“Is Brooklyn still in the league?” (1934)
"Is Brooklyn still in the league?" or "Are the Dodgers still in the league?" is the famous remark by New York Giants manager Bill Terry on January 24, 1934. The exact wording is given below.
When the Dodgers became very good, the quip was used in irony.
25 January 1934, New York Herald Tribune, pg. 19, col. 4:]
Terry Predicts
Giants Finish
Among First 3
(...)
"Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Chicago will be the teams we'll have to beat," Terry said. I don't think the Braves will do as well as they did last year."
"Do you fear the Dodgers?" he was asked.
"I was just wondering," said Terry, "whether they were still in the league."
25 January 1934, New York Daily News, pg. 45, col. 2:
The Dodgers? Will they give trouble? Mr. Terry grinned. He said he hadn't heard much about that outfit in a long while and he wondered whether they're still in the league.
25 January 1934, New York Evening Post, "Quinn Rebukes Terry for Slap at Dodgers," pg. 15, col. 3:
Colonel William Terry, young manager of the world champion Giants, seems to have awakened the Dodgers, club and fans alike, from their long winter hibernation. And the Dodgers have awakened like a hungry bear, demanding to know just what Memphis Bill meant by his uncomplimentary remark about the Dodgers still being in the league.
In a gabfest yesterday with baseball writers, Terry was asked (Col. 4 - ed.) if he feared the Dodgers. His whimsical reply was: "I was just wondering whether they were still in the league."
If Bill thought this would go unchallenged in Brooklyn, he was guessing wrong, for Bob Quinn, business manager of the Brooklyn club, has countered with a stinging rebuke.
When apprised of Terry's remark, Bob said: "I doubt very much if Terry made that remark (Col. 5 - ed.) but if he did, it ill befits a manager of a championship ball club, particularly a manager who was so thin-skinned himself that he was very much perturbed about writers picking his team to finish last in 1933.
"And the Brooklyn club may fool Mr. Terry by being the team to prevent him from repeating his triumph of last year. At least, we'll let him know we are still in the league." NASH.
26 January 1934, New York Daily News, pg .34, cols. 1-2 headline:
Yep, Dodgers Are Still in League!
(Also, the headline in another edition - ed.)
The Dodgers? Oh Yes, They're
Still in League, Mr. Terry
26 January 1934, New York Evening Post, pg. 14, col. 3:
It is amusing how quickly a Brooklynite can be aroused by a slur against the Dodgers. Terry happened to remark, "I was just wondering whether they were still in the league."
When the Dodgers became very good, the quip was used in irony.
25 January 1934, New York Herald Tribune, pg. 19, col. 4:]
Terry Predicts
Giants Finish
Among First 3
(...)
"Pittsburgh, St. Louis and Chicago will be the teams we'll have to beat," Terry said. I don't think the Braves will do as well as they did last year."
"Do you fear the Dodgers?" he was asked.
"I was just wondering," said Terry, "whether they were still in the league."
25 January 1934, New York Daily News, pg. 45, col. 2:
The Dodgers? Will they give trouble? Mr. Terry grinned. He said he hadn't heard much about that outfit in a long while and he wondered whether they're still in the league.
25 January 1934, New York Evening Post, "Quinn Rebukes Terry for Slap at Dodgers," pg. 15, col. 3:
Colonel William Terry, young manager of the world champion Giants, seems to have awakened the Dodgers, club and fans alike, from their long winter hibernation. And the Dodgers have awakened like a hungry bear, demanding to know just what Memphis Bill meant by his uncomplimentary remark about the Dodgers still being in the league.
In a gabfest yesterday with baseball writers, Terry was asked (Col. 4 - ed.) if he feared the Dodgers. His whimsical reply was: "I was just wondering whether they were still in the league."
If Bill thought this would go unchallenged in Brooklyn, he was guessing wrong, for Bob Quinn, business manager of the Brooklyn club, has countered with a stinging rebuke.
When apprised of Terry's remark, Bob said: "I doubt very much if Terry made that remark (Col. 5 - ed.) but if he did, it ill befits a manager of a championship ball club, particularly a manager who was so thin-skinned himself that he was very much perturbed about writers picking his team to finish last in 1933.
"And the Brooklyn club may fool Mr. Terry by being the team to prevent him from repeating his triumph of last year. At least, we'll let him know we are still in the league." NASH.
26 January 1934, New York Daily News, pg .34, cols. 1-2 headline:
Yep, Dodgers Are Still in League!
(Also, the headline in another edition - ed.)
The Dodgers? Oh Yes, They're
Still in League, Mr. Terry
26 January 1934, New York Evening Post, pg. 14, col. 3:
It is amusing how quickly a Brooklynite can be aroused by a slur against the Dodgers. Terry happened to remark, "I was just wondering whether they were still in the league."