Hello, and welcome to a different version of Dodgers Dugout. My title is Houston Mitchell. Shohei Ohtani pitched! We may have extra on that in Friday’s e-newsletter.
High 10 first basemen
Listed here are my picks for the highest 10 first basemen in Dodgers historical past, adopted by how all of you voted. Numbers listed are with the Dodgers solely. Click on on the participant’s title to be taken to the baseball-reference.com web page with all their stats.
1. (1943, 1947-61, .273/.369/.487, 120 OPS+, 8-time All Star, 3 Gold Gloves)
Hodges made his debut with the Dodgers within the ultimate recreation of the 1943 season. And it may have been his ultimate recreation ever, as he joined the Marines after the season ended and was a gunner for the sixteenth Antiaircraft Artillery Battalion. In April 1945, Hodges and his battalion stormed the seashores of Okinawa and had been concerned in heavy combating. He was awarded a Bronze Star for heroic service in a fight zone. In a letter to his household, Hodges wrote in regards to the expertise.
“We arrived right here [Okinawa] the primary of April and issues actually reduce free. We had been all the time having air assaults and the ships had been actually pulling down the planes. It’s identical to being tied down if you’re on board a ship as a result of you may’t do a factor however simply stand there and look forward to one thing to occur. One Japanese airplane, a Zero, got here circling round the place we had been anchored and when everybody noticed it they actually reduce free. I don’t see the way it was doable for him to flee with a lot firing being accomplished at the moment. He was the airplane that actually gave all of us a scare. He began to drag away from the firing after which he received hit and began circling round, then right into a suicide dive. He began coming down and boy he was actually shifting. He crashed on the bow of one other LST not very removed from our ship and exploded. I don’t know what number of received damage however I’m positive there have been fairly a number of. Effectively, that’s only one incident and I don’t wish to go into another at the moment as a result of I may in all probability sit right here and write all day and nonetheless not be via.”
You possibly can learn extra about Hodges’ time .
Hodges was discharged earlier than the 1946 season and returned to the Dodgers. He spent 1946 within the minors, however got here as much as the majors in 1947 to remain. He broke in as a catcher, however with the Dodgers desirous to get his bat within the lineup and realizing he would by no means be higher behind the plate than Roy Campanella, they transformed him to first base earlier than the 1948 season. As supervisor Leo Durocher mentioned, “I put a primary baseman’s glove on our different rookie catcher, Gil Hodges. Three days later I’m taking a look at the most effective first baseman I’d seen since Dolph Camilli.”
Hodges hit no less than 20 homers in 11 consecutive seasons and drove in no less than 100 runs in seven consecutive seasons.
After by no means being voted into the Corridor of Fame in his 15 years on the common poll, Hodges was elected by the Golden Period Committee in 2021. “It’s an important factor that occurred for our household,” Gil Hodges Jr. mentioned. “We’re all thrilled that Mother received to see it, being 95. We’ve all waited a very long time, and we’re simply grateful and grateful that it’s lastly come to fruition.”
2. (1969-82, .301/.337/.459, 122 OPS+, 1 NL MVP award, 8-time All Star, 4 Gold Gloves)
One of the vital beloved Dodgers whereas he was taking part in, Garvey was an integral a part of the longest-lasting infield in baseball historical past, the Garvey-Lopes-Russell-Cey infield.
Garvey was drafted by the Dodgers in 1968 and made it to the large leagues one yr later. He had a tough time sticking there, nevertheless, as a result of he was a horrible third baseman. He had a weak arm and little vary. He performed 85 video games at third in 1972, making 28 errors, totally on throws.
It was extra of the identical in 1973, with Garvey primarily driving the bench as a pinch-hitter. On June 23 of that yr, each left fielders, Von Joshua and Manny Mota, had been injured. Invoice Buckner, the common first baseman, went to supervisor Walter Alston and instructed they put him in left and Garvey at first base (Buckner and Garvey had been teammates within the minors and Buckner remembered that Garvey had performed properly in a number of video games there).
As Buckner later recounted, “I by no means performed first base for the Dodgers once more.”
Garvey had an off yr, for him, in 1982, hitting .282 with 16 homers, good for a 101 OPS+. He was a free agent after the season, however there’s no approach they might let Mr. Dodger go away, proper? Unsuitable.
“Closing provides needed to be made,” Garvey recounted in his e book. “Peter O’Malley mentioned his ultimate supply was $5 million for 4 years, no incentives. We drew the road at $6 million for 4 years.” Garvey signed with the San Diego Padres for 5 years, $6.6 million.
Lots of Dodger followers imagine Garvey ought to be within the Corridor of Fame. With 75% wanted for induction, Garvey by no means received larger than 42.6% of votes on the Corridor of Fame poll, again in 1995. Some followers mistakenly imagine he’s already within the Corridor.
Though the Dodgers often solely retire the numbers of people that make the Corridor of Fame as Dodgers, they didn’t hand out Garvey’s No. 6 after he signed with the San Diego Padres earlier than the 1983 season till Jolbert Cabrera was given the quantity in 2003.
