Who is Duke Snider?
Edwin Donald “Duke” Snider was a major league baseball player for the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Duke was an eight-time National League (NL) All-Star and the 1955 NL Most Valuable Player (MVP).
Duke played for several teams during his career, including the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants.
So, how was his life? Let’s go over it again. But first, here are some facts about Duke Snider.
Relationship Details, Duke Snider is Married?
Duke married Beverly Null, his high school sweetheart. Pam, Kurt, Kevin, and Dawna were their four children.
Because this was before social media and the internet, there aren’t many details about their marriage.
However, there was never any talk of Duke dating another woman in his life. He was only committed to one woman until he died.
IN 1945 AND 1946, HE SERVED IN THE UNITED STATES NAVY FOR EIGHTEEN MONTHS.
He once owned an avocado ranch as well as a bowling alley. However, the bowling alley was a failure and had to be closed. He had to even sell his beloved ranch.
He had a heart attack in 1987, lost twenty-five pounds, and needed valve replacement surgery.
Quick facts about Duke Snider
| Full Name | Edwin Donald Snider |
| Birth Date | 19 September 1926 |
| Date of Death | 27 February 2011 |
| Birth Place | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Zodiac Sign | Virgo |
| Nick Name | Duke, The Silver Fox, The Duke of Flatbush |
| Religion | Unknown |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Father’s Name | Ward Snider |
| Mother’s Name | Florence Johnson Snider |
| Siblings | None |
Duke Snider: Early Life, Age, Wiki, Parents, Ethnicity
Duke was born on September 19, 1926, in Los Angeles, California, United States. Edwin Donald Snider was his given name. His father later nicknamed him “Duke” because of his swagger when he was five years old.
“Here comes the Duke,” his father would say. Ward Snider (Father) and Florence Johnson Snider gave birth to him (Mother).
He was also the only child of the two. Ward Snider was a semi-pro baseball player in his home state of Ohio.
Duke’s nationality is American, and his ethnicity is White. It is unknown what religion he practiced or if he practiced any at all.
Education, Schooling, University
He attended Compton High School and graduated in 1944. Duke was a gifted all-around athlete in high school, participating in track, basketball, football, and baseball.
He was said to be a strong-armed quarterback because he could throw the ball up to 70 yards.
He was on the same basketball team as Pete Rozelle, the future commissioner of the National Football League. On the baseball team, he pitched and batted extensively.
Professional Career, (Baseball Player)
Duke was an American professional baseball player who accomplished a great deal in his life. From the Los Angeles Dodgers to the San Francisco Giants, here are his accomplishments in detail.
Minor League Baseball
Duke Snider was discovered by one of Branch Rickey’s scouts in the 1940s. Following that, Duke signed a baseball contract in 1943 for a $750 bonus and a monthly salary of $250.
He briefly played for the Montreal Royals of the International League in 1944, where he batted twice, and for the Newport News Dodgers of the Piedmont League in the same year.
He appeared in 131 games, batting.294 and leading the league with 34 doubles and nine home runs.
He also compiled twenty-five assists in the outfield. In 1946, he was a member of the Fort Worth Cats, and in 1947, he was a member of the St. Paul Saints.
Everyone could see his potential with his explosive swing, grace in the field, and blazing speed. Duke was regarded as the crown jewel of the Dodgers organization.
Major League Baseball
Los Angeles Dodgers
Duke was a backup outfielder for the Brooklyn Dodgers on opening day in 1947, after trying out for them during spring training.
On April 17, 1947, he got his first major league at bat and hit a single in the Brooklyn Dodgers’ second game of the 1947 season. Later in the season, he appeared in 39 more games.
He was assigned to the St. Paul team on July 4, 1947, but returned to the Dodgers at the end of the season, just in time for the World Series against the New York Yankees.
Rickey and batting coach George Sisler assisted Duke in correcting his overswing during spring training in 1948. This spring training marked a watershed moment in Duke’s baseball career.
In the 1948 season, Duke was loaned to Montreal after spring training. He made his major league debut in 1949. He began to hit more home runs and batted his way into the World Series.
