If the dodgers play here, all you have is a bird in a gilded cage. This is our 246th post, and we are gradually creating a body of work and an online resource for the benefit of all railfans, everywhere. This refers to when brooklyn was a maze of streetcar lines. Also known as brooklyn trolley dodgers, brooklyn bridegrooms. Al todres brooklyn dodgers collection brooklyn public library. It is a comprehensive team roster and player names are sorted by the fielding position where the most number of games were played during the regular season. Theres a bit of confusion surrounding the exact origins of the name trolley dodgers. Dodgers did not become an official name until 1932. The first use of the team name trolley dodgers actually popped up in print over a hundred miles away from brooklyn. Despite being scarred and broken, dem bums of yore remain dear in the hearts of brooklyn s citizenry, whom still wear their baseball caps, tshirts, jerseys, and jackets like a red badge of courage.
The name brooklyn trolley dodgers was first used to describe the team in 1895. Passengers ride the trolley between prospect park and the brooklyn bridge at the turn of the century. His 1972 book about his beloved brooklyn dodgers, acknowledged as a classic, was, like many of his 20 or so other books. Brooklyn residents often like to wax poetic about old school brooklyn and what their neighborhood was like before newcomers arrived.
Sep 15, 2009 historic photos of the brooklyn bridge, text and captions by john manbeck, is a handsome coffee table book from union square press and a truly eyepopping and breathtaking pictorial history of. In 1891, however, there would have been no need to dodge trolleys. Brooklyn dodgers vintage mlb programs for sale ebay. Ebbets field and the story of the brooklyn dodgers. In the 1930s, the team changed its name to the dodgers, after the brooklyn pedestrians who dodged the streetcars in.
How the neighborhoods, streets, parks, bridges, and more got their names new york university press, 2006, will be taking questions from city room readers this week. Items from the brooklyn dodgers include autographed baseballs from the 19411957 seasons, tickets, game programs, and trading cards. Check out the historical leaders in all categories. The trolley dodger name was first applied to the brooklyn baseball team in 1895. During the 1890s, other popular nicknames were wards wonders, foutzs fillies and hanlons superbas. Brooklyn historian ron schweiger shares the legend of the brooklyn dodgers baseball team big ups. A leftys legacy by jane leavy, the boys of summer by roger kahn, th.
On october 31, 1956, the last three trolley lines in brooklyn, fabled home of the brooklyn dodgers i. The teams name derived from the reputed skill of brooklyn residents at evading the citys trolley. Its been 61 years since that day of baseball infamy, which later allowed the new york giants to depart for san francisco, but the anger of longtime fans of dem bums remains. An oral history of the brooklyn dodgers on apple books. An oral history of the brooklyn dodgers summer game. The brooklyn dodgers were a major league baseball team, active primarily in the national. Discover delightful childrens books with prime book box, a subscription that delivers new. The brooklyn dodgers, for example, got their name from the trolley, he said. Fans and media also called the team trolley dodgers, grooms, bridesgrooms, superbas and robins interchangeably. The term trolley dodgers was attached to the brooklyn ballclub due to the.
Brooklyn s most famous historical team, the brooklyn dodgers, named for trolley dodgers played at ebbets field. The trolley dodger on the air we appeared on wgn radio in chicago in november 2018, discussing our book building chicagos subways on the dave plier show. First, you can search bhss online catalog, bobcat, for books and other print matter. Brooklyn trolley dodgers, grooms, bridesgrooms, suberbas, robins. Fans and media also called the team trolley dodgers, grooms, bridesgrooms, superbas and robins. Some sources incorrectly date the first use of trolley dodger to 1891, when the team moved to its new ballpark, eastern park, which is incorrectly said to have been surrounded by several trolley lines. Nationwide however, the trolley was not completely dead. An oral history of the brooklyn dodgers by peter golenbock the ultimate story of baseballs most storied and beloved franchises, told in the words of da bums themselves, and weaved into a cantputit down account by the master of the oral history and author of numerous best sellers, peter golenbock. The teams name derived from the reputed skill of brooklyn residents at evading the citys trolley streetcar network.
The team name, brooklyn trolley dodgers, was coined in 1895. Jackie robinson made his debut with the dodgers on april 15, 1947 at brooklyn s ebbets field. Brooklyns tallest building, the williamsburgh savings bank, is completed in 1929. The name trolley dodgers implied the dangers posed by trolley cars in brooklyn generally, which in 1892, began the switch from horsepower to electrical power, which made them much faster, and were hence regarded as more dangerous. In a compelling, insightfully written narrative and more than two hundred unforgettable photographs, many never before seen, the dodgers. Ebbets field and the story of the brooklyn dodgers mcgee, bob on. However, the team still struggled, finishing in seventh place.
