1955 World Series Roster Survivors

[PEDRO]

I Know That Don Newcombe And Duke Snider Are Still Alive, Does Anyone Know About Anybody Else?

[DODGER DEB]

I Know That Don Newcombe And Duke Snider Are Still Alive, Does Anyone Know About Anybody Else?


Welcome, PEDRO, to OUR Brooklyn Dodger Squad!

Yes, there are a total of 11 survivors of OUR 1955 World Championship team.

Besides Duke Snider and Don Newcombe, there are Clem Labine, Johnny Podres, Ed Roebuck, George Shuba, Roger Craig, Billy Loes, Sandy Koufax, Don Zimmer and Carl Erskine.

There are others that were not on OUR 1955 Team that are still with us... Ralph Branca, Bobby Morgan, Randy Jackson, Gino Cimoli, Ken Lehman, Andy Pafko, Dick Williams, Gene Hermanski and Rocky Bridges are a few of them.

c.

[strummer]

Although not on the official 1955 World Series team, Tommy Lasorda "sorta" was on the team, at least until June 8, 1955.

[yes to bert & al!]

here is the yearly team of the 1955 dodgers:

1b-gil hodges-passed away--1972
2b-jim gilliam-passed away--1978
ss-pee wee reese-passed away--1999
3b-jackie robinson-passed away--1972
of-duke snider-alive
of-carl furillo-passed away--1989
of-sandy amoros-passed away--?

backup players:don zimmer-alive, don hoak-died, rube walker-died-1992, frank kellert-died, george "shotgun" shuba-alive, dixie howell-died, bob borkowski-alive, walt moryn-died, bert hanric-died.

pitchers:

R-don newcombe-alive
R-carl erskine-alive
L-johnny podres-alive
R-billy loes-alive
R-russ meyer-died

bullpen:

R-ed roebuck-alive
R-clem labine-alive
R-jim hughes-died
R-don bessent-died
L-karl spooner-died

other pitchers:
roger craig-alive, sandy koufax-alive, joe black-died-2002, chuck templeton-died, tommy lasorda-alive.

glad to help!

[DODGER DEB]

Sadly, SANDY AMOROS, one of the heros of OUR 1955 World Championship, passed away in 1992.

c.

[zman]

Sandy Amoros passed away June 27, 1992. I imagine his soul will be present for your celebration. The same goes for Jackie, Pee Wee, Gil and the rest. I don't think think they'd miss it for anything . I've always been struck by how fondly your Brooklyn Dodgers recall you, their fans, in interview after interview. What you shared together can never be recreated. You know that. What you continue to share can only be envied by the rest of us.

[DODGER DEB]

Sandy Amoros passed away June 27, 1992. I imagine his soul will be present for your celebration. The same goes for Jackie, Pee Wee, Gil and the rest. I don't think think they'd miss it for anything . I've always been struck by how fondly your Brooklyn Dodgers recall you, their fans, in interview after interview. What you shared together can never be recreated. You know that. What you continue to share can only be envied by the rest of us.

Thank you, zman!

OUR Brooklyn Dodgers and US......truly a family! They were as much a part of US as WE were of them....and not one of them has ever forgotten the bond WE shared...and still do to this day.

As I have always said...IT was a SPECIAL TIME, in a SPECIAL PLACE, with a VERY SPECIAL TEAM, who had VERY LOYAL and SPECIAL FANS.......sadly, BASEBALL will NEVER see the likes of US again! :gt

c.

[strummer]

I do not knpow how you guys did it, but you left out catcher. Campy unfortunately died in 1993, and Rube Walker died a few years later.

[yes to bert & al!]

Sandy Amoros passed away June 27, 1992. I imagine his soul will be present for your celebration. The same goes for Jackie, Pee Wee, Gil and the rest. I don't think think they'd miss it for anything . I've always been struck by how fondly your Brooklyn Dodgers recall you, their fans, in interview after interview. What you shared together can never be recreated. You know that. What you continue to share can only be envied by the rest of us.

do u mean me?
if u do, sorry to tell u im no dodger fan... :eek:
GO YANKEES!
:clapping

[zman]

do u mean me?
if u do, sorry to tell u im no dodger fan... :eek:
GO YANKEES!
:clapping

No. My comments were directed toward Brooklyn Dodgers fans. I'm a Yankees fan myself and born too late (1954) to experience that wonderful era of Brooklyn baseball.

[tonypug]

Does anyone know when Doc Wendler the Dodgers trainer passed away, or John Griffin the clubhouse man who supplied all the crazy hats we see in pictures?

[yes to bert & al!]

zman-
im a yankee fan too, but i was born VERY late to experience any of the brooklyn years.
but i am filling in for those years by getting all these dodgers' autographs.

tonypug-
good question, i have another question-
does anyone know when pete sheehy died? its been bugging me for a long time.

