The 24 best players in Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers history

The Dodgers took Clayton Kershaw seventh total within the 2006 draft, and all he is finished since then is turn out to be the best pitcher of his technology. Since debuting in ’08, the southpaw has piled up a laundry checklist of accolades. He was the NL Cy Younger winner in three out of 4 seasons from ’11-’14, and the 12 months he did not win he got here in second. He is been the Nationwide League MVP, received the ERA title 5 occasions, was awarded a Gold Glove, and achieved the elusive pitching triple crown. The one factor lacking from Kershaw’s resume was a World Collection ring–until he acquired that in 2020. At this level in his profession at age 35 the veteran continues to be an incredible asset for the Dodgers, and so they and he actually hope he provides some extra {hardware} earlier than he is finished. 

Shortstop Pee Wee Reese could also be greatest identified at the moment for the way in which he publicly embraced Jackie Robinson as his teammate at a time when the latter was enduring large adversity for breaking baseball’s shade barrier. And whereas Reese is clearly an excellent human being, let’s not overlook how good he was himself on a baseball diamond. Regardless of lacking three full seasons within the navy, Reese slashed a lifetime .269/.366/.377 with 126 homers. He was chosen to 10 all-star video games, was a World Collection champion in 1955, and was inducted into the Corridor of Fame in 1984. 

Proper-hander Don Drysdale debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers all the way in which again in 1956 and moved to LA with the membership two years later. He ended up spending his total 14-year profession with the group, and in his almost decade and a half within the Main Leagues, all he did grew to become among the best pitchers within the historical past of the game. Drysdale helped lead the Dodgers to 3 World Collection titles, was chosen to 9 all-star groups, and was a Cy Younger award winner. He led the Majors in begins for 4 seasons in a row and threw extra innings than anybody else twice. Within the 4 seasons between ’62-’65, he earned an outrageous 85 victories. Drysdale was deservedly elected into the Corridor of Fame in 1984.

Whereas the Yankees loved stellar heart area play for many years with Joe DiMaggio and Mickey Mantle, throughout city the Brooklyn Dodgers reply at place quantity eight was southern California native Duke Snider. Nicknamed the ‘Silver Fox’, Snider refused to be overshadowed by different gamers in his personal metropolis and shortly grew to become one of the vital feared left-handed sluggers within the recreation. Within the prime of his profession, Snider crushed 40 or extra homers for 5 straight seasons, and he drove in over 100 runs in six totally different campaigns. He was an all-star eight occasions and received two World Collection titles, and was enshrined in Cooperstown in ’80. 

Jackie Robinson is a reputation as entrenched in baseball lore as every other, and that’s one thing that may by no means change. Robinson endured unspeakable criticism and scrutiny when he broke Main League Baseball’s shade barrier. Regardless of the unspeakable hate he encountered day by day, he did not let it stop him from thriving between the strains. As a rookie in 1947, he hit .297 and led the league with 28 steals on his technique to successful NL Rookie of the 12 months. Two seasons later he drove in 124 runs and led the league in steals once more, whereas being chosen to his first of six straight all-star video games and successful NL MVP. Robinson retired with a lifetime .313/.410/.477 slash line with 141 homers, 761 RBI, 286 doubles, and 200 stolen bases. His quantity 42 is now universally retired within the sport, and each April fifteenth the league celebrates Jackie Robinson Day. 

Outfielder Zack Wheat broke into the massive leagues with the Brooklyn Dodgers as a 21-year-old in 1909, and whereas he wasn’t one of many league’s largest stars throughout his period, he was a dependable and productive Dodger for almost 20 years. Wheat’s largest profession accomplishments have been his 1918 batting title and his two 100+ RBI seasons, and regardless of his numbers not leaping off the web page, the veteran’s committee elected him to the Corridor of Fame in 1959. 

Within the Nineteen Twenties, there weren’t many pitchers higher than Brooklyn righty Dazzy Vance. The Dodgers ace received the pitching triple crown in 1924 and was so significantly better than everybody else that season that he was named league MVP–an nearly unprecedented achievement for a pitcher. He’d go on to win two extra ERA titles, and from ’22-’28, he led the league in strikeouts yearly. Vance was a Corridor of Fame inductee in 1955. 

Outfielder Willie Davis went to highschool within the LA space, so occurring to star for his hometown Dodgers needed to be a dream come true. The middle fielder debuted in 1960 and have become an everyday the next season. He’d play 14 of his 19 years within the Main Leagues for Los Angeles and slashed .279/.312/.413 with 154 homers in a Dodgers jersey. He made the all-star workforce twice, took dwelling three Gold Glove awards, and led the league in triples twice. However most significantly, Davis helped the Dodgers win the World Collection in each 1963 and 1965, and for that, he’ll at all times have a particular place on this group. 

