Jake Pitler

[Shotgun Shuba]

Whenever I would see the old team photos of the Dodgers, I would always notice two fringe people, equipment manager John Griffin(always in a white T-shirt) and a older, grey-haired wizened old coach. I had to know more about him. It turns out(as many of you probably know) his name was Jake Pitler. Does anybody have some interesting information on him?

Photo from vintagecardtraders.com

[Shotgun Shuba]

I am also interested in any information on John Griffin or traveling secretary Lee Scott( the slick looking guy in front of Griffin). He stayed with the club well into the 70's. Griffin is in the 1958 team picture but then disappaers. What happened to him I wonder?

photo from walteromalley.com

[DODGER DEB]

Whenever I would see the old team photos of the Dodgers, I would always notice two fringe people, equipment manager John Griffin(always in a white T-shirt) and a older, grey-haired wizened old coach. I had to know more about him. It turns out(as many of you probably know) his name was Jake Pitler. Does anybody have some interesting information on him?

Photo from vintagecardtraders.com

Here is some information on JAKE, Shotgun.....

http://www.jewsinsports.org/profile....baseball&ID=39

c.

[Brownie31]

Fascinating story on the website.

While having hear of Jake Pitler for years, it is
interesting to find out he was jewish.

If his name is pronounced the way it looks,
it must have been galling after 1933 to have
a name which rhymed with Hitler!

Brownie31

[DODGER DEB]

I am also interested in any information on John Griffin or traveling secretary Lee Scott( the slick looking guy in front of Griffin). He stayed with the club well into the 70's. Griffin is in the 1958 team picture but then disappaers. What happened to him I wonder?

photo from walteromalley.com

"Scotty" went west and stayed with the team through the 1977 season.

As for Senator, I'm not sure what happened to him. I do know he was not a well man, but that he did go west with the team in 1958. After that, I'm drawing a blank.

Let me see what else I can find out.

c.

[DODGER DEB]

Fascinating story on the website.

While having hear of Jake Pitler for years, it is
interesting to find out he was jewish.

If his name is pronounced the way it looks,
it must have been galling after 1933 to have
a name which rhymed with Hitler!

Brownie31

Jake's name was pronounced exactly the way it looks, Brownie.

c.

[Shotgun Shuba]

"Scotty" went west and stayed with the team through the 1977 season.

As for Senator, I'm not sure what happened to him. I do know he was not a well man, but that he did go west with the team in 1958. After that, I'm drawing a blank.

Let me see what else I can find out.

c.

Other people might find this tedious, but I would bet that "Scotty" had the longest day to day tenure with the Dodgers. I don't think even Alston lasted as long. I would love to have been able to talk to him about his experiences and about The Move. Not to be controversial, but I can't recall ANY of the Dodger players or organization EVER bad mouthing O'Malley. They all still loved him. Weird.

[Brownie31]

Other people might find this tedious, but I would bet that "Scotty" had the longest day to day tenure with the Dodgers. I don't think even Alston lasted as long. I would love to have been able to talk to him about his experiences and about The Move. Not to be controversial, but I can't recall ANY of the Dodger players or organization EVER bad mouthing O'Malley. They all still loved him. Weird.

They were paid whether in Brooklyn or LA and O'Malley
signed their checks. This probably cut down on the
bad mouthing.

O'Malley's great sin was not how he treated the hired
help. It was what he did to the people of Brooklyn.

Brownie31

[EbtsFldGuy]

Vince Scully remains among the most loyal to O'Malley.

And with good reason. He was graduated from Fordham in 1949, which made him about 29 during the final season in Brooklyn.

He was just a kid in the business when the team left. O'Malley's decision to bring him to LA solidified his career.

It is interesting, though, that no one affiliated with the team has ever (to my knowledge) criticized OM for leaving Brooklyn.

[DODGER DEB]

Vince Scully remains among the most loyal to O'Malley.

And with good reason. He was graduated from Fordham in 1949, which made him about 29 during the final season in Brooklyn.

He was just a kid in the business when the team left. O'Malley's decision to bring him to LA solidified his career.

