1936 Brooklyn Dodgers

1936 Brooklyn Dodgers / Franchise: Los Angeles Dodgers / BR Team Page

Record: 67-87, Finished 7th in National League (1936 NL)

Managed by Casey Stengel

Coaches: Otto Miller and Zack Taylor

Ballpark: Ebbets Field

History, Comments, Contributions

The 1936 Brooklyn Dodgers were the nadir of Casey Stengel's time as the Dodgers' manager. Casey, who had played for Brooklyn from 1912 to 1917, managed the Dodgers from 1934 to 1936.

The team finished seventh in 1936, ahead only of the Philadelphia Phillies, who lost 100 games. Brooklyn did better in attendance than in wins, finishing third in the league in that category.

The two best hitters did not get enough at-bats to be regulars, with Babe Phelps hitting .367 and leading the team with 5 homers in 319 at-bats in his first major league season with over 150 at-bats, and Eddie Wilson hitting .347 as a rookie. Another player with fewer than 350 at-bats, Jim Bucher, had 8 triples to be second on the team in that stat.

Among the regulars, Frenchy Bordagaray was one of the best hitters with a .315 batting average and .419 slugging percentage. He also led the team in steals. Joe Stripp, the third baseman, had a higher batting average at .317, but had a lower slugging percentage although he led the team in doubles with 31. Rookie first baseman Buddy Hassett hit .310 with 11 triples.

The oldest position player, George Watkins, was released by the Phillies in May and was picked up by the Dodgers, for whom he became the regular left fielder in his last major league season.

The pitchers were stronger than the hitters. Pitching in a hitters' park, the pitchers posted an ERA that was fifth-best in the league, with Fred Frankhouse having a winning record of 13-10 and Van Mungo coming close with 18-19.

Young Tom Baker went 1-8 but came back for a couple more major league seasons. The 36-year-old George Earnshaw, formerly a big star with the Philadelphia Athletics when he was younger, went 4-9 in a partial season with the Dodgers during his last major league season.

The Dodgers would turn to Burleigh Grimes as their manager in 1937 and 1938 but would not post a winning record until Leo Durocher became the manager in 1939, when the team went 84-69. They would get better in 1940 and then win the pennant in 1941 with a starting lineup and pitching rotation that was completely different than the one in 1936. Babe Phelps, however, was still on the team in his second-to-last major league season.

Awards and Honors

• All-Star: Van Mungo