History of the Los Angeles Dodger All-Star selections
The greatest baseball franchise has a rich history in the all-star game, with multiple MVP winners. You’d be hard pressed to find a Dodger pitcher who was scored upon in 58 years of Dodger all-star appearances. Don Drysdale holds the all-star record with 19 strikeouts and won back to back games in 1967 and 1968, and for good measure also collected a save in 1963. Steve Garvey was one of the greatest all-star performers winning both the 1974 and 1978 All-Star MVP awards. Maury Wills won the 1962 All-Star MVP award and drove in the winning run in the 1966 All-Star game in his last all-star at bat. Mike Piazza slugged home runs in back to back all-star games.
The links below will give you why each player was selected and what they did once they were selected.
LAD All-Stars, 1958 – 1961, the beginning
LAD All-Stars, 1962 – 1969, Koufax, Drysdale, and Wills era
LAD All-Stars, 1970 – 1979, Garvey – Russell – Lopes – Cey era
LAD All-Stars 1980 – 1989, the Fernando Valenzuela and Orel Hershiser decade
LAD All-Stars 1990 – 1999, the Mike Piazza era
LAD All-Stars 2000 – 2016, the Clayton Kershaw era
LAD All-Star Home Runs:
| Date | Batter | Pitcher | Score | Inn |
| 8/3/1959 | Jim Gilliam | Billy O’Dell | down 4-2 | b7 |
| 7/15/1975 | Jim Wynn | Vida Blue | ahead 0-1 | t2 |
| 7/30/1962 | John Roseboro | Milt Pappas | down 9-3 | b9 |
| 7/9/1996 | Mike Piazza | Charles Nagy | ahead 0-1 | b2 |
| 7/11/1995 | Mike Piazza | Kenny Rogers | down 2-1 | t7 |
| 7/19/1977 | Steve Garvey | Jim Palmer | ahead 0-4 | t3 |
| 7/15/1975 | Steve Garvey | Vida Blue | tied 0-0 | t2 |
| 7/24/1973 | Willie Davis | Nolan Ryan | ahead 1-5 | t6 |
LAD All-Stars, 1962 – 1969, Koufax, Drysdale, and Wills era
Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale would dominate the golden era of Los Angeles Dodger baseball. The team would appear in three World Series in a span of five years and win two World Championships, and it is possible the best team was the 1962 team which didn’t even get to the World Series. Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Johnny Podres, Claude Osteen, Maury Wills, Tommy Davis, and Frank Howard pushed these team to greatness.
LAD All-Stars, 1958 – 1961, the beginning
LAD All-Stars, 1970 – 1979, Garvey – Russell – Lopes – Cey era
LAD All-Stars 1980 – 1989, the Fernando Valenzuela and Orel Hershiser decade
LAD All-Stars 1990 – 1999, the Mike Piazza era
LAD All-Stars 2000 – 2016, the Clayton Kershaw era
1962 – The same four from 1961 Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Maury Wills, and John Roseboro were joined by Tommy Davis and Johnny Podres . This was Podres second selection but the first for Tommie Davis. Tommie Davis would go onto to have one of the greatest seasons ever by a LAD, leading the league in hits with 230, BA at .346, and an amazing RBI total of 153. Tommy could thank Maury Wills for the gaudy RBI totals since the 1962 MVP Wills would steal a record 104 bases and score 130 runs. This was a loaded LAD team, and even though Frank Howard was himself having a monster season he was unable to garner an All-Star selection. Don Drysdale won his only Cy Young award, Maury Wills won the MVP, and Maury, Don, and Tommie Davis would show up in the top five of the MVP vote which was one of the closest in MVP history. How this team didn’t win the pennant in 1962 could fill a book and probably has. Don started the first all-star game and pitched three scoreless innings. Tommy Davis started but went hitless in four at-bats. Wills entered the game as a pinch runner for Stan Musial, stole 2nd, and scored the first run of the game on a single by Dick Groat. Wills would end up scoring two runs even though he had only one plate appearance and win the MVP award. The second game was started by Johnny Podres who pitched two scoreless innings. John Roseboro slugged a home run off of Milt Pappas in the 9th inning.
1963 – The 1963 World Champion Dodgers had the usual suspects (Sandy, Don, Maury, and Tommy). At the time it seemed the twenty-four-year-old Tommy Davis was on his way to multiple all-star games but sadly this would be the last time for Tommy Davis. Tommy would see his production drop in 1964, and then would break his leg in 1965 basically ending his career as a starting player. His 1962 season still stands tall as no Dodger has approached his record RBI total of 153 or hit totals of 230. Sandy Koufax was on his way to his first Cy Young award, an award he would win three of the next four years. For good measure, Sandy also won the MVP that year. Frank Howard would once again have a great offensive year but again would not get an all-star selection. Don Drysdale played the role of closer in the all-star game, saving it with two scoreless innings.
1964 – Was the only down year for the Dodgers between 1962 – 1965. It was a period of transition for the rotation but the two perennial all-stars Sandy and Don made it once again. The two-game all-star break had been put to bed and starting in 1963 there would only be one game played. Don Drysdale started one of the most exciting All-star games in history. Don pitched three scoreless innings, but the NL was down 4 -3 in the bottom of the ninth. The NL tied the game, and with two on, Johnny Callison slammed a three-run home run to give the victory to the NL and Juan Marichal.
