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Who is Duke Snider?
Duke Snider is an American baseball player. Duke Snider spent much of his career with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Duke was selected to the National League (NL) All-Star team eight times and was voted the 1955 NL Most Valuable Player (MVP) runner.
Duke played for a number of other teams over his career, including the Brooklyn Dodgers, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants.
Early Childhood and Education
Duke Snider was born on September 19, 1926, in Los Angeles, California. Edwin Donald Snider was his name at birth.
His father later gave him the moniker “Duke” when he was five years old due to his confidence.
He would hear his father say, “Here comes the Duke.” Ward Snider (the father) and Florence Johnson Snider gave birth to him (Mother).
He was also the only kid born to the couple. In his home Ohio, Ward Snider himself played semi-pro baseball.
Duke is of White ancestry and American nationality. Whether he practiced any religion at all or what it was is unknown.
He attended Compton High School and graduated in 1944. As a well-known all-around athlete in high school, Duke participated in baseball, football, basketball, track, and basketball.
He is said to have been a strong-armed quarterback who could throw the ball up to 70 yards.
He played basketball with Pete Rozelle, who would later become the commissioner of the National Football League.
On the baseball club, he had significant pitching and hitting abilities.
Net Worth & Income
Duke Snider’s estimated net worth as a well-known professional baseball player was $2 million.
Duke received a $50,000 yearly salary in 1956. In addition, his annual compensation when playing for the New York Mets in 1963 was $36,000.
This, however, was incredibly modest when compared to other athletes, including Mickey Mantle, who earned roughly $100,000 per year.
Facts of 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 |
| Education | Compton High School |
| 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 |
| Married | Yes |
| Spouse | Beverly Null Snider |
| Children | 4; Kevin Snider, Pam Chodola, Kurt Snider, Dawana Amino |
| Profession | Baseball Player |
| Jersey Number | #28 (San Francisco Giants), #4 (Los Angeles Dodgers) |
| Affiliations | Major League Baseball (MLB) |
| Teams | Brooklyn Dodgers, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, San Francisco Giants |
| Net Worth | $2 million |
| Merch | Jersey, Rookie Card |
| Last Update | July, 2022 |
Professional Career
Duke was a successful professional baseball player from the United States.
Here are his accomplishments, from playing for the Los Angeles Dodgers to the San Francisco Giants, in more detail.
Little League
One of Branch Rickey’s scouts discovered Duke in the 1940s.
Following that, Duke was given a baseball contract in 1943 that included a $750 bonus and a $250 monthly wage.
He briefly participated in baseball with the Montreal Royals of the International League in 1944, hitting twice, and the Newport News Dodgers of the Class B Piedmont League in the same year.
He participated in 131 games there, batting.294, and led the league with 34 doubles and 9 home runs.
In the outfield, he recorded 25 assists as well. In 1946, he played for the Fort Worth Cats, and in 1947, he played for the St. Paul Saints.
Everyone could see his potential clearly due to his powerful swing, grace in the field, and blazing speed. Duke was regarded as the crowning achievement of the Dodgers.
Premier League
Los Angeles Dodgers
Duke had the opportunity to try out for the Brooklyn Dodgers during their spring training in 1947, and he served as the team’s backup outfielder on opening day.
He received his first at-bat in the major league on April 17 during the Brooklyn Dodgers’ second game of the 1947 campaign, when he singled.
He participated in 39 more games that season after that.
He was assigned to the St. Paul team on July 4th, 1947, but was later transferred back to the Dodgers at the close of the season, just in time for the World Series matchup with the New York Yankees.
Prince Snider
During spring training in 1948, Rickey and hitting instructor George Sisler assisted Duke in adjusting his overswing.
The turning point in Duke’s baseball career occurred during this spring training.
In the 1948 season, Duke was loaned to Montreal following spring training.
He was a regular major leaguer starting in 1949. He was batting his way into the World Series while hitting more home runs.