In 1957, the new york aquarium comes to coney island, and the dodgers leave brooklyn. Originally they were the brooklyn grays, then the brooklyn bridegrooms and finally the brooklyn trolley dodgers, shortened to the dodgers. Sometimes referred to as dem bums, or dodger blue the brooklyn dodgers were a major league baseball team that played in the national league from 1890 to 1957. Electric trolleys replaced horse cars in the 1880s in new york and were a common sight for five decades. An oral history of the brooklyn dodgers dover baseball.
The dodgers, of course, was a shortened name for the brooklyn trolley dodgers, a moniker that came to represent the baseball team after 1911. One hundred twenty five years of nyc streetcars started in. The brooklyn trolley dodgers when casey stengel, a brash young outfielder from kansas city, arrived in the major leagues near the end of the 1912 season, the brooklyn team was playing in ramshackle washington park in park slope, between first. The history of the trolley dodgers reminds us city streets once belonged to people. Sign up for our newsletter and enter to win the second edition of our book. The boys of summer by roger kahn kindle edition 5 stars the boys of summer is the story of the brooklyn dodgers when the best came to play baseball. Oral history of the brooklyn dodgers, penguin books, new york, ny, 1987. Passengers would hop on and off the trolleys, which averaged about 6 to 10 mph. Aug 14, 2017 the dodgers were not built by baseball players, he said. The dodgers nickname referenced the pedestrians who dodged the trolleys that carried passengers through the streets of brooklyn. Jul 02, 2007 leonard benardo and jennifer weiss, authors of brooklyn by name. Winner of the prestigious casey award for best baseball book of 1984.
Learn more about the team, including its history and notable players, in this article. The 1884 brooklyn trolley dodgers team roster seen on this page includes every player who appeared in a game during the 1884 season. The dodgers 1941, today and yesterday and the dodger victory book were. In the 1890s brooklyn was known for its huge street car grid and brooklyn residents gained the nickname trolley dodgers because they would routinely have to dodge the street cars that crisscrossed the borough. The trolley dodger musings on transit, past, present, and. Sep 17, 2004 in a compelling, insightfully written narrative and more than two hundred unforgettable photographs, many never before seen, the dodgers.
But if you want to know about the real history of the borough, like back to the days when brooklyn was called breukelen, heres a rundown on brooklyn s history. Apr 07, 2014 the trolley dodger name was first applied to the brooklyn baseball team in 1895. History of the brooklyn dodgers wikipedia republished wiki 2. Brooklyn dodgers brooklyn historical societybrooklyn. An oral history of the brooklyn dodgers by peter golenbock. History of the brooklyn dodgers wikipedia republished. Pee wee reese, duke snider, carl furillo, gil hodges, billy cox, roy campanella, carl erskine, clem labine, billy cox, jackie robinson. The trolley dodger musings on transit, past, present. The team changes its name to the name trolley dodgers named after the citizens of brooklyn who had to duck and dodge the many trolleys that crisscrossed the borough of brooklyn at the time. Dear friends, while brooklyn historical society is closed, please visit our. A biographical history of north american team names. May 17, 2011 the trolley dodgers in 1890, the brooklyn trolley dodgers professionals baseball team joined the national league.
In 2010, students participating in exhibition laboratory exlab, an afterschool program in which students brooklyn schools learn the process of curating an exhibit from start to finish, conducted oral history interviews with 34 dodgers fans who remembered ebbets field. The dodgers official history reports that the term trolley dodgers was attached to the brooklyn ballclub due to the complex maze of trolley cars that weaved its way through the borough of brooklyn. Canarsie trolley graveyard brooklyn, new york atlas. In the 1890s, brooklyn had more trolleys than any other community in. The term trolley dodgers was attached to the brooklyn ballclub due to the complex maze of trolley cars that weaved its way through the borough of brooklyn. With the 1911 season, the superbas changed the team name to the brooklyn trolley dodgers. Through annexation by brooklyn, development of the railroad and trolleys which inspired the name of baseballs famed trolley dodgers, and the drain of suburban flight, flatbush residents actively sought to keep their town a place to call home. Boston, new orleans, cleveland, philadelphia and other american cities hung in, preserving at least a. One hundred twenty five years of nyc streetcars started in the village read more. This guide is intended as an aid to researchers interested in archival material at brooklyn historical society that relates to the brooklyn dodgers.
