milagros317
Wielder of 500 Feathers
- Joined
- Jan 12, 2002
- Messages
- 608,515
- Points
- 113
I have been depressed lately about the ghastly end to the Dodgers'
2014 season. Tommy Lasorda is alleged to have something like this as
the post-season began. "I am 87 years old. I want the guys to win
the World Series one more time so that I will be happy when The Big
Dodger in the Sky decides to take me." I am only 64, but I begin to
understand Tommy's thinking.
I have decided to make this post for my milestone of one-third of
a million, post #333,333.
This post features a history of the Golden Age of Dodger Baseball
(1947 to 1966, inclusive).
THE LATE 19th AND EARLY 20th CENTURIES
The Dodgers joined the National League in 1890, having previously
played,from 1884 to 1889, in a league known as the American
Association. (The American Association was a major league that
existed from 1882 to 1891.)
Incredibly, the Dodgers won the National League Pennant in 1890,
their first year in the league. As far as I know, no other team has
ever done that, entered an established major league and won its
pennant their first year in that league.
The Dodgers won the pennant again in 1899 and in 1900. (The American
League did not yet exist, so there was no World Series.)
They set a record in 1899 that still stands, and will likely stand
forever. They finished the season with 101 wins and 47 losses, 84
games ahead of the last place Cleveland Spiders, who had 20 wins and
134 losses. No, that is not a misprint. Their record of 20-134 makes
the 1962 Mets look good by comparison. I can not believe that any
team will ever finish the season 84 games ahead of another team
again. (If you have never heard of the Cleveland Spiders, don't feel
bad. They went bankrupt at the end of the 1899 season and ceased to
exist.)
After some bad years, the Dodgers got a new manager, Wilbert
Robinson, in 1914. Under him, they won two pennants, in 1916 and
in 1920. Sadly, they lost the World Series both times, in 1916 to
the Boston Red Sox (who had a fine young left-handed pitcher named
Babe Ruth) and to the Cleveland Indians in 1920.
THE BAD YEARS
From 1921 to 1938, the Dodgers never won the National League
Pennant. Most of those years they were under .500 and gained the
nickname "Dem Bums."
SIGNS OF LIFE
In 1939 Leo Durocher became the new manager of the Dodgers. They
showed signs of life, going 84-69, and finished third in an eight
team league. In 1940, they were 88-65 and finished second.
In 1941, Leo led the Dodgers to their first National League Pennant
in 21 years. The Dodgers were 100-54 in the regular season, but lost
the World Series to the Yankees in five games.
On a personal note, my parents, then an engaged couple, were in
Yankee Stadium on October 2, 1941, and saw the Dodgers' only victory
in that World Series. Whit Wyatt pitched a complete game victory for
Brooklyn that day, as the Dodgers overcame a 2-0 deficit to win the
game 3-2. I have their two ticket stubs from that game. They are
not for sale.
THE GOLDEN AGE
From 1947 to 1966, inclusive, a period of twenty seasons, the Dodgers
won 10 National League pennants and, four times, went on to win the
World Series. Three other times in this span of time, they came close
to winning the National League pennant, either losing in a special
playoff series or being eliminated on the last day of the regular
season.
It is not a coincidence that this Golden Age began in 1947. It was
because the Dodgers were the first team in the 20th century to be
willing to use the talents of African American players.
No, that is not a mistake. I meant in the 20th century. There were a
few African American players in the major leagues in the 1880's.
They were driven out by a coalition of racist owners who began to
refuse to allow their teams to play against them, and succeeded in
getting all the other owners not to use any black players. The
correct answer to the question, "Who was the first African American
major league baseball player?" is not Jackie Robinson, but rather
Moses Fleetwood Walker, a catcher for the Toledo Bluestockings, a
team in the American Association in 1884. (As noted above, the
American Association was a major league from 1882 to 1891.)
Jackie Robinson's first game in the National League, played on April
15, 1947, marked the beginning of a new era in Major League Baseball
as well as having national implications for the civil right movement.
