that will forever be remembered in the borough of Brooklyn. Although it’s ironic to say it, we have lost a giant. He’s joining a great Dodger team that has moved on and I extend my sympathies to his entire family, especially to Bev.”

Can't say it better than that. Our thoughts are with the Snider family and the Dodgers organization.

12 comments:

Kyle Baker said...

A ripple in the giant Blue quilt. I've been thinking about Duke all day now. Of many things, he was my mom's favorite baseball player from her childhood. She remembers being in school and TVs being wheeled out so kids could watch WS games (when they were still played during the day, when they are SUPPOSED to be played) and rooting for Brooklyn when they won in 1955. Thanks for relaying that memory, Mamma Dusty!

#GhostOfFlatbush

Fred's Brim said...

Thank you, Duke. I only knew you from photos and the occasional clip but I wish I had seen you play

rbnlaw said...

Sad. Still sad.
Here's hoping the current center fielder can get a little "Duke" going this year.

spank said...

What FB said,Duke.

Kyle Baker said...

Breaking commentary from Mamma Dusty, and I quote her from an email here:

===================
"If Cooperstown is calling, it's no fluke. They'll be with Willie, Mickey, and the Duke."

I remember clear as day the world series in 55 because I was a Brooklyn Dodgers fan. The Boys of Summer were my heroes. World Series games must have been played during the day back then because I remember listening to them on the radio when I was a hall monitor in elementary school--I would have been in grade 5 or 6.
====================

She raised me right, right?

spank said...

Good stuff Dusty.

Kyle Baker said...

Duke Snider. Pride of fuckin Compton. Represent.

Pistol Pete Reiser said...

The Duke was a winner, in every sense of the word. And one helluva good guy.

John G said...

Duke was also my Dad's fav player as a kid, so our household was always full of stories about #4.

I was lucky enough to meet him at a card show in the late 80s - and i still have by beat up 58 topps card with his signature on the bottom. I kind of with I had bought all the other stuff they had at the show that day, there were some amazing photos and a few Duke Snider Louisville Sluggers.

Kyle Baker said...

Good take, John G.

Has the team announced anything it is doing special to honor him? I know it's early but I'm anxious to know.

Kyle Baker said...

Some great comments on official Dodger blog here:

http://dodgers.mlblogs.com/archives/2011/02/the-dodgers-family-and-our.html

Kyle Baker said...

Just remembered that I took some pics of the Duke at the NLDS Game 3 pre-game in 2008:

http://tinyurl.com/63o5cgz