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One Year Wonders

                                        When I did the Dodgers Mt. Rushmore post, I was asked about players who were not with the Dodgers long, but who contributed to a successful season or World Series win. This was asked because of the home run Kirk Gibson hit in game 1 of the 88 World Series.  Gibson had an outstanding 1988 season for the Dodgers. He won the MVP award, and had a huge homer in the playoff win against the Mets. At that time, he was playing on one bad leg. He also made a key defensive play that helped win a game. But when the World Series rolled around, Gibby was too banged up to play. He was not even announced with the rest of the players before game one. But late in that game, with the Dodgers trailing 4-3, he would be called upon to pinch hit. 

                                        Just as important as Gibby’s blast, was the walk that Mike Davis worked to get just prior to Gibson coming up. Davis, signed as a free agent from the A’s, had one of the most forgettable seasons ever for a Dodger. He batted just .196 for LA with 2 homers. This from a guy who hit .265 with 22 the year before in Oakland. Davis then stole second. So, all Gibson really needed to do was hit a single and tie the game. No doubt the Dodgers would have then hit for him. The on-deck batter was Steve Sax. Just before the 3-2 pitch, Gibby called time and backed out of the box, and he remembered what Mel Didier had said about Eckersley, that he would throw a back-door slider to a left-handed hitter on a 3-2 count. The pitch was indeed a back door slider, and Gibson hit it into the right field seats and himself into Dodger legend. 

                                     Gibson played two more years in LA but was injured most of the time. He only played 160 games over those two seasons. He never was close to the same player again, although he did hit 23 homers in his next to last season as a member of the Tigers. As for Mike Davis, 1989 was his last season, done at age 29. He hit .249 in 69 games with the Dodgers and was done. 

                                     In 1959, the Dodgers made a trade with the Cardinals for outfielder, Chuck Essegian. On June 15th, they sent Dick Gray to the Cardinals for Essegian and P Lloyd Merritt. Merritt never made it to the majors, and Essegian, used mostly as a PH, only played in 24 games for LA in 1959.  But Essegian hit 2 PH homers in the 1959 World Series, becoming the first player to ever do that. One of them, a solo shot in the 7th inning of game 2, tied the game and set the stage for Charlie Neal’s two run shot that gave the Dodgers the lead in a game they won, 4-3. His second, in game 6 was the 9th run scored by LA in their rout of Chicago to win the series. Essegian played all of 1960 with the Dodgers but only hit .215 in 52 games. He was purchased by the Orioles after the season. 

                                    1974, the Dodgers had traded over the winter for slugger, Jimmy Wynn, the Toy Cannon from the Astros. Wynn went on to have a great season, he hit 32 homers and drove in 108 runs. He would finish 5th in the MVP vote behind Garvey, Brock, Dodger pitcher, Mike Marshall and Bench. He did not have a very good World Series or playoffs since he was injured at the time. But he was instrumental in the Dodgers charge to the pennant, their first since 1966. The next season, his stats fell off dramatically, and he was dealt to the Braves in a four for two trade after the season. 

                                                                    On June 15th, 1951, which at the time was the trade deadline, the Brooklyn Dodgers made an 8-player trade with the Chicago Cubs. Heading to the windy city were Eddie Miksis, Bruce Edwards, Joe Hatten and Gene Hermanski. Coming to Brooklyn, Rube Walker, Johnny Schmitz, Wayne Terwilliger and Andy Pafko. Schmitz and Terwilliger would be gone the next season, Walker would be Campy’s caddy for 7 years in Brooklyn, and play 1 year in LA. The central piece for the Dodgers was left fielder, Andy Pafko. 

                                   Left field had been a merry-go-round for several years for the Dodgers with many players manning the position. Pafko stabilized the position for the rest of the 1951 season and all of 1952. In 84 games for Brooklyn, he hit 18 homers and drove in 58 runs. Combined with his numbers in Chicago, he had 30 homers and 93 driven in. The Dodgers just missed making it to the World Series in 1951, but Pafko was a big part of the 52-pennant winning team. He played 150 games, hit a solid .287, had 19 homers and drove in 85 runs. He did not have a good World Series, getting just 4 hits in 21 at bats. Pafko would say years later that he never really felt like part of the group, the Boys of Summer. He was traded to the Braves after the season for Roy Hartsfield and 50,000 dollars. He would play for the Braves for 7 more seasons, retiring after 17 years in the majors in 1959.  