For more on the latter, I recommend you see the movie "42."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0453562/
Here is how the Dodgers did, year by year, during their Golden Age:
1947: 94-60 Won the NL Pennant by 5 games over the Cardinals.
Lost the World Series to the Yankees, 4 games to 3.
1948: 84-70 Finished in 3rd place in the NL, 7.5 games behind the
pennant-winning Boston Braves.
1949: 97-57 Won the NL Pennant by 1 game over the Cardinals.
Lost the World Series to the Yankees, 4 games to 1.
1950: 89-65 Finished in 2nd place in the NL, 2 games behind the
pennant-winning Phillies. Not eliminated until losing in extra
innings on the last day of the regular season.
1951: 96-58 Finished in a tie with the hated jints at the
end of the regular season. Lost a special play-off series, 2 games to
1. It ended on a walk-off home run that stands as the worst moment in
Dodger history. On a personal note, I was only one year old when this
happened, so, fortunately, I have no memory of it.
1952: 96-57 Won the NL Pennant by 4.5 games over the hated jints.
Lost the World Series to the Yankees, 4 games to 3.
1953: 105-49 Won the NL Pennant by 13 games over the Braves (who
became that year the Milwaukee Braves).
Lost the World Series to the Yankees, 4 games to 2. In spite of
this, I believe that the 1953 Dodgers were the best Dodger team ever
(so far).
1954: 92-62 Finished in 2nd place, 5 games behind the pennant
winning hated jints.
1955: 98-55 Won the NL Pennant by 13.5 games over the Braves.
Won the World Series over the Yankees, 4 games to 3.
1956: 93-61 Won the NL Pennant by 1 game over the Braves.
Lost the World Series to the Yankees, 4 games to 3.
1957: 84-70 Finished in 3rd place, 11 games behind the pennant
winning Braves.
Moved to Los Angeles after the 1957 season
1958: 71-83 Finished in 7th place, 21 games behind the pennant
winning Braves. The worst finish in the Golden Age, in part because
of losing HOF catcher Roy Campanella to a car crash that left him
paralyzed.
1959: 86-68 Finished in a tie with the Braves at the end of the
regular season. Won a special play-off series, 2 games to 0, to win
the NL pennant.
Won the World Series over the White Sox, 4 games to 2.
1960: 82-72 Finished in 4th place, 13 games behind the pennant
winning Pirates.
1961: 89-65 Finished in 2nd place, 4 games behind the pennant
winning Reds.
1962: 101-61 Finished in a tie with the hated jints at the
end of the regular season. Lost a special play-off series, 2 games to
1. On a personal note, I was 12 years old when this happened. For
the next week, I was in a fight with one or more fans of the hated
jints every day. Eventually they learned not to engage in trash
talk when I was around, but it took smashing one of them in the head
with a rock.
1963: 99-63 Won the NL Pennant by 6 games over the Cardinals.
Won the World Series over the Yankees, 4 games to 0.
1964: 80-82 Finished tied for 6th place, 13 games behind the pennant
winning Cardinals.
1965: 97-65 Won the NL Pennant by 2 games over the hated jints.
Won the World Series over the Twins, 4 games to 3.
1966: 95-67 Won the NL Pennant by 1.5 games over the hated jints.
Lost the World Series to the Orioles, 4 games to 0.
At the end of the 1966 season, Sandy Koufax, the greatest
left-handed pitcher of all time, retired due to traumatic arthritis
of the left elbow. It is no coincidence that Koufax's retirement
coincided with the end of the Golden Age.
SINCE THE GOLDEN AGE
The Dodgers entered another bad stretch after Koufax retired. Under
Walter Alston, they managed to win only one more pennant, in 1974.
The era of Tommy Lasorda saw the Dodgers do better, winning pennants
in 1977, 1978, 1981, and 1988. The went on to win two more World
Series, in 1981 and 1988.
Since Lasorda's retirement as manager, the Dodgers have reached post-
season play many times but not reached the World Series again.
