Dodgers yearbook, illustrated by Willard Mullin, 1955

From the collection of Jerry Stern

The Dodgers, nicknamed “Dem Bums,” projected an image of rough-and-ready working-class gumption. Before the era of integration, they had been the perpetual underdogs, winning only three pennants in 40 years. The “Brooklyn bum” caricature captured the second-class image of the team as a bunch of ordinary guys with a lot of heart and perseverance, not as upper-crust as Manhattanites but definitely the salt of the earth.

add your story

June 1, 2010 01:43 pm

Flag as inappropriate

" Back in inning one is a photo of a record (78 rpm)that Jackie & Peewee made. I still have the jacket but sadly no longer the record. But I do remember the story told and "lesson" imparted on that record. Jackie & Peewee were passing by a playground where Slugger was refusing to bunt to help the team. My Dodger heros finally convince Slugger to bunt instead of selfishly swinging away thereby helping the team win...Reese & Robinson, have there ever been finer men in Baseball? Or anywhere else? Henry Epstein (age 70) "

- Henry Epstein