Dodgers Autographed Plate |
It is a simple memento, a souvenir of a never to be forgotten trip, but it is quite likely the most unique piece of Brooklyn Dodger memorabilia in existence. The souvenir is a porcelain plate
made by the Noritake Factory with Mt. Fuji in Japan hand painted onto the
plate. What is most striking about the plate are the autographs that
appear, those members of the Brooklyn Dodger organization who made a visit
to play a series of exhibition games in the fall of 1956.
Although the autographs are now 50 years old, their brightness and
clarity on the plate sparkle as if the autographs had been signed just
yesterday!
The names jump out at you, revealing a new surprise for each name discovered
on the plate. First, you spot the signature of first baseman Gil Hodges
at the 12 o’clock position on the plate, and then your eye picks up “Oisk”,
Carl Erskine. Next, you see a florid “R” and “C” for pitcher Roger Craig.
The Hall of Famers are here: Working in a clockwise direction, you can find
Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, coach Billy Herman, manager Walter Alston,
Pee Wee Reese, and umpire Jocko Conlan. Then, slightly off canter to the
center are the signatures of Duke Snider and Don Drysdale. Finally, moving
back to the top, broadcaster Vin Scully’s name is in juxtaposition to the
Gil Hodges signature. The plate also includes the signature of Sotaro
Suzuki, noted Japanese sportswriter elected to the Japanese Baseball Hall of
Fame.
Several other great Dodger names are signed onto the plate. Don Newcombe,
the Cy Young Award winner and Most Valuable Player in 1956, pitcher Clem
Labine, who pitched 10 scoreless innings to win game six of the 1956 World
Series, and relief ace Ed Roebuck. There is Jim Gilliam, the great second
baseman and Dodger coach of whom Walter Alston once said, “Never made a
mistake on the field.” Looking closely, you can spot the name of Bob
Aspromonte, the last Brooklyn Dodger to play in the Major Leagues and the
name of Jim Gentile, who would later hit 46 home runs and drive in 141 runs
for the Baltimore Orioles in 1961.
Several Dodger players on the trip to Japan who signed the plate later
became managers of Major League teams. Walter Alston was already managing
the Dodgers, but Don Zimmer, Roger Craig, Billy Herman, and Bob Lillis would
all be at the helm in future seasons as a Major League manager.
Members of the Walter O’Malley family added their signatures as made by Kay
O’Malley, the wife of Walter O’Malley, and daughter Terry and son Peter,
later to become President and Chairman of the Board of the Los Angeles
Dodgers. And, it is the signature of Dodger President Walter O’Malley who
puts the finishing touch on this remarkable piece of memorabilia as the team
President adds the date, November 6, 1956.
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