1965 – The 1965 World Champion Dodgers once again had the big three make the all-star team. Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, and Maury Wills. Maury had a big year and finished 3rd in the MVP voting to Willie Mays and Sandy. Sandy once again won the Cy Young award. In the all-star game, Don and Sandy pitched back to back without allowing a run. Maury had one hit in four at-bats.
1966 – Sadly this was the last All-Star game for Sandy Koufax. Don didn’t make the team after making four in a row. Maury Wills would get his fifth and final all-star selection. Phil Regan who was called the vulture for winning 14 games as a relief pitcher got his only all-star selection. 1965 ROY second baseman Jim Lefebvre got his first and only all-star selection. Sandy once again won the Cy Young award and came in 2nd in MVP voting. Phil Regan led the league in games finished while winning 14 and saving 21. His win – loss record was an astounding 14 – 1. Since the Dodgers rarely scored, every time he entered the game it was probably a close game. The Dodgers would win the NL Pennant but they did by scoring only 608 runs, good for eighth place in a ten team league. Jim Lefebvre hit 24 home runs as a second baseman, one of most under-appreciated achievements in LAD history given the context of offense at the time and particularly Dodger Stadium. Sandy started the all-star game and gave up the only run the AL would score. Jim Lefebvre started but it was backup SS Maury Wills who was the hero of the game. Wills would drive home the game-winning run in the bottom of the tenth inning with a single.That is how you do your last all-star at bat.
1967 – marked a changing of the guard with Sandy retiring and Wills being traded in a front office dispute. When someone asks how the current version of the Dodgers would be without Clayton Kershaw, you can look at 1967 for something close to an answer. Don Drysdale was selected for the seventh time and was joined by first-time all-star selection Claude Osteen. Claude had joined the team in 1965 in one of the Dodgers biggest trades which saw them move multiple players to the Senators for Claude. Claude was instrumental in the Dodgers winning the 1965 World Championship pitching the Dodgers to victory in game six with the team down 3 games to two. The All-star game went fifteen innings and Don Drysdale become the winning pitcher when the NL won 2 – 1. Claude Osteen was the only pitcher not used.
1968 – Don Drysdale was selected for the eighth and final time. Joining Big D was Tom Haller a player the Dodgers had traded for the prior winter. Haller had been an All-star for the Giants in 1966 and 1967, so this marked his 3rd straight all-star selection. It would be Hallers last selection. Big D would set the major league scoreless inning streak by going 58 straight innings. A mark that would later get broken by future Dodger Orel Hershiser. Don Drysdale would start and win the game once again by pitching three scoreless innings. The game’s final score was 1 -0.
1969 – Bill Singer was the lone Dodger representative on a team that had a lot of above average but no great position players. This would be the only all-star appearance for Singer as a Dodger. He would later make one as an Angel after the Dodgers traded him in one of the few trades between the Dodgers and Angels. Singer pitched two scoreless innings in his all-star game debut.
| Year | All-Star 1 | All-Star 2 | All-Star 2-6 | |||
| 1962 | | | Sandy Koufax | | | Don Drysdale | | | Maury Wills, Tommy Davis, John Roseboro, Johnny Podres |
| 1963 | | | Sandy Koufax | | | Don Drysdale | | | Maury Wills, Tommy Davis |
| 1964 | | | Sandy Koufax | | | Don Drysdale | | | |
| 1965 | | | Sandy Koufax | | | Don Drysdale | | | Maury Wills |
| 1966 | | | Sandy Koufax | | | Jim Lefebvre | | | Phil Regan, Maury Wills |
| 1967 | | | Don Drysdale | | | Claude Osteen | | | |
| 1968 | Don Drysdale | | | Tom Haller | | | ||
| 1969 | | | Bill Singer | | | | |
07/15/2016 – Diamondback Preview – Beware the Lamb
Most Dodger fans are rightly scared of Paul Goldschmidt, but in 2016 they might want to pan out and take in Jake Lamb. The National League is loaded with elite 3rd baseman. Nolan Arenado and Kris Bryant vaulted themselves into the same conversation as Matt Carpenter last year. This year Jake Lamb has thrown his hat in. Lamb has a wRC+ of 152 which is just a smidgen behind Kris Bryant. You can look at all the offensive categories and Lamb will show up in the top three for 3rd baseman in just about all of them. One he leads in is a big one. ISO at .322. In fact that ISO is the best in the NL. The best.
C – Welington Castillo Castillo is still hitting home runs just not at the same rate he hit them in his breakout 2015 season. He has ten already this year. His backup Chris Herrmann is having his career season. He has the fun stat of six home runs, five doubles, and four triples. Herrmann also has 28 RBI in only 157 plate appearances. Together the Diamondback backstops have hit 16 home runs which would put them in 2nd place for most home runs by catchers in the NL The Padres have the most with 17.
1st – Goldy is still great, but he’s not the Goldy of the past three years. Not yet anyway, but he has almost half a season to get back to his previous elite levels.
2nd – Jean Segura had a torrid April, slowed down in May and June, but in July has picked his game back up. The leadoff hitter still has a nice triple stat line of .311 / .358 /.441 to go along with fifteen stolen bases.