3. (2022-current, .316/.399/.524, 143 OPS+, 3-time All Star)
You can put the Nos. 2-4 guys in virtually any order and be nice. If Freeman continues to play like he has to this point with the Dodgers, then he’ll be No. 1 in the future. There’s not a lot to jot down about Freeman that I haven’t lined the previous couple of seasons, so .
4. (1938-43, .270/.392/.497, 136 OPS+, 1 NL MVP award, 2-time All Star)
Camilli was an offensive machine with the Dodgers, main the league in homers (34) and RBIs (120) in 1941, and main in walks in 1938 (119) and 1939 (110).
He instantly made the Dodgers higher and led them to the NL pennant in 1941, their first since 1920.
Whereas taking part in for the Dodgers, he developed an actual hatred for the Giants. This was throughout an period that featured a number of soiled play, such because the sharpening of spikes and stepping on first basemen. The Giants focused Camilli actually because he was the most effective participant on the Dodgers.
When the Dodgers traded him to the Giants in July 1943, he refused to report back to his new crew, as a substitute going dwelling and spending the remainder of the season on his ranch. “I hated the Giants,” Camilli advised the New York Instances. “This was actual critical; this was no put-on stuff. Their followers hated us, and our followers hated them. I mentioned nuts to them, and I give up.”
5. (1964-72, .267/.351/.375, 111 OPS+, 6 Gold Gloves)
Many take into account Parker to be the most effective fielding first baseman in historical past. He’s actually the most effective one in Dodgers historical past.
In 2007 he was voted by followers as the most effective defensive first baseman because the Gold Glove award was established in 1957 and was named to the all-time Gold Glove crew. He’s the one not within the Corridor of Fame. He by no means even appeared on the poll since he performed solely 9 seasons, leaving him one wanting the ten wanted for eligibility.
His numbers on offense are additionally higher than they seem as a result of he performed in one of many best pitchers’ eras in baseball historical past. He drove in 111 runs in 1970 regardless of hitting solely 10 homers. He led the league that season with 47 doubles and likewise hit .319. Parker has been criminally underrated by many due to the period he performed in and the actual fact he retired younger, when he was solely 32.
“By the point I retired, we had successful data, however we weren’t successful pennants,” Parker advised biographer David Krell. “My pals had been gone. Tommy Davis was traded. Maury Wills was launched. Don Drysdale, Sandy Koufax, Wally Moon, and Jim Gilliam had retired. The sport was altering. It was turning into extra individualized. Plus, I received uninterested in the touring.”
6. (1910-18, .305/.365/.395, 123 OPS+, 1 NL MVP award)
Daubert was named NL MVP in 1913 when he led the league with a .350 common. He additionally led the league with a .329 common in 1914 and led the Dodgers to their first World Collection look in 1916.
Daubert might be the second-best fielding first baseman in Dodgers historical past and was thought-about the most effective fielders of his period.
He was additionally forward of his time, wanting gamers to type a union, which is likely one of the causes the Dodgers traded him to Cincinnati after the 1918 season. He led the Reds to the World Collection title in 1919 (the notorious Black Sox scandal Collection).
He was nonetheless with the Reds in 1924 when he left to have an appendectomy. He died one week after the operation.
7. (2012-17, .280/.339/.454, 119 OPS+, 1-time All Star, 1 Gold Glove
González was acquired on Aug. 25, 2012, together with Josh Beckett, Nick Punto and Carl Crawford from the Boston Purple Sox for James Loney, Iván DeJesús Jr., Allen Webster, Jerry Sands and Rubby De La Rosa. In his first at-bat with the Dodgers that very same day, he hit a three-run dwelling run in opposition to the Miami Marlins, which was apropos as a result of he was one of many Dodgers’ finest clutch hitters for 4 seasons.
In his ultimate at-bat as a Dodger, González homered, making him the uncommon participant who has homered in his first and final at-bat with a crew. He was traded after the 2017 season together with Charlie Culberson, Scott Kazmir and Brandon McCarthy to Atlanta for Matt Kemp.
González was a highly regarded Dodger who led the majors in RBIs in 2014 with 116. He was the center of the Dodger offense for a number of seasons till age, accidents and the infield shift all appeared to catch as much as him on the identical time.
8. (1991-2002, .268/.325/.454, 109 OPS+, Rookie of the 12 months)
The Dodgers completed 63-99 in 1992, their worst season since shifting to L.A., and the most important shiny spot to the season was Karros, who in 149 video games hit 30 doubles, 20 homers and was named NL Rookie of the 12 months.
Over the following six seasons, Karros seldom drew the headlines on a crew that had Mike Piazza and Raul Mondesi, however you knew what you had been going to get from him each season: Round 145 video games performed, a batting common round .270, 25 homers, 25 doubles and 100 RBIs. One of many secrets and techniques to having crew over a protracted time period is discovering guys who can produce persistently. Karros was that for the Dodgers.
