Duke Snider
The sweet-swinging centerpiece of the Boys of Summer, whose powerful bat and graceful defense defined the golden age of New York baseball.
1926–2011 (age 85)·American baseball player·Birthday: September 19·The Greatest Generation
Biography
In the crucible of 1950s New York baseball, Duke Snider was the Dodgers' answer to Mantle and Mays. With a swing so pure it seemed painted by a Renaissance master, 'The Duke of Flatbush' launched towering home runs into the Ebbets Field bleachers with regularity. He was the emotional center of the beloved 'Boys of Summer,' the team that finally broke through to win Brooklyn's only World Series in 1955. More than just a slugger, he patrolled center field with long, loping strides and a strong, accurate arm. His graceful decline coincided with the Dodgers' move to Los Angeles, a bittersweet coda to a career that forever linked him to the heartbreak and triumph of a borough.
The Greatest Generation
1901–1927
Grew up during the Depression, fought World War II, and built the postwar economic boom. Defined by shared sacrifice, institutional trust, and a belief that hard work and loyalty would be rewarded.
Duke was born in 1926, placing them squarely in The Greatest Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Duke Was Born
The biggest hits of 1926
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ
Duke's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1926Born
Robert Goddard launches the first liquid-fueled rocket
President: Calvin Coolidge"Baby Face" — Jan Garber
1931Started school
The Empire State Building opens as the world's tallest
Gas: $0.17/galPresident: Herbert Hoover"Minnie the Moocher" — Cab CallowayBest Picture: Cimarron
1939Became a teenager
World War II begins; The Wizard of Oz premieres
Gas: $0.19/galMin wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Over the Rainbow" — Judy GarlandBest Picture: Gone with the Wind
1942Could drive
Battle of Midway turns the tide in the Pacific
Gas: $0.20/galHome: $3,175Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"White Christmas" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Mrs. Miniver
1944Could vote
D-Day: Allied forces land at Normandy
Gas: $0.21/galHome: $3,400Min wage: $0.30/hrPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"Swinging on a Star" — Bing CrosbyBest Picture: Going My Way
1947Turned 21
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1956Turned 30
Elvis Presley appears on The Ed Sullivan Show
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $10,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Heartbreak Hotel" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: Around the World in 80 Days
1966Turned 40
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1976Turned 50
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1986Turned 60
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1996Turned 70
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 80
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2011Died at 85
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
Key Achievements
- Hit over 40 home runs in five consecutive seasons (1953–1957), a feat matched by only a few players in history.
- Was a key member of the 1955 Brooklyn Dodgers, the only team to bring a World Series championship to the borough.
- Elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980, his first year of eligibility.
- Finished his career with 407 home runs and a .295 batting average, with 11 seasons of All-Star selections.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'Duke' was given to him as a boy by his father, who said he walked like a duke.
He hit the last home run ever at Ebbets Field in Brooklyn in 1957.
He served as a radio broadcaster for the Montreal Expos after his playing career ended.
He, Willie Mays, and Mickey Mantle were all center fielders in New York at the same time, leading to famous debates about who was the best.
“If I had my choice, I'd rather be lucky than good.”
