On Jan. 9, 1980 former Brooklyn and Los Angeles Dodgers center fielder Duke Snider was elected into the Baseball Hall of Fame. The Dodgers signed Snider as an amateur free agent in 1943, and he went on to play 16 years for the organization.
Born on Sept. 19, 1926, Snider grew up in Southern California, and went on to play baseball, football and basketball at Compton High School prior to signing with the Dodgers. He made his Major League debut in 1947, but did not earn an everyday spot until 1949.
Snider was named an All-Star seven straight times from 1950-56, and finished in the top-10 in National League MVP voting in five of those seasons.