To me, the Golden Age will never return. It is gone with my youth.
But for young Dodger fans, I can only say, there is hope for the
future.
2014 season. Tommy Lasorda is alleged to have something like this as
the post-season began. "I am 87 years old. I want the guys to win
the World Series one more time so that I will be happy when The Big
Dodger in the Sky decides to take me." I am only 64, but I begin to
understand Tommy's thinking.
I have decided to make this post for my milestone of one-third of
a million, post #333,333.
This post features a history of the Golden Age of Dodger Baseball
(1947 to 1966, inclusive).
THE LATE 19th AND EARLY 20th CENTURIES
The Dodgers joined the National League in 1890, having previously
played,from 1884 to 1889, in a league known as the American
Association. (The American Association was a major league that
existed from 1882 to 1891.)
Incredibly, the Dodgers won the National League Pennant in 1890,
their first year in the league. As far as I know, no other team has
ever done that, entered an established major league and won its
pennant their first year in that league.
The Dodgers won the pennant again in 1899 and in 1900. (The American
League did not yet exist, so there was no World Series.)
They set a record in 1899 that still stands, and will likely stand
forever. They finished the season with 101 wins and 47 losses, 84
games ahead of the last place Cleveland Spiders, who had 20 wins and
134 losses. No, that is not a misprint. Their record of 20-134 makes
the 1962 Mets look good by comparison. I can not believe that any
team will ever finish the season 84 games ahead of another team
again. (If you have never heard of the Cleveland Spiders, don't feel
bad. They went bankrupt at the end of the 1899 season and ceased to
exist.)
After some bad years, the Dodgers got a new manager, Wilbert
Robinson, in 1914. Under him, they won two pennants, in 1916 and
in 1920. Sadly, they lost the World Series both times, in 1916 to
the Boston Red Sox (who had a fine young left-handed pitcher named
Babe Ruth) and to the Cleveland Indians in 1920.
THE BAD YEARS
From 1921 to 1938, the Dodgers never won the National League
Pennant. Most of those years they were under .500 and gained the
nickname "Dem Bums."
SIGNS OF LIFE
In 1939 Leo Durocher became the new manager of the Dodgers. They
showed signs of life, going 84-69, and finished third in an eight
team league. In 1940, they were 88-65 and finished second.
In 1941, Leo led the Dodgers to their first National League Pennant
in 21 years. The Dodgers were 100-54 in the regular season, but lost
the World Series to the Yankees in five games.
On a personal note, my parents, then an engaged couple, were in
Yankee Stadium on October 2, 1941, and saw the Dodgers' only victory
in that World Series. Whit Wyatt pitched a complete game victory for
Brooklyn that day, as the Dodgers overcame a 2-0 deficit to win the
game 3-2. I have their two ticket stubs from that game. They are
not for sale.
THE GOLDEN AGE
From 1947 to 1966, inclusive, a period of twenty seasons, the Dodgers
won 10 National League pennants and, four times, went on to win the
World Series. Three other times in this span of time, they came close
to winning the National League pennant, either losing in a special
playoff series or being eliminated on the last day of the regular
season.
It is not a coincidence that this Golden Age began in 1947. It was
because the Dodgers were the first team in the 20th century to be
willing to use the talents of African American players.
No, that is not a mistake. I meant in the 20th century. There were a
few African American players in the major leagues in the 1880's.
They were driven out by a coalition of racist owners who began to
refuse to allow their teams to play against them, and succeeded in
getting all the other owners not to use any black players. The
correct answer to the question, "Who was the first African American
major league baseball player?" is not Jackie Robinson, but rather
Moses Fleetwood Walker, a catcher for the Toledo Bluestockings, a
team in the American Association in 1884. (As noted above, the
American Association was a major league from 1882 to 1891.)
Jackie Robinson's first game in the National League, played on April
15, 1947, marked the beginning of a new era in Major League Baseball
as well as having national implications for the civil right movement.