A dialogue of Dodgers’ nice beginning pitchers has to incorporate right-hander Don Sutton, who was LA’s ace for almost a decade and a half. Sutton made 4 all-star groups and received an ERA title in Dodger blue, and it was cool that he may come again to LA to complete his profession with the workforce in 1988. In 16 whole seasons for the Dodgers Sutton received 233 video games with a glowing 3.09 ERA, and he is in Cooperstown at the moment with an LA on his hat. 

Lengthy earlier than there was Clayton Kershaw, there was the unique left-handed Dodgers’ ace, whom Kershaw has drawn comparisons with for a few years. Sandy Koufax debuted with the Brooklyn Dodgers in ’55 and got here West with the workforce, and is actually within the dialogue of greatest southpaws to ever pitch within the Main Leagues. In 12 seasons–all spent with this organization–Koufax received 165 video games with a 2.76 ERA. He received 5 consecutive ERA titles, was awarded three Cy Youngs, achieved the pitching triple crown thrice, and was chosen to seven all-star groups. Koufax was the 1963 NL MVP and helped lead the Dodgers to 4 World Collection championships. Sadly, arthritis in his left arm ended his profession at solely 30 years outdated, in any other case, there isn’t any telling what he may have achieved. 

Third baseman Ron Cey was drafted by the Mets within the nineteenth spherical of the ’66 draft however did not signal, and re-entered the draft two years later. The gamble paid off because the Dodgers took him in spherical three, and whereas it took a while for him to essentially break via as an on a regular basis massive leaguer, Los Angeles will let you know it was well worth the wait. Cey would make six all-star groups in Dodger Blue and was the MVP of the 1981 World Collection. He crushed 20 or extra homers 10 occasions in his profession and was among the best third baseman within the recreation for roughly a decade. 

Even earlier than Sandy Koufax dazzled baseball followers as the best left-handed beginning pitcher of his period, the Dodgers franchise was blessed with an identical pitcher within the early 1900s. Nap Rucker debuted in 1907, and whereas his profession was quick by at the moment’s requirements, he certain left an impression. In 336 outings for Brooklyn, he delivered a 2.42 ERA, whereas throwing over 300 innings in 4 consecutive seasons. 

Righty Orel Hershiser made his massive league debut as a reliever for the Dodgers in 1983, however the Bowling Inexperienced State product would not keep within the bullpen for lengthy. Hershiser grew to become an necessary a part of Los Angeles’ rotation the next season, throwing eight full video games together with 4 shutouts, and ending third within the Rookie of the 12 months voting. He was an all-star in ’87 after which in 1988, was simply on a special degree than everybody else. In 34 begins, Hershiser went 23-8 with a 2.26 ERA en path to successful the NL Cy Younger award. He would go on to be named the MVP of the NLCS and the World Collection, and is maybe the most important purpose the Dodgers received the entire thing. 

First baseman Gil Hodges profession took some time to get off the bottom, however as soon as it did, few baseball lifers have been capable of put collectively a extra full resume. Hodges debuted for the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1943 on the age of 19, however performed just one recreation. He then spent all of ’45 and ’46 serving within the navy earlier than returning to baseball and taking part in sparingly in 1947. The next 12 months he lastly acquired an opportunity to play on a regular basis, and as they are saying, the remainder is historical past. From 1949-1955 Hodges drove in over 100 runs in seven consecutive seasons. He’d make eight all-star groups as a Dodger, win three Gold Gloves, and play an integral half in bringing two World Collection trophies to this group. His teammate Duke Snider was the one participant within the Main Leagues to hit extra dwelling runs within the Nineteen Fifties, and collectively the duo fashioned fairly the harmful energy duo. Gil Hodges was deservedly elected into the Corridor of Fame in 2022 by the Golden Days Period Committee. 

Jim “Junior” Gilliam wasn’t essentially the most well-known identify on the Dodgers dynasty within the ’50s and ’60s, however he quietly was a really imported piece. Extremely versatile, Gilliam performed each place apart from pitcher and catcher throughout his Dodgers profession. Whereas his numbers do not bounce off the web page, a more in-depth inspection helps present his worth. Gilliam slashed a lifetime .266/.360.355 and stole 219 bases for this franchise. He received the 1953 NL Rookie of the 12 months award, was chosen to 4 all-star groups, and is one in all only a small fraternity of Main Leaguers to personal 4 World Collection rings. 