He took part in six postseason games 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 squad relocated to Los Angeles. The squad changed, and Duke’s career stats fell.
He only hit 15 home runs in 1958, but he did contribute to the Dodgers’ World Series victory in Los Angeles.
He was only 35 when he had gray hair and a sore knee by 1961. He finally became a part-time player as a result.
Mets of New York
Duke eventually joined the New York Mets after departing the Dodgers.
On April 16, 1963, at Crosley Field against the Cincinnati Reds, he recorded his 2000th hit on a single-off by Jim Maloney in the second inning.
Additionally, he hit his 400th home run against Bob Purkey in the first inning against the Cincinnati Reds.
He was named to the eighth and final All-Star Game in Cleveland.
He played in 129 games for the New York Mets, hitting.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 as opposed to his normal number 4.
He played in 91 games for the San Francisco Giants, hitting.210/.302/.323 with four home runs, 17 RBIs, 22 walks, and 40 strikeouts.
The San Francisco Giants used him at three different positions. After the season, he decided to retire.
He concluded his career with a batting average of.295 along with 2116 hits, 1259 runs, 407 home runs, and 1333 RBI.
Other
After retiring, Duke worked as a play-by-play announcer and well-liked TV/radio analyst for the San Diego Padres from 1969 to 1971.
The Montreal Expos were his next stop from 1973 through 1986.
Additionally, Duke played himself as a professional baseball player in movies and television shows.
His filmography includes roles as himself in “Hero Father,” Wallace in “The Retired Gun,” and a cameo spot on “The Rifleman.”
The Geisha Boy (1958), the Cranker in “The Trouble with Girls” (1969), and a Steamer fan in “Pastime” are some examples of other roles (1990).
“Brooklyn Dodgers: The Ghosts of Flatbush” also included him (2007). Not to mention that he and Bill Gilbert co-wrote a book titled The Duke of Flatbush.
Tax Fraud Scandal
The practice of retiring athletes making public appearances and signing autographs became popular in the 1980s and 1990s.
Duke was therefore in high demand as well. He did, however, save some of his cash fees and omitted to report them on his tax filings.
He and fellow Hall of Famer Willie McCovey were both charged with tax evasion in 1995. They both entered guilty pleas.
Duke acknowledged earning more than $100,000 from those appearances between 1984 and 1993.
He received a two-year probationary period, a $5,000 punishment, and a mandate to pay up to $57,000 in unpaid taxes, interest, and penalties. Snider later issued a formal apology.
The player profile for Duke
Duke was graceful and athletic, and he had a fantastic throwing arm. He was exceptionally talented, competitive, and determined to achieve.
Coaches used to be in awe of his potential, explosive swing, poise in the field, and lightning-quick footwork.
He was renowned for having a terrible temperament and temper during his time. He was volatile, moody, and immature.
Wife & Children
Beverly Null, Duke’s high school love, and Duke Snider got married. Together, they have four kids: Pam, Kurt, Kevin, and Dawna.
Since this was before social media and the internet, there aren’t many details available about their marriage.
But throughout his entire life, there were never any rumors that Duke was seeing someone other.
He was only allowed to be with one woman till his passing.
In 1945 and 1946, he served for eighteen months in the US Navy. He owned a bowling alley and an avocado ranch at one time in his life.
He had a heart attack in 1987, went through valve replacement surgery, lost 25 pounds, and experienced other symptoms.
Height, Age, and Physical Description
Duke Snider, who died at the age of 84, was a Virgo because of his September 19 birthdate. At his height peak, he was 1.83 meters (6 feet 0 inches) tall.
He carried 150 pounds (or 68 kg). He was an attractive man with a strong physique, brown hair, and blue eyes—features ideal for an athlete.
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Death
Duke suffered from diabetes, hypertension, and other conditions for many years.
He passed away on February 27, 2011, in the Valle Vista Convalescent Hospital in Escondido, California, at the age of 84.
For the final out of the 1955 World Series, he was the final surviving Brooklyn Dodger on the field.