SS – Defensive whiz Nick Ahmed is still a black hole in the lineup but I’m not sure his defensive skills can continue to outweigh his offensive ineptitude. Triple stat line of .221 / .268 / .308 says it all.
3rd – we already covered Mr. Lamb
RF – David Peralta is on the DL again and should miss this series. With O’Brien being sent down once again, Yazmani Tomas has gotten the reps in RF in July. Tomas is in a big time slump with just five singles in thirty-five July at-bats.
CF – Michael Bourne has become the starting CF and that is horrible news for Diamondback fans. While movie fans may not realize, Bourne is done, and the sequels should stop.
LF – Drury hasn’t collected a walk in 30 July plate appearances but at least has displayed some power when he makes contact.
The Diamondbacks have elite skills at the corners but the below average outfield is a big reason why they are in last place. That and the pitching which I don’t write about anymore.
| Name | wRC+ | PA | HR | AVG | OBP | SLG | |
| Jake Lamb | 200 | 34 | 3 | 0.31 | 0.412 | 0.793 | |
| Rickie Weeks Jr. | 165 | 10 | 1 | 0.25 | 0.4 | 0.625 | |
| Phil Gosselin | 145 | 20 | 0 | 0.313 | 0.421 | 0.5 | |
| Chris Herrmann | 136 | 16 | 0 | 0.333 | 0.375 | 0.533 | |
| Jean Segura | 119 | 38 | 1 | 0.306 | 0.342 | 0.5 | |
| Paul Goldschmidt | 110 | 38 | 1 | 0.286 | 0.316 | 0.514 | |
| Brandon Drury | 93 | 30 | 1 | 0.267 | 0.267 | 0.5 | |
| Welington Castillo | 77 | 26 | 2 | 0.2 | 0.231 | 0.48 | |
|
36 | 39 | 0 | 0.237 | 0.237 | 0.316 | |
| Yasmany Tomas | -30 | 32 | 0 | 0.156 | 0.156 | 0.156 | |
| Nick Ahmed | -35 | 24 | 0 | 0.095 | 0.167 | 0.095 |
LAD All-Stars 1958 – 1960, the beginning
Fitting that Johnny Podres who pitched the greatest game in Brooklyn Dodger history would be the first all-star selection for the newly minted Los Angeles Dodgers.
LAD All-Stars, 1970 – 1979, Garvey – Russell – Lopes – Cey era
LAD All-Stars 1980 – 1989, the Fernando Valenzuela and Orel Hershiser decade
LAD All-Stars 1990 – 1999, the Mike Piazza era
LAD All-Stars 2000 – 2016, the Clayton Kershaw era
1958 – The new west coast version of the Dodgers saw Johny Podres and John Roseboro selected to represent the brand new Los Angeles Dodgers. I was surprised to find out that the hero of the 1955 Brooklyn World Championship team had never been an all-star before. Podres would make three all-star teams for the LAD. Also bizarre to find out that after Podres won game seven in 1955, he didn’t pitch the following year because of a military commitment. Just imagine if Podres had to make the commitment in 1955? I’ll probably need to brush up on biography to find out about how the timing worked out. This was Roseboro’s first full year and his first all-star game. Roseboro was not expected to be the Dodgers full-time catcher in 1958, that was supposed to be HOF Roy Campanella. January 28th, 1958 Campanella had a car accident and was paralysed leaving Roseboro as the starting catcher. Roseboro would go on to make three all-star teams for the LAD. Neither Podres nor Roseboro played in the 1958 all-star game. Talk about a youth movement the LAD in 1958 got 90% of their starts from pitchers 25 years or younger. The yutes may not have made a mark in their first year in Los Angeles but 22-year-old Koufax, 21-year-old Drysdale, 21-year-old Stan Williams, and 25-year-old Johnny Podres were about to make the mark in a big way.
1959 – The 1959 World Champion Dodgers had four all-star selections. Don Drysdale made the first of eight all-star appearances in 1959. Wally Moon would get his first and last all-star selection for the LAD. Former 1953 ROY Junior Jim Gilliam would make his first and last all-star selection for the LAD. Charlie Neal the unsung hero of the 1959 World Champion LAD made the first of two straight all-star teams. Neal would go onto win a gold glove, and garner some MVP votes as well. Don Drysdale started the all-star game and pitched three perfect innings. Wally Moon started in LF but went hitless in two at-bats. Neal never got in the game. But wait, a second game was played!!!! Starting in 1959 MLB decided to play two all-star games. The first was played on July 7th, the second was played on Aug 3rd, and it was played at the Los Angeles Coliseum. Drysdale got the start again, but this time was hammered and took the loss. Junior Jim Gilliam slammed a home run while Neal and Moon went hitless.
