The Boys of Summer

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The Boys of Summer Page 47

by Roger Kahn


  Herman, Billy, 39,169, 172, 349

  Hertz, Willard, 66,67, 68

  Herzberg, Joseph G., 59-60, 64, 68

  hitting: as high-risk occupation, 345; and Shuba shows Kahn how to swing a bat, 239-41. See also specific person

  Hoak, Don, 176, 351-52

  Hodges, Gil, 342-54; and 1943 season, 349; and 1947 season, 349; and 1948 season, 307, 349; and 1949 season, 349; and 1951 season, 349; and 1952 season, 117, 140,143,157, 345; and 1953 season, 345-46; background of, 347, 348; and bean balls, 280; benching of, 345-46; and Black, 273; and curve balls, 344-45; death of, 444; Dodgers sign, 348-49; and Dressen, 345-46, 347; education of, 348; and Erskine, 348; family of, 347, 350; as first baseman, 316; and Furillo, 343; heart attack of, 342-44, 352, 354; as hitter, 344-45, 346, 349; and Hoak, 351-52; and Kahn’s first Dodger assignment, 49; locker of, 140; as manager, 315-16, 342-43, 347, 349-54, 444; with Mets, 342-43, 347, 349-54, 444; in military, 344, 349; and move to Los Angeles, 424; Pafko’s views about, 267; physical power of, 344, 352; and race issues, 347-48; and Reese, 313, 315-16, 317, 344, 348, 444; and religion, 352; and Robinson, 444; and Roe, 307; with Senators, 352; and signs, 317; slump of, 345-47, 349; and World Series games, 345, 346, 453

  Homestead Grays, 369

  Indians, Cleveland, 9, 200-201

  “Information Please” (radio program), 13-14, 32-33, 41-42, 114,115, 161

  International League, 323

  Interstate League, 144

  Irvin, Monte, 182, 279, 369, 409

  Joyce, James: Kahn family readings of, 116-17, 136-38, 186; Laneyas secretary to, 78-80

  Kahn, Emily (sister), 14, 15, 25, 26-27, 29, 30, 42-43, 46,191-92

  Kahn, Gordon (father): and 1952 World Series, 161-62,163-64, 254; and 1953 World Series, 182-83; on Barber, 33; and baseball in Roger’s youth, 15-19, 22-23,25, 26,31-35, 42-43, 114; as baseball player, 10, 13, 26; Bleeck meeting between Roger and, 114-17; death of, 191-96; on Dodgers, 18, 39, 43, 46, 114, 116, 136-39,165, 438; and Dressen, 136-37, 138-39, 191; and Emily’s polio, 42; family background of, 13; as Froebel coach, 423; funeral of, 456; and Herzberg, 59, 60; and “Information Please,” 13-14, 32-33, 41-42, 114, 115, 161; and Kahn family readings of Joyce, 116-17, 136-38; Mexican vacation of, 24-25; and O’Malley, 423; and Roger as AP stringer, 75; and Roger as Dodger reporter, 136-39,186-87; and Roger as sports reporter for Herald, 83,114; Roger referred to Herald Tribune by, 48; and Roger’s childhood and youth, 10-47; Roger’s relationship with, 15-19, 22-23, 31-35, 46-47, 48, 114-17, 435, 456; and Roger’s writing of The Boys of Summer, 441, 442; on Ruth, 16, 17-18; and Shuba, 239, 240; third base views of, 413; turns down job at Herald Tribune, 82-83

  Kahn, Joan (first wife), 83, 116, 451-52

  Kahn, Olga Rockow (mother): and baseball, 115; and Emily’s polio, 42; and Gordon’s death, 192-93; and Gordon’s refusal of job with Herald Tribune, 83; Mexican vacation of, 24-25; professional background of, 11, 13; and readings of Joyce, 116-17,136, 137, 186; and Rockow’s death, 29-30; and Roger as writer, 48, 83; and Roger’s childhood and youth, 11-47; and Roger’s reading material, 150; and Roger’s revisit to Ebbets Field, 437

  Kahn, Roger: childhood and youth of, 10-47,139; children of, 407-8, 440; college education of, 47-48, 435-36; death of son of, 454-55; desire to be a writer of, 48; Dodgers signing glove of, 414, 420; dreams of playing with Dodgers of, 16, 27, 28; education of, 451; family of, 116, 440, 454-55; mentors of, 57-59, 68,86, 87

