Duke Snider, b.1926 - d.2011



Duke Snider
(Escondido, California) Hall of Fame baseball player Edwin Donald "Duke" Snider died Sunday at Valle Vista Convalescent Hospital reportedly of natural causes. He was 84.

Mr. Snider, nicknamed at a young age by his father, slammed 407 home runs in his 18-year major-league career and joined Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese among the most beloved members of "Da Bums," the Dodgers teams that, even more than a half-century later, still have a sentimental hold on many baseball fans in the borough.

During his 11 seasons in Brooklyn, Mr. Snider appeared in eight All-Star games and helped the Dodgers win six National League pennants and the 1955 World Series. (He won another World Series in 1959 after the Dodgers had moved to Los Angeles.)

Inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980, he hit at least 40 home runs every year from 1953 to 1957, including the last one at the team's ballpark, Ebbets Field.

The Duke is survived by his wife Beverly.