It has been well publicized that the red hot 2013 Dodgers need only one more road win to set a new all-time franchise record for consecutive road wins, having tied the record at 12 with their 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Friday afternoon. And though Dodger broadcasters and beat writers have clearly stated that it was the 1924 Brooklyn Dodgers (Robins) who set that record, little has been mentioned about this record-setting team.

The record that the 2013 Dodgers are trying to beat was set in 1924 by the (then) Brooklyn Robins – the name given to the Dodgers because of their beloved manager Wilbert Robinson, or “Uncle Robbie” as he was known by his players and fans.

Hall of Fame Dodger manager Wilbert “Uncle Robbie” Robinson.
(Photo courtesy of Bain News Service)

Robbie managed the Robins for 18 seasons (1914 to 1931). Only Hall of Fame managers Walter Alston and Tommy Lasorda managed the team longer at 23 years and 20 years respectively.

Ironically, the Robins were frequently the laughingstock of baseball and were referred to as “Uncle Robbie’s Daffiness Boys” because of their frequent on-field errors and base running gaffs. In fact, in one well known instance, Robins outfielder Babe Herman tried to stretch a double off the right field wall into a triple with one out and the bases loaded. Chick Fewster, who had been on first, advanced to third base – which was already occupied by Hall of Fame pitcher Dazzy Vance, who had started from second base but was now caught in a rundown and was dashing back to third. All three men ended up at third base, with Herman having not watched the play unravel in front of him. Boston Braves third baseman Eddie Taylor tagged all three Robins runners just to be sure of getting as many outs as possible. The slow-footed Vance had been a major contributor to this disaster, but according to the rules, Vance (as the lead runner, not forced to advance) was entitled to the base, so umpire Beans Reardon called Herman and Fewster out. Thus, Babe Herman was said to have “doubled into a double play,” which led to the popular joke:

“The Dodgers have three men on base!”

“Oh, yah? Which base?”

In spite of their sometimes questionable play, the 1924 Robins were actually a very good team due primarily to the exceptional pitching of Vance (28-6 with an ERA of 2.16 and 262 strikeouts which led to him winning the 1924 NL MVP Award) and Burleigh Grimes (22-13), and the hitting of Zack Wheat (.375) and Jack Fournier (.334). Unfortunately, the Robins missed winning the 1924 NL pennant by only a game and a half behind their hated rivals the New York Giants, who won their fourth consecutive NL pennant. They did, however, set the all-time franchise record for consecutive road wins at 12 and a 92-62 record, good for second place in the National League.

While every current Dodger player and fan wants to witness the 2013 Dodgers make history by establishing a new all-time consecutive road win record later today, many longtime Dodger history buffs would be perfectly content with a tie linking the modern day Dodgers with that historic Dodger team of 89 years ago.