It is interesting, though, that no one affiliated with the team has ever (to my knowledge) criticized OM for leaving Brooklyn.

......in public!

c.

[strummer]

This is edited below.

[strummer]

Scully was O'Malley's boy. He was hired by O"Malley to replace Barber, whom O'Malley viewed as a "Rickey man", and he was trying to get rid of all the "Rickey men". He lostr no time getting rid of Shotten, a definite "Rickey man". After Barber tutored Scully for a season or two, O"Malley was able to engineer his dismissal, just like he engineered Dressen's departure. Guys like Harold Roth and Lee Scott were never viewed as "Rickey men"

[Shotgun Shuba]

I think through my own flow of thought I have altered the original intent of the post but I have found it very interesting. I think that everybody is right in their observations. I am just very interested in that transitional period of 1957-1967. When the Dodgers came back in 1977 to play the Yanks they were clearly a distant memory, but in 1963? It had been about 5 years!!! I can remember 5 years ago like yesterday, is 2001 so long ago? What did Gil think of playing for the LA Dodgers? Duke? Was the '59 Championship as sweet? Did Lee Scott miss Brooklyn? Did a native New Yorker like Scully have any doubts? Anyway, I ramble. It is a message though to any fan, loyalty is to the checkbook. Et Tu Vinny?

[musial6]

When Scully broke in, he was BAD. No announcer ever improved as much as he did.

[Shotgun Shuba]

The voices of the Dodgers.


Photo from walteromalley.com

[DODGER DEB]

The voices of the Dodgers.


Photo from walteromalley.com

I know you mean well, Shotgun, and I do appreciate the photo of Vinny, Red and Connie....but, that other person is hardly welcome here on OUR Forum. Seeing his face, needlessly, still makes me see RED!

c.

[Brownie31]

I know you mean well, Shotgun, and I do appreciate the photo of Vinny, Red and Connie....but, that other person is hardly welcome here on OUR Forum. Seeing his face, needlessly, still makes me see RED!

c.

Especially with that hat and that grin!
Oh Really? No, O'Malley!

Brownie31

[Shotgun Shuba]

I know you mean well, Shotgun, and I do appreciate the photo of Vinny, Red and Connie....but, that other person is hardly welcome here on OUR Forum. Seeing his face, needlessly, still makes me see RED!

c.

Sorry, DD. Find a happy place.

Photo from worldseries.com

[DODGER DEB]

Sorry, DD. Find a happy place.

Photo from worldseries.com

THAT'S more like it, Shotgun.

Thanks for bringing a smile to my face...as this wonderful photo always, always does! I remember it well!

c.

[Flatbush Flock]

I think through my own flow of thought I have altered the original intent of the post but I have found it very interesting. I think that everybody is right in their observations. I am just very interested in that transitional period of 1957-1967. When the Dodgers came back in 1977 to play the Yanks they were clearly a distant memory, but in 1963? It had been about 5 years!!! I can remember 5 years ago like yesterday, is 2001 so long ago? What did Gil think of playing for the LA Dodgers? Duke? Was the '59 Championship as sweet? Did Lee Scott miss Brooklyn? Did a native New Yorker like Scully have any doubts? Anyway, I ramble. It is a message though to any fan, loyalty is to the checkbook. Et Tu Vinny?

Irving Rudd blasted O'Malley in This Sporting Life

[Flatbush Flock]