  Kahn, Roger Laurence (son), 116, 454-55

  Kallgren, Everett, 60-61, 63, 71

  Kennedy, John F, 428

  Kennedy, Joseph, 427-28

  Kiner, Ralph, 97-98,129, 237

  Koufax, Sandy, 95, 202, 203, 247, 425

  Labine, Clem, 209-23; and 1951 sea-son, 90, 213-14; and 1952 season, 104,117,134,142, 264, 265; and 1953 season, 180,184, 185,213; background of, 215-16, 221; on choking, 92; family of, 216-17, 220, 221-23, 225, 434,446; and father and son theme, 434; injuries of, 213; jokes/song about, 214, 215; and Kahn’s early Dodger reporting, 52, 53-54, 55-56; on losing, 213-14; with Mets, 211, 215; in military, 214; and Pafko, 264; with Pirates, 211; as pitcher, 55-56,95,113,117, 118,180,211,213,214-15,264; post-baseball life of, 209-23, 446; and race issues, 134, 220; and Reese, 320; and religion, 223; resig-nation from baseball of, 209, 211; and Robinson, 407; and southern tour, 104; statistics about, 126-27; with Tigers, 211,213; and traveling, 104,134, 222-23,225; in Woonsocket, Rhode Island, 209-23; and World Series games, 184,185, 211, 213; and Young (Dick), 211, 214-15

  Labine, Clement Walter Jr. “Jay,” 216-17, 220, 221-23, 225, 434, 446

  Laney, Al, 78-80, 138

  Lang, Jack, 128,129, 319

  Lardner, John, 59, 71,172, 379,433, 434

  Lippman, Jack, 39,40,194-95, 196

  Look magazine: and Robinson’s retirement, 388-89

  Los Angeles, California: Dodgers move to, 203,424-25, 429-30; O’Malley as minor league owner in, 429

  Louisville Colonels, 321-22

  MacPhail, Larry (Leland Stanford), 37,38, 43-44,93,144, 322, 427, 450

  Maglie, Sal, 7, 91,117,129,157,182, 316,344,354,388,395-96,397

  Malamud, Remard, 147-48, 150

  Mantle, Mickey, 163, 164,182, 184, 263, 272, 292, 314

  Marsh, Irving, 73, 74, 75-76, 77, 80-81,88,113-14,186

  Martin, Billy, 165,184, 213

  Mays, Willie, 19, 263, 329

  McGowen, Roscoe, 101, 128-29, 145,169,227, 312

  McGraw, John, 23, 24, 28

  Mets, 211, 215,339, 342-43, 347, 349-54, 379, 444

  minor leagues: Pafko’s views about, 267. See also specific player, team or league

  Mize, Johnny, 162,163, 184, 246, 247,254

  Mobile, Alabama: Shuba with farm team in, 234, 235; and southern tour of Dodgers, 106-8, 112,115

  Monroe, Marilyn, 201-2

  Morgan, Bobby, 142,172, 174, 175, 176, 236

  Morris, Everett B., 77, 78, 80

  Musial, Stan, 67, 111, 180, 212, 280, 393

  MVP awards, 357, 363, 364, 400

  National League, 94, 425

  Negro American League, 369

  Negro National League, 278-79, 284, 356, 367, 368-69

  New York Daily News, 100, 102. See also specific person

  New York Times, 57, 72, 84, 101-2, 103. See also specific person

  New York World-Telegram, 72,106, 291. See also specific person

  Newcombe, Don, 54, 90, 111, 203, 214,264, 279, 319-20, 369-70,409

  Newsweek: Kahn at, 203, 271, 329-30

  night games, 126, 141-42

  old-timers’ games, 291, 339-40

  O’Malley, Peter, 429-30, 434-35

  O’Malley, Walter Francis: and 1953 season, 169, 177, 180; background of, 423; and baseball as business versus sport, 7; and Bavasi, 431, 432; and Campanella, 359, 372; as chairman of the board, 435; on Cox, 445; as Dodger lawyer, 427; and Dodger move to Los Angeles, 203, 424-25; as Dodger president, 100; Dodgers’ Official Family of, 434; and Dressen, 118, 119, 187-88, 189, 190; early interest in baseball by, 427; Ebbets Field sold by, 429; expertise of, 422-23; and Furillo, 334, 335, 336; gains control of Dodgers, 427-28; on height of Brooklyn baseball, 427; and Kahn (Gordon), 423; and Kahn’s 1952 Dodger stories, 423; Kahn’s feature story about, 423; and Kahn’s first Dodger assignment, 5; Kahn’s interview with, 425-32; and Kahn’s (Joan) accident, 452; as Los Angeles minor league owner, 429; old-timers’ games at home of, 291; and Pafko, 268; and the press, 424, 425, 436-37; and race issues, 174, 177, 423-24; and Rickey, 426; and Robinson, 387, 389, 426; and Shuba, 236; style of, 424; wealth of, 430, 432; and Young, 101

