1938.

[JACKIE42]

Jan 19- The innovative Larry MacPhail was hired as the team's Executive Vice President to rebuild the Dodgers.


The beginning of the greatest baseball in Brooklyn.

[tonypug]

From some of the things I have read recently, Branch Rickey was asked to take over the team, but he wanted to stay in St. Louis, and recommended McPhail. I believe I read that in Red Barbers book !947.It seems Rickey and McPhail had quite a history. Some good, much stormy.

[Paulmcall]

Rickey had MacPhail working the Columbus minor league team for him and got Larry his gig in Cincinnati.
When Brooklyn came a calling, Branch recommended MacPhail (who had left the Reds in a huff) for the job. MacPhail had told Rickey he wouldn't take a drink for a year.

Larry MacPhail was an alcoholic, Tasmanian devil, Barnum and Bailey baseball genius who raised the Brooklyn franchise out of near bankruptcy into a profitable, classy team in just four years.

He dragged baseball out of the dark ages into modern times with many innovations such as night baseball. batting helmets, airplane travel etc.

The trio of MacPhail, Durocher and Rickey has to be one of the most interesting in all of baseball.

The book The Roaring Redhead is a great source.

[jaykay]

".....into a profitable, classy team in just four years."

Yes, indeed - but speaking of redheads, let us acknowledge the contribution of Red Barber, who permitted us to "see" what we were missing if we didn't make the scene at Ebbets Field. (And who was brought to Brooklyn from Cincinnati by MacPhail.)

[Paulmcall]

Good point Jaykay!
MacPhail really pulled a coup on the Yanks and Giants when he brought in the "ole Redhead".
He trashed the no broadcast agreement and got the jump on the old foggies.
Before they knew it, he had all kinds of advertising and loyal listeners they drooled for.
TV was next and that got it's start at Ebbets Field.

[DODGER DEB]

Too bad WE weren't able to "pull this kind of a rabbit out of a hat" in 1957!

I guess asking to "get lucky" TWICE in a lifetime, was asking too much!

c.

OUR MOMENT IN TIME - OCTOBER 4, 1955 - 3:43PM

[tonypug]

I wonder how great MacPhail could have been if he was able to stay sober.

[DODGER DEB]

Originally posted by tonypug
I wonder how great MacPhail could have been if he was able to stay sober.

A most interesting thought!

Maybe the "Big O" wouldn't have happened!

c.

OUR MOMENT IN TIME - OCTOBER 4, 1955 - 3:43PM

[D6+]

Originally Posted by Paulmcall

Rickey had MacPhail working the Columbus minor league team for him and got Larry his gig in Cincinnati.
When Brooklyn came a calling, Branch recommended MacPhail (who had left the Reds in a huff) for the job. MacPhail had told Rickey he wouldn't take a drink for a year.

Larry MacPhail was an alcoholic, Tasmanian devil, Barnum and Bailey baseball genius who raised the Brooklyn franchise out of near bankruptcy into a profitable, classy team in just four years.

He dragged baseball out of the dark ages into modern times with many innovations such as night baseball. batting helmets, airplane travel etc.

The trio of MacPhail, Durocher and Rickey has to be one of the most interesting in all of baseball.

The book The Roaring Redhead is a great source.

Another great thread.


A couple of questions come to mind:


Would anyone happen to know when the Dodgers started using Batting Helmets?


Also, when did the Dodgers use an airplane for the first time to travel to a game?



Thanks.

[Flatbush Flock]

Originally Posted by tonypug

I wonder how great MacPhail could have been if he was able to stay sober.

I'm paraphrasing a statement about McPhail that went something like this: "With one drink he was good, with two drinks he was a genius, and with three or more drinks he was a lunatic."

Does anyone know the exact statement?