The Boys of Summer (53 page)

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

Senators, 179, 271, 280, 352

Shuba, George Thomas, 224-41; and 1948 season, 239, 349; and 1952 season, 118, 126, 127,142, 143, 144, 157, 159, 236, 320; and 1953 season, 224, 235-36, 237-38; and 1955 season, 236; background of, 226, 231-34, 236; as bishops brother, 236; as coach, 228; Dodgers sign, 233; and Dressen, 118, 144; family/personal life of, 225, 226, 228, 229, 238; as fielder, 235-36; as hitter, 126, 127, 224-25, 234, 235, 237-38, 239-41, 320; injuries of, 236; Kahn first sees, 239; Kahn plays catch with, 229-31; Kalm’s (Gordon) views about, 239, 240; kidding of, 235-36; in minor leagues, 234, 235; as number 8, 393; as pitcher, 229-30; post-baseball life of, 224-31, 446; questions to Kahn about, 203; reflections about baseball of, 236-37;, 238-29, 241; and religion, 228, 237-38; resigns from baseball, 236; and Rickey, 233, 235, 236; and Robinson, 393; with Royals, 234, 235, 236; self-improvement efforts of, 227; as umpire, 228; and World Series games, 224, 237-38; in Youngstown, Ohio, 224-41

Shuba, Katherine, 228, 229, 234, 237, 238

Simpson, Gus, 39, 194, 195, 196

Slaughter, Enos, 36, 44, 266

Smith, Red, 65, 70-71, 72,123,183, 315, 356, 357, 378, 389, 426, 443

Snider, Beverly, 149, 376, 377, 378, 380, 382, 383-84, 385

Snider, Duke (Edwin Donald), 374-85; and 1944 season, 382; and 1947 season, 382; and 1948 season, 349; and 1950 season, 89-90;, 383; and 1951 season, 383; and 1952 season, 92,142, 143,144, 147, 148-50, 154, 159,160, 162, 163,164, 165, 375, 383; and 1953 season, 180,185, 374-75; and 1954 season, 387; and 1963 season, 379; and Alston’s comment about fighting for job, 387; and Bavasi, 381; benching of, 148-50; as celebrity, 377; and choking, 92; in clubhouse, 141; as coach, 381;
Collier’s
story about, 377-79, 384; Dodgers sign, 382; dreams of, 375, 379; and Dressen, 144, 147, 148-50, 376-77; in Fallbrook, California, 380-85; family of, 382; and fans, 318-19; and Furillo, 318, 328, 383; with Giants, 379; health of, 447; as hitter, 19, 97,150,180, 375, 382-83; injuries of, 379; and Kahn as baseball player, 452; Kahn’s story about, 148; Kahn’s views of, 328; locker of, 140; with
Mets, 379; and move to Los Angeles, 424; as number 4, 393; with Padres, 381; and Pafko, 267, 270, 384; personality of, 147; post-baseball life of, 379-85, 447; and Reese, 313, 318-19,384-85; reflections about baseball of, 375, 376, 377-79, 384; retirement from baseball of, 379; and Rickey, 384; and Robinson, 369, 393; and Roe, 293; and Roeder, 147, 150; and Shuba, 235; slump of, 383; and stickball, 19; stories about, 303, 384-85; and World Series games, 92,160,162,163,164, 165,185, 375, 379, 383; and Yankees, 383

Sport
magazine, 387-88, 409

Sporting News:
Goetz statement in, 291

Sports Illustrated,
198-202, 290-91, 305, 422

sportswriters: Black’s present of scotch to, 159; and Campanella, 355, 357, 363; and Dodger press relations, 166-67; and Furillo, 334-35; Labine song by, 214; Negroes as, 135; and Reese, 319, 453; and Robinson, 400, 405.
See also specific person

Stanky, Eddie, 121,133-35, 371

Stengel, Casey, 92, 96, 164, 184, 272,280, 342

Stripp, Jersey Joe, 18-19, 23, 34

Sukeforth, Clyde, 7, 90, 265, 369

Tampa, Florida, 103, 105, 325

Thompson, Fresco, 3-5, 6-10, 48-49, 119, 187,236,337,435

Thomson, Bobby, 7, 90, 92, 213, 214,262.264,428,454

Three-Eye League, 257

Tigers, 211, 213, 275, 276

umpires, 120-21, 142, 157, 228, 308-9;.
See also specific person

Vero Beach, Florida: and Dodger move to Los Angeles, 429; Dodger training camp near, 94, 96, 97, 114, 166, 387, 452; Dodgertown Camp at, 335-36; and race issues, 112,303,403-4

Walker, Dixie, 39, 40, 45, 303, 323, 324, 337,382,445,451

Walker, Rube, 55-56, 263, 350, 351, 453

Warneke, Lonnie, 36, 299, 300

Weinberg, Benny, 59-60, 61, 65

Weiss, Buddy, 85, 86, 89

White, Bob, 57-58, 63, 68, 73

White Sox, 173, 257, 329-30, 425

Williams, Dick, 118,119, 120,130-32;, 215, 344, 352

Williams, Ted, 67, 266, 393

Woodling, Gene, 163,164, 268

Woodward, Stanley “The Coach”; and 1953 season, 168-70; and
Collier’s
article about Snider, 378; and Dodger press relations, 167; health of, 169; and Kahn as Dodger fan, 119; Kahn’s 1953 meeting with, 168-70; and Kahn’s cryptogram story, 177; Kahn’s relationship with, 73, 82; at Newark
Evening News,
378; and race issues, 44, 45, 104, 177; as sports editor at
Herald Tribune,
70-73; as sports editor for Miami
News,
168-70

