Dodgertown Dates: 1948

Spring training is the first item of discussion for the Brooklyn Dodger Board of Directors. “The Board considered the estimated cost of spring training and plans were analyzed. The President renewed his invitation to the Board members to visit and inspect the Trujillo (Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic) and Vero Beach camps, hoping that as a result of such visits, the Board will be in a position to adopt a fixed policy re spring training commitments for a five year period with a view to consolidating at Vero Beach, Florida.Brooklyn Dodger Board of Director Notes, February 22, 1948

The Sporting News reports that all gate receipts of exhibition games played at Dodgertown this spring will be given to the city of Vero Beach for the purpose of funds for athletic buildings.The Sporting News, February 25, 1948

The Dodgers’ Fort Worth minor league club is among the first Dodger minor league clubs to open the first spring training in Dodgertown.The Sporting News, March 17, 1948

Tom Meany writes in The Sporting News of the innovative spring training camp to be run by the Brooklyn Dodgers in Vero Beach, Florida.  “Mass production and the assembly line have come to baseball……And now comes Dodger Town, where at least 400 Brooklyn farmhands will be in action during the month…..Dodger Town is one of the most amazing set ups in the history of baseball….There are, at the moment, only three diamonds here, but it’s probable that more will be laid out. The citizens of Vero Beach have collaborated about 200 percent with the Dodgers, hopeful that Rickey will stick to his half promise to bring Dodgers and Montreal here to train in 1949.”Tom Meany, The Sporting News, March 10, 1948

The Fort Worth club of the Brooklyn Dodgers is scheduled to play the first games at Dodgertown against the Memphis minor league club.  Carl Erskine, future Brooklyn Dodger, is on the Fort Worth roster and he would later pitch the first game at Holman Stadium in 1953. The Sporting News, March 3, 1948

This date is a significant one in the history of baseball, the Dodgers, the State of Florida, Indian River County and its City of Vero Beach, Florida in advancing American civil rights. When the Dodgers played their first game ever at newly-opened Dodgertown, Vero Beach, it marked Major League Baseball’s first fully-integrated spring training site in the South. Field No. 2 was dedicated at Dodgertown as Jackie Robinson homers in the first inning and the Dodgers defeated the Montreal Royals, 5-4. Roy Campanella has his contract purchased by the Dodgers from Montreal and played for the major league club on March 31. On the field that day for the Dodgers were six future Hall of Famers Pee Wee Reese, Jackie Robinson, Arky Vaughan, Duke Snider, Gil Hodges and Roy Campanella. Additional future Hall of Famers in attendance were Dodger President Branch Rickey, Walter O’Malley, who was Rickey’s ownership partner and Dodger Vice President and General Counsel, Baseball Commissioner A.B. “Happy” Chandler, Dodger Manager Leo Durocher who was with his wife, film star Laraine Day, and Dodger scout and Coach George Sisler. Dodger broadcasters Red Barber and Ernie Harwell, later winners of the Hall of Fame’s Ford C. Frick Award, were with the team in 1948. Playing first base for Montreal was Kevin Connors, later known as “The Rifleman,” actor Chuck Connors. Florida Governor Millard Caldwell attended the game. Roscoe McGowen, New York Times, April 1, 1948

The Vero Beach Press Journal included this description of the game, “Wednesday was probably the biggest day in the history of Vero Beach, in more ways than one. Approximately 6,000 baseball fans and interested spectators witnessed the dedication ceremonies and ball game, the largest crowd ever to assemble for any event in this city.”

