March 20th, 2020 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 With Major League Baseball on hiatus for the foreseeable future, let’s take a stroll down memory lane. Using the following hints, do you know the year when:
- Dodgers played a total of 16-rookies* during the season
- Of the players who qualified for the National League batting title, right fielder Carl Furillo had the highest team batting average (.290)
- Starting pitcher with the lowest team ERA was Johnny Podres (3.72)
- Carl Erskine and Fred Kipp tied for the lead in saves (9)
- Opening day starting pitcher was Don Drysdale, with Gino Cimoli in centerfield
- Carl Erskine was the winning pitcher for the home opener, with Clem Labine credited with the save
- First baseman Gil Hodges and second baseman Charlie Neal led the team with 22-home-runs apiece
- During the season the team traded pitcher Don Newcombe to the Cincinnati Red Legs for pitcher Johnny Klippstein, first baseman Steve Bilko, and minor league pitchers Art Fowler, and Charlie Rabe
- First season since 1947 that Roy Campanella was not on the roster
- Team finished seventh (next to last) in the National League, playing its home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Consider yourself a “Super Dodgers Fanatic” if you knew the year after the first couple of hints!
* Dodgers rookies were: catcher Joe Pignatano; infielders Dick Gray, Jim Gentile, Norm Larker, Bob Lillis, and Earl Robinson; outfielders Don Demeter, Ron Fairly, Frank Howard, and Don Miles; and pitchers Fred Kipp, Stan Williams, Babe Birrer, Bob Giallombardo, Ralph Mauriello, and Larry Sherry.
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That would be nineteen hundred and fifty-eight because, in nineteen hundred and fifty-nine, the Dodgers did not finish second to last in the National League. In fact, they went to – and won – their first-ever World Series over the highly favored Go-Go White Sox in six games.
Color me a “Super Dodgers Fanatic.”
Well, there goes my next “What was the year.” 🙂
My mom was a huge Dodger fan. My parents shared season seats the first year at Dodger Stadium. One day in 88 I was watching Greatest Sports Legends and the show about Don came on. I watched in amazement as they panned to the crowd and showed mom. Not once but three times. I wrote to Don and he sent her a signed ball. K-mart buyer gave me a copy of the tape. I was able to give both to her for her birthday. We showed the tape at her funeral. What a class act our Don. We also met his daughter at Dodger Stadium when she sang the National Anthem on UCLA alumni day.
Wonderful story. Thanks for sharing. I am an old time Dodgers fan and Drysdale was one of my favorites. Vin Scully had so many great stories about Don that it was if I knew him. Please share other Dodgers experiences.
GREAT story, Steve!
All of the stuff in the article is 100% Jesse, I just add the graphics. Usually, when Drysdale’s name is mentioned in one of my writer’s pieces, I include a photo of him whenever possible. That one is hands down, my favorite photo of him. It just reeks of his intensity and ferocity.
Thanks for dropping in on us (wink wink). Please don’t be a stranger. You are DEFINITELY among friends here.
Easy question. My dad took us using Jack Warner’s box seat tickets ( actually no box seats at the Coliseum).
The article mentions Steve Bilko. I was a huge fan of Bilko. He was the Babe Ruth of the Pacific Coast league, hitting over 50 home runs. used to watch him at Gilmore field, next to Farmers Market. Great times.
When Dodgers opened Dodger Stadium, that when we would get box seats ( for the Mets game). Could put my soda on the visitors dugout roof. Up front and personal.
Terrific memories. My first professional game was at Wrigley Field LA – neighbor took a car load of kids with him to the game — it was great! Remember the old TV series, “Homerun Derby” that took place at Wrigley.
Went to Wrigley Field LA several times as a youngster. Fond memories indeed.