The recent passing of Hall of Fame outfielder and slugger Edwin “Duke” Snider broke the hearts of millions of baseball fans around the world, but especially hit hard the aging fans who remember the old Brooklyn Dodgers. Snider was a star for the 1955 club which remains legendary because it was the only Brooklyn team that ever won the World Series (defeating the hated New York Yankees, no less).
Of course, the Dodgers went to the West Coast after the 1957 season.
Snider’s death means that only nine players from the 1955 championship team are still alive (out of a total of 32 players who suited up for the Bums that year). And some of these are stellar names from the history of baseball.
Aside from Snider, the three biggest stars of that team, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella and Pee Wee Reese have departed. Jackie, perhaps the greatest icon in Dodger history, died in 1972 at only 53. Campy and Pee Wee died in the 1990s.
The manager of that club, Walter Alston, died in 1984.
Here are the living members of the 1955 Dodgers team:
Bob Borkowski – a seldom-used outfielder, Borkowski played only six seasons in the big leagues, with the 1955 Brooklyn team being his final stop. He is 85 years old.foulbunt.blogspot.comRoger Craig – although he had a mixed career as a pitcher, Craig became well known as the manger of the San Francisco Giants. He was also one of the original 1962 New York Mets. Craig was a rookie for the '55 Brooklyn club and pitched for 11 years in the big leagues. He is 81 years old.: apacktobenamedlater.blogspotCarl Erskine – the classy right-hander spent his entire 12-year career with the Dodgers (both in Brooklyn and Los Angeles). He posted an excellent 122-78 (.610) record over his career. "Oisk" is 84 years old.checkoutmycards.comSandy Koufax – widely regarded as one of the greatest pitchers who ever lived and a genuine sports icon. However, he was a wild and erratic rookie for the '55 team and didn’t find his groove until the team moved to Los Angeles. He dominated the league like no other pitcher before him for the first half of the 1960s. The Hall of Famer is now 75 years old.ReutersTommy Lasorda – never much of an impact as a player, he bounced around the minors for many years before becoming a coach. After he became manager of the Dodgers in 1976 following the retirement of Walter Alston (who managed the 1955 Brooklyn club), Lasorda stayed in the dugout for 20 years and eventually was enshrined in Cooperstown. Tommy is 83 years old.ReutersDon Newcombe – inexplicably not in the Hall of Fame, “Newk” was one of the most dominant pitchers of the 1950s. He is also the only player in baseball history to have won the Rookie of the Year, Most Valuable Player and Cy Young awards. Newcomb is now 84 years old.www.topps-heritage.comEd Roebuck – a solid relief pitcher who played in the big leagues for 11 years. Roebuck was a rookie on the '55 team and appeared in the 1955 and 1956 World Series. He is now 79 years old.psacard.comGeorge Shuba – a utility outfielder and pinch hitter, 1955 was his last major-league season in his seven-year career. He was the first National League player to ever hit a pinch-hit home run in a World Series game. Shuba is 86 years old.psacard.comBaseball icon Don Zimmer passed away Wednesday evening.Reuters
