From his exalted perch as manager of the beloved Brooklyn Dodgers in the 1950's to the end of his fabled Hall of Fame career in 1976 still in the skipper's seat but now on the West Coast Walter Alston was witness - and participant - to arguably the greatest quarter century of Major League Baseball of all time or at the very least of the postwar era. This remarkable grouping of almost five dozen first-generation 11-by-14-inch photographs chronicle much of that wonderful history with most of the glossy black-and-white images tracing their roots to the newspaper files of some of the largest papers in the country at the time "¦ and even today. The images are in sensational condition basically Excellent to Ex-Mt remarkably well-preserved by Alston and basically showing only the kind of wear that photographs get in handling by editorial staffers and photographers including light corner wear and occasionally mostly unobtrusive cropping marks from editors. As noted most are first-generation masterpieces most with the official stamping from the likes of International News Photos New York Herald Tribune New York Times Los Angeles Times and Los Angeles Mirror. Of the total of 54 photos there are 29 that might be described as "action photos" incredible images - some memorably iconic - of great stars like Jackie Robinson (3) Pee Wee Reese Roy Campanella Gil Hodges Carl Furillo and Willie Mays along with a number picturing Alston himself making pitching changes. Perhaps the most intriguing subset (4) features dozens of the most well-known politicians of the day including three opening day classics with President Eisenhower throwing out the first pitch or possibly another grouping of (5) showing many youthful Dodgers in tuxedos at various awards dinners with a lineup that includes Duke Snider (with Phil Silvers) two shots with Sandy Koufax still not yet old enough to vote Don Drysdale Johnny Podres Alston and others. There is also a wonderful full team picture from 1954 or 1955 and a total of 16 photographs that might be characterized as publicity stills. This too is a simply enchanting group: Hodges leaping into the air; Alston with Labine; a number of what you might describe as cheezy set-up shots including two with the 1955 World Series Champions lounging on various hillsides Alston with his pitching staff Alston with O'Malley Campy signing his contract and Dodger's pitchers precariously perched on a ladder. You know the kind of stuff you probably couldn't talk today's millionaire athletes into putting up with. Too bad because it sure makes for a wonderful historical archive.