Bum's Cornerstone

[Shotgun Shuba]

When you look back at the 1947-57 squad, which player's absence would have caused the championship foundation to fall?

[Flatbush Flock]

When you look back at the 1947-57 squad, which player's absence would have caused the championship foundation to fall?

Roy Campanella was the one Dodger who never had a good backup. His injury/suspension cost them the pennant in 1951 and arguably 1954.

[tonypug]

Jackie Robinson was the heart and soul of that team. Every player on those teams would have said that as well. It wasn't just his play but the fire he brought to the team. He could go 0-4 at bat and not make a play in the field and still have an impact on his team and the game.

[Shotgun Shuba]

Interesting. Could Snider's offensive numbers been replaced? It's funny, if you asked Yank and Giants fans of the era they quickly would have said their centerfielder.

[tonypug]

Not to take anything away from Snider, but he wasn't in the same class as Mays and Mantle. He benefitted greatly by the comparisons. There were a number of very good players on those Brooklyn teams, but Robinson was the one that would have been missed the most.

[DODGER DEB]

I loved them all! I admired them all! I applauded them all for their unique talents, all of which contributed to OUR incredible teams duing the 1947-1957 span.

BUT, the one person who was not only an amazing player and fierce competitor was OUR #1 and Captain, PEE WEE REESE. HE, and he alone, was the glue that kept OUR team on top. WE could not have won anything without him! I might also add here that every player on OUR team would tell you that!

c.

[Shotgun Shuba]

I think you arrive at a short list of some very good ballplayers. PeeWee was the captain, no doubt, and leadership is important but his stats could be replaced. Snider was very good but somehow you would expect your CF to put up solid numbers in that lineup. Skoonj and Gil were very solid pieces of the puzzle but you could replace each one, I think. So I am left with two. We will never know how great Jackie could have been. He was pretty great anyway! The versatility and intangibles he brought to the table are very impressive, the fire and audacity. These could never be replaced. I must vote for another man though, Campy. A great catcher is a valuable resource, and a catcher who can hit like Roy is a godsend! His multiple MVP's bear this out and show that his contemporaries agreed.
What is really interesting, is that no pitchers can be considered. When all these players mentioned WERE replaced or long of tooth, the Dodgers entered a period of great success. The cornerstones for those teams were Sandy and Drysdale, of course. I guess pitching always wins out.

[tonypug]

I think you arrive at a short list of some very good ballplayers. PeeWee was the captain, no doubt, and leadership is important but his stats could be replaced. Snider was very good but somehow you would expect your CF to put up solid numbers in that lineup. Skoonj and Gil were very solid pieces of the puzzle but you could replace each one, I think. So I am left with two. We will never know how great Jackie could have been. He was pretty great anyway! The versatility and intangibles he brought to the table are very impressive, the fire and audacity. These could never be replaced. I must vote for another man though, Campy. A great catcher is a valuable resource, and a catcher who can hit like Roy is a godsend! His multiple MVP's bear this out and show that his contemporaries agreed.
What is really interesting, is that no pitchers can be considered. When all these players mentioned WERE replaced or long of tooth, the Dodgers entered a period of great success. The cornerstones for those teams were Sandy and Drysdale, of course. I guess pitching always wins out.
Shotgun, Koufax and Drysdale were great when that other franchise moved into a pitchers ballpark. Ebbets Field was not kind to pitchers. Campanella was too inconsistant from year to year. His three MVP awards were partly due to his tremendous popularity among the sportswriters, who are the ones that vote for MVP. For example, Snider should have won it in 1955.

[The Real McCoy]

The temptation is to say Jackie Robinson because of the startling and immediate impact he had on the team.

But then you remember that game in Cincinnati, early in '47 and you remember that statue they recently put up at Keyspan Park in Coney Island and you remember who it was who put a stop, in the clubhouse, the Dodger clubhouse, to a petition not to play with Robinson and you remember how in those eleven years how many games were won off the field as well as on, and in both cases, you remember who the leader was, at shortstop and in the dugout and, finally, you remember who was in the middle of the best double play the Dodgers ever turned, on October 4, 1955, and the choice is so obvious, yet so easy to overlook because with the Captain, it was never about him, it always about the Dodgers.

Great call, Deb.

[DODGER DEB]

The temptation is to say Jackie Robinson because of the startling and immediate impact he had on the team.

But then you remember that game in Cincinnati, early in '47 and you remember that statue they recently put up at Keyspan Park in Coney Island and you remember who it was who put a stop, in the clubhouse, the Dodger clubhouse, to a petition not to play with Robinson and you remember how in those eleven years how many games were won off the field as well as on, and in both cases, you remember who the leader was, at shortstop and in the dugout and, finally, you remember who was in the middle of the best double play the Dodgers ever turned, on October 4, 1955, and the choice is so obvious, yet so easy to overlook because with the Captain, it was never about him, it always about the Dodgers.

Great call, Deb.


Thank you, Judge. My sentiments exactly!

c.

[musial6]

Campy had THREE fab years ('51, '53, '55). His other years--at least with the stick--were marginal. Reese was the constant--the indispensable one.

[Shotgun Shuba]

Reese was good, but (as I brace myself for the backlash) with all the talk of Hodges not in the Hall, he probably deserves it more than PeeWee. Reese's stats just are not impressive, sorry.

[DODGER DEB]

Campy had THREE fab years ('51, '53, '55). His other years--at least with the stick--were marginal. Reese was the constant--the indispensable one.

Your description of OUR Captain fits him to a tee, musial6! Thank you!

What he brought to OUR team; what he did for OUR team, and what he was to OUR team, was never measured in only hits, runs, etc. PEE WEE truly was One of a Kind, and WE will be forever greatful that he was a BROOKLYN DODGER!

c.

[55 chmps]

I loved them all! I admired them all! I applauded them all for their unique talents, all of which contributed to OUR incredible teams duing the 1947-1957 span.

BUT, the one person who was not only an amazing player and fierce competitor was OUR #1 and Captain, PEE WEE REESE. HE, and he alone, was the glue that kept OUR team on top. WE could not have won anything without him! I might also add here that every player on OUR team would tell you that!

c.
I agree exactly what Dodger Deb says. I respect them all, but Pee Wee held the team together. That's why they call him the captain. Though he wasn't the best on the team, the team would have been in trouble without him.

[EbtsFldGuy]

Dismaying it is that y'all ignore the estimable Dale Mitchell.