
When the two teams were in New York, the Dodger/Giant rivalry was one of the most heated in baseball history. The players and fans of the teams hated each other. In the collection is this Dodger press release dated August 18, 1999, four days after the passing of Brooklyn shortstop and captain Pee Wee Reese. In it the team announces that the players will wear a uniform patch honoring their fallen leader Reese.
At the bottom of the press release, New York Giants legend Bobby Thomson writes his thoughts on the rivalry between the two teams and Reese himself, “First you must appreciate the historical rivalry we had with the Dodgers. It was beyond most rivalries. We didn’t like them and they didn’t like us, and it showed in every game we played.”
Thomson then turns his attention to the Hall of Fame Dodger shortstop, “…there were two Pee Wee’s; the one I played against and the relationship I had with him after our playing careers. No question he was an inspirational great player, but I wouldn’t admit that when we played.”
Thomson finishes his thoughts on the back of the press release shown in the next image.