Comments on: Brooklyn Dodger and Baseball Legend Duke Snider Passes Away

By: Mr North Jersey

Mr North Jersey — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 18:35:03 +0000

R.I.P.

By: tiedyed

tiedyed — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:52:33 +0000

Thanks for the kid words.
Duke and Gil were always my dad’s favorite players growing up.

Many years ago, probably late 80′s, I went to a card show with my dad and met Duke Snider. It was one of the few times I ever saw my dad short on words. He was flustered about meeting his boyhood idol. Kinda funny…He has an autographed pic of the Duke on his wall that he got that day.
My dad still insists Duke was the best of the 3.
“Willie was good, Mantle was a Yankee…but The Duke?!??!? Come on!”

By: Elaine Turner

Elaine Turner — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:49:16 +0000

Thank you for responding to my story. I am still remembering things we talked about on that bench we shared while my husband was in the gift shop looking around. I told him my feet were hurting, he said,”Mine too”. he said he had an old sports injury from playing ball. The conversation started there.When I recall in more detail,I will respond.He certainly left an impression on me.Ironically, I was just thinking about him a few days ago. My thoughts were,”I wonder how that old retired ballplayer is doing.” God Bless his family. thanks for the pics.

By: tiedyed

tiedyed — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:48:53 +0000

Thanks Joe.
Great pic!!!!

By: Matt74

Matt74 — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:39:26 +0000

Very sad to hear…and not to change the subject, but Carl Erskine, one of the few surviving members of those teams had put out a book called “Tales from the Dodger Dugout” that I bought years ago. If it is still in print I highly recommend picking it up. A lot of great short stories about Duke and all those guys.

By: Joe D

Joe D — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:23:58 +0000

R.I.P. Duke. I used to play Stratomatic with classic players and Duke would always be my go to guy on our leagues draft day. Read a few books about him and one by him over the years. I never saw him play, but I knew enough about him to say it hurt when I saw this news.

I am adding a picture of Duke in a Mets uniform with Joan Payson, to Rob’s excellent post.

By: theonlymaskman

theonlymaskman — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 15:18:02 +0000

Thank you for a wonderful story as the passing of Duke makes my heart heavy. As a youngster I lived in NYC and my team was the Dodgers. My favorite players were Gil and Duke amongst all that great list. There are so many memories of that great time. In my neighborhood, the contest among us kids was who was the greatest: Mickey, Willie, or Duke. We each had our proponent. Mine was Duke and I was always trying to prove he was better than Mickey or Willie (although in my heart I knew I was stretching it). I have so many memories of Ebbets Field and Duke playing there, especially the fan reaction on nights when there was a full house and a close game and Duke would come up to bat with men on base. It was priceless as electricity flew threw the park and a roar went up from the crowd. That must have been very threatening to the pitcher. I also remember Duke using his cleats to climb the outfield wall to bring down drives and save the game. Many years later I was fortunate to have Duke sign his photo for me at a card show. It is in my album next to one of Gil. They were two titans in my life.

The 50′s were a wonderful time and the Boys of Summer were a big part of it for me. It’s sad that they are now all gone. The memories live in the minds and hearts of old timers.
Again, thank you for this story.

By: Elaine Turner

Elaine Turner — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 05:09:28 +0000

I met Duke in San Diego a few years ago,quiet by accident. He was very interesting and full of life .I wish we had talked to him longer. I told him he was before my time ,and he agreed. When I saw his name on the news ,I knew that was him.

By: Des

Des — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 04:22:38 +0000

You said it, Dennis.

But as s Dodgers fan, I’ll remember them as first, The Duke, and only then Willie and Mickey. Our guy was one helluva ballplayer. Truth be told, so were the other two.

Snider hit the last homer at Ebbets Field in 1957. With his great lefty swing, I think Snider would have had many more homers if he played in Yankees Stadium, which had a low right field railing, unlike the Ebbets Field monster fence.

P.S.: If Yogi had played in Brooklyn, he’d have had far fewer homers. Yogi’s low line drive shots down the line cleared the right fielder’s leap and landed a few rows back at the Stadium. At Ebbets Field, Yogi would have tattooed the Esquire polish and Gem razor blade signs, but with Furillo’s terrific arm, Berra would have had a lot of long singles and some doubles.

By: Brooklyn Dodger and Baseball Legend Duke Snider Passes Away | Whats Hot

Brooklyn Dodger and Baseball Legend Duke Snider Passes Away | Whats Hot — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 01:01:10 +0000

[...] Brooklyn Dodger and Baseball Legend Duke Snider Passes Away [...]

By: Lou

Lou — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:57:50 +0000

I often wonder how the Duke’s superb defensive skills would have gotten more accolades if it wasn’t for the great catch Mays made at the Polo Grounds. That catch even overshadowed Mantle’s skills and history was made with Willie’s catch and Mantle and Snyder became second fiddle to Mays’ defensive skills.

By: Kay

Kay — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:31:00 +0000

RIP the Duke of Flatbush…………….. you were one of my Dad’s favorite and hearing the news of this loss made me think of my father immediately and how grateful I am for passing on this obession of baseball, and reminded me I still miss him every day……

God Bless

By: tiedyed

tiedyed — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 00:17:58 +0000

Yes, I read that he used to broadcast Expos games for a few years, Lou, but had to leave SOME stuff out of the article.

By: Lou

Lou — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 23:43:57 +0000

We lost a Great one! Little known fact. When I lived upstate I used to go to the old Jarry Park in Montreal to watch the expansion Expos play. One of their announcers was The Duke! Truly a class guy!

By: Dennis Ribant

Dennis Ribant — Sun, 27 Feb 2011 23:25:02 +0000

Willie, Mickey and the Duke…….. What a trio of centerfielders in the city.