• This 1953 Bowman Color 117 Duke Snider baseball card has got to one of the best Dodgers cards of All-Time! Bowman used Kodachrome photography and the Bowman cards that year are classic, showing you what players actually looked like. They are just beautiful cards, just like photographs, but better because most photos back then were black & white. The "Duke of Flatbush" was one of the main power hitters for the Dodgers in the 1950's, and he was also a sensational center fielder. With Snider in Brooklyn, Mantle in the Bronx, and Mays at the Polo Grounds, a popular song came out called "Willie, Mickey & the Duke." All 3 played for some great teams in the decade.  Duke's #4 jersey number has been retired by the Dodgers.

1964 Topps 136 1963 World Series Game 1 KOUFAX STRIKES OUT 15

I don't remember it, but for me it started with the Dodgers beating the Yankees in the 1963 World Series. I say I don't remember it because I was just several months old at the time! But it's fitting I was born the year the Dodgers won the World Series. I got to go to a World Series in 1981 vs. the Yankees, when the Dodgers beat 'em again (though I also did see the Dodgers lose to the A's in 1974, & the Yanks in 1977-78). I met my wife the year Kirk Gibson led the Dodgers to the 1988 World Series Championship.And decades later I got to see the Dodgers win another one, though it was not quite the same. 

• This card showing the great Sandy Koufax and his perfect delivery is just a terrific card. He won 2 games in the '63 Series, and in Game 1, as the card says "KOUFAX STRIKES OUT 15." Koufax beat former teammate Carl Erskine's World Series record of 13. If you look at the Yankees lineup, with players like Berra, Elston Howard, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, etc. you would think the Yanks were favored. But when you have a pitching staff where your number one & two starters are Sandy Koufax & Don Drysdale, then as they say, "good pitching beats good hitting." And that is exactly what happened in the 1963 World Series. 

Dodgers Infield 1973-81 Bill Russell, Steve Garvey, Ron Cey & Davey Lopes

That is no typo. The Dodgers had an infield that was together for nearly a decade! Actually,  these four were teammates for 10 years (1972-1982), and they also played together in the Dodgers farm system! I remember this Dodger team well!  Steve Garvey at 1B, Dave Lopes 2B, Bill Russell SS, & Ron Cey at 3B. It was so easy to fill in your lineup card because these 4 were always there. Garvey was a Gold Glove first baseman, the 1974 NL MVP, & annual All-Star. Dave Lopes was the Dodgers main base-stealing threat, while Bill Russell was an anchor at shortstop. Ron Cey also provided steady defense and was also a very good power hitter. With these 4 together, the Dodgers won 4 NL Pennants (1974, 1977-78, 1981) & 1 World Series Championship (1981). Garvey played most of his career as a Dodger, but signed as a Free Agent with the San Diego Padres, & helped them get to the 1984 World Series. Cey was traded to the Cubs, Lopes to the A's to make room for Rookie of the Year Steve Sax. Russell played his entire 17 year career as a Dodger, and later became as Coach and Manager (briefly). 

• All four cards pictured are their ROOKIE cards. Note Russell & Cey's original position was supposed to be the outfield, Garvey was slated for third base. Someone, either Manager Walt Alston or Coach Tom Lasorda (or perhaps both) made the decision to move them to different positions, and it worked  out beautifully for nearly 10 years!

#22 Clayton Kershaw Los Angeles Dodgers Pitcher 2008-?

#53 DON DRYSDALE "Big D" Dodgers RHP 1956-1968

Speaking of Don Drysdale, here he is! The 1957 Topps card is his rookie card with the Brooklyn Dodgers, while the 1969 Topps card is his final Topps card as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers. Drysdale later became a partner with Vin Scully in the broadcast booth. Sadly he passed away prior to a game vs. the Expos in Montreal. Vin Scully had to break the news to the fans on the air, and he was clearly shook up as well. Scully had broadcast every one of Big D's games as Brooklyn & Los Angeles Dodger!

Don Drysdale 1936 - 1993

#39 ROY CAMPANELLA "Campy" Brooklyn Dodgers  Catcher 1948-1957

Roy Campanella was a 3-time Most Valuable Player for the Brooklyn Dodgers (all in the 1950's). It was no coincidence that the Dodgers won 5 N.L. Pennants with "Campy" behind the plate. Campanella was also part of the first Dodgers World Series Championship club in 1955. Over a 162 game schedule, Roy Campanella would have averaged .283 29 HR & 115 RBI. He almost was an L.A. Dodger, but prior to the 1958 baseball season (played at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum), Campanella was permanently paralyzed in a car accident. He remained cheerful through the rest of his life, wrote a best selling autobiography ("It's Good To Be Alive"), and was a special Dodgers catching coach. His #39 is also retired by the Dodgers.