1960 – Johnny Podres got his second all-star selection in 1960. Joining him for the 2nd time was Charlie Neal. Stan Williams and Norm Larker got selected for the 1st time. It would also be the last time for both players. Neal was having a horrible year after his sparkling 1959 season. Larker on the other hand was having his career season after replacing Gil Hodges at 1st base. Stan Williams was part of the young guns, but while Don and Sandy would go onto the HOF while pitching exclusively with the Dodgers, Stan would get traded in 1962 to the Yankees. Two games were played once again with no notable performances by any Dodgers. Podres did pitch two adventurous innings in the second game, giving up one hit and three walks but left unscathed.
| Year | All-Star 1 | All-Star 2 | All-Star 2-4 | |||
| 1958 | | | Johnny Podres | | | John Roseboro | | | |
| 1959 | | | Don Drysdale | | | Wally Moon | | | Jim Gilliam, Charlie Neal |
| 1960 | | | Johnny Podres | | | Stan Williams | | | Charlie Neal, Norm Larker |
LAD All-Stars 1970 – 1979, Cey to Russell to Lopes to Garvey era
LAD All-Stars 1980 – 1989, the Fernando Valenzuela and Orel Hershiser decade
LAD All-Stars 1990 – 1999, the Mike Piazza era
LAD All-Stars 2000 – 2016, the Clayton Kershaw era
1970 – Billy Grabarkewitz starts off the decade with his only all-star appearance. Before Corey Seager, there was Billy Grabarkewitz who took the NL by storm in 1970.
What was a big surprise was that Billy was one of the best hitters in baseball for the first few months of 1970. He easily made the all-star team, and would even play a key role in one of the most famous all-star games in history. The 1970 All-Star game went into extra innings and is famous for Pete Rose bowling over Ray Fosse to win the game. It was Billy who singled to move Pete Rose into scoring position for that eventual scamper home on a Jim Hickman (ex-Dodger) single. Billy would end his all-star career batting 1.000 because that was his only all-star game appearance.
Claude Osteen was also selected in 1970 and would be the winning pitcher by hurling three shutout innings from the 10th through the 12th.
197 1- Willie Davis would be the only Dodger selected in 1971. It was Willie’s first all-star selection and by OPS his best season. This was the first time that Willie Davis was getting recognition as he also won his first Gold Glove, an award he won three straight times from 1971 – 1973 . Willie would get a hit in his only at-bat. Dick Allen was by far the Dodgers best player in 1971 but his first half (ops .811) was tame compared to his second half (ops .926) so that might have played into it. The Dodgers would trade Dick Allen to the White Sox where he would win the MVP in 1972. At least they got back Tommy John. Al Downing went 20 – 9 in 1971 and was 11 – 5 at the break. Certainly deserving but back then they only took eight pitchers. I’m going to have to go back and take a look again at the LAD 1971 season, they won 89 games, they finished one game back of the Giants.
1972 – HOF Don Sutton was selected for the first time in 1972. For a HOF, Don Sutton was only selected four times, and they would all come between 1972 – 1977. Don acquitted himself very well, pitching two scoreless innings.
1973 – After getting only one selection each in 1971 and 1972, the Dodgers would start a run of at least four all-stars from 1973 – 1978. Claude Osteen picked up his third and last all-star selection. Willie Davis and Don Sutton both got their second all-star selections in 1973. For Willie Davis, it would his last one. Manny Mota, Jim Brewer, and a young Bill Russell were all first-time selections. Manny Mota was 35 years old and wasn’t doing anything special in 1973 so I think he was simply added for nostalgia. Kind of strange given the Dodgers had six all-stars. Jim Brewer got his only selection and again it wasn’t close to his best season which was 1972. I think he got the call because they missed him in 1972. Bill Russell picked up the first of three all-star selections. Bill played all 162 games in 1973 and Steve Garvey was taking note. All three Dodger hurlers would pitch scoreless ball with Jim Brewer getting the save. Willie Davis made his last all-star appearance count, slugging a two-run home run off of Nolan Ryan.
1974 – The kids are here and they will dominate the all-star selections for the rest of the decade. I can simply type Ron Cey, and Steve Garvey for the next six years. This would be the first for both as the 1974 team exploded on baseball. Two key players acquired in the off-season made the team Jimmy Wynn and Mike Marshall. Andy Messersmith would round out the team. Steve Garvey wasn’t even listed on the all-star ballot but was voted in as a write-in candidate. Garvey showed the fans knew what they were doing when he collected two hits and won the MVP award. More than any other all-star game the 1974 game was a Dodger all-star game. Wynn, Garvey, and Cey batted 5th, 6th, and 7th and collected four hits in nine at-bats. Andy Messersmith started the game and Mike Marshall finished the game. This game probably deserves its own all-star write up.
1975 – In 1975 the exact same five players that made the team in 1974 made the team in 1975, while also adding Don Sutton. Garvey and Wynn would hit home runs, and Don Sutton would be the only Dodger to pitch, of the three pitchers selected. Don, once again hurled multiple scoreless innings.
1976 – Only four Dodgers made the list in 1976, with Garvey and Cey the holdovers. Bill Russell got back to the game, and Rick Rhoden made his first all-star game. I’ll say one thing. Dodger fans must have voted a lot more in the 1970’s than they do now. Steve Garvey hit a triple off of Mark the bird Fidrych which broke my heart because I’d grown to love the Bird. Rhoden pitched one scoreless inning.
1977 – Reggie Smith was traded for in the middle of 1976. In his first full season with the Dodgers in 1977, he was a tour de force leading a stacked team in many key offensive categories all while providing excellent defense in right field. As far as I’m concerned Reggie was jobbed out of the MVP award that went to George Foster and his 52 home runs. Reggie joined Garvey, Cey, and Sutton once again as all-stars. Garvey, Cey, and Sutton all started. Garvey once again left his mark on the game with a home, but this time, it was his teammate Don Sutton who won the MVP award. Sutton started, won, and pitched three shutout innings in a game that had 12 runs scored. The 1977 team was one of the greatest LAD teams of all time, and if not the best, maybe the 1978 team was.
