1948 Brooklyn Dodgers season


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

Future Hall of Famer Roy Campanella made his major league debut on April 20. 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.
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

Notable transactions

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.HRRBI
C8327972.258945
1B134481120.2491170
2B147574170.2961285
3B8823759.249315
SS151566155.274975
OF133400116.2901560
OF108364108.297444
OF8828192.327015

Other batters

Note: G=Games played; AB=At bats; H=Hits; Avg.=Batting average; HR=Home runs; RBI=Runs batted in
PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
9628679.276854
6316143.267432
5316039.244521
6412730.236119
6512330.244322
12132.15400

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G=Games pitched; IP=Innings pitched; W=Wins; L=Losses; ERA=Earned run average; SO=Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
44246.215133.10138
36215.21493.51122
1780.2275.3632

Other pitchers

Note: G=Games pitched; IP=Innings pitched; W=Wins; L=Losses; ERA=Earned run average; SO=Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
34177.21282.6386
1764633.2329
23.1018.101

Relief pitchers

Note: G=Games pitched; W=Wins; L=Losses; SV=Saves; ERA=Earned run average; SO=Strikeouts
PlayerGWLSVERASO
345474.0542
223048.007

Awards and honors

Rex Barney
Ralph Branca
Pee Wee Reese
Jackie Robinson
Preacher Roe
LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Montreal, St. Paul, Ft. Worth, Greenville, Nashua, Newport News, Santa Barbara, Pulaski, Sheboygan, Zanesville