  Padres, 381, 425, 435

  Pafko, Andy, 262-70; and 1942 season, 265; and 1948 season, 267-68; and 1950 season, 263; and 1952 season, 138,142, 162-63, 264-65; and 1953 season, 166, 428; background of, 263, 265-66; Barber’s comment about, 265; baseball memorabilia of, 446; biggest letdown of, 265; with Braves, 263, 268, 269, 428; as coach, 268; with Cubs, 263, 264, 267, 269; Dodgers sign, 262, 263, 264, 267; and Erskine, 268; and fan
s, 268; as hitter, 262, 263, 264, 267; idols of, 266; Kahn’s views of, 328; and Labine, 264; as manager, 268-69; in minor leagues, 266-67, 268-69; as outfielder, 264; post-baseball life of, 262-70,446; reflections about Dodgers of, 262, 263, 270; retirement from baseball of, 268; and Robinson, 267-68; and Shuba, 235; and Snider, 384; trading of, 166; and World Series games, 162-63, 264, 267

  Phillies: and 1952 season, 122-23; and Campanella, 368; Dodgers play the, 37-38, 89-90, 122-23, 138,142, 143, 159, 215, 259, 263-64, 280, 345, 363, 394-95; and Erskine, 257; and race issues, 368-69

  Pirates, 22, 44, 153, 211, 297-98, 303,384,419

  pitchers/pitching, 95-100, 111, 158, 259, 279, 319-20. See also specific person or team

  Pitler.Jake, 110,111, 118

  Podres, John, 202, 203, 291

  preconception maxim, 199, 200

  The Quiet Ambassador (film), 448-50, 454-55

  race issues: and 1952 season, 103-11, 115, 132-37; and 1953 season, 174-79; black-Jew, 281-84; and clubhouses, 140; and Dodger training, 303; and 50 percent color line, 172-73, 202; in Florida, 112, 176-77, 356, 403-4; and housing, 286-87; Kahn’s stories about, 132-37, 174-79; and language, 288-89; and Negroes as sportswriters, 135; in New Hampshire, 370-71; in New Orleans, 108-9; and numbers on uniforms of players, 393; and protest against blacks, 106-7; and Robinson as breaking color barrier, 43-45, 302; and southern tour, 103-11,115; in St. Louis, 132-37, 174, 315; and traveling with Dodgers, 103-11,115, 132-36; and World Series, 273; and Yankees, 164, 279. See also specific person

