Brooklyn and St. Louis fought to the wire for the pennant, with Brooklyn winning by a pair of games. In the World Series they faced the New York Yankees, and were (of course) defeated. Still, it was a great year for Dodger fans, and the beginning of a great era. For many, many years, the Yankees and Giants had been the toasts of New York City. But from this point on, the Dodgers would be one of the most formidable teams in the league.
         The top three MVP vote getters were all Dodgers. The winner was first baseman Dolph Camilli, followed by outfielder Pete Reiser and pitcher Whit Wyatt. Though Camilli had a great season, I think the voters may have gotten their order mixed up.

        In 1937, the Brooklyn Dodgers suffered their fifth straight losing season; as a team, they hit only 37 home runs, fewest in the league. New GM Larry MacPhail was determined to both improve the club and spark fan interest, which had been waning; he acquired first baseman Dolph Camilli from the Philadelphia Phillies, after the slugger became embroiled in a salary dispute with the Phils.
        Camilli was a terrific player, a Kent Hrbek-type hitter who combined good averages with power and walks. He played for eight years in the Pacific Coast League before making his major league debut with the Cubs in 1933. He emerged as a regular with the Phillies in 1935 (at age 28), and thrived in the friendly confines of the Baker Bowl, batting .339 in his final year in Philadelphia.
        He never hit .300 after leaving Philadelphia, but in his first year with the Dodgers he provided a jolt to the offence with 24 homers, 100 RBI and 119 walks. In his second year with the Dodgers, they had a winning season. This year, his fourth and best in a Dodger uniform, they won their first pennant in 21 years. Neither player nor team fared well in the World Series, however; the Dodgers were soundly beaten by the Yankees, while Camilliy had just three hits and one RBI.
        Pistol Pete Reiser was just 22 years old this season. He was a popular player and a formidable centre fielder who couldn't stay in the lineup on a regular basis. Reiser liked to play with reckless abandon, crashing into walls if necessary. He played in 137 games this year — the highest total of his career. He was a switch-hitter, though he usually batted only left-handed in the majors, and could also throw with both hands; after having a bone chip removed from his right elbow in 1939, he threw with his left arm for the rest of the season.
        This was Reiser's best season; his effectiveness declined rapidly afterwards. In 1942, the Dodgers played an extra-inning game against the Cardinals in the heat of a pennant race; while racing to make a catch, Resier smashed his head against the concrete wall in Sportsman's Park, giving him a concussion and a fractured skull, and an additional shoulder injury. The shoulder never healed, and he was also plagued by migraines; surprisingly, he passed his physical in 1943, and served in the army for the next three years.
        Back in 1946, he was only 27 years old. But he separated his shoulder in spring training, and had a disappointing season. On the third-last day of the year — again in a heated pennant race with the Cardinals — he fractured his leg while running the bases, another injury that never healed properly. When he was traded to the Braves in 1949, there was great hope in Boston that he would recover his earlier form, but it wasn't to be; he later retired at age 33.
        Camilli was voted the MVP on the strength of his home run and RBI numbers. He was also widely praised as the best defensive first baseman in the game. As good as he was, I think Reiser was the Dodgers' best player, and the league's MVP. His offensive numbers were at least as good as Camilli's, and maybe better; Reiser led the league in OPS and numerous other offensive categories. And while Camilli may have been a wonderful first sacker, Reiser was a highly skilled centre fielder.