1978 – Three newcomers cracked the Garvey/Cey/Smith all-star group in 1978. The Dodger had six once again but this time, they were Davey Lopes, Rick Monday, and Tommy John. Davey Lopes had watched his infield mates make all-star game after all-star game but this was the first time for the underappreciated second baseman. Steve Garvey would once again come through on the big stage, hitting another triple to win his second all-star MVP award.
1979 – 3/4 of the Dodger infield made the team, Garvey, Cey, and Lopes. For once Garvey would not collect a hit. Garvey and Lopes both started. For the first time since 1971, a Dodger pitcher did not make the team.
| Year | All-Star 1 | All-Star 2 | All-Star 2-6 | |||
| 1970 | | | Billy Grabarkewitz | | | Claude Osteen | | | |
| 1971 | | | Willie Davis | | | | | ||
| 1972 | | | Don Sutton | | | | | ||
| 1973 | | | Willie Davis | | | Manny Mota | | | Bill Russell, Don Sutton, Jim Brewer, Claude Osteen |
| 1974 | | | Ron Cey | | | Steve Garvey | | | Mike Marshall, Andy Messersmith, Jimmy Wynn |
| 1975 | | | Ron Cey | | | Steve Garvey | | | Jimmy Wynn, Mike Marshall, Andy Messersmith, Don Sutton |
| 1976 | | | Ron Cey | | | Steve Garvey | | | Bill Russell, Rick Rhoden |
| 1977 | | | Ron Cey | | | Steve Garvey | | | Reggie Smith, Don Sutton |
| 1978 | | | Ron Cey | | | Steve Garvey | | | Davey Lopes, Rick Monday, Reggie Smith, Tommy John |
| 1979 | | | Ron Cey | | | Steve Garvey | | | Davey Lopes |
LAD All-Stars 1980 – 1989, the Fernando Valenzuela and Orel Hershiser decade
1980 – The decade started with a bang as the Dodgers hosted the 1980 All-Star game, and had six representatives, led by the historical infield with Garvey, Lopes, and Russell all making the team. All four position players started but went a combined 0 – 7. Lopes only got one at-bat before being replaced. This was clearly a case of stuffing the ballot as Lopes had no business starting the all-star game in 1980. The pitchers fared a bit better, Welch got hammered, but Ruess followed him by striking out the side in the sixth inning and collecting the win. This was Reggie Smith’s last all-star appearance. He made seven in his career and three as a Dodger. This was Jerry Ruess and Bob Welch’s only Dodger all-star selections.
1981 – would, of course, start the Fernando era and end the historical Dodger infield era. Fernando would go on to make six straight all-star games, but this would be the last time anyone of the Garvey/Lopes/Russel/Cey infield would make an all-star team as a Dodger. Garvey made eight straight from 1974 – 1981, Lopes made four straight from 1978 to 1981. Ron Cey had made six straight from 1974 – 1979 but would not make one in this decade. Cey was the best hitter on the team in 1981 but failed to make the all-star team. Somehow Bill Russell made three all-star teams but 1980 was his last one. Dusty Baker after a long career as a Dodger finally made his first all-star game. This also marked the first all-star game for Pedro Guerrero who would go onto to be the best slugger for the Dodgers in this decade. Burt Hooten always underappreciated made only one all-star game and this was it. Fernando started the game and pitched one scoreless inning. Burt did not far so well giving three runs and five hits. The other notable aspect of this all-star game is that it was not played until Aug 9th due to the work stoppage.
1982 – The 1982 team had the 1980 ROY Steve Howe, 1981 ROY Fernando and the eventual 1982 ROY Steve Sax, plus long time Dodger Dusty Baker making his last all-star game.
1983 – had Pedro Guerrero and Steve Sax along with Fernando. Steve Sax started out his career with a bang, making the all-star team in first two years, but that would be it for the hyperkinetic Sax until 1986. Sax would lead off the game and score the first run after reaching on an error and stealing 2nd. Pedro had become one of the most feared hitters in the NL by 1983, raining down a reign of terror upon NL pitchers that would not end until 1989.
1984 – Mike Marshall made his first and only all-star appearance in 1984. At just 23 it looked like Mike would join Pedro as a feared duo and while Mike would be a good hitter, except for one season in 1985 he never achieved the levels expected of him. Fernando pitched two scoreless innings in the all-star game.
1985 – was the Fernando and Pedro show. Pedro was all world in 1985, leading the NL in OBP, Slug%, OPS, and OPS+. He would not get an at-bat in the all-star game. Fernando pitched one scoreless inning.
1986 – saw Pedro break his ankle and miss most of the season. Fernando and Sax got the all-star call. This would be the last all-star game for both of them as Dodgers. Sax had by far his greatest season and greatly deserved the honor. Fernando had made six straight all-star games and was only 25, but this would be his last, so he went out with a bang. Fernando hurled three shutout innings, strike out five, including five in a row. Possibly the greatest all-star pitching performance by a Dodger.
