The Dodgers Encyclopedia
Second Edition
William F. McNeil
2003
The Pitch
At well over 400 pages, The Dodgers Encyclopedia is a well researched work on the history of the Dodgers franchise. Filled with numerous rare photos, accounts, box scores, and stories, McNeil has done a masterful job at documenting the legendary team from its' earliest days in Brooklyn through the 2002 team from Los Angeles. The Dodgers Encyclopedia is meant to be digested piece by piece as the reader's appetite dictates. Want to read about the legendary Zach Wheat? How about Ismael Valdes? (OK, I skipped right by that section). Want to know about the 1924 pennant winning team, or Red Barber? Open The Dodgers Encyclopedia. It's like having Vin Scully right in your own home - all year round.Best Quote
In reference to the end of the 2002 season:
"A playoff, a pennant, and a World Championship are so close that Dodger fans can taste them, but they still need...a more aggressive attack plan drawn up by manager Jim Tracy."
Things I didn’t know, or just forgot
- Several of the team nicknames were familiar to me (Superbas, Grays, Robins, and others). But I didn't know our boys in blue were once called Ward's Wonders (1891-1893) and Foutz's Fillies (1893-1897).
- Zach Wheat named his bat, "Black Lightening."
- From 1963-66, Sandy Koufax had 89 complete games and an ERA of 1.82 - amazing.
Overall Rating: Triple!
The Dodgers Encyclopedia is for hardcore Dodgers fans who want to dig in to the roots of the franchise. The photos and narrative make this book worth the purchase price. The stats - like everything else on the planet - can be found on various websites around the Internet but still add to the fullness of this work. Not to be consumed in one sitting, The Dodgers Encyclopedia is for the dedicated fan who, on occasion, wishes to peruse the annals of the Dodgers.-Robert Timm
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