Dodgers' Hall of Fame Pitchers
Sandy Koufax. After being used only sparingly by Manager Walter Alston from 1955 through 1960, Sandy Koufax had the most dominant six year period of any pitcher in modern baseball history from 1961 through 1966. Over that time period, the legendary lefty compiled a 129-47 record. He also had a composite ERA of 2.19 and averaged 285 strikeouts per season.
Koufax won the Major League Cy Young Award in 1963, '65 and '66, and also took home the National League MVP in 1963. Koufax was a member of six pennant winners and four World Series champions. He was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown in 1972.
Dazzy Vance. Although he didn't start pitching until he was 31 years old, Dazzy Vance was still the best National League pitcher of the 1920s, winning a total of 137 games (in just 8 seasons) and leading the NL in strikeouts seven years in a row from 1922 through 1928. Vance was elected into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1955.
Don Newcombe. Don Newcombe is one of the few players in baseball history to win the Rookie of the Year, Cy Young, and Most Valuable Player awards during his career. As a 23-years old rookie in 1949, Newk went 17-8 with a 3.17 ERA and won top rookie honors. In 1956, Newcombe won 27 games and took home the first Major League Cy Young award and the NL Most Valuable Player award.
Don Drysdale. Drysdale teamed with Koufax to form the greatest lefty-righty pitching combination in history. In addition to his 209 wins and 2.95 career ERA, Drysdale won the 1962 Cy Young award, made nine all-star teams, and in 1968, he threw six consecutive shutouts and posted a record consecutive 58 2/3 shutout innings. (A record that was broken by Dodger Orel Hershiser in 1988).
Don Sutton. Sutton is the winningest pitcher in Dodgers' history with 233 victories. He is also the franchise's all-time leaders in career strikeouts with 2,696. That gets him into the Big Blue Hall of Fame.
Dodgers Hall of Fame Hitters
Jackie Robinson. Rookie of the Year in 1947. Most Valuable Player in 1949. The most important person in baseball history, and one of the most influential men in American history. The man is a Hall of Famer in Cooperstown and in Brooklyn.
Duke Snider: Snyder was the man in Brooklyn during the 1950s, playing center field and hitting the most home runs in the majors during the decade. He was a key component of the great teams of the decade and finished his illustrious career with 407 dingers.
Gil Hodges: Many Dodger fans still can't understand why Hodges hasn't been inducted into the Hall of Fame in Cooperstown. He was an eight time all-star who was a crucial player on seven pennant winners and two World Series champions. He won three Gold Glove awards and topped 100 RBI seven straight seasons from 1949 through 1955.
Pee Wee Reese: Reese was the on the field and clubhouse leader of the Dodgers during most of the 1940s and '50s. He made ten all-stra teams and was the best shortstop of his era, along with Phil Rizzuto of the Yankees. Reese's finest moment came during 1947, when he was the first white Dodger player to publicly embrace and support Jackie Robinson. The two remained friends for life.
Steve Garvey: A hitting machine in the 1970s, Steve Garvey won the National League MVP in 1974. Garvey led Los Angeles to four World Series, and finally won the Fall Classic when the Dodgers beat the Yankees in 1981. Garvey finsihed his career with a .294 average, 272 home runs and 1,308 RBI.
Mike Piazza: He's the greatest hitting catcher in baseball history, and he had his best years while playing for the Dodgers from 1993 through 1998. During that time, Piazza hit .334 with yearly averages of 33 home runs and 106 RBI. While he was a Dodger, Piazza won the Rookie of the Year award (1993), won six straight Silver Sluggers and made six consecutive All-Star teams.
James Lincoln Ray - Real Name: James Lincoln Ray Jim has been the Feature Baseball Writer for Suite101 since March, 2007, where he has written more then ...
Join the Conversation