1987 – With the changing of the guard in 1987 came Orel Hershiser. This would the first of three straight for Orel even though he should have gone in 1985. Pedro bounced in with his last big year for the Dodgers. Orel pitched two scoreless innings.
1988 – is famous for Kirk Gibson not being an all-star even though he won the MVP. Orel was the only representative for eventual World Champions and pitched one scoreless inning.
1989 – The decade closed out with the Bo Jackson all-star game. Orel made the team for the 3rd time in a row and was joined by Mike Scioscia for the 1st time. Recently acquired Willie Randolf made the team for his sixth time, first and only time as a Dodger. Jay Howell made the team for his 3rd time, but his first time as a Dodger, and the last time in his career.
| Year | All-Star 1 | All-Star 2 | All-Stars 3-6 | |||
| 1980 | | | Steve Garvey | | | Davey Lopes | | | Jerry Ruess, Bill Russell, Reggie Smith, Bob Welch |
| 1981 | | | Fernando Valenzuela | | | Pedro Guerrero | | | Davey Lopes, Steve Garvey, Burt Hooton, Dusty Baker |
| 1982 | | | Fernando Valenzuela | | | Steve Sax | | | Dusty Baker, Steve Howe |
| 1983 | | | Fernando Valenzuela | | | Pedro Guerrero | | | Steve Sax |
| 1984 | | | Fernando Valenzuela | | | Mike Marshall | | | |
| 1985 | | | Fernando Valenzuela | | | Pedro Guerrero | | | |
| 1986 | | | Fernando Valenzuela | | | Steve Sax | | | |
| 1987 | | | Orel Hershiser | | | Pedro Guerrero | | | |
| 1988 | | | Orel Hershiser | | | | | ||
| 1989 | | | Orel Hershiser | | | Jay Howell | | | Willie Randolf, Mike Scioscia |
LAD All-Stars from 1990 – 1999, the Mike Piazza era
No surprise that Mike Piazza owns this decade, being an all-star every single full season he played for the Dodgers. Plus Piazza kept on giving because Gary Sheffield continued that success by being an all-star three yeas in a row after being acquired for Mike Piazza.
I’d loved to have had exit velocity in the early days of Piazza’s career because it seemed to my naked ear that I’d never heard anyone hit the ball as hard as often as Piazza at Dodger Stadium. Until Gary Sheffield showed up.
1990 – The decade started off with Ramon Martinez earning his first All-Star appearance, and Mike Scioscia getting his second and last All-Star appearance.
1991 – found the Dodgers with an astounding six All-Stars. For five of these six that would be the only time they represented the Dodgers in the all-star game. At the time many expected that to be the first of many all-star appearances for Darryl Strawberry who was appearing in his eighth straight (seven as a Met) but instead, it was his last. Ramon Martinez is a curious case. Baseball Reference and other searches don’t have Ramon Martinez listed as an all-star but Mark Langhill the noted LAD historian with an assist from Jon Weisman assured me that Ramon was indeed an all-star in 1991
Martinez was selected to the All-Star team in 1991, but didn’t pitch because of a hip injury. He was replaced on the ASG roster by Dodger pitcher Mike Morgan. He is considered one of the six Dodger All-Star reps in 1991, along with Butler, Strawberry, Murray, Samuel and Morgan. (Strawberry was selected but due to injury was replaced by Montreal’s Ivan Calderon).
1992 – found the Dodgers with possibly their most unlikely All-Star selection, utility infielder Mike Sharperson. The Dodgers were bad in 1992, but every team has to have an all-star so Mike was chosen to represent the Dodgers.
1993 – Mike Piazza, 1994 – Mike Piazza. From 1993 – 1997 it was the Mike Piazza show. Piazza homered in both the 1995 and 1996 games and was the sole representative in 1993, 1994, and 1997.
1995 – Jose Offerman made an appearance that he didn’t deserve. Jose may have hit the ball ok in the 1st half of 1995 but he was making errors hand over fist and that was not an all-star combination. 1995 was the one year that Eric Karros should have made the team. Karros would never make an all-star team, but if he had, it should have been 1995. A trio of ROY winners represented the Dodgers. Piazza from 1993, Mondesi from 1994, and 1995 ROY Hideo Nomo. For Mondesi and Nomo that would be the only time they were selected to be all-stars. Nomo started the game and Piazza hit a home run to lead the NL to a 3 – 2 victory. Todd Worrell also made the team.
1996 – Piazza again, and Todd Worrell.
1997 -Just Piazza once again
1998 was the bizarre year that Jeff Shaw represented the Dodgers in the all-star game after being acquired from the Reds on July 4th. The game was played on July 7th, so the first time Jeff Shaw wore a Dodger uniform was at the all-star game.
Gary Sheffield continued the Mike Piazza tradition and made the team back to back in 1998 and 1999.
