Yes, ah, I, oh, I’m gonna love you. Oh, oh, nothing can stop me, now. ‘Cause I’m The Duke of Earl. -Gene Chandler
Before Al Gore invented the interwebs; before Baseball-Reference ever existed; before stuff like that there, there was the Baseball Encyclopedia. When I was a kid, for my 12th birthday, my father gave the Baseball Encyclopedia. I poured over that huge tome of a book like Rabbi Akiva poured over the Torah. I poured over that huge tome of a book like Daniel Webster poured over the US Constitution. As I poured that huge tome of a book, certain years stood out. Like Jake LaMotta always says, “They still ring in my ears, after years, they remain in my thoughts.” Years like Babe Ruth, 1921. Years like Bob Gibson, 1968. Like Hank Aaron, 1957 and Ted Williams, 1941. Big years. Phenomenal years. Memorable years. Duke Snider in 1955 had one of those big, phenomenal, memorable years.
Duke Snider roamed centerfield for the Brooklyn Dodgers. Because he roamed centerfield at the same time fellow Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays roamed centerfield, in the same city no less, he was at times overlooked. Because he roamed centerfield at the same time fellow Hall of Famers Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays roamed centerfield, at times, his goose was cooked. That was not the case in 1955.
In 1955, Duke Snider led all of baseball with 126 runs. In 1955, Duke Snider led all of baseball with 136 RBIs. In 1955, Duke Snider led all of baseball with a.399 OBP a .598 slugging percentage and a .997 OPS. In 1955, he batted .309 and knocked 42 baseballs out of the park. Knock knock. Who’s there? Duke Snider bitch!
The Duke of Flatbush was prematurely gray at the temples. At the plate, he had a classic stance that never displayed a hitch. It never displayed a glitch. Smoother than my main Fitch. He rivaled Ted Williams for the best hitting form in the game. And, like Williams, he had an amazing eye. Like Williams, he had an incredible eye. He had an unbelievable eye. He had a bionic eye and like Steve Austin, he was better, stronger, faster. With each oncoming pitch, Snider tensed, and then without warning, threw his full 195 pounds into his swing and unleashed holy terror.
That holy terror allowed the Dodgers to clinch the the pennant Sept. 8, the earliest in National League history. That holy terror gave Dodgers fans the ride of their lives. Them Bums from Brooklyn, led by the Duke of the Flatbush, won the 1955 World Series. Vin Scully: “Ladies and gentlemen, the Brooklyn Dodgers are the champions of the world!” Shirley Povich: “Please don’t interrupt, because you haven’t heard this one before. Brooklyn Dodgers, champions of the baseball world. Honest.” Peter Vescey: “In Brooklyn that day, it was the Liberation of Paris, Vee Jay Day, New Years Day all rolled into one.” Duke Snider died yesterday. He will be missed.
Original Story:
http://joshqpublic.com/2011/02/28/duk...