  Ramsdell, Willard, 121-22, 124, 125

  Red Sox, 257, 321-22, 448

  Redlegs, 122, 280,305, 314, 319, 325, 346, 448-49

  Reese, Mark, 326,448, 449, 450, 454-56

  Reese, Pee Wee (Harold Henry), 310-26, 448-56; and 1938 season, 450; and 1939 season, 322; and 1941 season, 322-23; and 1942 season, 323; and 1947 season, 448-49; and 1948 season, 305, 307; and 1952 season, 108,109,117, 128, 143, 144, 157,160, 320; and 1953 season, 169,180,185; and 1958 season, 312; and Alston’s comment about fighting for job, 387; background of, 321, 450; and Bavasi, 432; and Black, 273, 320; as broadcaster, 313-14, 316, 454, 456; and Campanella, 315-16; as captain, 324, 450; childhood aspirations of, 141; and choking, 92; in clubhouse, 141; as coach, 313; and Cox, 313, 413; death of, 449, 455-56; as Dodger manager, 313, 454; Dodger resignation of, 313; Dodgers sign, 322, 450; and Dressen, 144, 191; and Durocher, 311, 322-23; early baseball career of, 321-22; and Erskine, 320; family/personal life of, 169, 323, 454; and fans, 318-19; feelings about Dodgers of, 321; film about, 448-50, 454-55; and Furillo, 313, 317-18, 321, 328; “Good Guy” award for, 453; health of, 313; as hero, 99; as hitter, 180,312, 320, 322, 323; and Hodges, 313, 315-16, 317, 344, 348, 444;injuries of, 141, 322; and jokes about defeat, 91; and Kahn’s early Dodger reporting, 49, 52; and Kahn’s (Joan) accident, 451-52; Kahn’s relationship with, 451-52, 454-55; and Kahn’s revisit to Ebbets Field, 438; Kahn’s views of, 328; in Kentucky, 314-26; and Labine, 320; leadership style of, 312; locker of, 140; in Los Angeles, 312; in military, 310-11, 323; in minor leagues, 321-22; as musical, 451; and night games, 141-42; as number 1, 393; personality of, 169, 311-12, 450, 453; and physical power, 352; post-baseball career of, 454; and race issues, 121, 137, 310-15, 321,323-26,448-52; and reading papers after losing, 444; with Red Sox, 321-22; and Rickey, 324; and Robinson, 310-13, 315, 317, 323-26, 369, 393, 395, 396, 449, 450-51, 452, 456; and Roe, 291, 293, 307, 319-20; rules of, 452-53; as shortstop, 311; and Snider, 313, 318-19,384-85; and southern tour, 108, 109; and

  Reese, Pee Wee (Harold Henry) (cont.) sportswriters, 319, 453; and traveling with Dodgers, 128; and World Series games, 160, 185, 319-20, 453-54

  Rennie, Rud, 44, 45, 78, 183

  Reynolds, Allie, 160,185, 237-38, 273, 330, 344, 356

  Rickey, Wesley Branch, 93-100; background of, 93-94, 427; and Campanella, 369-70; and Dodger team spirit, 384; dogs of, 155-56; and Erskine, 256-57,260; executive skills of, 94; and fans, 302; and farm system, 94; on feelings about baseball, 100; financial interests of, 426, 427-28; and Hodges, 348-49; joins Dodgers, 450; Kalin’s relationship with, 97-98; memoir of, 100; and Newcombe, 369-70; O’Malley’s views about, 426; as Pirates president, 97, 98; Pirates’ trade with, 303; and pitching, 94-95, 96, 97, 98, 99-100, 279; and press, 97-98, 424; and race issues, 43-45, 302, 450-51; and Reese, 324; and Robinson, 43-45, 279, 310-11, 323, 392, 426,442, 450-51; and Roe, 155-56, 298-99, 301-2, 303; and Roth, 126,127; and salaries, 94; and Shuba, 233, 235,236; and Snider, 384; training camp created by, 94; wealth of, 93; Youngs (Dick) relationship with, 98, 99-100

  Roberts, Robin, 127,142, 358, 364-65

  Robinson, David, 121,389, 402, 408-11

  Robinson, Jackie, 386-411; and 1946 season, 279; and 1947 season, 43-45, 382,449; and 1948 season, 267-68, 307, 349; and 1951 season, 90; and 1952 season, 107-8, 117,118, 120-22, 142,143, 144,154,160, 165; and 1953 season, 170-79,183, 184, 185; and 1955 season, 395-96; and Alston’s comment about fight-ing for job, 387; athletic abilities of, 392, 393; background of, 391-92; and Bavasi, 388, 389,432; and bean balls, 325; biography of, 390-91, 392; and Black, 273, 284; and Campanella, 315, 356-57, 363, 369-70, 390; and Cardinals, 174; and colored league, 369; commercial use of, 104; and Cox, 393, 420-21; Dark’s views about, 397; death of, 445; Dodgers sign, 43-45, 267, 279, 310-11, 369-70, 426; dreams of, 402; and Dressen, 111, 112, 144, 170-71,191, 393; and Durocher, 91, 393; education of, 392; and Erskine, 250-51, 407; family/per-sonal life of, 121,142, 386-87, 389-90, 399-400,402, 408-11; and father and son theme, 434; and Furillo, 328, 329, 340, 393; and Giants, 387-88, 389; Giles’s comment about, 121; health of, 398-99, 445; and height of Brooklyn baseball, 427; Herald Tribune’s cover-age of, 76; as hitter, 323, 393; and Hodges, 444; on “Information Please,” 115; injuries of, 389; and Kalin as baseball player, 452; and Kahn family readings of Joyce, 117; and Kahn’s early Dodger reporting, 51, 52, 102; and Kahn’s party, 442-43;Kahn’s relationship with, 357; and Kalin’s revisit to Ebbets Field, 438; and Kahn’s writing ofTfie Boys of Summer, 441, 444-45; and Labine, 407; locker of, 140; in mili-tary, 392; in minor leagues, 323, 369-70; Mostel meets, 442-43; and MVP award, 400; and Newcombe, 409; as number 42, 393; and old-timers’ games, 291; and O’Malley, 387, 389, 427; and Pafko, 267-68; and politics, 397-98, 406; post-baseball life of, 388-411; and race issues, 104, 106-9,115,132-37, 172,250-51, 274,284,302,303, 310-11,315,323-26,356-57,369-70, 390-93, 397-98, 400-406, 445, 447, 449-52; Ramsdell hits, 121; and Reese, 310-13,315, 317, 323-26, 369, 393, 395,396, 449, 450-51, 452, 456; retirement from baseball of, 203, 388-90; and Rickey, 323, 392, 426, 442,450-51; and Roe, 293, 302, 307,407; role on Dodger team of, 393-94, 395-96; with Roy-als, 43, 323, 369, 371, 450-51; run-down of, 394-95; salary of, 104; shift to third base of, 170-79; and Shuba, 393; and signs, 317; signs Kahn’s glove, 414; and Snider, 369, 393; and southern tour, 104,106, 107-9, 115; and sportswriters, 108, 400, 405; in Stamford, Connecticut, 402-11; and umpires, 120-21, 142; views about baseball of, 406-7; and women, 390; and World Series games, 160,165,183,184, 185; and Young, 400