Here is a link to all of the LAD All-Stars.
|
All-Star 1 | All-Star 2 | All-Star 2-5 | ||||
| 1990 | | | Ramon Martinez | | | Mike Scoscia | | | ||
| 1991 | | | Brett Butler | | | Darryl Strawberry | | | Ramon Martinez, Mike Morgan, Eddie Murray, Juan Samuel | |
| 1992 | | | Mike Sharperson | | | | | |||
| 1993 | | | Mike Piazza | | | | | |||
| 1994 | | | Mike Piazza | | | | | |||
| 1995 | | | Mike Piazza | | | Hideo Nomo | | | Jose Offerman, Raul Mondesi, Todd Worrell | |
| 1996 | | | Mike Piazza | | | Todd Worrell | | | ||
| 1997 | | | Mike Piazza | | | | | |||
| 1998 | | | Gary Sheffield | | | Jeff Shaw | | | ||
| 1999 | | | Gary Sheffield | | | | |
The day that Clayton Kershaw embarrassed me at the futures game
Doesn’t seem possible that Clayton Kershaw’s futures game was almost ten years ago but father time doesn’t lie. It was the summer of 2007 and I was lucky enough to get invited to San Franciso to watch the Future’s game by a friend of mine who was headed up to see his wife’s father. His father had season tickets and they were giving us their future game tickets because no one else was interested in prospects. Jay knew I was, and when he offered us the tickets and place to stay we jumped at the chance and headed to the city by the bay.
They said we could stay at their family place, but we’d have to stay in the basement. No big deal for us, as we can pretty much hang anywhere. I basically sleep in the attic of my oldest brothers house when I visit them. I remembered the basement because when my friends oldest son had dropped out of college he had told me that Ryan was now living in his grandfather’s basement in San Francisco. I, of course, imagined a small house with a tiny basement, cramped quarters, and felt bad for Ryan. Yeah right
We arrived the night before and when they showed us to our quarters, we couldn’t help but laugh. Unbeknown to us, that side of the family was loaded, and the resident was right smack in the middle of one of San Fran’s best locations, the place had three or maybe even four stories, The “basement” was the final floor and it was “only” about 2,000 square feet and still had a view of San Francisco. It was the best place we ever stayed anywhere in our life.
I was especially excited because Clayton Kershaw and Chin-Lung Hu (future game MVP) were the Dodger future game representatives and even then I knew Kershaw was something special.
First I hit the festivities and highlighted my stay by beating SF fans at SF trivia and won a Dodger bear which I backpacked to AT&T park to meet my wife.
We got to our seats which were right behind home plate. I was a tad obnoxious, being surrounded by SF fans you have to remember the time. The SF Giants had never won a World Championship, and we had five under out belts. So when anyone taunted me they didn’t have much ammunition. My gun was loaded with Kershaw bullets, Best this, best that , blah blah blah. I’m sure they hated me. When Clayton got up to warm up along the left field line, I left my seats to watch and got some nice shots. It was the first time I ever saw Kershaw close up, and man was he young.
When he came in I headed back to our seats to watch the wonder kid. What I got instead was watching Clayton Kershaw give up his first professional home run. The fans around me poured it on, and rightly so. I deserved it. I had to good-naturedly take it, just as they had good-naturedly listened to me brag about the Dodger wonder kid who was going to take the NL by storm. It ended up being a humbling day, and I’ve never quite forgiven Clayton for embarrassing me that day.
Though multiple Cy Youngs, and being the best pitcher of the 21st century has certainly mitigated things.
LAD All-Stars 2000 – 2017, Clayton Kershaw era
Here is a link to all of the LAD All-Stars.
Quick 21st-century LAD All-Star notes:
- The most all-stars this century are the current six in 2017
- The Dodgers have a rookie all-star three years in a row with Joc Pederson, Corey Seager, and Cody Bellinger.
- This will be Kershaw’s 7th straight all-star appearance.
- Andre Ethier, not Clayton Kershaw was the first LAD to make an all-star team still on the current roster
- Kenley Jansen joins Eric Gagne, Jonathan Broxton, Hong-Chih Kuo, and Takashi Saito as the only relievers to make the all-star team in this century
- Eric Gagne is the only LAD besides Kershaw to be an all-star this century at least three times
- Shawn Green had some incredible years for the Dodgers but was only an all-star one time in 2002. Amazingly his record-breaking season of 2001 did not get him to the all-star game.
- Paul LoDuca, Russell Martin, and Yazmani Grandal are the catchers who have represented the LAD this century
- Corey Seager joins Rafael Furcal as the only shortstops to make the all-star team
- Free agent All-Stars were Justin Turner, Zack Greinke, Rafy Furcal, Nomar Garciaparra, Jeff Kent, Kevin Brown, and Orlando Hudson
- International free agent all-stars are Kenley Jansen, Chan-Ho Park, Takashi Saito, Hong-Chih Kuo, and Yasiel Puig
- Traded for all-stars are Alex Wood, Adrian Gonzalez, Yazmani Grandal, Andre Ethier, Brad Penny, Cesar Izturis, Shawn Gree, Odalis Perez, and Jeff Shaw
2017 – Alex Wood was just a tad better than Clayton Kershaw by the break with Wood sporting a 10 – 0 and one of the best sOPS+ against in LAD history by the break. Clayton was as good as ever continuing to make his case as one of the five greatest pitchers in baseball history. Corey Seager just missed getting the fan vote due to Zack Cosart having a career year but was an easy manager call for a substitution. Kenley Jansen was the best relief pitcher in MBL during the first half and got his second all-star nod. Cody Bellinger beat the odds and made the team even though the NL was stacked at 1st base. I expect his ability to play the outfield got him on the team not to mention his bazillion home runs in just two months of baseball. Justin Turner had to make the team via the fan vote for the final spot and the Dodger fans did not let him down, as he beat out the reigning 2016 MVP Kris Bryant to win his first all-star nod. Turner hit the break with the highest fWAR even though he had missed several weeks of baseball.
