One more Thanksgiving has come and gone, with one more celebration of the family traditions. Continuity finds its spots throughout our lives, including within our favorite sports franchises.
When I was growing up, one aspect of Dodgers familiarity was having the same manager year after year. Although the Dodgers had a long tradition of only offering one-year contracts to their manager, it was understood the gig was practically a lifetime appointment.
The first Dodgers skipper I ever knew was Walter Alston. He managed the club from 1954 to 1976. Today is the 63rd anniversary of his hiring to lead the team. Here's my small collection of Alston cardboard.
Leading off is 1958 Topps and one of my favorite vintage Dodgers cards, Boss and Power.
1960 Topps. The Dodgers had moved to Los Angeles, but were still playing in the LA Coliseum. They wouldn't play their first game in Dodger Stadium until 1962.
Backside...
1961 Topps
1963 Topps. The Dodgers are now in their new stadium at Chavez Ravine. You can tell it's new by the state of the art rotary dial phone in the corner...
Here's the backside cartoon....
1971 Topps. I was just discovering my lifelong love of baseball and all things Dodgers.
Alston would manage until 1976, a 22-year run. Tommy Lasorda was named his successor, and he ran the club for the next 20 years.
Continuity certainly has its place. Aloha!
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