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Willie Davis slides into heaven

The 3 Dog holds so many Los Angeles Dodger records:

Individual:

Triples (16) , Longest hitting streak (31)

Career:

At Bats (7,495), Runs (1,004), Hits (2,091), Triples (116), Total Bases (3,094), XBH (585), PA (8,035)

From 1960 - 1973 Willie Davis put together one hell of a career. He was considered a chronic underachiever, and for most Dodger fans in the 1960's will be forever remembered as the center fielder who made three errors in a row

The Orioles were the first to break through with three unearned runs in a terrible inning for the Dodgers' Willie Davis. First, the centerfielder dropped consecutive fly balls (after losing both in the sun). Then he threw a wild ball past third base after the second drop.

in game two of the 1966 World Series,  but he was much more than that.

As the numbers above show he was Mr. Los Angeles Dodger, a constant in Chavez Ravine as his team changed about him over and over. He saw the highs of the great teams from 62-66, then stuck around to see the wretched teams of 67, 68, followed by the slow youth movement that was capped just after he was finally traded to the Expo's for the final piece of the puzzle in Iron Man Mike Marshal.

Through it all Willie Davis did his thing never quite reaching stardom but certainly putting his stamp on the Los Angeles Dodgers. Willie was one of those ballplayers who did things easily so lazy got pinned to him. There was no kinetic energy to Willie, he simply flowed through a baseball game.  I've always found that the more graceful the player the easier it is to pin a tag that they are lazy or don't care, when truth is, things just come easy to them.

The first time I saw Willie Davis, Mr. Ed was giving him hitting advice, the next time I saw him was at the Ravine in 1970. He quickly became one of my favorite and most exasperating  Dodgers. At times he could do it all, other times average was all we got. His speed allowed him to patrol CF well enough to win three straight six gold gloves between 1971 - 1973.  He hit well enough to become the only LA Dodger to eclipse 2,000 hits.

Mister Ed and the Dodgers (via georgecf)


I was lucky enough to see Willie Davis play, more importantly I was able to see WIllie Davis run. Boy could the 3-Dog run. Who needs home runs when the 3-Dog is sliding into 3rd comfortably a head of the throw.

 

In 2006 he was honored by his high school alma mater Roosevelt High. In the video Willie explains exactly the roots of his 3-Dog nickname. Lot of great photo's in this video from his high school track star days and his Dodger baseball cards. Also some nice video of Willie playing Dodger baseball. This is a cool video I really recommend you take a look at it.

Willie Davis - Alumni Roosevelt HS Hall of Fame (via calteknet)

Willie Davis just a few months ago:

Willie Davis Legendary Baseball Player and Golfing - WTF Golf Episode 14 (via wtfgolf)


Run Willie Run

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I was obviously not able to see Willie

But he sounded like one hell of a player. Extremley exciting and someone who could spark the crowd.

Please correct me if I’m wrong, but wasn’t he at the Koufax torre thing?

by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Mar 9, 2010 6:06 PM PST via mobile reply actions  

I did not see him on TV

I saw Tommie Davis and Lou Johnson. Tommy and Willie were 2/3 of the young 1960’s outfield.

Patience is for those who die waiting for something to happen

by Phil Gurnee on Mar 9, 2010 6:17 PM PST up reply actions  

I’m pretty sure Willie wasn’t there

by Eric Stephen on Mar 9, 2010 6:54 PM PST via mobile up reply actions  

for some reason

I thought he was sitting next to Lou, but I must be thinking of someone else.

by lakersdodgersyankees4life on Mar 10, 2010 7:33 AM PST up reply actions  

Koufax/Torre thing

I saw Lou Johnson and Tommy Davis also out fielders on the 1965 team were present at the Koufax Torre event. I did not see Willie.

by Cardude on Mar 12, 2010 12:05 PM PST up reply actions  

Great write up Phil

by Eric Stephen on Mar 9, 2010 6:55 PM PST via mobile reply actions  

Fantastic write up
Love the cloud of dust on the slide into second – classic.
When I was elelven or twelve years old (‘63-’64) my buddy’s dad was a member at the then Los Coyotes GC in Buena Park. They had a tourney event to honor and entertain the Dodgers. I can still hear my freind’s father describing how he witnessed Willie hitting out of a fairway bunker and making his shot work with a 3 wood.
Golf Blasphemy according to him, but it worked.
Soon thereafter I tried the trick, and broke the clubhead off the shaft.
My buddy laughed and laughed. I wasn’t laughing that day, but I am now.
Haven’t thought of that day for quite a while. Willie D – against the grain.

by 68elcamino427 on Mar 9, 2010 7:48 PM PST reply actions  

Phil: great post.

I, like you, had the honor of seeing Willie Davis live a couple of times and on TV quite a bit. I was young but he made an impression. I remember him as having the longest legs of any baseball player I ever saw. He ran; no, he glided; around centerfield and the bases like noone I can recall. I was bred a Dodger fan and growing up I remember two truly great center fielders: Willie Mays (a Giant, but man what a player) and Willie Davis. Mays was clearly in a class by himself, but for a young, impressionable Dodger fan who somehow understood the importance of center field at a young age, Davis was a man.

