Time stops for no one. And as the Dodgers get ready to enter their 65th season in Los Angeles, they approach the 67 years the Dodgers were part of the Major Leagues in Brooklyn. The National League as we know it, was formed in 1890. The Dodgers won their first title that season. Their roots in Brooklyn as a professional team go back a little further. And they also have gone through several name changes.
There are very few former Brooklyn Dodgers still living. The last list I saw shows nine. The oldest would-be Chris Haughey. He is now 97 years old. Bobby Morgan and Carl Erskine are next, both 96 years young. Erskine still lives in Indiana. The others, Bob Aspromonte, 85; Tommy Brown, 95; Roger Craig, who turns 93 this month, Jim Gentile, 90 in June; Fred Kipp, 92, in October; and Sandy Koufax, Sandy will be 88 in December.
The Dodgers, as a whole, have been much more successful in Los Angeles than they were in Brooklyn. The biggest difference is that when they played in Brooklyn, they were the average citizen’s next-door neighbors. Most rented apartments during the season and went home when it was over. Today, you have to have a substantial income to live next to your local ballplayer. I had two living on my block in the early sixties, the Sherry brothers. It was a great time to be a fan.
But as time marches on, even though the Dodgers celebrate Brooklyn history now and then with a bobblehead for a former hero, they largely promote the players of today over the heroes of the past. The last Brooklyn-era bobblehead was last season when Gil Hodge’s number was retired, and a bobblehead honoring that election was given out. Prior to that, it was the one given out when Don Newcombe was selected for the Dodger hero’s list.
I was more than a little perturbed when they canceled the Jr. Gilliam bobblehead and handed out a Machado instead. Dissing a career Dodger for a rental, well, that, to me, was disrespect to Gilliam. Brooklyn memorabilia is still a hot item. If you can find a yearbook, ticket stub, scorebook, or older original Brooklyn cards, they might cost you some cash. Many years ago, I bought a 1958 Dodger yearbook that sold for 50 cents at the coliseum, and it cost me about $40 dollars. The same book, now in decent condition, will run you well over $150 usually.
You can find some Brooklyn yearbooks at a cheaper cost. I believe the 1958 yearbook is so pricey because it was their first year in LA. Brooklyn baseball cards, if original, can fetch some large amounts. A 1955 Koufax rookie is on EBAY for $30,000. Shipping is 1.08. By contrast, you can get a 1955 Snider for $700. The most expensive Snider card is a 1956, which sells at about $700 for a very good one.
I still see posts sometimes on Facebook since there is a Duke Snider page and a Dodger page from former Brooklyn fans who still live there and still hate O’Malley for moving the team. They are now Met fans in most cases, and Yankee fans sometimes, or they have totally quit following baseball. That is the case with one of my best friends, Gary, a native Brooklynite who hates O’Malley and quit following the game.
All bitterness aside, time is erasing the Brooklyn legacy. As these Dodger icons get older and then pass, the memories are left in the few fans alive who saw them play. And most of those fans are getting a little long in the tooth. Me included. I firmly believe that the present owners should embrace the past a little better than they do. Vin was the last connection to the franchise, who spent a lot of time with some of those players. Tommy and Newk had both passed on. Other than Koufax, who sometimes attends games, there is no other Brooklyn player seen in attendance at Dodger Stadium. Erskine’s last appearance there was several years ago.
I believe Hodge’s number will be the last Brooklyn Dodgers number to be retired. None of the other players associated with Brooklyn has Hall of Fame credentials. Some, like Wheat and Vance, had no numbers to retire. I do think they should do a Gilliam bobblehead. Jr. was one of those selfless players who spent his entire playing and coaching career with the Dodgers. His number, appropriately, I might add, is the only non-Hall of Fame number retired.
They have a statue of Koufax and one of Jackie. There is most likely a Scully statue down the road somewhere. There once was a plan to have a Dodger Museum of sorts on the grounds at Dodger Stadium. I think they should really do that. All the team’s awards and such are in the halls behind the stands, where your average fan never goes. Build something where all can enjoy the history of the team we all love.
Discussion (12)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Happy about Fernando.
And I think it’s a shame that Dodgers didn’t show fellow legend Maury Wills that kind of love years ago, especially since the HOF never did…..
As far as today’s team, we can expect an injury or three to alter our expectations. If a pitcher gets hurt, I expect that Pepiot is the first option. If a position player who is not a catcher goes down, then Busch will get his chance.
I agree with the chatter that Heyward has the inside track. The “youth movement” is basically Vargas , Outman and (sorta) Lux getting counterbalanced by Rojas, Heyward and JD Martinez.
Trayce is vulnerable if he has a weak spring. He’s a journeyman, but he’s always had his most success with the Dodgers. He’s a strong defender and crushed right-handed pitching last season. I hope Taylor can be his platoon partner–but he was really pretty awful last season. If not for his contract, he might have been released along with Belli and Gallo. The Cubs are paying Heyward’s salary. If Taylor doesn’t get on track, the Dodgers might deal him and cover part of his salary.
So many questions…
Speaking of deals, it will be interesting to follow the Ohtani action.
