The Duke of Flatbush (9/19/26-2/27/11)

My day turned sour earlier when I read of the passing of longtime Dodger favorite, Edwin Donald "Duke" Snider, today at age 84. Duke was THE star of a star-studded cast of 51950s Brooklyn baseball teams with the likes of Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Gil Hodges, Carl Furillo, Pee Wee Reese and others. The star Centerfielder is immortalized in the Terry Cashman song, "Talkin' Baseball". A song every baseball fan knows well for the famed line about New York's trio of all-star Centerfielders of the 1950s, "Willie, Mickey and the Duke!"

http://www.baseball-almanac.com/poetry/po_stb.shtml

Duke was also obviously a very generous man, as evidenced by his willingness to sign autographs for his fans. Duke is easily among the greats of through the mail (TTM) autographing, again among the likes of Bob Feller, Bobby Doerr and George Kell. It makes me feel good to know that the supply of their autographs will always remain relatively high due to the generosity of those men. Even in passing (except Mr. Doerr, who is still plugging away at a spry 92), generations will still be able to afford these treasures.

You will be missed, Mr. Snider. Sadly, there will come a day in the not too distant future where no member of the mightly Brooklyn Dodger franchise will be among the living, but let us enjoy those living members while we still can.

RIP.