Bums

Summary

Introduction/Prologue:

• Sets the stage, emphasizing the unique relationship between the borough of Brooklyn and its beloved, often frustrating, baseball team.
• Introduces the concept of the "Bums" nickname and the passionate, knowledgeable fanbase.
• Establishes the oral history format, relying on firsthand accounts.

Chapter 1: The Daffiness Boys:

• Focuses on the earlier years (pre-WWII), highlighting the team's reputation for colorful characters and often comical ineptitude (e.g., Babe Herman, Casey Stengel's management).
• Describes the atmosphere of Ebbets Field and the deep connection fans had with the team, even during losing seasons.
• Features voices recalling the quirky nature of the team and the unique character of Brooklyn itself.

Chapter 2: MacPhail:

• Details the arrival of Larry MacPhail as general manager in the late 1930s.
• Covers MacPhail's innovations: introducing night baseball to Ebbets Field, radio broadcasts (with Red Barber), and bringing a new level of professionalism and excitement.
• Discusses the team becoming competitive, culminating in the 1941 pennant win, and the subsequent World Series loss to the Yankees.

Chapter 3: Rickey:

• Chronicles the arrival of Branch Rickey after MacPhail leaves for war service and later joins the Yankees.
• Explains Rickey's strategic vision, including the development of a groundbreaking minor league farm system.
• Sets the stage for Rickey's "great experiment" – the plan to integrate baseball.

Chapter 4: The Noble Experiment:

• Entirely focused on the signing and arrival of Jackie Robinson.
• Features extensive firsthand accounts (from Robinson himself via earlier interviews, teammates like Pee Wee Reese, opponents, Rickey, and observers) about the scouting process, the pressures Robinson faced, the abuse he endured, and his incredible courage and talent.
• Discusses the impact on the team, the league, and American society.

Chapter 5: The Boys of Summer:

• Introduces the core players who would define the Dodgers' glory years: Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, Roy Campanella, Carl Furillo, Carl Erskine, Preacher Roe, Pee Wee Reese, Billy Cox, etc.
• Voices describe the personalities, talents, and interactions of these iconic players.
• Paints a picture of the team's chemistry and dominance in the National League during the late 1940s and early 1950s.

Chapter 6: Wait 'Til Next Year:

• Covers the repeated heartbreaks of the era, particularly the numerous World Series losses to the New York Yankees.
• Details the intense rivalry with the cross-town New York Giants, including the devastating loss in the 1951 playoffs on Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World."
• Captures the fans' perennial optimism and the famous slogan "Wait 'Til Next Year."

Chapter 7: Nineteen Fifty-Five:

• Chronicles the magical 1955 season, the culmination of all the near misses.
• Features jubilant accounts of finally defeating the Yankees in the World Series, the only championship the Dodgers won while in Brooklyn.
• Describes the eruption of joy throughout the borough and the significance of this victory for the players and fans. Johnny Podres's performance is often highlighted.

Chapter 8: The End:

• Details the departure of Branch Rickey and the consolidation of power under owner Walter O'Malley.
• Explores the factors leading to the team's move: O'Malley's desire for a new, modern stadium; the difficulties in securing a suitable site and political support in Brooklyn (including conflicts with Robert Moses); and the lure of burgeoning Los Angeles.
• Features voices expressing the shock, betrayal, and sadness felt by the players and especially the fans as the team leaves Brooklyn for California after the 1957 season.

Epilogue/Afterword:

• Reflects on the legacy of the Brooklyn Dodgers, the enduring memory of the team and Ebbets Field, and the lasting impact of their departure on the borough.
• Final thoughts from the participants, on what the team meant to them and to baseball history.