#3 Willie Davis "3-Dog"  Los Angeles Dodgers Centerfielder 1960-1973

Willie Davis was the constant Dodgers fixture in centerfield from 1961-1973. The Dodgers actually sold aging (& future Hall of Famer) Duke Snider to the lowly N.Y. Mets, because they knew they had their future centerfielder. Willie won 3 Gold Glove Awards, and likely would have won more if not for the great Willie Mays. A real speedster, Willie was not only a terrific outfielder, but a base stealer as well. He stole 335 bases for the Dodgers, including a career high 42 in 1964. He also led the NL twice in triples, including 16 in 1970! As a Dodger he also scored over 1000 Runs (1004), and had over 2000 Hits (2091) Hits. Included in those hits were 321 2B, 110 3B, 154 HR, & 849 RBI. Willie was a 2 time World Series Champion (1963, 1965) on a mostly light hitting club, relying on defense & the pitching corps ( led by Drysdale & Koufax). I can't think of another Dodger outfielder since who played as many games as Willie Davis. Even the great Duke Snider did not play as many games in centerfield as Willie Davis. Willie is 4th ALL-TIME on career games in Centerfield with 2239, trailing only Willie Mays, Tris Speaker, & former Dodger (2004) Steve Finley. Sadly Willie Davis passed away in 2010. He was 69 years old. His number 3 should be retired by the Dodgers, but they usually only do that for players who are in the Baseball Hall of Fame. Of course they have made a couple of exceptions, notably Jim Gilliam (19) & recently Fernando Valenzuela (34), but they shouldn't forget "3-Dog."

• This  1963 Post Cereal 119 Willie Davis is one of his more difficult cards to acquire. It must have been on some unpopular brand of Post Cereal, or they simply did not print many of his cards, because this is one of the most expensive cards from the '63 Post Cereal set. TOPPS included a Willie Davis rookie card in their 1961 baseball set. Bell Brand Potato Chips ("If it's Bell,  it's Swell") also issued a Willie Davis card in 1961, which could also be considered a rookie card. Davis' last card as a Dodger is in the 1974 Topps set. He was also included in the 1974 Topps TRADED set as a member of his "new" club, the Montreal Expos.

VIN SCULLY Broadcaster for both Brooklyn & Los Angeles Dodgers 1949-2016

"We Miss You Vin!"

1957 Topps 400 Dodgers' Sluggers - Furillo Hodges Campanella Snider

This is the final TOPPS card featuring a Brooklyn Dodger, actually 4 of them! 1957 was the final year the Dodgers played in Brooklyn. They left heartbroken fans in Brooklyn, but gained a new &  larger audience in L.A. Money-wise, it was the smart move. And while in Los Angeles, the Dodgers have won more World Series Championships (6) then they did in Brooklyn (1). But still, I feel for the Brooklyn fans, who put up with the so-called "Bums" and all their near misses, and finally they win in 1955 and are the Champions of Baseball. 2 years later they move to the west coast. Many Dodgers fans felt betrayed, & rightfully so. Some hated the Dodgers & became Yankees fans. When the Mets were granted a franchise in 1961, a lot of ex-Dodgers fans joined that new fan base. The Mets capitalized on this by choosing Dodger blue & Giants orange for their team colors. Ebbetts Field was razed, Dodger Stadium was built. So while I am thankful for the Dodgers being here, I also feel for the old Brooklyn Dodgers faithful. There are not too many left who actually saw the Dodgers play in Brooklyn. Most have since passed on, like all their heroes like Carl Furillo ("Skoonj"), Gil Hodges, Roy "Campy" Campanella, & "The Duke of Flatbush," Duke Snider. This is a great card & nostalgic reminder of the Dodgers proud history in Brooklyn, New York.

• Many of the Dodgers cards in the 1957 Topps set were taken at Ebbetts Field in Brooklyn. The above 1957 Topps 400 Dodgers' Sluggers is an example, showing the advertising of the right field fence. Some of the other cards show the "Schaeffer Beer" sign as well. For 1958, Topps used solid color backgrounds, but in 1959 many of the Dodgers cards have the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in the background. The Dodgers played there from 1958-1961.

Bell Brand Potato Chips L.A. Dodgers - "If it's Swell... it's Bell!"

• In 1958, 1960-62 Bell Brand Potato Chips issued cards of Dodgers players. The 1958 cards are sepia toned with faux wood borders. The 1960-1962 Bell Brand cards feature beautiful full color cards. Many of these cards you find with grease stains from the chips.