Dodger prospects are shown en masse on a cover of LIFE magazine and then as part of a photo essay inside the magazine. The magazine cover was shot at Dodgertown in Vero Beach, Florida. LIFE Magazine, April 5, 1948

Two Dodger minor league players assisted in saving the life of a visitor to Vero Beach.  George Bufflap and Robert Duchaney saw a tourist having problems with the current of the Atlantic Ocean.  The two players went into the water and helped Juanita Bell of Cincinnati to a safety line. The Sporting News, April 14, 1948

Dodger minor league instructor Pepper Martin, the “Wild Horse of the Osage” and a member of the St. Louis Cardinals’ “Gashouse Gang”, signed a contract with the Brooklyn Dodgers football team in the All-America Football Conference.  Martin was to be signed as a kicking specialist, and the 44-year old instructor said, “I can still pass pretty good and I know I can still run.” The Sporting News, April 14, 1948

Dodger President Branch Rickey stated his high opinion of former Dodger Manager Burt Shotton at a luncheon in Vero Beach, Florida. Rickey said “In my experience, there have been two great managers in the history of baseball—John McGraw and Burt Shotton.  Now McGraw is dead and that leaves Shotton standing alone.” Oscar Ruhl, The Sporting News, April 14, 1948

Former Dodger Manager Burt Shotton spent Opening Day of the major league season watching three games at Dodgertown, the new Dodgers’ spring training base. Shotton had managed the Dodgers to the 1947 National League Pennant after Leo Durocher had been suspended for the 1947 season.  After his suspension ended, Durocher returned as the team’s manager and Shotton did scouting duties for Branch Rickey. The Sporting News, April 28, 1948

Dodger President Branch Rickey said the average number of years for a player to make it to the majors is three and a half years to five years, but under the current Dodger method, one full year could be cut from development time. The Sporting News, April 28, 1948

Dodger minor league players on their way from Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida, to their regular season teams, assisted injured persons from a train accident.  Players on the Sheboygan, Wisconsin and Cairo, Georgia, Dodger minor league teams provided rescue efforts when a train wrecked near Adamsville, Alabama.  Players used sheets to pull an injured girl from one train and a group of injured persons were carried up with sheets tied together up the slope of a hill and then administered first aid until first responders could arrive. Paul Rickart,  The Sporting News, May 5, 1948

Dodger catcher Roy Campanella discussed his 1948 spring training season and his excitement at being put on the major league club.  “This spring Montreal trained at Santo Domingo with Brooklyn,” said Campanella “And I played against the Dodgers every day, sometimes in the outfield, or at third, other times catching….But the real thrill happened April 1 at Vero Beach, Florida when I was shifted to the Brooklyn roster.” Lester Bromberg, The Sporting News, July 14, 1948

The Sporting News contains a photo of Vero Beach Mayor Merrill Barber signing a lease with other civic officials allowing the Dodgers a five year lease to have spring training at “Dodger Town” in Vero Beach.  The lease also includes a five year option to continue training there. The Sporting News, August 11, 1948

General Douglas MacArthur expressed his wish for the Brooklyn Dodgers to play exhibition games in Japan in 1949.  At this time, however, the Dodgers were expected to return to Vero Beach, Florida, where “The Vero Beach setup turned out to be such a huge success early this year that Branch Rickey immediately made plans to have the Flock (the Dodgers) train there in 1949.” The Sporting News, August 11, 1948

J.G. Taylor Spink, publisher of The Sporting News, recounts a visit he made to Florida with Dodger Manager Burt Shotton. Spink and Shotton drove 30 miles outside Vero Beach to a ranch. Shotton told Spink, “The man who owns this hideout regards it as his castle…..So would I, if I owned it.  His name is Bud Holman, and he’s given only one other key to this place.  You’ll be surprised to learn who has it….The man is waiting up at the house for us.”  In a few moments, Spink and Shotton came across Dodger President Branch Rickey sitting by the lake, hooking a worm on his fishing pole.” J.G. Taylor Spink, The Sporting News, December 1, 1948

Dodger President Branch Rickey, making an inspection tour of the team’s spring training facilities, discovered that half of the rooms on the base had been leased to others, likely creating a shortage of housing for Dodger players.  However, the city of Vero Beach negotiated with the owner of the base to retain the Dodgers and show their appreciation of the business brought to the community.  The Dodgers were then confident every player in spring training would have sufficient housing. The Sporting News, December 1, 1948