The 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers were one of baseball’s greatest teams.
They lost the World Championship to the hated New York Yankees, but knowledgeable baseball fans know that the better team sometimes loses four games before they win four games.
Brooklyn's eight starting players included Hall of Famers Jackie Robinson, Duke Snider, Pee Wee Reese, and Roy Campanella.
Gil Hodges, who should be in the Hall of Fame, was at first, Jim Gilliam played second, Billy Cox played third, and Carl Furillo was the right fielder.
Brooklyn won 105 games while losing only 49 (.682), finishing 13 games ahead of the runner-up Braves. They hit 208 home runs and averaged 6.16 runs a game.
Brooklyn's Achilles heel was its pitching staff.
The 1975 Cincinnati Reds were a similar team.
Their eight starting players included Hall of Famers Johnny Bench, Tony Perez, and Joe Morgan, and just as Brooklyn’s Gil Hodges will not be voted into the Hall of Fame, neither will the Reds’ Pete Rose.
There is little doubt that Pete Rose was greater than most Hall of Famers, but Pete’s actions have ensured that he will never be voted into the Hall of Fame.
The irony is that Pete Rose and Gil Hodges's characters couldn't be more antithetical.
The 1975 Reds won 108 and lost 54 (.667), winning the Western Division by 20 games over Los Angeles. They hit 124 home runs and averaged 5.19 runs a game, but like Brooklyn, their pitching staff was suspect.
Gil Hodges was better than Tony Perez.
Yes, Perez is in the Hall of Fame, but Hodges and Perez are extremely close statistically. While both were great leaders, Hodges was the greatest right-handed defensive first baseman to ever play the game, which gives him the edge.
Joe Morgan has a tremendous advantage over Jim Gilliam at second, although the latter was a fine player and an excellent lead-off hitter.
At third base, Billy Cox was light years ahead of Pete Rose defensively, but Pete was a better hitter and added a dimension of intensity to his team that few ever matched.
Pee Wee Reese was a notch below Dave Concepcion with respect to defensive range, but Reese was steadier in the field, a better hitter, and like Hodges, one of the great quiet leaders in the game's history.
Because of Morgan and Rose, the infield edge goes to Cincinnati.
Brooklyn's outfield of Robinson, Snider, and Furillo was clearly superior to the Reds' Foster, Geronimo, and Griffey, although Robinson often played another position.
Despite a few great seasons, Foster’s career wasn't close to Robinson’s.
Duke Snider was one of the great center fielders of all time, while Cesar Geronimo was a great defensive outfielder who didn't hit much.
Carl Furillo and Ken Griffey are close. Carl had more power, Griffey had more speed. Both were great defensively.
Brooklyn gets a substantial edge in the outfield.
Johnny Bench and Roy Campanella were both great catchers. Bench's first full season was 1968, but after catching 105 games in 1980, he played other positions.
Campanella was a major leaguer for only 10 seasons, but it was not his fault that he wasn't allowed to play in the big leagues before 1947.
Bench batted .267 and Campanella batted .276.
Bench averaged 29 home runs and 103 RBIs over a 162 game season.
Campanella averaged 32 home runs and 114 RBIs over a 162 game season, which probably surprises some individuals.
When comparing the two, it's pick 'em.
Brooklyn's pitching, or lack of pitching, cost them the 1953 World Series. Except for 20-game winner Carl Erskine, the staff was average at best.
Russ Meyer, Preacher Roe, Billy Loes, and Johnny Podres had decent, but not outstanding careers.
Cincinnati's pitching staff was similar.
Jack Billingham, Gary Nolan, Don Gullett, Fred Norman, Pat Darcy, and Clay Kirby are never confused with Sandy Koufax or Don Drysdale.
The 1953 Brooklyn Dodgers were a little better than the 1975 Cincinnati Reds, but it is acknowledged that so many variables exist that it could very well be the other way around.
Despite the variables, wouldn't it be fascinating to see either one of those team face the best of today's teams?
With apologies to those who keep Pete Rose out of the Hall of Fame, put your money on the 1953 Dodgers or the 1975 Reds.
References:
http://www.baseball-reference.com/
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