Through a Blue Lens: The Brooklyn Dodger Photographs of Barney Stein 1937-1957 [Hardcover]

Dennis D'Agostino (Author), Bonnie Crosby (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1, 2007

As one of New York's legendary news photographers, Barney Stein covered everything from popes to presidents, from gangsters to glamour girls. But no job brought him more joy and fame than as the official team photographer for the legendary Brooklyn Dodgers. For two decades, his camera captured the Dodgers in all their glory, both on and off the field. Now, to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Dodgers' last season in Brooklyn, Barney Stein's photos live again.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

"I'll say the same thing about Barney that I always say about Mr. [Branch] Rickey. He was the best, and there will never be another like him."

--Buzzie Bavasi "Barney was always looking for the little extra-special photograph that not too many other guys would think about."

--Duke Snider "We all do fantasy camps at Vero Beach. Well, when someone lines us up for a picture, and they flash the picture, one of us old Dodgers always says, `Uno mas!' That was Barney's line. He always wanted to take one more. `Uno mas! Uno mas!' That was his trademark."

--Carl Erskine

From the Inside Flap

One of the most beloved teams in American sport, the Brooklyn Dodgers, has become a national icon since its departure for the West Coast. Its story has been told many times in many ways . . . but never like this.

Barney Stein was the Dodgers' official team photographer, an assignment he held for 21 years, from 1937 until the team left for Los Angeles. With access that no other media member had, his camera chronicled every aspect of the team's most memorable years--the great games, the legendary stars, the behind-the-scenes moments, and the personalities that made the Ebbets Field era so unforgettable.

For the last half-century, Stein's Dodgers work has remained one of the sports world's lost treasures. Except for rare and scattered glimpses it has not been published or otherwise seen since the team headed west. Now, to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Dodgers last season in Brooklyn, Barney Stein's Dodgers photographs live again.

With nearly 200 photographs, Through a Blue Lens takes you to every corner of Ebbets Field. Readers will meet the on- and off-the-field legends who made the Brooklyn years so unforgettable, and they'll relive the team's legendary triumphs and heartbreaks, including never-before-published photos of the final game at Ebbets Field in September 1957.

In addition, first-person memories and anecdotes from surviving Dodgers legends give a unique dimension to this Brooklyn family album. Hall of Famers Duke Snider, as well as Carl Erskine, Ralph Branca, Clem Labine, and Johnny Podres join legendary announcer Vin Scully, longtime executive Buzzie Bavasi, and Joan (Mrs. Gil) Hodges to salute Barney not only as a great photographer but as a loving and considerate friend to all who wore Dodger Blue. Also included throughout the narrative are Stein's own words, excerpted from his previously unpublished memoirs.

Bonnie Stein Crosby has lovingly retained and catalogued the Brooklyn Dodgers photos of her late father. Dennis D'Agostino is one of sports' most prolific authors and historians. Together their efforts have vividly and dramatically made the Dodgers' days in Brooklyn come alive . . . through the Dodger Blue lens of Barney Stein.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Triumph Books; First Printing edition (April 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1572439521
• ISBN-13: 978-1572439528
• Product Dimensions: 10.3 x 9.2 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #266,279 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #34 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Sports

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Do We Need Another Book About The Brooklyn Dodgers? Yes!, June 10, 2007

By 

C. W. Emblom "Bill Emblom" (Ishpeming, Michigan USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Through a Blue Lens: The Brooklyn Dodger Photographs of Barney Stein 1937-1957 (Hardcover)

Forests have been felled with books written about the much beloved Brooklyn Dodgers. Roger Kahn, Carl Erskine, Red Barber, and numerous others have relished telling us what life was like with Brooklyn baseball, especially from the years 1947 through 1957. In addition, numerous authors have written about Jackie Robinson. However, author Dennis D'Agostino and Bonnie Crosby, daughter of Barney Stein, who was the official photographer of the Brooklyn Dodgers have put together several of Barney's photographs of his years in covering the Dodgers from 1937 through their last season of 1957 in Brooklyn. These are photos not seen before in other books, and numerous details are provided that the reader may otherwise overlook in the picture. I'm fortunate to have the book entitled "The Rhubarb Patch" published in 1954 with Barney Stein's photos and text by Red Barber, and this new effort is a treasure trove of photos from this historical era. One photo that has been often seen is of Jackie Robinson stealing home in the 1955 World Series on pages 90 and 91. The view we are given shows the entire dugout and many of the fans in the stands, several dressed in neckties and fedoras. The on-deck batter for the Dodgers, Frank Kellert, appears to have the best view of whether Robinson was safe or out. When asked for his opinion on the play Kellert drew the rath of Robinson by answering, "I thought he was out." Not mentioned in the caption, but seated in the front row of the stands is "The Big O", Dodgers' owner Walter O'Malley, nattily attired in suit and tie. I'm thankful I can remember the Dodgers of the 1950's, but whether you are old enough to do so or not, if you enjoy baseball history, I would highly recommend, yes, one more book on the Brooklyn Dodgers.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderful and evocative book, June 3, 2007

By 

A music fan (San Mateo, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Through a Blue Lens: The Brooklyn Dodger Photographs of Barney Stein 1937-1957 (Hardcover)

First off, i am a collector, so baseball photo books are very important. I own almost all major photo books from this era and before. This book is special because the photos are exceptional, not widely seen, and quite telling. I think the words almost detract from the power of the photos. This is a wonderful book and is great for brooklyn dodger fans, collectors, and for lovers of the game.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Brooklyn Dodgers Photographs of Barry Stein, July 14, 2007

By 

Cory O'keefe "Cory" (Long Island, NY) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Through a Blue Lens: The Brooklyn Dodger Photographs of Barney Stein 1937-1957 (Hardcover)

Having only been told of the folklore of the Brooklyn Dodgers from my father, it was a real treat to see new photos of a golden age of baseball. This book captures the essense of baseball in Brooklyn and the love affair of the fans and the players. My Dad's favorite player was Don Newcombe, and there he was putting on his uniform at Ebbet's Field with a huge smile. This book gave me a connection to Brooklyn I only heard from the stories of my father. After reading and viewing these photos I felt like I was part of Happy Feltons Knothole Gang....What a treat and I believe for Brooklyn Dodgers fans a Treasure!