As we have already established advert nauseum on this gallery, the Dodgers have been a workforce wealthy with phenomenal particular person pitchers. However they’ve by no means had something fairly like what Fernando Valenzuela delivered within the 80s. Not simply when it comes to efficiency but additionally aptitude and persona. Fernando-mania was an occasion in Los Angeles, and the southpaw was among the best pitchers within the recreation seemingly since he first stepped on an enormous league mound. In 1981 he was the Rookie of the 12 months and Cy Younger winner–the solely pitcher ever to perform that feat. The Dodgers received the World Collection that season, and it was really troublesome to think about a greater and extra historic rookie marketing campaign. Valenzuela would go on to make six all-star groups and win a Gold Glove with LA, however nothing may have ever topped that ’81 magic. 

Steve Garvey started his profession because the Dodgers third baseman however quickly moved to first, the place he grew to become arguably essentially the most dependable first baseman in workforce historical past. Actually. From 1967-1980 Garvey performed in each single Dodgers recreation. All 811 of them. He was an all-star in eight straight seasons with LA, received 4 Gold Glove awards, and was the 1974 NL MVP. Garvey was the NLCS MVP in ’78 and, in one in all his remaining seasons with Los Angeles helped the Dodgers increase the World Collection trophy in 1981. 

Roy Campanella starred behind the plate for the Brooklyn Dodgers roughly 70 years in the past, and what he was capable of do in Dodger Blue has made him a beloved determine on this group ever since. After being a standout performer in each the Negro Leagues and the Mexican League, Campanella broke via with LA in 1948 and shortly grew to become Brooklyn’s beginning catcher. In 10 total seasons with the Dodgers, the Philly native’s accolades are infinite. He was a two-time NL MVP, was chosen to eight straight all-star groups, and was an instrumental a part of Brooklyn’s 1955 World Collection successful membership. He was deservedly enshrined in Cooperstown in 1969. 

Outfielder Dixie Walker had already performed in New York with the Yankees early in his profession, however his greatest days fairly clearly got here later with Brooklyn. The Dodgers claimed him off waivers from Detroit in ’39, and he actually made the Tigers remorse letting him go. Walker would go on to make 5 all-star groups and win a batting title in Brooklyn, and led the Majors with 124 RBI in 1945. 

Outfielder Carl Furillo spent the whole thing of his 15-year main League profession with the Dodgers–in two totally different cities. The Stony Creek Mills, PA native was by no means actually talked about among the many greats of his period, however he was sneakily one of many higher gamers within the Nationwide League. Furillo completed with a lifetime slash line of .299/.355/.458 with 192 homers and 1058 RBI. He received the batting title in 1953, made the all-star workforce twice, and helped the Dodgers win the World Collection in ’55 and ’59. 

Justin Turner arrived in Los Angeles in 2014 after surprisingly being non-tendered by the Mets the prior winter. At that time in his profession, he was a gentle utility infielder. Nonetheless, his Mets teammate, Marlon Byrd, educated him in regards to the worth of launch angle, and Turner had quietly begun trying to revamp his swing. When he acquired to the West Coast, he was able to put it into motion, and to say the Dodgers have been the beneficiary is sort of the understatement. In 9 seasons in LA, Turner slashed .296/.375/.490 with 156 of his 164 massive league dwelling runs. He is made the all-star workforce twice, been an NLCS MVP, and, most significantly, helped the Dodgers snap their championship drought in 2020. 

Righty Jeff Pfeffer started his profession with the St. Louis Browns however moved to Brooklyn in 1913, the place he would spend most of his massive league profession. Whereas awards weren’t what they’re at the moment throughout his period, a take a look at Pfeffer’s numbers present you simply how dominant he was. In 226 outings for Brooklyn he pitched to a 2.31 ERA in 1748.1 innings, whereas delivering a 1.13 WHIP and authoring 157 full video games. 

William “Brickyard” Kennedy pitched for Brooklyn so way back that they weren’t even but often called the Dodgers. The workforce’s nickname went from the Grooms, to the Bridegrooms, to the Superbas all within the 10 years he was there, however irrespective of the identify Kennedy was the workforce’s greatest pitcher. The Bellaire, OH native received 177 video games in 10 years for this franchise, whereas additionally having one of many coolest nicknames of his time. 

Japanese Michigan College product Bob Welch was the Dodgers first-round decide in 1977, and the righty made it to the massive leagues only a 12 months later. He would keep there as a distinguished member of this workforce for the higher a part of a decade. Welch made 267 begins for the Dodgers and completed with a 3.14 ERA in LA. He earned 115 victories in Dodger Blue, pitched in an all-star recreation, and helped Los Angeles win the World Collection in 1981.