Sunday, March 27, 2011

1954 Brooklyn Dodgers

Wait Til Next Year
The '54 Dodgers were coming off of back to back losing World Series appearances. 1954 was also the last year that the Dodgers franchise could say that they never won the World Series, as they would finally win it next season. This team was led by Duke Snider, whose line of .341-40-130 was the best season of his hall-of-fame career. Gil Hodges also had probably his best season with a line of .304-42-130. The pitching side was led by 18 game winner Carl Erskine.




The Cradle of Managers
1954 may be most noted for being the first season of Walt Alston's managerial career. He would go on to manage the Dodgers through the 1976 season. Of course, a little used relief pitcher on this team would go on to manage the Dodgers after Alston retired and manage the team through the 1996 season. You know I am talking about Tommy Lasorda. Another hall-of-fame manager, Dick Williams, was on this roster as a reserve outfielder. Don Zimmer, who may be most famous as the Yankees bench coach from the late 90s, but was manager of the Padres, Red Sox, Rangers, and Cubs was on this team. Gil Hodges, manager of the miracle Mets of 1969 was the starting first baseman.

Starter and Hall-of-Fame/All-Star Scores
Exclusive players to a set are in italics

Topps Regulars (10): Gil Hodges, Jim Gilliam, Don Hoak, Duke Snider, Jackie Robinson, Johnny Podres, Jim Hughes, Clem Labine, Bob Milliken, Preacher Roe

Bowman Regulars (13): Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, Jim Gilliam, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider, Carl Furillo, Billy Cox, Carl Erskine, Russ Meyer, Billy Loes, Don Newcombe, Clem Labine, Preacher Roe

Topps All-stars and Hall-of-Famers (4): Gil Hodges, Tommy Lasorda, Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider

Bowman All-Stars and Hall-of-Famers (5): Roy Campanella, Carl Erskine, Gil Hodges, Pee Wee Reese, Duke Snider

I am beginning to wonder how it was that Topps bought out Bowman. Topps must've had a better corporate background. They were based in Brooklyn, so it seems they should've had a hometown advantage here, yet Bowman beats them pretty good in both scores here. Topps big score is with Jackie Robinson, but the All-Star and Hall-of-Fame score is even worse when you consider that in 1954 kids were probably not excited about getting Tommy Lasorda in packs as his hall-of-fame career really doesn't start until over 20 years later when he becomes manager. I still am counting him here though. Nobody issues cards of future hall-of-fame manager Dick Williams, Sandy Amoros, who I listed as the starting left fielder only because he played more games at that position than anyone, but in reality was in a platoon situation with Jackie Robinson, and relief pitcher Erv Palica. I have to imagine that Duke Snider was the big catch for kids in 1954 anyway, and both sets had him.

Starters
__ BO 90 C Roy Campanella BRO
__ TO 102 1B Gil Hodges BRO
__ TO 35 2B Jim Gilliam BRO
__ TO 211 3B Don Hoak BRO
__ BO 58 SS Pee Wee Reese BRO
__

LF Sandy Amoros
__ TO 32 CF Duke Snider BRO
__ BO 122 RF Carl Furillo BRO
__ TO 10 UT Jackie Robinson BRO
__ BO 26 3B Billy Cox BRO
Starting Pitchers
__ BO 10 SP Carl Erskine BRO
__ BO 186 SP Russ Meyer BRO
__ TO 166 SP Johnny Podres BRO
__ BO 42 SP Billy Loes BRO
__ BO 154 SP Don Newcombe BRO
Relief Pitchers
__ TO 169 CL Jim Hughes BRO
__ TO 121 RP Clem Labine BRO
__ TO 177 RP Bob Milliken BRO
__

RP Erv Palica
__ TO 14 SP Preacher Roe BRO
Other Players
__ TO 153 C Rube Walker BRO
__

OF Walt Moryn
__ BO 202 OF George Shuba BRO
__

SS Don Zimmer
__

OF Dick Williams
__

OF Don Thompson
__ TO 209 UT Tim Thompson BRO
__

1B Chuck Kress
__

PH Wayne Belardi
__ TO 126 RP Ben Wade BRO
__

RP Pete Wojey
__

SP Karl Spooner
__

RP Bob Darnell
__ TO 132 RP Tommy Lasorda BRO
__ TO 98 RP Joe Black BRO
Manager/Coaches
__

MG Walter Alston
__ TO 86 CO Billy Herman BRO

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