1986 Sportflics Decade Greats: Duke Snider

 

The player: Duke Snider was one of the key players of the great Brooklyn Dodgers teams of the 1950s. An excellent all-around athlete with a great arm, and was one of the best power hitters in the National League. He hit 407 home runs, including five straight seasons of 40 home runs (1953-1957), an era when such power numbers were far less common than they are now. When the Dodgers moved to the Los Angeles Coliseum in 1958, Snider's power numbers went way down, and was largely done as an elite player. He finished his career with brief stints with the Mets and Giants. Overall in 2,143 games he hit .295 with 407 home runs, 1,333 RBI and 99 SB.

The man: Snider turned 18 in 1945 and served in the Navy in 1945 and 1946. Much like fellow centerfielder Mickey Mantle, Snider was often underappreciated by New York fans and the press during his playing career, being held to unrealistic expectations. He didn't help his cause by frequently complaining about fans and fellow players. Though he is now thought of as a legend, he didn't make the Hall of Fame until his tenth year of eligibility. After his playing career ended he was an announcer for the Padres and Expos. He retired in 1986 and died in 2011.

My collection: My one playing-days card of Snider is his last as an active player, from 1964 Topps.