DATE: 1949-55 ORIGINAL or REPRINT: Type 3 - Second or later-generation photo, printed from a duplicate negative or wire photo process, within about 2 years of when it was shot TEAM: New York Giants SUBJECTS: Leo Durocher, Wes Westrum, Unidentified Umpire ISSUER: Associated Press APPROXIMATE SIZE: 7-1/8"x9" NUMBER OF PHOTOS: 1 COMMENTS / CONDITION: This is one of a number of photos to be offered which hail from the personal collection of All-Star player and manager Eddie Stanky. Wear on these, if any, is mostly confined to minor corner and edge wear, but see scans for further details including condition. We do not deal in stock images or modern reprints, and all scans shown are of the actual vintage photograph, slide or negative being sold. If you have any questions about a particular piece, please ask before the auction ends. BIO: Leo Ernest Durocher (The Lip) was born in West Springfield, MA and died in 1991 in Palm Springs, CA. He played major league baseball from 1925 to 1945 as shortstop for the New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, St. Louis Cardinals and the Brooklyn Dodgers, appeared in the 1928 and 1934 World Series, was selected 3 times as an All-Star, and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1994. Durocher managed the Brooklyn Dodgers from 1939-46 and 1948, the New York Giants from 1948-55, the Chicago Cubs from 1966-72, and the Houston Astros from 1972-73. Wesley Noreen Westrum was born in 1922 in Clearbrook, MN and died in 2002 in Clearbrook, MN of cancer at the age of 79. He played major league baseball from 1947 to 1957 as catcher for the New York Giants, appeared in the 1951 and 1954 World Series, and was selected in 1952 and 1953 as an All-Star. Signed by the Giants in 1941, Westrum missed three seasons (1943-1945) seasons while still in the minors due to military service during World War II. He reached the majors late in the 1947 season after hitting 22 homers with the Minneapolis Millers that year and spent most of the next two years as a backup catcher with the team. He also was with the Jersey City Giants for part of the 1949 campaign and hit an International League record 5 grands slams in just 51 games with the club. Westrum became the Giants regular catcher in 1950 and had an excellent year at the plate, hitting 23 home runs and driving in 71 runs. He went on to catch every game for the Giants in the 1951 and 1954 World Series and was a National League All-Star in 1952 and 1953. After finishing his playing career in 1957, Westrum remained with the Giants as a coach when they moved to San Francisco the next year. After six seasons on their staff, he was a part of one of the more unusual swaps in baseball history: he was "traded" to the New York Mets for coach Cookie Lavagetto. He eventually replaced Casey Stengel as the Mets manager in 1965 when Stengel, 76, broke his hip and was forced to retire. He remained at the helm of the team for just over two seasons, stepping down late in the 1967 campaign. Westrum returned to the Giants coaching staff from 1968 to 1971 and replaced Charlie Fox as the team's skipper in 1974. Under his leadership, the club improved from fifth place to third in 1975, but he was replaced by Bill Rigney after the season. Westrum stayed in the game as a scout for the Atlanta Braves for many years. Wes Westrum appeared on the first Sports Illustrated cover in August 1954. He was the catcher, Eddie Mathews was the batter, and Augie Donatelli was the umpire. SKU: XP12406
Item: XP12406
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