Even if the Angels play well, they won’t be beating the Astros, so their best hope is a wild card. To trade or not to trade–that could be a tricky question.
RE: Living next door to baseball players. Back then before TV contracts, players did not make much more than the average working guy. So if they made even 3 times a regular guy, they often had 2 homes. So many worked in the off season as real estate agents, car salesmen etc where their ‘name’ helped them get customers
I think Rojas exists mostly to cover the IF, leaving Taylor available to play the OF every day.
DODGERS EXTEND MIGUEL ROJAS
LOS ANGELES – The Los Angeles Dodgers have agreed to terms with infielder Miguel Rojas on a one-year contract extension through the 2024 season for $6 million dollars. The contract includes a salary of $5 million dollars in 2024, a club option salary of $5 million dollars for the 2025 season with a $1 million dollar buyout, and charitable contributions.
Rojas, 33, was acquired on January 11 from the Miami Marlins in exchange for minor league infielder Jacob Amaya. He played in 140 games with Marlins in 2022, hitting .236 with six homers and 36 RBI. He joins the Dodgers for his second career stint after making 85 appearances with the club in 2014 and recording 27 hits in 149 at-bats in his rookie season. He has been in the Majors parts of nine seasons, slashing .260/.314/.358 with 39 homers and 269 RBI while playing five different defensive positions. He was originally signed by the Cincinnati Reds out of Los Teques, Venezuela as an international free agent on November 24, 2005.
The Dodgers and infielder Miguel Rojas have agreed to a contract extension that will keep Rojas in Los Angeles through at least the 2024 season, according to Daniel Alvarez-Montes of El Extrabase (Twitter link and link to the Spanish-langugage full story). Rojas was already set to earn $5MM in 2023, but this new deal reworks that money into a $3.5MM salary and a $1.5MM signing bonus. Rojas will then earn another $5MM in 2024, and the Dodgers hold a $5MM club option on Rojas for 2025, with a $1MM buyout.
All told, it adds up to another $6MM in guaranteed money for the Beverly Hills Sports Council client. Rojas had previously been playing on a two-year, $10MM deal signed when he was a member of the Marlins, and that extension covered the 2022 and 2023 seasons.
Rojas’ deal is a little different since he was already under contract for 2023. From a luxury tax perspective, the extension slightly raises Rojas’ tax number from $5MM to $5.5MM, which is the new average annual value of what is technically a two-year deal (since his 2023 salary was reworked) for accounting purposes. While Los Angeles had soared over the Competitive Balance Tax threshold in each of the last two seasons, there was some thought that the club might look to duck under the line and reset its tax penalty status, with an eye towards going back into CBT territory next winter. But, with the Dodgers now projected to be slightly over the $233MM threshold, Friedman said this week that the Dodgers were “doing all we can to win a championship this year,” rather than keep an eye on the tax bill by trading players.
That’s really cool news to hear about Fernando, happy for him. I’m well aware of forty man and twenty six active rosters I check them fairly often to get bios and such
Breaking News: August 11, the Dodgers will retire #34!!
There is no active roster yet, won’t be determined until season starts and none of us have a clue what could happen between now and then
I don’t fault any Brooklyn Dodger fan or Vero Beach Dodger fan for not being Dodger fans anymore. I 100% understand.
I was a big Los Angeles Raiders fan, but when the Silver and Trash picked up and left to the Bay Area, I said screw you, how dare you disrespect my city and leave for the crap bay area!!
Of course, I moved on to the Chicago Bears, so I basically went from a not so attractive girl to a not so attractive girl (but with better deep dish pizza). Luckily I have half a championship via the LA Rams last year (go Los Angeles!!)
So the new infield is Freeman firstbase Vargas at second base Lux at shortstop and Muncy thridbase and at catcher Will Smith that’s your every day starters. Now outfield could be different in Leftfield and Centerfield but most likely Mookie Betts in Rightfield and at DH the power hitting big man JD Martinez. Tahts the plan this year usually by this time teams know who is starting every day. The Giants posted there starters Padres as well. Only the Rockies and DBacks said they could have changes depends on spring training. Has there been a Dodger season where we didn’t know a set outfield. Any way Spring training is almost here.
Jack Harris. Times. Today.
Bear,
You are hogging all the blogs today! 😉 You are a beast!
I can’t really imagine the bitterness the Brooklynites felt (I guess that is what they are called – BTW, what do you call a person from Damascus? A Damascuser? – I digress). However, I was in Vero Beach for the Dodgers last season there, and a significant percentage of the fans and people in and about the town were very upset. They picketed the games, and in the tailgate area, they had signs and all kinds of stuff protesting – I can’t imagine how upset they would be with an MLB team leaving.
At Bobby’s Restaurant & Lounge, which was a local hangout of many of the Dodgers, it was the topic of much discussion. Bobby’s Logo is still patterned after the Dodgers logo I went to their Facebook Page, and it looks like there is still a lot of Dodger Memorabilia on the walls. https://www.facebook.com/BobbysRestaurantVeroBeach/
It is a cool place – right on the beach in Downtown Vero Beach.