Schaefer Beer took over the top section of the scoreboard and created the first version of their iconic sign. The Ebbets Field scoreboard we all know and love made its appearance in 1949. The actual Ebbets Field scoreboard in Jackie’s rookie season is much less photogenic that the movie depicts: Problem is, the scoreboard they showed Jackie playing in was the better-known 1957 version, not what it looked like in 1947, the season the movie was supposed to take place. In any case, the movie tried to recreate some of the iconic ballparks of the era including Ebbets Field. I felt the flick played fast and loose with the facts when the actual story told truthfully would have been more powerful. I’m not a fan of 42, the Jackie Robinson movie from 2013. You can see the indicator at the top of the scoreboard, just below the Consolidated Edison sign. While it wasn’t as eye catching as the later “h” and “e” that lit up in the Shaefer sign, it did add a bit of illumination to the scoreboard. The end of World War II brought a new innovation to Ebbets’ scoreboard in the shape of a light up “Hit” and “Error” indicator. Instead of changing ads from Consolidated Edison, the company patriotically stayed with a standard War Bonds message from 1942-1945: World War II brought a major change to the scoreboard. It is a Bulova-sponsored clock, but it is different that the one that graced the scoreboard in the 1950s: Interestingly, this was the first time a clock appeared atop the Ebbets Field scoreboard. After making a serious run at the pennant in 1940, the Dodgers finally won in ’41. Here is the 1940 version of the scoreboard showing a different ad:īy 1941 the Dodgers had gone from the National League’s “lovable losers” to heavyweight contender. And because it was just a standard billboard, the messaging changed often, sometimes in the same year. Another thing of note is that the ad on the top was for Consolidated Edison, the electric company that served Brooklyn at the time. What was interesting was that the Abe Stark sign on the base was pretty much the same as it was when the Dodgers left in 1957. Not only did it lack the bright Schaefer sign on top, but it didn’t even have a clock. I wanted to know what the scoreboard looked like, and using period snapshots, recreated it:Īs you can see, it was pretty basic. One of the first things he did was modernize and refresh Ebbets Field. That is the year Larry MacPhail took over as the team’s executive vice-president and general manager. Sure, we all know the mid-1950s red Schaefer sign version – but what did it look like in 1950? 1946? 1940? I wanted to know. This set me off on a path of recreating the evolution of the Ebbets Field scoreboard. But something got me thinking about the scoreboard. I selected a small section of the sign and wrapped up my illustration. Graig and I both work late night hours so it was no surprise that he replied to my midnight email in minutes with a bunch of 1951 Ebbets Field photos he had in his files.įrom Graig’s photos, I settled on using the famous Abe Stark “Hit Sign Win Suit” sign that was on the bottom of the scoreboard. We often swap intel on uniform colors, cap logos and ballparks, so I shot him a late night email. And, like me, he’s a stickler for the details. Graig specializes in bringing old black and white photos of the greats of the game to life in full color oil painted brilliance. You’ve no doubt seen him on TV or in a magazine – he’s the modern baseball Norman Rockwell. Luckily I knew someone who might be able to help – artist Graig Kreindler. I had a few 1951 photos but none showed the detail or ads that I wanted. I depicted Gil in a 1951 home jersey, so I needed whatever ad that appears behind him to be correct to 1951. I wanted to show some of the great old Ebbets Field advertising behind Gil so began looking for period photos. The reason for my recent tangent was the story and illustration I did of Gil Hodges. It’s as iconic as the white arches of old Yankee Stadium or the exploding scoreboard in Chicago. Pretty much every baseball fan can close their eyes and see the scoreboard with its famous red and white Schaefer Beer logo on top and yellow Abe Stark sign below. In the history of American sports there is no place that is eulogized and mythicised as Ebbets Field. My most recent tangent brought me to the corner of Bedford Avenue and Sullivan Place in Brooklyn. By “fall into a well” I mean find myself stalking off on a tangent away from what I am supposed to be working on to pursue a new idea or concept. Sometimes I fall into a well while working on something.
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