He appeared in six postseasons for the Dodgers (1949, 1952-53, 1955-56, 1959). In 1955 and 1959, the Dodgers won the World Series.
Dodgers of Los Angeles
In 1958, the team relocated to Los Angeles. While the team progressed, Duke’s career numbers fell.
He only hit 15 home runs in 1958, but he did help the Dodgers win the World Series in Los Angeles.
Even though he was only 35 years old, he had an aching knee and gray hair by 1961. As a result, he was eventually reduced to being a part-time player.
The New York Mets
Duke eventually left the Dodgers for the New York Mets. On April 16, 1963, at Crosley Field against the Cincinnati Reds, he recorded his 2000th hit on a single-off, Jim Maloney in the second inning.
In addition, he hit his 400th home run against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning against Bob Purkey.
FOR THE EIGHTH AND FINAL TIME, HE HAS BEEN NAMED TO THE ALL-STAR GAME IN CLEVELAND.
He appeared in 129 games for the New York Mets, batting.243/.345/.401 with 14 home runs, 45 RBIs, 45 walks, and 56 strikeouts.
Giants of San Francisco
Duke was traded to the San Francisco Giants in 1964. Duke chose number 28 instead of his usual number 4.
He appeared in 91 games for the San Francisco Giants, batting.210/.302/.323, with four home runs, 17 RBIs, 22 walks, and 40 strikeouts.
For the San Francisco Giants, he played three different positions. He announced his retirement at the end of that season.
He finished his career with a.295 batting average, 2116 hits, 1259 runs, 407 home runs, and 1333 RBI.
Other
After retiring, Duke worked as a TV/radio analyst and play-by-play announcer for the San Diego Padres from 1969 to 1971. From 1973 to 1986, he was with the Montreal Expos.
Duke has also played himself as a professional baseball player in television shows and films.
In his filmography, he appears as himself in “Hero Father,” as a guest on “The Rifleman,” and as Wallace in “The Retired Gun.”
Other roles include the Cranker in “The Trouble with Girls” (1969), and a Steamer fan in “Pastime” (1958). (1990).
He was also featured in the documentary “Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts of Flatbush” (2007). Not to mention, he co-wrote the book The Duke of Flatbush with Bill Gilbert.
Net Worth, Salary, Assets
Duke’s annual salary in 1956 was $50,000. In addition, his yearly salary with the New York Mets was $36,000 in 1963.
HIS ESTIMATED NET WORTH AS A FAMOUS PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER WAS $2 MILLION.
This was, however, very low in comparison to other players like Mickey Mantle, whose annual salary was around $100,000.
Rumors and Controversy
Controversy Over Tax Fraud
During the 1980s and 1990s, retired players were making public appearances and signing autographs.
As a result, Duke was in high demand. He did, however, accept some of his cash fees and failed to report them on his income tax returns.
In 1995, he and fellow Hall of Famer Willie McCovey were both charged with tax evasion. They both entered guilty pleas.
Duke admitted to earning more than $100,000 from those appearances between 1984 and 1993.
He received two years of probation, a $5000 fine, and an order to pay up to $57,000 in back taxes, interest, and penalties. Snider later apologized publicly.
Duke’s annual salary in 1956 was $50,000. In addition, his yearly salary with the New York Mets was $36,000 in 1963.
HIS ESTIMATED NET WORTH AS A FAMOUS PROFESSIONAL BASEBALL PLAYER WAS $2 MILLION.
This was, however, very low in comparison to other players like Mickey Mantle, whose annual salary was around $100,000.
What is the Height of Duke Snider? Weight, Full Body Status
| Age (When he died) | 95 Years Old |
| Height | 6 feet 0 inches (or 1.83 m) |
| Weight | 150 pounds (or 68 kg) |
| Body Measurement | Unknown |
| Hair Colour | Brown |
| Eye Colour | Blue |
Social Media Accounts
Duke was not a social media user. Others, however, have posted about him on Twitter and Instagram.
Duke Snider: Death
Duke had diabetes, hypertension, and other illnesses for many years. On February 27, 2011, he died at the Valle Vista Convalescent Hospital in Escondido, California, at the age of 84.
He was the final living Brooklyn Dodger on the field during the 1955 World Series.
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