[ColtscorrAL]

A name no one has mentioned is back up catcer Joe Pignatano. Not sure if he actually played in Brooklyn, but I think he might have for a brief time. :atthepc

[DODGER DEB]

A name no one has mentioned is back up catcer Joe Pignatano. Not sure if he actually played in Brooklyn, but I think he might have for a brief time. :atthepc


"Piggy" did play on OUR 1957 team....and is still very much alive. He enjoys golfing, almost every day!

c.

[ColtscorrAL]

"Piggy" did play on OUR 1957 team....and is still very much alive. He enjoys golfing, almost every day!

c.
Thanks Deb :atthepc

[DODGER DEB]

Thanks Deb :atthepc


You are quite welcome.

c.

[zman]

Here's a pic of Pignatano

http://www.mabcelebrity.com/shows/current/subway_II/images/pignatano.jpg

[Soxrock]

Oh I will never get over that. Of all the freakin players on your team; Jackie, Gil Hodges, Don Newcombe, Roy Campanella), Sandy Amoros beats the Yankees with his game-saving catch in the 7th inning of game 7 in the Bronx. Oh man that sucked

[penncentralpete]

you forgot one: JOHNNY FREAKIN PODRES!!!!!!! yeah DODGERS!!! world champs 1955! pete

[Soxrock]

you forgot one: JOHNNY FREAKIN PODRES!!!!!!! yeah DODGERS!!! world champs 1955! pete

I forgot a few. Duke Snider, Jim Gilliam, I wasn't going to name their roster (Carl Furillo). Oh well, the Bombers got back at you in 1956.

[Bklyn Boy since 1936]

I forgot a few. Duke Snider, Jim Gilliam, I wasn't going to name their roster (Carl Furillo). Oh well, the Bombers got back at you in 1956.

No matter what you say, Soxrock, THE BROOKLYN DODGERS won the WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP in 1955. Who won before or after that is not that important to us.

[Soxrock]

No matter what you say, Soxrock, THE BROOKLYN DODGERS won the WORLD SERIES CHAMPIONSHIP in 1955. Who won before or after that is not that important to us.

Yeah and, heck, they should still be in Brooklyn. Same with the Giants in New York

[Bklyn Boy since 1936]

I couldn't agree with you more Soxrock

[1964Senators]

I don't have the 1956 Sporting News guide which would list the World Series roster. Can anyone here please provide that information ?
It would be interesting to see if Sandy Koufax was included. My guess is no,
due to his inexperience.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Tom

[EdTarbusz]

I don't have the 1956 Sporting News guide which would list the World Series roster. Can anyone here please provide that information ?
It would be interesting to see if Sandy Koufax was included. My guess is no,
due to his inexperience.
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
Tom

Koufax was a Bonus Baby, so he had to be on the roster. Koufax, Dixie Howell and Rube Walker were on the World Series roster but did not appear in the Series.

[1964Senators]

Thanks very much. I appreciate the information and the quick response.
Can you imagine how exciting it must have been to be in the dugout and/or
bullpen as a 19 year old, watching your hometown team win it's first and only
World Championship. Because Sandy is rather reclusive, I've never heard much about his account of the Series.
As thoughtful as he is, I believe it would be very entertaining.
Thanks again.
Best wishes,
Tom

[jimaxe]

Sadly, our great relief pitcher, Clem Labine died earlier this year.

[metfan13]

Is there a list of who was on the post season roster? Seems 22 players got into World Series games. Who was there but didn't play?

Looks like 10 pitchers and 12 batters. Doubt they would have carried more than 10, or did they have to include Koufax?

[zahavasdad]

Koufax did not play in the 1955 world series

[metfan13]

Koufax did not play in the 1955 world series

I know that. Doesn't mean he wasn't on the roster for the series.

[metfan13]

1955 Dodgers:

Roy Campanella*
Gil Hodges*
Jim Gilliam *
Jackie Robinson*
Pee Wee Reese*
Duke Snider*
Carl Furillo*
Sandy Amoros*
Don Zimmer*
Don Hoak*
Rube Walker
Frank Kellert*
George Shuba*
Dixie Howell
Bob Borkowski
Walt Moryn
Bert Hamric
Don Newcombe*
Carl Erskine*
Johnny Podres*
Billy Loes*
Russ Meyer*
Ed Roebuck*
Clem Labine*
Jim Hughes
Don Bessent*
Karl Spooner*
Roger Craig*
Sandy Koufax
Joe Black
Tommy Lasorda
Chuck Templeton

* = Appeared in 1955 World Series

[strummer]

I know that Black and Lasorda left the team in June. I am pretty sure that Hamric and Moryn were not on the roster at the end of the year. Also Templeton and Hughes. I know Koufax had to be on the roster. I believe Howell was carried as a bullpen catcher, in addition to Walker and Campy. Was Bob Borkowski on the roster at the end of the year? If either he or Howell were not, then you would have your 25 member team for the WS.

