The Boys of Summer (52 page)

Furillo, Fern, 328, 334, 336, 337, 339, 340

Gaven, Mike, 148,149,167,168, 338

Gehrig, Lou, 99,180, 237, 276, 277, 368

generation war, 433-35

Giants; and 1947 season, 44-45; and 1951 season, 90,181, 213-14; and 1952 season, 7, 280; and 1953 season, 339; Dodgers play the, 7, 92,154-55,157-58,181,213-14,
262, 264-65, 267, 280, 395-96; Durocher as manager of, 90, 181, 338; and race issues, 44-45; and Robinson, 387-88, 389; Snider with, 379.
See also specific player or manager

Gilliam, Jim, 170,172, 173, 175, 176, 177,180,423

Golenpaul, Dan, 14, 32-33, 41-42, 47, 161

Graham, Frank, 148, 187, 437

Herald Tribune:
censorship of Kahn’s columns by, 135-36; copyboys at, 59,63, 65, 66-67, 68, 69; culture of, 57-59, 61-63, 68-69; decline of, 57, 88-89; excitment at, 422; Kahn as copyboy/copyreader at, 59-76, 78, 80; Kahn as full-time sports reporter for, 82-198, 451; Kahn covers 1959 World Series for, 329-30; Kahn (Gordon) turns down job at, 82-83; Kahn hired by, 48; Kahn resigns from, 198,199; Kahn’s early writing assignments at, 69-70, 75-81; Kahn’s racial cryptogram story for, 174-79; and Kahn’s writing
of The Boys of Summer,
442; morgue at, 76;
New York Times
rivalry with, 57, 72, 84; newsroom at, 65-67; offices of, 61-63; preconception maxim at, 199, 200; production of, 64-65; salaries at, 59, 84; sports department at, 70-80; teachers at, 57-59, 68, 86; “up-to-the-minute scores of big league night games” at, 83-86; women at, 65-66, 81.
See also specific person

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 fans, 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