Vintage Dodgers Newsletter - Dodgers Line Drives - July 1958

Here is another edition of a vintage Dodgers fan newsletter.  This one dates to July 1958, and it features several notes on not only the status of several high-end prospects, but also snippets on who they recently signed.  A big thanks to Dodgers collector Doug for passing this newsletter along.  BTW, this newsletter has been signed by Duke Snider on the top of the first page (see above-left).  Below is a listing of interesting mentions in this newsletter:

• Frank Howard had signed a free agent contract with the Dodgers just four months prior, after having been a standout on the diamond at Ohio State University, and was already pushing to be included into the Dodgers plans in Los Angeles.

(Pete) Reiser recently told a Sporting News" reporter that Howard may be only a year or two away from the National League:

"I'll tell you why, "Reiser explained.  "He's the type of player who practices under pressure.  By that I mean he practices with a purpose.  Nothing about baseball is aimless to him.  He's a real pleasure to coach."

• The Dodgers made sure to honor Laguna Beach resident Jack Norworth.  "Who's he?"  Jack Norworth is the gentleman who wrote the song "Take Me Out to the Ball Game", and this year marked its Golden Anniversary.  During the July 11th game the Dodgers and Major League Baseball presented him with a gold lifetime pass to any game in the country.
• Notably, the Dodgers mention the signing of Ron Fairly, a standout with the National Champs at USC.
• The final page of the newsletter features several fantastic action photographs.

Click any pic to embiggen.

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Vintage Dodgers Newsletter - Dodgers Line Drives - May 1951, Vol. 10, #12

I like the title of this newsletter.  It states in bold letters, "Experts Predict Pennant for Dodgers", and it highlights the opinions of several members of the traveling press corps.  As we know know, unfortunately, the Dodgers fell short of that goal.  Their season ended when Bobby Thompson walloped an walk-off homer off of Ralph Branca during a final three-game series to decide the pennant. 

As for the rest of the newsletter (click on any pic to embiggen), it features the following:

• Four Dodger youngsters are noted as potentially being high-impact players for the club.  They are starting pitcher Clyde King, third baseman Rocky Bridges, outfielder Hank Edwards and outfielder Don Thompson.
• They also announce a brand new post game show for Dodgers broadcast hosted by Happy Felton.  At the time, Felton was already hosting a pregame show called the "Knothole Gang" that featured kids working out and practicing with Dodger players.  This new show would be broadcast after each home game and be titled, "Talk to the Stars".  Fans would call in to ask direct questions to two Dodger players.

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Vintage Newsletter - Dodgers Line Drives - 6/15/1948, Vol. 10, No. 2

Here is another issue of an Dodgers newsletter from yesteryear.  This time it from the 1948 season, and is dated to June 15th.  Click on any pic to embiggen.  Below is a brief listing of interesting stories within:

• Of note, it mentions the first no-hitter thrown by a Dodger (either in the Majors or Minors) that year.  It was thrown by Jim Lamay of the Idaho Falls Russets in the Pioneer League against the Pocatello Cardinals, 6-0.  Lamay pitched four seasons of minor leagues, but never advanced above the Class C level.  
• The newsletter also makes note of fast rising minor league prospect Duke Snider.  He had gotten a cup-of-coffee the prior season, and began the year with Brooklyn before being sent back to Montreal for some additional seasoning.  He had slashed just .158/.256/.395/.651 in 43 plate appearances for the Dodgers.  The newsletter mentions that Duke debuted with Montreal during a doubleheader and proceeded to hit home runs in each game.
• There is an introduction of a Dodgers Broadcaster named Bob Edge.  He had began doing play-by-play for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947 for CBS.  I am uncertain how long he remained with the club.  
• Another story tells fans of an brand new Dodgers initiative to scout the country for new Baseball talent, via a contest through men's magazine Argosy.  I should note that future Dodgers hurler Billy Loes was chosen in September 1948 as the "Recuit-of-the-year" in this contest.  The 18-year old was immediately signed to a contract, and would eventually play on Ebbets Field two years later.
• On the last page there is a fantastic facsimile autograph sheet featuring the Dodgers.

A big thanks to Dodgers collector Doug for passing this newsletter along.

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Vintage Dodgers Newsletter - Line Drives from the Dodgers - 1947, Vol. 9, #2

Here is an other look at an issue of "Line Drive from the Dodgers".  This time we take a peek at the June 1947 newsletter that takes the time to introduce several new faces to the fans.  As you may know, this is the season that features the debut of Jackie Robinson in the Major Leagues.  Per the headline story as seen at the very top:

Even when basepaths were soggy during the Spring and it was more hazardous than usual to try to take that extra base, Pete Reise, Jackie Robinson and other fleet-footed runners in the Dodgers cast gave enemy catchers and outfielders the jitters.  The Dodgers were always ready to run, to test the other fellow's arm.