Here's some more about Jake Pitler

In the encyclopedia of JEWS in sports, Pitler tells of his playing career: "I broke into organized ball in 1912 at Connelsville, Pa., but I didn't last. In 1913 I signed with Jackson, Michigan, played shortstop and second base, fielded pretty good, but I didn't hit too well. In 1915, this league folded and Detroit took over my contract and shipped me to Chattanooga in the Southern League...I hit a ton, about .360, and the Pittsburgh club bought my contract...I found the major leagues too tough from a hitting standpoint, but there was one day I'll never forget. I got two triples off the great Grover Cleveland Alexander. I certainly felt good about that." Pitler played 111 games in the majors and was a .232 lifetime hitter. He did hit 8 doubles and 5 triples in 1917, with 6 stolen bases.
When the Pirates farmed Pitler out three games into the 1918 season, Jake decided to drop out of organized ball rather than play in the minors. He began coaching in the late 1920s and joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1948. Jake coached under four different managers and six pennant winners, including the 1955 World Series champs. On two occasions, he was honored at Ebbets Field, and he donated all gifts to the Beth-El Hospital in Brooklyn for the establishment of a special Jake Pitler Therapy Room. When the Dodgers moved to Los Angeles, Pitler remained with the organization as a scout on the East Coast.

[DODGER DEB]

OK, Shotgun, (as I promised) here is the info on both "Senator" Griffin and Scotty....

"The Senator" was still with the Dodgers as their equipment manager when he went east with the team to Pittsburgh on May 5, 1963, where he was stricken during the 5th inning of a game at Forbes Field and pronounced dead. Coach Pete Reiser brought word of his death to the Dodger bench. He had been stricken earlier with a gall bladder attack. He was 59 years old. The Senator was born and raised in BROOKLYN, and served as a batboy, peanut vendor, cluhouse custodian, and equipment manager for his beloved Dodgers. He was a EBBETS FIELD landmark and living legend. His association with the Dodgers started when Uncle Robbie was the OUR Manager. He was buried in BROOKLYN.

"Scotty" (the DODGERS Traveling Secretary) retired from the Dodgers in 1978. He passed away, after a long illness, on November 26, 1983.

Scotty joined the BROOKLYN DODGERS in 1948 after a career as a newspaper reporter with both the BROOKLYN EAGLE and the BROOKLYN CITIZEN. He was buried in Glendale, CA.

c.

[Shotgun Shuba]

Thanks, DD!
I really find all the people who surrounded the Dodgers to be interesting as well as the players. Griffin sounds like an interesting man. He seems to have seen it all with his beloved team. He was a lucky guy. You are a valuable Brooklyn resource DD, when is your book coming out?

[DODGER DEB]

Thanks, DD!
I really find all the people who surrounded the Dodgers to be interesting as well as the players. Griffin sounds like an interesting man. He seems to have seen it all with his beloved team. He was a lucky guy. You are a valuable Brooklyn resource DD, when is your book coming out?

The Senator was a very kind and wonderful man who loved OUR DODGERS as much as WE did. In fact, in OUR years, it was hard to find any true BROOKLYN fan that wasn't the same way. He would do just about anything for OUR guys...and frequently did. He and Charlie "Brow" were a heck of a clubhouse team......and WE were so fortunate to have them!

I am still working hard on my book, and I am confident it will be just what I want it to be, to anyone interested in OUR BROOKLYN DODGERS, when it is finally finished. Thank you for asking, Shotgun!

c.

[tonypug]

OK, Shotgun, (as I promised) here is the info on both "Senator" Griffin and Scotty....

"The Senator" was still with the Dodgers as their equipment manager when he went east to with the team to Pittsburgh on May 5, 1963, where he was stricken during the 5th inning of a game at Forbes Field and pronounced dead. Coach Pete Reiser brought word of his death to the Dodger bench. He had been stricken earlier with a gall bladder attack. He was 59 years old. The Senator was born and raised in BROOKLYN, and served as a batboy, peanut vendor, cluhouse custodian, and equipment manager for his beloved Dodgers. He was a EBBETS FIELD landmark and living legend. His association with the Dodgers started when Uncle Robbie was the OUR Manager. He was buried in BROOKLYN.

"Scotty" (the DODGERS Traveling Secretary) retired from the Dodgers in 1978. He passed away, after a long illness, on November 26, 1983.

Scotty joined the BROOKLYN DODGERS in 1948 after a career as a newspaper reporter with both the BROOKLYN EAGLE and the BROOKLYN CITIZEN. He was buried in Glendale, CA.

c.

I don't know of another team in baseball history or today where the Clubhouse man, batboy, traveling secretary etc. were almost as well known as the players.