  Robinson, Jackie Jr., 386-87, 389, 390, 399-400, 402,404,407-11,434

  Robinson, Rachel, 399, 400, 402-6, 407,408,409,410-11,442

  Rockefeller, Nelson, 397,398, 401, 409

  Rockow, Abraham (grandfather), 11, 14-17, 25-30, 102, 192-93

  Roe, Preacher (Elwin Charles), 290-309; and 1944 season, 303; and 1945 season, 303; and 1948 season, 304-5, 306-7; and 1949 season, 305; and 1951 season, 305; and 1952 season, 113, 118,121, 122, 143,155, 157-58, 160, 305; and 1953 season, 173,174,182, 292, 297-98, 305; and 1954 season, 293; background of, 155, 294-97, 298, 300-302; bunk lead writing about, 126; and Campanella, 309; and Cardinals, 302-3; in clubhouse, 140; as coach, 303; and Cox, 307, 413, 420; and Dodger team spirit, 420; Dodgers sign, 298-99, 303; dog story of, 155-56; education of, 298, 302; and Erskine, 293; and fans, 302; fear of airplanes of, 303-4; and Furillo. 306, 327, 332, 339; on Guglielmi, 129; as hitter, 121, 297-98; and Hodges, 307; and Kahn’s first Dodger assignment, 52; Kahn’s iews about,
116, 117; in minor leagues, 294-95, 302-3; in Missouri, 289-309, 447; and old-timers’ games, 291; Ozark letter from, 292-93; and Pafko, 264; with Pirates, 303; as pitcher, 156-57, 213, 290-91, 297, 298, 299-300, 303, 305-9; post-baseball life of, 290-309, 447; questions to Kalin about, 203; and race issues, 302, 420; and Reese, 291, 293, 307, 319-20; retirement from baseball of, 293; and Rickey, 155-56; and Robinson, 173, 174, 293, 302, 307, 407; salary of, 155-56; sale to Baltimore of, 202; signs Kahn’s glove, 414; and Snider, 293; spitballs of, 157, 290-91, 306-9; as

  Roe, Preacher (Elwin Charles) (cont.) teacher, 303; and traveling with Dodgers, 129; and umpires, 157, 308-9; in Viola, Arkansas, 294-309; and World Series games, 160, 182, 292

  Roeder, Bill, 106, 127-28,145,147, 150, 171, 177, 291

  Roogow, Sol, 85, 86, 87, 136, 160

  Rosenthal, Harold, 49-53, 88, 101, 151, 159-60, 212

  Royals, 43, 234, 235, 236, 279, 323, 369,371,450-51

  Ruth, Babe, 16, 17-18, 37, 99,166, 180, 237, 259, 276, 368, 387,393

  Sain, Johnny, 86, 96, 162

  Saturday Evening Post, 203-4, 440

 

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