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