2016 – Clayton Kershaw got the nod once again as he once again was the best pitcher in baseball. Kenley Jansen finally had a great April and rode that to his first all-star nod. Corey Seager made the all-star team in his rookie season by being the best NL SS in the first half.
2015 – Zack Greinke once again joined Clayton Kershaw as an all-star and he did it by being the best pitcher in the NL in the first half. Joc Pederson rode to the all-star game on the back of his 20 first half home runs becoming the first of three rookies in a row to make the all-star team. Yazmani Grandal made his first all-star team in his first season with the Dodgers. Adrian Gonzalez would make his last all-star team via his dynamic April.
2014 – Clayton and Greinke took the honors. Puig had a monster first half and the talk was of an MVP season. It would be the last great three month stretch by Puig. From June of 2013 – June 2014 he was arguably the best player in baseball. Dee Gordon would make the all-star team bouncing back from a disappointing 2013 season.
2013 – Just Clayton
2012 – Clayton once again. Matt Kemp makes his last Dodger all-star team with a monster first half even though he missed all of June.
2011 – Clayton once again. Matt Kemp makes his first all-star game and comes just short of being the 2011 MVP. Andre Either makes his 2nd all-star game and his last.
2010 – No Clayton yet. Kuo and Broxton ride the great Dodger bullpen to spots on the all-star team. Furcal had one of the greatest first halves for a Dodger SS to nab his only LAD all-star nomination. Andre Ethier gets his first all-star nomination due to his fantastic first half. From the all-star break of 2009 until the all-star break of 2010, Andre Ethier had an OPS over .900.
| Year | All-Star One | All-Star Two | All-Star 3,4,5 | |||
| 2017 | | | Kershaw, Clayton | | | Jansen, Kenley | | | Seager, Corey, Justin Turner, Alex Wood, Cody Bellinger |
| 2016 | | | Kershaw, Clayton | | | Jansen, Kenley | | | Seager, Corey |
| 2015 | | | Kershaw, Clayton | | | Greinke, Zack | | | Gonzalez, Adrian, / Pederson, Joc / Grandal, Yazmani |
| 2014 | | | Kershaw, Clayton | | | Greinke, Zack | | | Puig, Yasiel / Gordon, Dee |
| 2013 | | | Kershaw, Clayton | | | | | ||
| 2012 | | | Kershaw, Clayton | | | Kemp, Matt | | | |
| 2011 | | | Kershaw, Clayton | | | Kemp, Matt | | | Ethier, Andre |
| 2010 | | | Kuo, Hong-Chih | | | Broxton, Jonathan | | | Furcal, Rafael / Ethier, Andre |
| 2009 | | | Billingsley, Chad | | | Broxton, Jonathan | | | Hudson, Orlando |
| 2008 | | | Martin, Russel | | | | | ||
| 2007 | | | Penny, Brad | | | Saito, Takashi | | | Martin, Russel |
| 2006 | | | Penny, Brad | | | Garciaparra, Nomar | | | |
| 2005 | | | Kent, Jeff | | | Izturis, Cesar | | | |
| 2004 | | | Gagne, Eric | | | LoDuca, Paul | | | |
| 2003 | | | Gagne, Eric | | | LoDuca, Paul | | | Brown, Kevin |
| 2002 | | | Gagne, Eric | | | Green, Shawn | | | Perez, Odalis |
| 2001 | | | Park, Chan-Ho | | | Shaw, Jeff | | | |
| 2000 | | | Brown, Kevin | | | Sheffield, Gary |
Adam Liberatore J.P. Howell hand in left handed hand
Adam Liberatore is breaking LAD scoreless appearance records in 2016 that J.P. Howell was setting in 2015. Adam has appeared in 38 games this year, and given up a run only one time. He’s made 24 straight scoreless appearances. His strand rate is 92%. He’s been what J.P Howell was last year at just about the same time when Howell was setting the record of thirty-six appearances without giving up an “earned run”.
Liberatore and Howell give the Dodgers a dimension they have not had in the past two years. Two left-handed relievers that can currently be relied upon to shut down the opposition. Howell has not given up a run in almost a month. Combined these two have not given up a run since June 14th, which encompasses nineteen appearances (Howell – 9 , Liberatore – 10).
Other left handed possibilities for the bullpen in 2016 include:
- The Dodgers have just started to use Julio Urias in the bullpen in AAA, for what I hope will be an extended run in the bullpen in Sept. Urias’s only blemish was his pitch counts which wouldn’t be a factor in the bullpen. Am I counting too much on a 20 year 0ld (he’ll be 20 in August)?
- Alex Wood will be back in a few weeks, with no apparent place in the rotation given that Kershaw will have already shoved one of the current rotation pieces (Norris?) into the bullpen. Alex Wood could also be a nice left handed piece for the bullpen.
For once the 2016 bullpen just might have the southpaws they need come October.
Dodgers, Yesterday and Today 