He nonetheless holds the L.A. report for many profession homers, and you’ll in all probability win a number of bets with that data.
He was additionally one of many slowest Dodgers in historical past. And he had a fielding quirk at first base. When there have been two outs and he took a throw from one other infielder, he pulled his foot off the bag and began working towards the dugout at virtually the identical actual second he caught the ball, even earlier than the ump may make a name. I’m satisfied he stole a number of outs for the Dodgers throughout his profession by doing this. The ump would see him working full pace off the sphere and on a name that might go both approach, say “Effectively, I assume he was out then.”
9. (1923-26, .337/.421/.552, 157 OPS+)
Probably the greatest hitters the Dodgers have ever had, Fournier led the NL in homers in 1924 with 27 and drove in 130 runs in 1925.
In case you are simply going by offensive numbers, then Fournier ought to be within the high three. Nevertheless, Fournier was actually dangerous defensively. He was born about 50 years too quickly to be a chosen hitter.
For what it’s price, in his “Historic Baseball Summary,” Invoice James has Fournier listed because the Thirty fifth-greatest first baseman of all time, simply behind Camilli (twenty ninth), Hodges (thirtieth) and Garvey (thirty first). That, after all, counts their time with different groups as properly.
Fournier has ties to Los Angeles: He performed for the Los Angeles Angels minor league crew for 3 seasons and he additionally coached UCLA’s baseball crew from 1934 to 1936.
10. (1906-10, .263/.356/.384, 139 OPS+)
Just one Dodger has led the Nationwide League in dwelling runs twice, and it’s not Duke Snider or Mike Piazza. It’s Jordan, who led the NL in 1906 and 1908 with 12 dwelling runs, which was lots within the dead-ball period.
Jordan received the Dodgers’ first base job in an uncommon approach. Acquired from Baltimore earlier than the 1906 season, he was set to change into the backup to common first baseman Don Gessler. On April 18, a devastating earthquake hit San Francisco, and a number of other main league groups held profit exhibition video games, with proceeds going to reduction assist. Jordan began the sport held in Brooklyn, went three for 3 with a double, and supervisor Patsy Donovan determined to make him the starter.
Jordan was the most effective energy hitters within the league, and he was quick. 4 of his 12 homers in 1906 had been inside-the-park homers. It additionally helped that ballparks again then had been rather more spacious. The wall in heart subject at Pittsburgh’s Exposition Park was 515 toes away.
Jordan held out for more cash after the 1909 season, however Brooklyn had Jake Daubert (sixth on this listing) and had been in no hurry to offer Jordan more cash. He damage his knee and at last reported, however his knee damage just about ended his profession within the majors. He was launched in Might, and performed within the minors till 1920. He labored as a safety guard, opened his personal restaurant, and died in 1949 on the age of 70.
The subsequent 5: Dan Brouthers, Del Bissonette, James Loney, Eddie Murray, Greg Brock.
The readers’ high 10
1,352 ballots had been despatched in. First place acquired 12 factors, second place 9, all the way in which down to 1 level for tenth place. Listed here are your selections:
1. Gil Hodges, 825 first-place votes, 14,475 factors
2. Freddie Freeman, 360 first-place votes, 11,625 factors
3. Steve Garvey, 147 first-place votes, 11,483 factors
4. Eric Karros, 13 first-place votes, 8,471 factors
5. Wes Parker, 7,402 factors
6. Adrián González, 5,802 factors
7. Dolph Camilli, 4,433 factors
8. Eddie Murray, 3,123 factors
9. Jake Daubert, 1,845 factors
10. James Loney, 1,462 factors
The subsequent 5: Nomar Garciaparra, Jack Fournier, Albert Pujols, Norm Larker, Greg Brock.
High 10 second basemen
Who’re your high 10 Dodgers first basemen of all time (together with Brooklyn)? E mail your listing to and let me know.
Lots of you may have requested for a listing of gamers to contemplate for every place. Listed here are the strongest second baseman candidates, in alphabetical order.
Hub Collins, Álex Cora, Tony Cuccinello, George Cutshaw, Tom Daly, Delino DeShields, Mark Ellis, Jim Gilliam, Mark Grudzielanek, Billy Herman, Orlando Hudson, Jon Hummel, Jim Lefebvre, Howie Kendrick, Jeff Kent, Pete Kilduff, Lee Lacy, Davey Lopes, Gavin Lux, Invoice McLellan, Charlie Neal, Willie Randolph, Jody Reed, Jackie Robinson, Juan Samuel, Steve Sax, Ted Sizemore, Eddie Stanky, Chase Utley, John Ward, Eric Younger.
A reminder that gamers are listed on the place during which they performed probably the most video games for the Dodgers, which is why Gilliam and Robinson are listed right here and never at different positions they performed.
And eventually
Gil Hodges and Ernie Banks compete on “Residence Run Derby.” .
Till subsequent time…
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