World Series: of 1911, 24; of 1926, 93; of 1929,184; of 1935, 275,276; of 1945, 264, 267; of 1956, 203, 211; of 1959, 203, 329-30, 333, 379, 425; of 1963, 247; of 1967,

World Series
(cont.)
224; of 1914, 204; of 1947, 46; of 1949,92, 319-20, 383; of 1952, 92, 159-65, 184, 246-47, 254-55, 268, 273, 345, 375, 383; of 1953,180, 182-86, 213, 224,236, 237-38, 292, 346; of 1955, 202-3,291, 453-54; attendance at, 425; Campanella’s views about, 355; and choking, 92; and Dodger pitching staff, 93; and pitches used by pitchers, 95; and race issues, 273; rings from, 431

Yankees; and 1927 season, 180; and 1935 season, 387; and 1947 World Series, 46; and 1951 season, 383; and 1952 season, 114; and 1952 World Series, 159-62, 246-47, 268; and 1953 World Series, 182-86, 236; and 1955 World Series, 202-3;, 291; and 1956 World Series, 203, 211; Cleveland plays the, 200-201; Dodgers play the, 159-62, 182-86, 202-3, 211, 236, 246-47, 268, 291; Kahn’s views about, 164; and old-timers’ games, 339; and race issues, 164, 269; and Red Sox, 322; Roe scouted by, 298; and Ruth, 387; and Snider, 383

Yanoodi, Chester, 332-33, 337, 338, 339

Young, Dick: and Anderson’s story about Braves, 181; and Bavasi, 100, 101, 431; and Campanella, 357; credo of, 103; and Dressen, 101, 181; and Furillo, 329; and “Giants is dead” story, 181; heroes of, 99; and Kahn family readings of Joyce, 117; and Kahn’s early Dodger reporting, 52-53, 54, 56, 107; and Kahn’s race story, 174; Kahn’s relationship with, 101-3; and Kahn’s writing of
The Boys of Summer,
442, 443; and Labine, 211, 214-15; and O’Malley, 101; and pitching, 98, 99-100; and race issues, 104; and Rickey, 98, 99-100; and Robinson, 170, 400; and Roe’s spitballs, 290-91; and Snider’s benching, 148, 149; and traveling with Dodgers, 104, 128-29; views of
New York Times
of, 101-2, 103

ALSO BY ROGER KAHN

Beyond the Boys of Summer:
The Very Best of Roger Kahn,
2005

October Men: Reggie Jackson, George Steinbrenner,
Billy Martin, and the Yankees Miraculous
Finish in 1978,
2003

The Head Game: Baseball Seen
from the Pitcher’s Mound,
2000

A Flame of Pure Fire: Jack Dempsey and
the Roaring Twenties,
1999

Memories of Summer,
1997

The Era, 1947–1957:
When the Yankees, the New York Giants and
the Brooklyn Dodgers Ruled the World,
1993

Games We Used to Play,
1992

Joe & Marilyn,
1986

Good Enough to Dream,
1985

The Seventh Game,
1982

But Not to Keep,
1978

A Season in the Sun,
1977

How the Weather Was,
1973

The Battle for Morningside Heights,
1970

The Passionate People,
1968

Portions of this book have appeared in slightly different form in
Sport
magazine. Portions of “A Farewell to the Captain” appeared in different form in the
Los Angeles Times.

Grateful acknowledgment is made for permission to reprint excerpts from the following:

Lines on page xix, from “Carpe Diem, “ and on page 81, from “I Could Give All to Time, “ are from
The Poetry of Robert Frost,
edited by Edward Connery Lathem. Copyright 1942 by Robert Frost. Copyright © 1969 by Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. Copyright © 1970 by Lesley Frost Ballantine. Reprinted by permission of Holt, Rinehart and Winston, Inc. and Jonathan Cape Ltd.

Lines on page 6, from “Border Line, “ are from
Selected Poems
by Langston Hughes. Copyright 1947 by Langston Hughes. Reprinted by permission of Alfred A. Knopf, Inc.

Lines on page 205, from “… Did I ever dream …” by Saigyõ, are from
Anthology of Japanese Literature: From the Earliest Era to the Mid-Nineteenth Century,
compiled and edited by Donald Keene. Copyright © 1955 by Grove Press, Inc. Reprinted by permission of Grove Press, Inc.

Lines on page 207, from ‘The Return, “are from
Personae
by Ezra Pound. Copyright 1926 by Ezra Pound. Reprinted by permission of New Directions Publishing Corporation and Faber & Faber Ltd.

Lines on page 152, from “The Cremation of Sam McGee, “ are from
The Collected Poems of Robert Service.
Reprinted by permission of Dodd, Mead & Company, McGraw-Hill Ryerson Ltd. and Ernest Benn Ltd.

Lines on page ix, from “I See the Boys of Summer, “ are from
Collected Poems
by Dylan Thomas. Copyright 1939 by New Directions Publishing Corporation and J. M. Dent & Sons Ltd. and the Trustees for the Copyrights of the late Dylan Thomas.

A hardcover edition of this book was published in 1972 by Harper & Row, Publishers, Inc.

THE BOYS OF SUMMER
. Copyright © 1971, 1972, 1998 by Roger Kahn.

All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the non-exclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, down-loaded, decompiled, reverse engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.

Epub Edition © JANUARY 2011 ISBN: 978-0-062-08998-4

First Perennial Library edition published 1987.
First HarperPerennial edition published 1998.
First Perennial Classics edition published 2000.
First Harper Perennial Modem Classics edition published 2006.

The Library of Congress has catalogued a previous edition as follows:
Kahn, Roger.

GV875.BK3 1987

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