The Duke Goes to the Big Dodger in the Sky
Duke Snider with current Dodger manager Don Mattingly at Dodger Stadium. (Los Angeles Dodgers/Jon Soo Hoo, used with permission)
A true Dodger great has left us today. Edward Donald "Duke" Snider passed away this morning at the Valle Vista Convalescent Hospital in Escondito, Calif. Funeral arrangements are pending, and no cause of death has been released.
Nicknamed "Duke" by his father at the age of five, Snider is long known for being part of the triumvirate of great centerfielders patrolling the ballparks in New York City along with Willie Mays of the New York Giants and Mickey Mantle of the New York Yankees. Snider played 16 seasons with the Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers (1947-62) winning a World Series in 1955 and 1959.
The seven-time All Star remains the franchise's all-time home run leader (389) and runs batted in (1,271) and was a standout in baseball, football and basketball at Compton High School.
In a press release, Dodgers owner Frank McCourt said, "Duke was one of the truly legendary Dodgers who made his mark first in Brooklyn and then in his hometown, Los Angeles. I had the pleasure of spending time with him on several occasions and he was a truly wonderful man. I’m so glad that we were able to keep him as an active part of the Dodger family over the past several years. The entire Dodger organization is deeply saddened by his loss and our heartfelt thoughts are with Beverly and his family.”
Added Tommy Lasorda, “I was a Duke's teammate and looked up to him with respect. Duke was not only a great player but he was a great person too. He loved his family and loved the Dodgers. He was the true Dodger and represented the Dodgers to the highest degree of class, dignity and character. He was my teammate and friend and I will really miss him.”
And of course Vin Scully noted, "“He was an extremely gifted talent and his defensive abilities were often overlooked because of playing in a small ballpark, Ebbets Field. When he had a chance to run and move defensively, he had the grace and the abilities of DiMaggio and Mays and of course, he was a World Series hero that will forever be remembered in the borough of Brooklyn. Although it’s ironic to say it, we have lost a giant. He’s joining a great Dodger team that has moved on and I extend my sympathies to his entire family, especially to Bev.”
It truly is a sad day for all Dodger and baseball fans.