The Duke of Flatbush

by Duke Snider

They were the glory days of baseball, unequaled in the annals of sports history. It was a time when giants rounded the base paths - legendary names like Mantle, Mays, DiMaggio, and Musial. While at New York's Ebbets Field, the Dodgers - baseball's beloved "Bums" - were capturing the hearts of an adoring nation. And royalty reigned in the Brooklyn centerfield - a home run king who made opposing pitchers tremble with fear each time he approached the plate with a bat in his hand . . .Edwin Donald Snider, The Duke of Flatbush!

Genres: Baseball, Sports, Biography, Autobiography, Nonfiction

Hardcover

First published July 1, 1988

Reviews

[John Yingling · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love reading stories about the sports figures from my youth who I followed and admired. Duke Snider doesn't disappoint in this story of his life in and out of baseball. He was part of one of the most memorable teams in baseball history, the Brooklyn Dodgers, and he has many delightful stories to tell of his teammates and the years when the Dodgers were a perennial contender for the National League pennant. I think baseball especially lends itself well to stories, of games and of the players. He has a great way of making you feel as though you are sitting with him, listening to his fascinating tales. And he's honest enough to admit the times he let his temper get the better of him, or to tell of his struggles as a ballplayer. I also enjoyed his discussions of his family, and how his wife was an equal partner in their very long relationship. All in all, a quite worthwhile look at a great baseball player and person. It's just a shame that he had to wait a few years before he was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame. His career clearly speaks for itself.

[Steven · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a Brooklyn Dodger fan, who loved the "Bums" of the 1950s, this autobiography brought back great memories of the Duke, as well as Jackie, Campy, Pee Wee, and (later) Koufax and Drysdale. Snider and Gilbert have not only recounted the terrific pennant races, playoffs, and World Series of the past here, but have provided an insider's viewpoint. And I appreciated the numerous humorous stories that spiced up the book!

A very good read!

[Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

It is difficult to properly convey or articulate the particular reasons Duke's autobiography merits a 4 star rating vs. 3. I have read dozens of baseball biographies and the majority of them fall loosely into a 3 star rating as enjoyable, easy reading with interesting anecdotes, stories and ideally a bit of enlightening self-characterization. The Duke of Flatbush also hits all those marks. But there is something a little extra there, it seems, throughout the book. The honesty is a tad more revealing (yes, Duke did place importance on his stats and HOF status, despite clearly being about team first), the stories and humor are slightly more poignant and interspersed nicely. The feeling that you get to know the author a bit more closely is above your typical 3 star baseball biography. This is also a fairly quick read and should be considered for the enjoyment of any Dodger or baseball fan. One final note: there is a bit of charm in Duke's obstinate and repeated insistence that the 1950s Dodgers were the equal of their Yankee counterparts. That ironically shows his clear pride in his team, teammates, and borough. Yes, the competitive difference between the teams often came down to one or two World Series runs or at bats, but the typical Yankee fan would scoff at the Duke's stance on the matter due to their dominance in winning those Series except for 1955. Yes, the Dodgers probably were just as good year to year, but fate and luck and history had it play out differently. And I'm a Red Sox fan!

[Bryan · Rating 3 out of 5]

A fine piece of baseball nostalgia. Duke Snider didn't shine quite as bright as his contemporaries, and his book isn't as compelling as others written about baseball in the 40s and 50s. But those are some pretty lofty standards.

[Phil Hardin · Rating 4 out of 5]

I greatly enjoyed the book the Duke of Flatbush. It is a rather easy read And traces the career of Duke Snider very well.

[Karl Lehtinen · Rating 4 out of 5]

With an intro by Carl Erskine!

My unapologetic love of the Brooklyn Dodgers begins with this book.

In the great debates of who was the greatest centerfielder of the era: Willie/Mickey/or the Duke someone has to hold up the short end of the tripod. But the fact remains there was something magical about these lovable losers of the 50s Dodgers. The fact that they were ripped from Brooklyn and moved to LA in 58 somehow resonates with me - a person who has never visited Brooklyn.

OK, I'm rambling here. But trust me: you'll love the Dodgers after reading this book and you are 12. Also try: "The Boys of Summer" by Roger Kahn.

[Joshua bankhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

the guy's a dodger i was just curious to know some about a player who played with the great jackie robinson