Here is the Shotton figures it: "We got caught a few times on the bases," he said, "But we put the fear into the other fellow.  Now he knows we're a running team, and he'll have to hurry every throw.  It'll start to pay off for us now if we keep on running, for they'll make bad throws and we'll outrun that ball more often than not."

Vintage Newsletter - "Line Drives from the Dodgers" - December 1943

Here is another edition of the Brooklyn Dodgers official fan newsletter.  This time we look at the December 1943 issue.  As you will notice, the club changed its name from "Dodger Doings" to "Line Drives from the Dodgers."  Go here to check out past issues of this newsletter I have shared.  Click on any pic to embiggen.  Furthermore, I'd like to extend thanks to fellow Dodger collector Doug for passing this newsletter along.

This edition was sent out to fans during the winter before the start of the 1944 Baseball season.  It briefly introduces a new face to the club, Gil English, and strangely mentions veteran infielder Arky Vaughan as a "new" veteran.  I say strange because he was not a new Dodger.  In fact, he had put up solid numbers in 1942 and 1943 for Brooklyn.  So, what did they mean?

As I understand it, Vaughan and Dodgers skipper Leo Durocher had butted heads during the prior year, and it appears that Leo was hoping the upcoming 1944 campaign would mend any wounds.  As Dodger fans came to find out, though, that was far from the case.  Arky Vaughan, a future Hall of Famer, decided that he would rather retire than play for Durocher.  At the age of 32 Arky would sit out the next three seasons.  Per Ralph Moses at the SABR Bio Project:

Dodger Doings - Vintage 1943 Newsletter - Issue #3

Following up on several vintage Dodger newsletters I've shared over the past several weeks, here is a 1943 issue to take a look at.  Go here to check out all my past "Dodger Doings" post.  Click on any pic to embiggen.  Furthermore, I'd like to extend thanks to fellow Dodger collector Doug for passing this along.

Dated June 20, 1943, this newsletter reminds us of the important link between Baseball and World War II.  As you know, several notable ballplayers signed up to fight.  One of which is highlighted on the front page of the featured newsletter.  Check out what was written about former Dodger center fielder Harold "Pete" Reiser. 

Despite the fine play of Augie Galan in centerfield for the Dodgers this season, Brooklyn fans will always remember the kid who came from "nowhere" to win acclaim and fame as the youngest player ever to wear the National League batting championship crown.

When they think of "Pete" Reiser they will think of home runs smashed to win crucial games... they will think of a sturdy young man racing, jumping, diving to make brilliant defensive plays as he roamed his position in centerfield.  And they will think of that waning afternoon in St. Louis in 1942 when that fighting Reiser spirit... that will to win... led him to crash into a concrete wall in a valiant attempt to thwart the "enemy."

Truly, if Pete Reiser is representative of the young American men in uniform, victory must certainly be ours.

Dodger Doings - Vintage 1941 Newsletter - Issue #2

Take a brief step back with me to the Dodgers 1941 season.  All year long they battled against St. Louis for National League supremacy.  The Cardinals, having not played in a Fall Classic since they won the World Series in 1934, had quickly rebuilt their club into an resurgent second coming of the "Gashouse Gang." 

The Dodgers, on the other hand, were not the picture of excellence.  Being lead by the feisty Leo Durocher, who happened to be a member of the 1934 World Champion Cardinals, the franchise hadn't seen postseason play since 1920.    BTW, Durocher had been named the manager of the club just a couple years back, and was aiming to prove that he can lead a moribund franchise like Brooklyn.

As featured in the "Dodger Doings" fan newsletter shown here, everyone realized early on that Brooklyn and St. Louis would lock heads all season long. Per the May 24th, Issue #2, newsletter:

Brooklyn Dodger Doings - Vintage 1938 Newsletter - Issue #2

A couple of days ago I shared pics of an Brooklyn Dodgers 1938 newsletter, issue #7, that is on auction (link here) called "Brooklyn Dodger Doings."  As you may know, the Dodgers started sending newsletters to fans in 1938, and the practice continued for many decades.  These newsletters are typically four pages and consist of the kind of news you can easily find online today.  Fortunately, I have recently been communicating with another Dodgers collector named Doug who has been kind enough to pass along scans of several other Dodger Doings issues to share with you.   

Featured here is the first of many issues that I will be posting up.  It is issue #2 from 1938 - the second newsletter ever released by the franchise.  Click on any pic to embiggen. 

Vintage 1938 Newsletter "Brooklyn Dodger Doings" at Brockelman and Luckey Auctions

Here is something you don't see everyday.

Featured is a vintage 1938 Brooklyn Dodgers newsletter called, "Brooklyn Dodger Doings." Starting that season the Dodgers began sending fervent fans throughout the country a newsletter explaining the goings-on with the franchise.  The four-page periodical included biographies, news and rare photographs of the Dodgers.  Shown here is the July 30-31, 1938 issue, #7, and it is currently on auction at Brockelman and Luckey (auction link here).  Click on any pic to embiggen.