#Duke May 12

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Today’s contribution to the 30-Day Baseball Coach4aday Challenge is on DUKE Snider.

Edwin Donald Snider was called Duke his entire life. He got the nickname from his parents as a young boy because of the way he strutted around like he was royalty. He was born in Los Angles, California in 1926.

Snider played baseball for the Brooklyn Dodgers during a time when New York City had three professional baseball teams. Each franchise had an iconic star and the Duke was to the Dodgers what Mickey Mantle was to the NY Yankees and Willie Mays was to the NY Giants.

FAQ’s about Duke Snider

Snider played center field in Brooklyn and was one of the most prolific power hitters of the 1950s, as he hit more home runs and had more RBI in the decade than any other player.

1. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980
2. Duke was part of a trio of Dodgers outfielders, along with Carl Furillo and Jackie Robinson, who were known as the “Boys of Summer.” The group was immortalized in a book by Roger Kahn, which chronicled the Dodgers’ glory years in the 1950s.
3. Snider hit 407 home runs during his career, which was the National League record for a center fielder until Willie Mays broke it in 1966. Snider’s 11 career World Series home runs also stood as a record for many years.
4. He was the first player to hit four home runs in two different stadiums: Forbes Field in Pittsburgh and Milwaukee County Stadium. He accomplished the feat in 1955 and 1956, respectively.
5. Duke served in the U.S. Navy during World War II and was stationed in the Pacific. He was awarded a Purple Heart after being wounded during an attack on Okinawa.