Over the past few days I've been posting up vintage pics (here and here) from an well-known eBay auctioneer named Hyee_Auctions that feature vintage photographic transparencies. Nearly every Baseball team is available, but none are cooler than the photos featuring the "Boys in Blue" (except for maybe the Yankees pics; which are just as good). Most of the Dodgers photos available were taken during various spring days over the decades, and the most fantastic ones are in this post. BTW, these pics were all taken by a duo known as "Cranston & Livia." If you happen to know who they are please let me know.
Featured here are photographs from the very first game played at Holman Stadium in Dodgertown, Vero Beach, FL - Its Opening Day. The date is March 11, 1953.
At the very top are the stadium flags raised as a part of the Opening Ceremonies (Auction Link Here). The white flag seen above celebrates the Dodgers National League Pennant in 1952. Below is Brooklyn Borough President John Cashmore with Walter O'Malley in the stands (Link Here).
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Below is a view of the crowd in the left field stands (Link Here). On the right you can see what the players dugout looked like. Also, the blue flag on the left says "Elmira." I believe this refers to a town in the western part of New York state; near Ithica.
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This last photo is of the Dodgers dugout that sits along the right field line (Link Here). Roy Campanella (#39) is easily recognizable at the center of the photo.
BTW, the Dodgers won the days game, and Cark Erskine is credited with throwing the very first pitch in the stadium. Per a letter O'Malley sent to The Sporting News:
“I believe our attendance at the game (opening game for Holman Stadium on March 11th) exceeded the total population of the City of Vero Beach.”
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