For more on the latter, I recommend you see the movie "42."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0453562/
Here is how the Dodgers did, year by year, during their Golden Age:
1947: 94-60 Won the NL Pennant by 5 games over the Cardinals.
Lost the World Series to the Yankees, 4 games to 3.
1948: 84-70 Finished in 3rd place in the NL, 7.5 games behind the
pennant-winning Boston Braves.
1949: 97-57 Won the NL Pennant by 1 game over the Cardinals.
Lost the World Series to the Yankees, 4 games to 1.
1950: 89-65 Finished in 2nd place in the NL, 2 games behind the
pennant-winning Phillies. Not eliminated until losing in extra
innings on the last day of the regular season.
1951: 96-58 Finished in a tie with the hated jints at the
end of the regular season. Lost a special play-off series, 2 games to
1. It ended on a walk-off home run that stands as the worst moment in
Dodger history. On a personal note, I was only one year old when this
happened, so, fortunately, I have no memory of it.
1952: 96-57 Won the NL Pennant by 4.5 games over the hated jints.
Lost the World Series to the Yankees, 4 games to 3.
1953: 105-49 Won the NL Pennant by 13 games over the Braves (who
became that year the Milwaukee Braves).
Lost the World Series to the Yankees, 4 games to 2. In spite of
this, I believe that the 1953 Dodgers were the best Dodger team ever
(so far).
1954: 92-62 Finished in 2nd place, 5 games behind the pennant
winning hated jints.
1955: 98-55 Won the NL Pennant by 13.5 games over the Braves.
Won the World Series over the Yankees, 4 games to 3.
1956: 93-61 Won the NL Pennant by 1 game over the Braves.
Lost the World Series to the Yankees, 4 games to 3.
1957: 84-70 Finished in 3rd place, 11 games behind the pennant
winning Braves.
Moved to Los Angeles after the 1957 season
1958: 71-83 Finished in 7th place, 21 games behind the pennant
winning Braves. The worst finish in the Golden Age, in part because
of losing HOF catcher Roy Campanella to a car crash that left him
paralyzed.
1959: 86-68 Finished in a tie with the Braves at the end of the
regular season. Won a special play-off series, 2 games to 0, to win
the NL pennant.
Won the World Series over the White Sox, 4 games to 2.
1960: 82-72 Finished in 4th place, 13 games behind the pennant
winning Pirates.
1961: 89-65 Finished in 2nd place, 4 games behind the pennant
winning Reds.
1962: 101-61 Finished in a tie with the hated jints at the
end of the regular season. Lost a special play-off series, 2 games to
1. On a personal note, I was 12 years old when this happened. For
the next week, I was in a fight with one or more fans of the hated
jints every day. Eventually they learned not to engage in trash
talk when I was around, but it took smashing one of them in the head
with a rock.
1963: 99-63 Won the NL Pennant by 6 games over the Cardinals.
Won the World Series over the Yankees, 4 games to 0.
1964: 80-82 Finished tied for 6th place, 13 games behind the pennant
winning Cardinals.
1965: 97-65 Won the NL Pennant by 2 games over the hated jints.
Won the World Series over the Twins, 4 games to 3.
1966: 95-67 Won the NL Pennant by 1.5 games over the hated jints.
Lost the World Series to the Orioles, 4 games to 0.
At the end of the 1966 season, Sandy Koufax, the greatest
left-handed pitcher of all time, retired due to traumatic arthritis
of the left elbow. It is no coincidence that Koufax's retirement
coincided with the end of the Golden Age.
SINCE THE GOLDEN AGE
The Dodgers entered another bad stretch after Koufax retired. Under
Walter Alston, they managed to win only one more pennant, in 1974.
The era of Tommy Lasorda saw the Dodgers do better, winning pennants
in 1977, 1978, 1981, and 1988. The went on to win two more World
Series, in 1981 and 1988.
Since Lasorda's retirement as manager, the Dodgers have reached post-
season play many times but not reached the World Series again.
To me, the Golden Age will never return. It is gone with my youth.
But for young Dodger fans, I can only say, there is hope for the
future.