                                On November 26th, 1962, the Yankees traded first baseman, Bill Skowron to the Dodgers for Stan Williams. The Dodgers had lost both Norm Larker and Gil Hodges in the expansion draft. Hodges to the Mets, and Larker to the Colt-45s. They had 24-year-old, Ron Fairly penciled in to be their first baseman, but wanted a RH hitting counterpart. Skowron fit the bill, he was coming off of a 23/80 year with a .270 BA. Plenty of power and RBI potential. 

                                 Well, that did not happen. Skowron would play in only 89 games for LA and hit a paltry .203. He had 4 homers and 19 RBIs. One thing Skowron had always done was produce in the World Series. He had 7 series homers as a Yankee. He would play in all 4 63 World Series games. He would hit .389 for the series with a homer and 3 driven in. The homer came off of Al Downing in game 2 giving LA a 3-0 lead. Skowron was sold to the Senators following the season and played until 1967. 1963 was the worst statistical season of his career. But he shined at just the right moment for the Dodgers. 

                                 On December 12, 1941, the Dodgers traded four players, Pete Coscarart, Luke Hamlin, Babe Phelps and Jimmy Wasdell to the Pirates for SS Arky Vaughn. Vaughn had been with the Pirates as their starting SS for 10 seasons and had never hit below .300. The Dodgers did not need him to play SS, they still had Pee Wee Reese before he went into the service in 43. So, Vaughn became their primary 3rd baseman plying 119 of his 125 games there. He hit .277 and helped the team on its way to 104 wins, which was only good enough for second place behind the 106-win Cardinals. The next year he hit .305 as the Dodgers main SS. But then he was out of the game for three years. The reason was an incident during the season with the mercurial Durocher. Vaughn had been upset when Durocher suspended pitcher, Bobo Newsom after he complained about C Bobby Bragan dropping a third strike.

                                After reading Durocher’s comments about Newsom in the newspapers, Vaughn went into Durocher’s office and threw his uniform in his face. Although he finished the season, he retired to his ranch where he stayed for the next three seasons. When Durocher was suspended for the 1947 season, Vaughn decided to try a comeback. Playing mostly a utility role, he hit .325 and helped the Dodgers win the pennant. He was 35 years old. He got to play in his first World Series, and although Brooklyn lost, Vaughn was 2-3 with a double. The 48 season was his last in the majors. He finished his career with a .318 BA and was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1985. Vaughn died at the age of 42 on August 30, 1952, while fishing on Lost Lake near Eagleville California where his ranch was. He and a friend, Bill Wimer were both drowned when according to a witness, Wimer stood up and the boat capsized. 

                               Some players who were never stars have had a special moment in a crucial game that helped the Dodgers win. Sandy Amoros’s catch in game 7 of the 1955 World Series was one of those. Amoros was never considered a star, he was an important piece of three pennant winning Dodger teams, but 55 was his shining moment. He also hit his only World Series homer that year. 

 

                                   Dick Calmus pitched exactly 44 innings as a Dodger. It was 1963 and LA was locked in a pennant race with the Cardinals and Giants. Calmus picked up his first MLB win in May with a 6-5 decision over the Giants. He was used out of the pen 20 times and made 1 start. He got his second win in August, a 3-2 win over the Mets. Then on September 1st, he beat the Giants 5-3. It would be the last win in his MLB career. He would pitch only 4 more innings as a major leaguer, and those would be with the Cubs in 1967. But his 3 wins in 63 helped the Dodgers win the pennant by 6 over the Cardinals. 

                                     Dick Nen had exactly 8 at bats as a Dodger. On September 16th, the Dodgers came into St. Louis with a 1 game lead. Podres beat them that night and they were up by 2. It was Koufax against Curt Simmons in game 2. Dandy Sandy threw a 4-hit shutout to push the lead to 3 games. On the 18th, Pete Richert was pitching against Bob Gibson. The Dodgers scored a run in the second, but the Cardinals scored 2 in the bottom of the second, and 3 more in the 3rd. 4 of the runs were scored off of Richert and 1 off of Bob Miller. Miller managed to keep the Cardinals quiet, and the Dodgers scored 3 off of Gibson in the 8th to make it 5-4.  Shantz and Ron Taylor got the last 2 outs in the 8th. 

                                  With 1 out in the top of the 9th, Nen PH for Ken McMullen against the RH Taylor. He hit a long home run to right to tie the score. It was his only hit as a Dodger. It tied the game, and the Dodgers went on to win in the 13th inning, beating former Brave ace, Lew Burdette. Ron Perranoski pitched 6 shutout innings in relief to get the win. To many this might not seem like much, but instead of heading home with just a 2-game lead and 9 games to play, they returned home with a 4-game lead. They won 5 of their next 9 games and won the pennant by 6.  Nen was traded in the offseason to the Senators as the 5th player sent to them for Osteen and Kennedy. 