Staying power of dodgers nickname and brooklyn trolley dodger ro. Brooklyn by name authors are taking questions the new. The book includes dozens of interviews and anecdotes, great photos, plus a special focus on jackie robinsons breakthrough to the major leagues. Photo, print, drawing hardie henderson, brooklyn trolleydodgers, baseball card portrait digital file from original, front about this item zoom in zoom out rotate right fit screen full expand. Hardie henderson, brooklyn trolleydodgers, baseball card. Brooklyn is known for many things, among which is as the home to famous brooklyn dodgers at ebbets field. But first, a short history of the original light rail. Ebbets field, the stadium for the brooklyn dodgers is now an apartment complex. The best team money can buy by molly knight, sandy koufax. Essay about overview of the brooklyn trolley dodgers baseball. An oral history of the brooklyn dodgers summer game books baseball.
Get the best deals on brooklyn dodgers vintage mlb. Stanley person baseball collection brooklyn public library. Brooklyn dodgers brooklyn historical societybrooklyn historical. The grim reality of the trolley dodgers early sports and.
The nickname was still new enough in september 1895 that a newspaper could report that trolley dodgers is the new name which eastern baseball cranks fans have given the brooklyn club. In 1947 jackie robinson was hired by the dodgers as the first africanamerican player in major league baseball in the modern era. It has won six world series titles and 23 nl pennants. History of the streetcar brooklyn historic railway. Ebbets field opens in 19, and the brooklyn dodgers, formerly known as the bridegrooms and then the trolley dodgers, have a new place to play. Hidden inside a parking lot is a marker for the location of home plate.
With 2,696 strikeouts as a dodger, don sutton ranks first in franchise history and is in the top 10 overall in mlb history. The new nickname would not bring much new luck as the team still struggled finishing 7th with a 6476 record. Historic photos of the brooklyn bridge, text and captions by john manbeck, is a handsome coffee table book from union square press and a truly eyepopping and breathtaking pictorial history. Today new considerations of urban design and planning that seek to exploit, honor or unearth this history are emerging in nyc. Also known as brooklyn trolley dodgers, brooklyn bridegrooms, brooklyn superbas, and brooklyn robins. To date, we have received over 584,000 page views, for which we are very grateful. The name, trolley dodgers, implied the dangers posed by trolley cars in brooklyn generally, which had recently beginning in 1892 been switched from horsepower to the much faster and hence regarded as more dangerous electrical power. In the early 20th century, the team, then known as the brooklyn robins, won league pennants in 1916 and 1920, losing the world series both times, first to boston and then cleveland. The collections include correspondence, programs, yearbooks, scrapbooks, and other material related to the team. Dodgers the nickname was still new enough in 1895 that a newspaper could report that, trolley dodgers is the new name which eastern baseball fans have given the brooklyn club.
Dodgers are named after terrified brooklyn pedestrians. They were the trolley dodgers, evoking the maze of trolley routes in brooklyn in the late 1800s. Madame morbid is brooklyns only yearround trolley tour that specializes in ghost stories and dark history. In this lively story of sports, politics, and the talented, hilarious, and charming characters associated with the brooklyn dodgers, bob mcgee chronicles the ballparks vibrant history from the drawing board to the wrecking ball, beginning with charley ebbets and the heralded opening in 19, on through the eras that followed. Burch, brooklyn trolleydodgers, baseball card portrait w. Gone but hardly forgotten, the old trolley dodgers are quite alive and doing very well. An oral history of the brooklyn dodgers is not one of those books. Guide to the al todres brooklyn dodgers collection, bcms.
Kimball champions n184 enlarge digital file from original, front. Seven years later, in 1964, the verrazanonarrows bridge is completed, connecting brooklyn to staten island. Brooklyn history comes alive in three new books new york. In 1895, brooklyn played at eastern park, bounded by eastern parkway now. Read about his career, life, and impact on america. This is the kind of insight and information i am looking for when i read a history book. Bums is a true baseball classic, considered by many to be the best history of the trolley dodgers this side of boys of summer. Horsecars and trolleys and plank roads, oh my brooklyn. Answers from brooklyn by name authors, part 2 the new. Confessions of a trolley dodger from brooklyn fischler, stan on. Unfortunately, many historical sports books dont deliver on this. The departure of the brooklyn dodgers was a death knell for the brooklyn of the day. Over the following years, the dodgers would have considerable difficulty competing with the other baseball themes in the new york city area.
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