Edwin "Eddie" Basinski

Brooklyn Dodger Hall O’ Famer Eddie Basinski, my father, passed away Saturday Morning January 8th at a care facility in Gladstone Oregon near Portland. He was 99 yrs and 65 days old. He was the oldest Dodger alive.

His Career in baseball spanned from 1944-1959. Eddie played with the Dodgers and Pittsburgh Pirates in the Majors. He was also known for his prowess at 2nd base with the Portland Beavers for 11 years in the Pacific Coast League.

He was an account manager with Consolidated Freightways for 31 years before retiring. He was active in the Portland community with the Kiwanis Club, Junior League and public speaking. The audience reeled over his vivid recollections on the diamond. He became a sought after star speaker.

Basinski was inspired by his mother who was a pianist and he began playing the violin at an early age. He earned his nickname “The Fiddler” on the ball field playing the violin as first chair with the Buffalo Symphony Orchestra. Another nickname was “The Professor” because he wore glasses on the baseball diamond.. He holds a Guiness World Record to this day as the first Major Leaguer to wear glasses.

He grew up in the tough Polish neighborhood of Kaisertown in Buffalo NY. From there he studied Mechanical Engineering and earned his degree. Rheumatic fever at age 4 left him color-blind. Needless to say, one can excel in baseball in black and white. Decades later he had lasik surgery and his color sight was restored.

The Brooklyn Dodgers scouted him in 1943 while he was playing the sand lots for 3 separate AAA teams. They wanted a closer look so they offered him an opportunity to join the Dodgers for batting practice. After a few days batting with the Dodgers, while changing back to his street clothes in the clubhouse, Dodger Manager Leo Durocher called out that games lineup…

Basinski, shortstop! It was a moment he would never forget. This is how he learned he had made it, He was a Dodger… His life was then forever changed.

He embraced Jackie Robinson as the first Black Major Leaguer and his teammate.

His legacy included The Dodgers Hall Of Fame 1945, Oregon Sports Hall Of Fame 1987 and

Pacific Coast League Hall Of Fame in 2006.

He is survived by his two daughter in laws, two grandchildren, three great grandchildren in Oregon and his son Dave Basinski who lives in Los Angeles.

Link to Oregonian Article:

https://www.oregonlive.com/sports/2022/01/eddie-basinski-former-portland-beavers-second-baseman-dies-at-99.html?fbclid=IwAR1Dw4roG0_KurRhz_I27QRIKOwkpHZO85SAVa0J4Ru8NZEWlJr07OQ2P8o