RIP Duke Snider

I have an autographed baseball of his that I got at a card show about 20+ years ago. Time to put it on eBay. He seemed like a nice guy for the 5-7 seconds I spent standing in front of him as he signed.

RIP to a true great.

 

You'd be in a good mood, too, if you knew that all that income you were bagging at the card show was tax-free.

Too soon?

 

RIP to one of baseball voices of my youth when he was the colour guy on Expos games with Dave Van Horne.

 

Don Newcombe, the team's ace pitcher, is also still living. Don Zimmer was a back-up infielder. And Roger Craig was a relief pitcher.

That's about it.

EDIT: This assumes we're talking about just the 1955 Dodgers. Ralph Branca was gone by 55, but he's also still living. Same with Andy Pafko, the starting left fielder in 1951 and 52.

 

George Shuba, who had a chapter, even though he was one of many Dodger left fielders, still living.

And Dick Williams, who later went on to managerial fame, was a backup outfielder on the Dodgers in the early 50s and is still alive.

 

Per the hall: he was likely overshadowed by Mantle and Mays as well his old high school buddy Pete Rozelle.

 

If I recall correctly, Snider and Rozelle grew up in Compton, Calif.

Weird how demographics can change so drastically in just a couple of generations.

 

He had his money/legal brushes later on down the road, but in no way should those detract from his on-field presence.

 

All that's left is Willie.

http://uk.video.yahoo.com/watch/456784

 

darn. i swear as i scrolled down i was thinking, 'willie's the only one left from 'willie, mickey and the duke.' good call.

 

Of all of Snider's stats, the most impressive might be that he had been married to the same woman since 1947.

 

Snider was underrated because he played in the same town at the same time as Mays and Mantle. He was a stud. Very good defender, too.