 

Born June 14th, 1948, in Los Angeles California. AKA The Bear

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dodgerram

How cool would it be if the Rams win the SB and make it a LA double in 2024?

Go Dodgers!Go Rams!

Badger

Seahawks were as sloppy as the Yankees

Jeff Dominique

No Dodger won a GG in 2024. Two Dodgers were nominated, C Will Smith, and utility Kiké Hernández.

Catcher: Patrick Bailey, Giants over Will Smith

Utility: Jared Triolo, Pirates over Kiké Hernández

Ron Fairly fan

I’m sure Smith and Hernandez are much happier with a ring than a gold glove

Last edited 1 month ago by Ron Fairly fan
Keith

This was Smith’s best year behind the plate, to bad he didn’t get recognized for it, but I’m sure you’re right RFF about the ring.

Jeff Dominique

This was Smith’s best year for throwing out runners, but not as good for blocking balls, framing, or framing. Patrick Bailey had a +20 DRS and Smith had a -4. Framing = Bailey was #2 at +13 catcher framing runs, Smith (58th and last) was -10. Blocks above average – Bailey was -1 (36th), and Smith was -12 (63rd). Caught Stealing above average – Smith +10 (1st), Bailey +9 (2nd). Pop time – Bailey 1.85 (3rd), Smith 1.94 (27th).

The voters did not make a mistake (not that you implied they did), but yes Smith is quite happy with the WS ring over Bailey’s GG.

Keith

Numbers were not what I thought, thanks Jeff.

Badger

Framing. Grrrr

Jeff Dominique

I know you hate it, but they measure it, and it goes into the equation.

Wally Moonshot

Framing has gotten a bit silly. I crack up when I see some of these catchers so busy trying to frame a pitch and forget to catch the ball. Reminds me of my Little League days!

Bumsrap

And Grandahl

Badger

Yeah, who can catch a ball over there, yank it over here and actually fool an umpire by doing it. Laughable

Duke Not Snider

Smith was a GG finalist, so that is some form of recognition.

Last edited 1 month ago by Duke Not Snider
Jeff Dominique

I am sure you are right!!!

Keith

Thanks Bear for this one, enjoyed the mention of the toy cannon, the first baseball games I remember are those early seventies games ‘74’ was the first WS I remember watching all of. I still remember Ferguson’s throw from the OF to get the runner at home. Jimmy Wynn was the man for me in 74

Duke Not Snider

Hey Bear…Fun post…
And it left me wondering: What are the Dodgers’ top all-time WS highlights?
First has to be Gibson’s walk-off.
For second I’d put Jackie stealing home–and Yogi’s protests.
For third I’ll nominate Freddie’s walk-off slam…
For fourth, I loved Ferguson cutting off Wynn and gunning down Bando at the plate….
For 5th, maybe the Amoros catch….
That’s off the top of my head. What am I forgetting?
Pitchers get shortchanged in “highlights.” Impossible to distill the WS exploits of Sandy and Orel to a single highlight. But certainly in the top WS performances.
Oh, Teo gunning down Stanton was nice too…
Not epic, but nice.

dodgerram

Walker coming in with one day rest to close it out going 1-2-3 in Game 5 for me absolutely should be among all time top 5 WS moments for the Dodgers.

Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Badger

Koufax and Gibson locked up in a 9 inning scoreless duel. I was sitting behind the plate. Koufax won 1-0 on a walk-off home run by Tommy Davis. What a night. What a memory.

Badger

Not a WS highlight but the best in person game I ever saw.

WS highlight? Being in row 7 sitting in front of DiMaggio in ‘59.

Duke Not Snider

Cool…. Not WS, obviously, but very cool.

Wally Moonshot

What about Podres’ 2-0 complete game shutout in ‘55 to win Brooklyn’s first and only WS?

Duke Not Snider

What if Mookie had played RF full-time? Maybe another GG?

Badger

I still see Mookie at second and a slugger in right. Who? That will be made clear in the coming months.

Duke Not Snider

Sounds right. Could be Pages if the brass decides to sign Adames and passes on Soto, Teo and Santander. (Just occured to me that the Dodgers could try Rushing in RF too. It’s tougher than playing left, but he’s got a good arm. Still hope to see Outman in the OF mix if he isn’t traded.)
In the non-Soto OF market, Teo and Santander should get competing offers. Santander, at 30, is a two years younger and more likely to get longer-term deal. Perhaps this would help the Dodgers bring back Teo on a shorter deal.

