Obit: The Duke of Flatbush(Duke Snider, 1926-2011)

Subject: Obit: The Duke of Flatbush
From: Amos
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 10:51 AM

Duke Snider, pride of the Dodger's centert-field, passed away Sunday in Escondido, California. He was 84.


A

Subject: RE: Obit: The Duke of Flatbush
From: bobad
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 11:09 AM

Duke was the colour man to Dave Van Horne's play-by-play for the Montreal Expos for many years. Baseball, for me, was listening to the two of them call and describe a game on a summer's evening, putting the visuals in your imagination as if you were in the ballpark. I miss baseball, the Expos and Dave and Duke - it's just not the same without them anymore.

Subject: RE: Obit: The Duke of Flatbush
From: Cool Beans
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 12:00 PM

"Willie, Mickey and the Duke." Great song. There, now this thread can stay above the line.

Subject: RE: Obit: The Duke of Flatbush
From: PoppaGator
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 12:27 PM

I learned, just this morning, that Duke Snider actually had more home runs and more RBIs than any other player in the decade of the 1950s.

There were several other stars among his contemporaries with better career numbers, of course, but none of them played every year from 1950 to 1959. Snider came up to the majors (to the Brooklyn Dodgers) early in the 1947 season, just a couple of weeks after Jackie Robinson's debut. He became a good friend to Jackie during that difficult year, which may be as important a contribution to baseball history, and to American history, as anything he accomplished on the field.

Mickey Mantle didn't reach the majors until 1951, and was not a full-time player right away; Willie Mays was also a rookie in '51, but missed the next two years as a draftee into the US Army during the Korean War. Also, those two younger players, among many others, enjoyed longer careers extending well into the '60s. But, from 1950 to 1959 inclusive, no one had better power-hitting numbers than The Duke of Flatbush.

Subject: RE: Obit: The Duke of Flatbush
From: Beer
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 01:47 PM

How true Bobad. What a team they made. How sad when the Expos folded and their voices were heard no more.
Ad.

Subject: RE: Obit: The Duke of Flatbush
From: Bob Hitchcock
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 05:49 PM

Well Beer, the Expo's didn't really fold, we enjoy them here as the Washington Nationals. So your sad loss was our gain.

RIP Mr. Snyder.

Bob.

Subject: RE: Obit: The Duke of Flatbush
From: Beer
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 07:43 PM

I stand corrected Bob.
ad.

Subject: Obit: Dodger star Duke Snyder
From: Genie
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 10:15 PM

The Dodgers, in the era of Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, and Duke Snyder, were my first baseball loves and the ones who made me a baseball fan back when they were still in Brooklyn.

Hall-0f-Famer Duke Snyder passed away a day or two ago in Escondido, CA, at age 84.

RIP, Duke, and thanks for all the great baseball memories.

Duke Snyder obit in Sports Illustrated/

Subject: RE: Obit: Dodger star Duke Snyder
From: Bobert
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 10:36 PM

Droppin' like flies tonight...

Duke Snyder??? Danged...

B~

Subject: RE: Obit: The Duke of Flatbush
From: Genie
Date: 28 Feb 11 - 10:44 PM

It's especially sad to me that I didn't know The Duke was in a nursing home in Escondido, as I do music for senior communities, including nursing homes, in Escondido fairly often. I wish I had been able to meet him and maybe get him to sing with me.

Genie

Subject: RE: Obit: The Duke of Flatbush(Duke Snider, 1926-2011)
From: catspaw49
Date: 01 Mar 11 - 07:05 AM

Even if you lived somewhere else as I did and cheered for another team, New York was in those days the center of the baseball world. The Giants held a third place while the Yankees garnered the first place and most hated vote from outside of New York. The Dodgers though were easy to love with a cast of players heading for the Cooperstown.

The Duke made it there of course as did the center fielders from the other New York teams. There was no lack of talent in center in New York and the arguments over which one was the best was always a topic. My best friend back in those days loved the Duke while I was a fan of Mick. His cousin Barry held out for Willie. All the grown-ups said DiMaggio was greater than all three put together.

The Duke was a great player among other great players and a wonderful part of my childhood...........Thanks for all of it Duke.


Spaw