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... |