[kenyan_cheena]

The New York Age

WEDNESDAY, 25 MARCH, 1959

DODGERS ENTHUSIASTIC
ABOUT COMING SEASON

Story by Louis Greenberg

From nearly every angle the 1958 Major League Baseball season was a disappointing one for the Brooklyn Dodgers. After winning a World Championship and six National League pennants (and contending for several others) during the previous thirteen years they fell to their worst performance since 1944, compiling a 68-86 record that saw them finish in 6th place. Of course, the tumultuous nature of the off-season leading into last year's campaign and the affect it had on the organisation must be taken into account, but even allowing for it the Dodgers underachieved. Veteran centrefielder Duke Snider agreed with that assessment when I spoke to him recently.

"I think we played through last year like we were half asleep," Snider said. "We had our bags packed for L.A. and then all of a sudden O'Malley decided that we're staying in New York. I remember for me it felt like a death row pardon, even though I was born in Los Angeles. It was a big deal for a lot of us, probably bigger than we let on. The Manhattan thing, playing at the Polo Grounds, that didn't sit well with some of the guys although they all knew it was, what do they call it? "A necessary evil". We all knew it was needed to keep this team in Brooklyn but we never really adjusted to it. So I guess it'll go down as a lost season for us. But I'd like to think the sacrifice will be worth it."

Snider is excited about returning to Ebbets Field this year and spoke about how great the place looks after the renovations that were made over the course of these past eighteen months. He confirmed that the stadium's seating capacity has been increased by 2,500 to 34,500 and hoped that every one of those extra seats will be filled on a regular basis.

"Brooklyn almost had something that is part of it's spirit and soul taken away from it," said Snider. "It was really close to becoming a reality and I would hope that the fans come out in abundance for every home game, just to show how much this team really means to them."

One thing that was very difficult for the playing staff to endure was sitting back and watching as the Milwaukee Braves achieved a task they were unable to: defeating the Yankees in consecutive Fall Classics. Snider revealed how they were glad to see the Yankees lose, but the fact that it was the Braves that were victorious on both occasions cut deep.

"They pulled off in just two attempts what we couldn't in seven," Snider lamented. "I was as happy as the next guy to see the Yankees fail but I'll admit it was hard to see another team besides us do it to them."

While the playing staff are confident of a return to their glory days in '59, some observers are not so optimistic. The three men who have been a constant on the roster for the past twelve years, Snider, 1st baseman Gil Hodges and rightfielder Carl Furillo are all on the negative side of thirty years old: way over in the case of Hodges (35) and Furillo (37). Those backing the Dodgers for a great season will point out that Snider batted .327 last year while failing to recognise that the 84 RBI he recorded was his lowest output in that category since 1948 and that the 27 home runs he hit broke a streak of five consecutive 40+ seasons. They haven't made any big signings of note during the off-season, which has everything to do with owner Walter O'Malley's determination to keep the ballclub financially secure in the immediate future.

"I have a good feeling about this team," said Snider, dismissing those criticisms. "We've got a nice mix of experience and youth, a really balanced roster that I think will surprise some people."

Whatever the new season has in store for the Dodgers, it goes without saying that it will be great to see them back at Ebbets. With all the movements ballclubs have made in recent years it's great to know that Ebbets and the Dodgers are still a couple and will be for many years to come...