By utilizing a combination of Bear Mountain's and West Point's facilities, the Dodgers got plenty of space to prepare, train, house and feed their players... whether it be in the barracks and mess halls of West Point for the dozens of Minor League players and extended Major League players, or the much swankier Bear Mountain Inn which was known for their thick steaks and luxurious accommodations for the team's stars and management. Dodgers owner Branch Rickey and Manager Leo Durocher couldn't help but notice, just how well this "military" base was working out for them. When the war ended, the Dodgers would wind up back in the tropical sun. Still, they couldnt forget just how perfectly a military facility worked as a Major League training camp. Much more on that later...