Wee” Reese, the Captain, Jackie Robinson, the first black player to play in the major leagues since the 19th century, Roy Campanella, and my hero, centerfielder Edwin Donald “Duke” Snider. Snider was such a big star that he was often compared to Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle, the centerfield stars of the NY Giants and Yankees, respectively. Fans would argue incessantly as to whom was the best player. There was even a popular song, “Willie, Mickey and the Duke.” The Dodgers dominated the National League from 1947 – 1956 winning six pennants and one World Series with two near-misses in 1950 and 1951.

It was preordained that I would be a Dodger fan. I was born in Brooklyn. We lived about a block away from Ebbets Field. You couldhear the game from our apartment. My father was a big fan. No way would I become a fan of any other team.

Family lore is that my when my father took me to my first Dodgers game at probably too early an age I basically ignored the game in favor of the food. Whatever any particular vendor was offering – hot dogs, peanuts, crackerjacks, soda – I wanted. I’m sure anyone who knows me will not be surprised. In 1955, however, at the age of ten, I became a big fan. I began following the team on tv, radio and in the newspapers. I remember racing home from school to catch the last inning of Game 7 of the 1955 WS.

In 1956 my father surprised me by inviting