I remember a phot from either a scorecard or a yearbook that had Willie and the band 3 Dog Night. Back then the Dodgers, and not the Lakers, truly owned the Hollywood/entertainment scene.

Godspeed, #3!

by KellyStephen on Mar 9, 2010 8:34 PM PST reply actions  

The Roosevelt High video was amazing. A must watch.

by Eric Stephen on Mar 9, 2010 10:58 PM PST via mobile reply actions  

I didn’t know that Willie Davis set a prep record long jumping. A 25 foot long jump for a high schooler is pretty tremendous. My memories of Davis are pretty fuzzy, as I was only 12 when he last played as a Dodger. Back in those days, there weren’t that many television games – Sunday road games and SF road games IIRC – so most of what I knew about Willie was from reading the papers and the backs of baseball cards. I do remember the coverage of his 31-game hitting streak though, which really captured people’s attention. Hats off to the 3 Dog.

The commenter formerly known as El Lay Dave.

by David Young on Mar 10, 2010 1:04 AM PST reply actions  

As A Kid

I seem to remember Willie also having a streak of getting on base in consecutive PAs over several games, but don’t see mention of it now. It seemed like some sort of record at the time, at least a Dodger record.

The Roosevelt HS video is great. I like the part about the Duke.

by Bob Hendley on Mar 10, 2010 4:21 AM PST reply actions  

Nomar retiring today

7:30am press conference. He’s signing a 1-day deal with the Red Sox.

by Eric Stephen on Mar 10, 2010 6:20 AM PST via mobile reply actions  

That’s really too bad. He was such an amazing player, even as short ago as 2006. It sucks that injuries derailed his sure-fire-Hall Of Fame career.

by Ivdown on Mar 10, 2010 9:35 AM PST up reply actions  

Kuo, who we knew was pitching Sunday, is starting Sunday in Taiwan

by Eric Stephen on Mar 10, 2010 7:13 AM PST via mobile reply actions  

RT @dylanohernandez: Dodgers lineup: Furcal 6, DeWitt 4, Ethier 9, Kemp 8, Giles DH, Johnson 7, Mientkiewicz 3, Green 5, Ellis 2. Padilla SP

by Eric Stephen on Mar 10, 2010 7:47 AM PST reply actions  

D-Backs

not just Abreu, but Abreu at SS!

Abreu SS
Parra CF
C. Jackson LF
Reynolds 3B
Montero C
Snyder DH
Macias RF
Ryal 1B
Ojeda 2B
Haren RHP

by Eric Stephen on Mar 10, 2010 7:48 AM PST reply actions  

Natural Position

Dbacks checking to make sure he can be the utility guy.

by meercatjohn on Mar 10, 2010 8:01 AM PST up reply actions  

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NL West Standings

W L PCT GB STRK
San Diego 79 59 .572 0 Won 3
San Francisco 78 62 .557 2 Lost 1
Colorado 75 64 .539 4.5 Won 6
Los Angeles 69 71 .492 11 Lost 5
Arizona 57 83 .407 23 Won 1

(updated 9.8.2010 at 10:10 PM PDT)

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2010 Dodger Payroll

Pos No Player 2010 Salary
C 28 Barajas $117,486
1B 7 Loney $3,100,000
2B  13 Theriot $909,290
3B 23 Blake $6,000,000
SS 15 Furcal $8,500,000
LF  21 Podsednik $640,710
CF 27 Kemp $4,000,000
RF 16 Ethier $6,000,000

SS/2B/3B 14 Carroll $1,475,000
OF 5 Johnson $850,000
OF/1B 31 Gibbons $155,738
C 12 Ausmus $850,000
C 17 Ellis $332,241
IF 60 Hu $74,350
PH/1B 35 Lindsey $61,202
1B/3B 9 Mitchell $61,202
OF 49 Oeltjen $59,016

SP 22 Kershaw $440,000
SP 58 Billingsley $3,850,000
SP 18 Kuroda $14,100,000
SP  29 Lilly $1,696,721
SP 44 Padilla $4,025,000

CL 56 Kuo $950,000
RHP 51 Broxton $4,000,000
RHP  26 Dotel $636,612
RHP 74
Jansen $159,563
RHP 54 Belisario $297,541
RHP 38 Troncoso $297,792
RHP 36 Weaver $800,000
LHP 52 Sherrill $4,500,000
RHP 37 Monasterios $460,000
RHP  48 Ely $222,951
RHP 50 Link $109,649

DL 59 Schlichting $185,792
60DL 55 Martin $5,050,000

Manny $7,267,760


Pierre $4,000,000


Andruw $3,600,000


Schmidt $2,000,000


Wolf $2,000,000


Hudson $1,440,000


Nomar $1,250,000
Belliard $825,000
Anderson $409,699
Ra.Ortiz $349,727
AAA 45 Miller $292,623
DeWitt $266,612


Ohman $200,000
AAA 49 Haeger $195,393
AAA 47 Wade $194,514
AAA 30 Paul $131,147


Repko $122,951
Green $96,175
Ru.Ortiz $63,934
 
Taschner $39,344


Zerpa $35,000
Castro $32,787
McDonald $28,771
AAA 57 Elbert $6,557
AAA
Hoffmann ($25,000)


Stults ($400,000)

Totals
$99,389,730
 
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