Duke's passing reminds us of an old era of great baseball

Duke Snider passed away yesterday. He was the "Duke of Flatbush" when the Dodgers played in Brooklyn.

For the first half of the last century New York had three different franchises. One in the Bronx, one in Harlem, and one in Brooklyn. The Yankees, Giants, and Dodgers once ruled baseball, New York once ruled baseball. There was once a fifteen year stretch where at least one of those teams were in the World Series. Prior to both the Giants and Dodgers leaving New York in 1957, these franchises won the last eight series before that year.

There was a great debate as to which team had the best center fielder. The Yankees had Mickey Mantle. The Giants had Willie Mays. The Dodgers had Duke Snider.

Even though I am a Yankees fan, I have always been fascinated with the fact that New York once had three great baseball teams and are now only left with one (and it's surely not the Mets). We are left with great moments such as the "Shot Heard Round the World", "The Catch", and many others. The Dodgers have had great success in Los Angeles and the Giants finally won the World Series since leaving the Polo Grounds. The Giants also did a great gesture in having Willie Mays bring their World Series Trophy to Harlem to honor their history in New York.

I do feel though, that both franchises should do a little more in paying homage to their New York roots. Such as wearing New York Giants and Brooklyn Dodgers road unis when they visit city field or have an interleague matchup against the Yankees.

The Duke lived a great life and was regarded as royalty in Brooklyn. He was a sensational center fielder. He was born in Los Angeles but raised as a great baseball player in Brooklyn and was probably more mad than anyone when the team was moved to his hometown.