[strummer]

In deference to those who do not wish to tarnish the thread dedicated to the memory of johnny Podres with comments about Lasorda or other of his ilk, I offer the following explanation as to why Lasorda can claim to be poart of the 55 Dodgers, despite niot being around for the World Series.

According to expanded flexible bragging rights, anyone who was on the team during the regular season (and therfore qualified to be considered for a part or whole share of World Series money) may claim to be a part of that year's team, the 1955 Dodgers. Thus Black and Lasorda who left the team in June (Black traded, and Lasorda sent to Montreal) claim to be a part of the 55 Dodgers, though Black definitely not as loud as Lasorda.

Further, many years after the 1955 series, one of the mainstays, (I believe it was Vin Scully) lost his ring, and the Dodgers decided to make a special order to replace it for him. Word got around and others (executives with the team and Lasorda) also requested rings and their requests were granted. Lasorda has a 1955 World Series ring, even though he was not on the World Series Team. Black may have been granted one also as he was doing work for the Dodgers at the time.

[metfan13]

In deference to those who do not wish to tarnish the thread dedicated to the memory of johnny Podres with comments about Lasorda or other of his ilk, I offer the following explanation as to why Lasorda can claim to be poart of the 55 Dodgers, despite niot being around for the World Series.

According to expanded flexible bragging rights, anyone who was on the team during the regular season (and therfore qualified to be considered for a part or whole share of World Series money) may claim to be a part of that year's team, the 1955 Dodgers. Thus Black and Lasorda who left the team in June (Black traded, and Lasorda sent to Montreal) claim to be a part of the 55 Dodgers, though Black definitely not as loud as Lasorda.

Further, many years after the 1955 series, one of the mainstays, (I believe it was Vin Scully) lost his ring, and the Dodgers decided to make a special order to replace it for him. Word got around and others (executives with the team and Lasorda) also requested rings and their requests were granted. Lasorda has a 1955 World Series ring, even though he was not on the World Series Team. Black may have been granted one also as he was doing work for the Dodgers at the time.

Even today teams generally award some share, and sometimes rings, to players who were on the team during the season.

[musial6]

Did you know that Chet Trail was the only player in history to appear on a WS eligibility list without EVER appearing in a major league game?

[metfan13]

Did you know that Chet Trail was the only player in history to appear on a WS eligibility list without EVER appearing in a major league game?

Now THAT'S a trivia question.

[kramer_47]

Is there a list of who was on the post season roster? Seems 22 players got into World Series games. Who was there but didn't play?

Looks like 10 pitchers and 12 batters. Doubt they would have carried more than 10, or did they have to include Koufax?

Here are the shares they gave out for the World Series, it should indicate who was there a full year and on the roster. There were 25 players that got a full share.

[kramer_47]

Here are the shares they gave out for the World Series, it should indicate who was there a full year and on the roster. There were 25 players that got a full share.

It looks like Koufax and the 2 backup catchers Walker and Howell didn't play.

[kramer_47]

We may have lost until 1955 but the players made almost as much money as the Yankees.

[VIBaseball]

I had not heard that he had suffered a small stroke in December. However, he is still hoping to rejoin the Rays for spring training.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7013754800

[Michael Green]

I remember reading that Koufax felt embarrassed to get the share and be part of the celebrating when he hadn't really contributed and was on the roster only because he was a bonus baby. Lasorda has gotten a lot of mileage out of the story that he had to be sent to Montreal because the Dodgers legally had to keep Koufax on the roster, and his punch line is that it took the best left-hander in baseball history to keep him off the team. I think because Lasorda is partly serious about it, I loved Joe Black's comment that Koufax was better RIGHT-handed than Lasorda was.

I don't know whether Vin Scully lost the ring. I have heard two things, though. One, Scully once said he wore the 1955 and 1963 rings because of how much they symbolized to the Dodgers. Now I THINK he wears the 1988.

The other is that Don Newcombe once hocked his ring when he was at the depth of alcoholism. Peter O'Malley found out, got the ring, got ahold of Newcombe, called him in, and showed him the ring. Then he put it in his desk and said Newcombe would get it back after he got help and got straightened out, and Peter did indeed help him, and he remains part of the Dodgers to this day.

[The Real McCoy]

I had not heard that he had suffered a small stroke in December. However, he is still hoping to rejoin the Rays for spring training.

http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7013754800
hope he makes it and has, at least, a few more.

Zip is still part of, arguably, the greatest defensive move in history: Amoros to left field, Gilliam to second base, replacing Zimmer.

[EdTarbusz]

Koufax was a bonus baby in 1955. He would have been on the World Series roster.

[VIBaseball]

Here are the rosters from both sides. Along with Koufax, Howell was there for the Dodgers (Borkowski was not). What I find curious is that there are 27 players listed for the Yankees.

From what I can gather, the 19-year-old Koufax was too green to be trusted in Series action. I wonder if they'd have used him if a game stretched into long extra innings.