During the old days ballplayers had to keep various side-gigs during the winter off-season. Yogi Berra and Phil Rizzuto sold suits, John McGraw had a vaudeville show for a short time, and Waite Hoyt was a mortician. Sometimes players spent their winter, especially if they were younger, going to school. Proof of that is featured in the photo above. It is a International News Photo taken by Hugh Broderick, dated Monday, October 11, 1947 of Ralph Branca getting back to the books less than a week after losing the 1947 World Series. Per the descriptor on the reverse:
On the Mound for Fair ScienceThe above photo recently sold at RMY's auction (link here). Below are more links to check out:
This studious young man engaged in a chemistry experiment in the laboratory of New York University is Ralph Branca. Who, as pitcher for the Brooklyn Dodgers in the recent World Series against the New York Yankees, made his share of headlines. Branca is a sophomore student at the university, majoring in physical education.
- This Day in Dodgers History: In 1946 the Dodgers and Montreal Royals (with Jackie Robinson in the lineup for the first time) played a spring training game in Daytona Beach. This marked the first appearance of an integrated club in organization baseball that century. Four decades later they would rename the field in Daytona Jackie Robinson Ballpark. In 1955 the Brooklyn Dodgers traded pitcher Erv Palica to the Orioles for infielder Frank Kellert.
- Happy Birthday, Whitey Ock, "Pistol" Pete Reiser & Bill Mueller!