Jeff Dominique

Flaherty is ineligible for a QO. He was traded at the deadline removing the QO opportunity. I know there are some that think Buehler might get a QO. I cannot see LAD giving a $21.05MM offer to Walker, I do believe they will make an offer to him and it will be generous, but closer to $10MM than $21.05MM.

Duke Not Snider

Mookie might have been a UT contender if not for the injury…
When he was playing SS, I thought he had the MVP edge for Ohtani.
Mookie injury turned Shohei into a leadoff hitter, helping him toward his 50-50 season.

Badger

Gold Glove, Platinum Arm for best defensive arm, Rhodium Feet for stolen base leader, Ruthenium Bat for home run leader. There’s a long list of precious metals. Let’s use them up.

Last edited 1 month ago by Badger
Scott Andes

ha ha ha I’ll take the WS title instead.

dodgerram

Roster talk.
At the 20 minute mark they talk about Glasnow. Apparently he told them his arm feels better and he thinks he needs no surgery and will be ready for ST. Will work a little more over the winter to keep the arm moving.That would be great!

Go Dodgers!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Badger

His arm feels better. Better enough for 26 starts and 150 innings? I doubt it.

I saw the name Lew Burdette up there Bear. Brought back memories. Lew Burdette and Warren Spahn for the Braves. Together they won 566 games. Spahn won 363 and missed 3 years for military service. He was 6’ 170 pounds and started 665 games. Started over 30 games 17 years in a row. Won over 20 13 times. Innings pitched? 5243. Let that sink in. They sure don’t build them like that anymore.

Badger

Spahn and Marichal are the list of greatest I ever saw in person.

Joisyboy1948

I remember listening to the Dick Nen game on the radio as a 15 y/o HS sophomore in 1963. From my parents’ kitchen radio in NJ, I could barely pick up KMOX in St. Louis with lots of static and fading. Nen’s HR in the 9th inning of that third game of the series put him forever in Dodger lore and a place in my heart even though it was his only hit for LA.

Badger

Those distant memories are without doubt among the best. It takes time but everyone will have them eventually.

Bumsrap

Team voted him a full WS share.

Jeff Dominique

Dodger Silver Slugger Award (another metal for you Badger) finalists:

Shohei Ohtani (DH)
Teoscar Hernández (OF)
Mookie Betts (as a utility player)
Freddie Freeman (1B)
Will Smith (C)

Plus Nathan Eovaldi has opted out of his Rangers contract and is now a free agent.

Last edited 1 month ago by Jeff Dominique
Bobby

Just to clarify, teams can actually start signing free agents today??

Duke Not Snider

Royals signed Wacha to a 3-year deal.

Scott Andes

Really cool article from Tom Verducci about the Dodgers and the World Series this year. I think Bluto posted this on Mark’s site earlier. But very interesting read about the Dodgers excellent execution throughout the series. Banda’s spin on his slider and the Dodgers getting the most out of spin, and how they used that to neutralize Soto.

Six Lessons to Learn From the Dodgers’ World Series Win

Cassidy

So who’s the $1.3 billion going to this year?

Bobby

When I click on that link, I get an article about idiots setting a metro bus on fire after we clinched.

Jeff Dominique
Scott Andes

Thanks Jeff, I copied the wrong Link I guess.

Scott Andes

your guess is as good as mine.

Bluto

The trust fund for Walter’s grandkids?

Singing the Blue

Teo gets a QO but not Buehler.

It’s not my money but I definitely would have given him one. With the amount of money they made this year, if he accepted and was a total bust, it still would have been worth the gamble.

Wally Moonshot

Yeah that’s surprising. The Dodgers are loyal to guys like Muncy and Taylor but not to a guy who actually did something to win the WS. But they have contracts and Bueller doesn’t so it comes down to business.

Jeff Dominique

I am not sure why it is such a surprise. Up until the playoffs, most on here and other blogs did not even want Buehler on the roster. Yes, he was a WS hero, but after 2 TJ surgeries and a horrible 2024 season, he deserves a 1 year $21.05 MM salary? And why is it a surprise that it is a business? Has MLB ever been anything else?

Keith

Yes with there STB, totally agree.

Bobby

Knowing we don’t treat players so poorly, especially ones like Walker Buehler, I’d bet he already knew we wouldn’t give him the QO, and instead we’re already working on a 2 year deal.

Singing the Blue

Of course this doesn’t mean that AF won’t still try to sign him. I would think there would be mutual interest in getting something done.

Jeff Dominique

As expected, Gerrit Cole remains with NYY as they extended Cole for 1 year and $36MM.

Teoscar Hernández was given a QO from the Dodgers.

