In the 1950s the New York baseball word always talked about Willie, Mickey and the Duke, referring to the three great center fielders of the New York teams. Willie Mays (Giants), Mickey Mantle (Yankees) and Duke Snider (Dodgers). Well the trio is down to just one with the death of Duke Snider.
The Duke joined Mickey Mantle in that great ballpark in the sky. Mantle passed away fifteen years ago (August 13, 1995). Snider was born September 19, 1926 in Los Angeles, CA with the given name Edwin Donald Snider. He had a career .295 batting average with 407 homers and 1,333 RBIs. He was elected to Cooperstown's Baseball Hall of Fame in 1980. He was 85.
Willie Mays, the last of the three great center fielders, is 79 years old and has elected to the Hall in 1979. He is the godfather of the steroid tainted Giants slugger and MLB home run leader Barry Bonds.
The three were immortalized in Terry Cashman's 1981 baseball ballad "(Talkin' Baseball) Willie, Mickey and the Duke".
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