Vintage Dodger Tunes: "Brooklyn Dodgers Jump"

I thought it would be fun to take a little detour. Instead of cards I thought I would spend some time to explore some vintage Dodgers-themed music.

I'm sure all of you have heard the classic tune "Follow the Dodgers", but have you ever heard of the "Brooklyn Dodgers Jump?" It is a little song that was sung by Ralph Branca, Carl Furrilo, Erv Palica and the Ebbets Field Chorus in 1949. You can check out an advertising for the record on the right that was found in a July 2, 1949 copy of Billboard magazine (p. 38).

As I was doing some background research I came across a fascinating story in the Hollywood Reporter about the man who helped set this deal up for the three Dodger players; as well as, represent numerous other ballplayers throughout the game.

Blog Kiosk: 1/5/2016 - Dodger Links - Kershaw, Haren and Scott Kazmir

This is the kind of incentive players got in the 50's.

Featured above is a September 30, 1950 press photo from the Associated Press showing Dodger manager Burt Shotton hand-feeding hurler Erv Palica after a complete game victory against the Phillies.  It was the second to last game of the season, and Brooklyn was two games behind Philadelphia for the National League pennant.  Palica's effort lowered the deficit to just one game, and the last deciding game would be the next day against the Phillies in Brooklyn.  Unfortunately, Don Newcombe couldn't hold off the inevitable.  Newk would lose the game after being bested by Robin Roberts.  Both pitchers went ten innings.  Photo via eBay.

Below are more links to check out:

• Listen to Clayton Kershaw on Game Night with Matt Perrault to talk about his foundation and the Dodgers (link here).  Matthew Moreno at Dodger Blue recaps the interview here.

Kershaw: I think expectations are great. I just think you need to know when to celebrate and when to enjoy a moment. For me, that’s the most important thing.

• Dan Haren is a crack up.  Via Chris Cwik at Big League Stew, "Dan Haren reflects on his career during hilarious Twitter rant."  Cwik points to several tweets, but I think the one below is most pertinent to Dodgers fans:

My threat to retire didn't quite work last offseason

— dan haren (@ithrow88) January 4, 2016

• Via August Fagerstrom at FanGraphs, "Scott Kazmir, the Dodgers, and Health."
• Via an AP story at ESPN, "Scott Kazmir's $48M deal with Dodgers includes payments through 2021."

Los Angeles will defer $8 million of each year's salary without interest, money payable in equal installments each Dec. 15 from 2019-21. Because of the deferred money, Major League Baseball calculates the deal's present-day value at $44,954,652.

• Former Dodger GM is moving on to the gridiron.  Via Jeff Todd at MLB Trade Rumors, "Paul DePodesta Leaves Mets For NFL."

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