12 others were given QO:

Juan Soto – NYY
Corbin Burnes – Baltimore
Anthony Santander – Baltimore
Alex Bregman – Houston
Max Fried – Atlanta
Willy Adames – Milwaukee
Nick Pivetta – Boston
Christian Walker – Arizona
Nick Martinez – Cincinnati
Pete Alonso – NYM
Luis Severino – NYM
Sean Manaea – NYM

Jeff Dominique

Here are the eight names on this year’s Era Committee HOF ballot:


  • Dick Allen
  • Ken Boyer
  • John Donaldson
  • Steve Garvey
  • Vic Harris
  • Tommy John
  • Dave Parker
  • Luis Tiant
Make Mine Blue

Agree with those three. Bloody shame when a guy’s politics even has to be mentioned in this election to the HOF. Ridiculous but seems to be a constant thing in this age.

Badger

Garvey isn’t a politician. Running for office doesn’t make one a politician.

38 total WAR in 19 years? Nope. Not HOF worthy.

Bobby

Plus I don’t think the hall cares if one is a republican or democrat (although it would be a funny survey and results to know about)

Keith

I would have agreed Badger, until they let Harold Baines into th HOF. Garvey was way more significant to his teams than Baines ever was. I don’t think any pitcher thought “ oh no Baines is coming up, what am I going to do”

Duke Not Snider

I think it’s a non-factor.
Garvey’s been a borderline HOFer for a long time.

Duke Not Snider

I’d give Allen and Tiant the nod.

Make Mine Blue

It will go down as a great mistake if the Dodgers don’t tie Teo up for a few years. Sends a very bad message to the potential players that might be willing to come to LA (produce for us and we kick your ass to the curb)

Bluto

Hmmm.

Sign for a lot of money, produce, earn a ring, make a lot of money on an open market.

Not sure on which planet that’s a bad message. Much less a very bad message.

I mean his agent basically says how good of a position Teo is in:

That’s a strong message to any potential FA.

Last edited 1 month ago by Bluto
OhioDodger

Santander is a better option IMO.

Bluto

Yeah, as I’ve said. Pursuing non-superstars for top of the market contracts is one thing that AF just doesn’t do.

Make Mine Blue

How did you leave out DeShields? LOL

Dionysus

He was fine. Twas the cost.

Duke Not Snider

They traded PEDRO FRICKING MARTINEZ for him!
And, to be honest, I was okay with that when it happened, because I stupidly bought into the BS that Pedro was too small to be an effective starter. Certainly his tall brother Ramon was better!

Keith

If Freaking Jody Reed would have taken the 3 years at 4.5 mil the Dodgers offered, they wouldn’t have needed to make the Deshields trade. In JRs infinite wisdom, I think he signed a one year $800,000 deal. The genius should have fired his agent for not understanding the market better. So in my book Reed will always be the villain in the debacle.

OhioDodger

Screwed himself and the Dodgers.

Make Mine Blue

Sarcasm always seems to fly by you.

OhioDodger

Worst trade in Dodger history. Right up there with not resigning Beltre as far as bad moves.

Keith

MLBTR are predicting Teoscar to sign a three year 60mil deal, Santander a four year 80 mil deal. Sometimes they’re close sometimes they are way off.
for the record I’d take Teoscar, less HRs, more strike outs but better Avg, and better OBP, plus Teoscar is better defensively, from what I’ve read so far Santander sounds like defense is not his strong suit.

OhioDodger

Santander played 130 games in RF in 2024 and made 2 errors.
In 2023 he played 97 games in RF and made 1 error.
Sounds like he is pretty darned good on defense.

Keith

I’m just going off of the MLBTR article that said he was a below average OFer. He may not have many errors but he’s in the 18th percentile in running speed, 28th percentile in range. They also said he may be a DH candidate by his third or forth year of the contract.

OhioDodger

They certainly did not paint a good picture of his defense.

Jeff Dominique

Errors are a limited factor in determining fielding prowess. Range and tracking a fly ball; arm; are also key determinants. That may be subjective, but that is what the POBO and GMs are looking at. Santander had a -7 in DRS and a -2 in OAA. And I am not going to say Teo was a better defensive player, because he is probably a worse defensive player than Santander. Just do not judge a defender on the number of errors. I like Teo because he was a great Dodger in 2024 in the regular season and the playoffs, and because he WANTS to be a Dodger.

Keith

Here’s a Teoscar stat that surprised me, he was in the 83rd percentile in running speed out of all mlb hitters, according to MLBTR, they also said his stats showed he was better defensively in RF than LF, although he didn’t play much there this year.

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