Leo Durocher returned as manager of the Brooklyn Dodgers to start the 1948 season but was fired in mid-season. He was replaced first by team coach Ray Blades and then by Burt Shotton, who had managed the team to the 1947 pennant. The Dodgers finished third in the National League after this tumultuous season.
The 1948 Dodgers were very much a work in progress, beginning to coalesce into the classic "Boys of Summer" teams of the 1950s. Gil Hodges was in the opening day lineup, but as a catcher. He would only be shifted to first base after the emergence of Roy Campanella. Jackie Robinson started the season at second base—Eddie Stanky had been traded just before the start of the season to make room for Robinson at his natural position; he had played first base during his 1947 rookie season. Pee Wee Reese was the only "Boys of summer" regular to already be ensconced at his position, shortstop. Billy Cox had been acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates during the offseason, but as one of nine players who would see time at third for the team that year, he only played 70 games at the position. Carl Furillo was already a regular, but in center field. Duke Snider was brought up to the team in mid-season, and it was not until 1949 that Furillo moved to right field and Snider became the regular center fielder.
Preacher Roe and Ralph Branca were in the starting rotation, but Carl Erskine only appeared in a handful of games, and Don Newcombe would not join the staff until the following year.
Offseason November 14, 1947: Stan RojekStan Rojek page at Baseball Reference and Ed StevensEd Stevens page at Baseball Reference were purchased from the Dodgers by the Pittsburgh Pirates. December 3, 1947: Monty Basgall was traded by the Dodgers to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Jimmy Bloodworth and Vic Barnhart.Jimmy Bloodworth page at Baseball Reference December 8, 1947: Dixie Walker, Hal Gregg and Vic Lombardi were traded by the Dodgers to the Pittsburgh Pirates for Preacher Roe, Billy Cox and Gene Mauch.Dixie Walker page at Baseball Reference March 6, 1948: Eddie Stanky was traded by the Dodgers to the Boston Braves for Bama Rowell, Ray Sanders and cash.Eddie Stanky page at Baseball Reference
Regular season Future Hall of Famer Roy Campanella made his major league debut on April 20.Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season, p. 267, Jonathan Eig, Simon & Schuster, 2007, New York, In July, Campanella replaced Bruce Edwards as the club's starting catcher. This marked the first time that a major league team had two black players in its everyday lineup.Opening Day: The Story of Jackie Robinson's First Season, p. 267
On September 9, Rex Barney pitched a no-hitter against the New York Giants. He walked two batters and struck out four in a 2–0 victory.
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Opening Day lineup +Opening Day lineupName PositionJackie RobinsonSecond basemanArky VaughanLeft fielderPreston WardFirst basemanCarl FurilloCenter fielderPee Wee ReeseShortstopDick WhitmanRight fielderBilly CoxThird basemanGil HodgesCatcherRex BarneyStarting pitcher
Notable transactions April 18, 1948: Ray Sanders was purchased from the Dodgers by the Boston Braves.Ray Sanders page at Baseball Reference September 29, 1948: Jimmy Bloodworth was purchased from the Dodgers by the Cincinnati Reds.
Roster 1948 Brooklyn DodgersRosterPitchersCatchers
InfieldersOutfieldersManager
Coaches
Player stats
Batting
Starters by position Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg.= Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBIC8327972.2589451B134481120.24911702B147574170.29612853B8823759.249315SS151566155.274975OF133400116.2901560OF108364108.297444OF8828192.327015
Other batters Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg.= Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI9628679.2768548622147.2132166016548.2910206316143.2674325316039.2445214214638.2601215414535.2412206412730.2361196512330.244322319027.300113276913.1881512132.154009122.16700430.00000
Pitching
Starting pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts PlayerGIPWLERASO44246.215133.1013836215.21493.511221780.2275.3632
Other pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts PlayerGIPWLERASO42208.213103.587334177.21282.638641125.1664.45741764.0633.232947.1016.14123.1018.101
Relief pitchers Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts PlayerGWLSVERASO345474.0542284312.4423274445.1934223048.00790108.03530003.60130006.232200013.50010000.000
Awards and honors 1948 Major League Baseball All-Star Game Ralph Branca starter Pee Wee Reese starter
League top five finishers Rex Barney #2 in NL in strikeouts (138) #4 in NL in shutouts (4)
Ralph Branca #5 in NL in strikeouts (122)
Pee Wee Reese #2 in NL in stolen bases (25)
Jackie Robinson #4 in NL in runs scored (108) #4 in NL in stolen bases (22) #4 in NL in doubles (38)
Preacher Roe #4 in NL in ERA (2.63)
Farm system LevelTeamLeagueManagerAAAMontreal RoyalsInternational LeagueClay HopperAAASt. Paul SaintsAmerican AssociationWalter AlstonAAFort Worth CatsTexas LeagueLes BurgeGeorge DockinsBobby BraganAAMobile BearsSouthern AssociationAlfred ToddAGreenville SpinnersSouth Atlantic LeagueGreg MulleavyAPueblo DodgersWestern LeagueJohn FitzpatrickBAsheville TouristsTri-State LeagueClay BryantBDanville DodgersIllinois–Indiana–Iowa LeaguePaul ChervinkoBLancaster Red RosesInterstate LeagueDibrell WilliamsJack KnightBNashua DodgersNew England LeagueAl CampanisBNewport News DodgersPiedmont LeagueRoy SchalkCAbilene Blue SoxWest Texas–New Mexico LeagueArt BowlandOtis DavisCGreenwood DodgersCotton States LeagueJim BivinCIdaho Falls RussetsPioneer LeagueJay Kirke, Jr.Lewis GarlandCJohnstown JohnniesMiddle Atlantic LeagueRoy NicholsCSanta Barbara DodgersCalifornia LeagueChester KehnDTrois-Rivières RoyalsCanadian–American LeagueEd HeadDCairo DodgersKentucky–Illinois–Tennessee LeagueHugh HollidayNorbert HallDCambridge DodgersEastern Shore LeagueBob VickeryStew HofferthDMedford NuggetsFar West LeagueLarry ShepardDOlean OilersPennsylvania–Ontario–New York LeagueGreg MulleavyDPonca City DodgersKansas–Oklahoma–Missouri LeagueBoyd BartleyDPulaski CountsAppalachian LeagueGeorge PfisterDSheboygan IndiansWisconsin State LeagueJoe HauserDValdosta DodgersGeorgia–Florida LeagueLou RochelliDZanesville DodgersOhio–Indiana LeagueRay Hathaway LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Montreal, St. Paul, Ft. Worth, Greenville, Nashua, Newport News, Santa Barbara, Pulaski, Sheboygan, Zanesville
Notes
References Baseball-Reference season page Baseball Almanac season page
External links 1948 Brooklyn Dodgers uniform Brooklyn Dodgers reference site Acme Dodgers page Retrosheet