3 months ago Article 141 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Orel Hershiser, the bulldog

It's fitting we end our profiles of the 1988 Dodgers with a look at Orel Hershiser, who carried the team on his back and was untouchable for over two months.

3 months ago Article 492 comments

1988 Dodgers player profiles : Mike Scioscia, the biggest hit of his career

Mike Scioscia hit three home runs all year, but hit a two-run home run in the ninth against Doc Gooden that led to tying the NLCS at two games apiece.

3 months ago Article 347 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Alejandro Pena, slow in every way except his fastball

Alejandro Pena, the longest-tenured Dodger pitcher on the post-season roster shines in relief in 1988.

3 months ago Article 652 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Mike Davis, all he did was walk

Mike Davis had a difficult 1988 season, making him an unlikely person to set the stage for one of the greatest moments in Los Angeles Dodgers World Series history.

3 months ago Article 284 comments

1988 Dodgers profile: Tommy Lasorda, the true believer

Coming off consecutive 73-89 seasons, Tommy Lasorda led the Dodger to the 1988 World Series title and secured a place in the Hall of Fame.

3 months ago Article 26 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Gilberto Reyes tasted the champagne

No 1988 Dodgers position player appeared in fewer games than Gilberto Reyes. But under somewhat unusual circumstances, he was in the clubhouse for the World Series celebration.

4 months ago Article 198 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Chris Gwynn, used in a pinch

The long-time pinch hitter was in his second season in 1988, and got a cup of coffee in September with the Dodgers.

4 months ago Article 442 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Jay Howell, a sticky situation

Jay Howell was an effective relief pitcher for the Dodgers for five years, but his first year in Los Angeles, while very good, could have easily been remembered negatively for the relief pitcher.

4 months ago Article 262 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Dave Anderson, the decoy

The longtime utility man stood in at shortstop every day for two months in 1988, then stood in the on-deck circle before the biggest home run in Dodgers franchise history.

4 months ago Article 1124 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Tim Crews, he took the ball

Tim Crews, technically still a rookie, ably filled a middle relief role for the 1988 Dodgers, took the ball whenever asked, and soaked up nearly 72 innings despite not being with the big club for the first thirty games of the year.

4 months ago Article 430 comments

1988 Dodgers player profiles : Rick Dempsey, the number of the beast

Dempsey, at age 38, picked a good time to have his best offensive season.

4 months ago Article 63 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Bill Krueger started once, just once

Bill Krueger made exactly one appearance for the 1988 Dodgers. He started, and the Dodgers won.

4 months ago Article 181 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Tracy Woodson, sometimes nice guys don't finish last

As spring training was winding down the third base job was a battle between young right-handed prospects, Tracy Woodson and Jeff Hamilton. The latter won out, with Woodson opening 1988 in the minors.

4 months ago Article 278 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Shawn Hillegas, in the rotation

Shawn Patrick Hillegas didn't finish the year with the 1988 Dodgers, but he filled a hole in their rotation in the middle of the season before being part of a stretch-drive trade.

4 months ago Article 30 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Mike Sharperson, almost a hero

It was only a walk but for one moment it was exactly what the Dodgers needed.

4 months ago Article 1162 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Ken Howell, team player

Ken Howell, currently the assistant pitching coach of the Los Angeles Dodgers, was both reinventing himself as a starting pitcher and recovering from off-season surgery at the start of the 1988 season. That put him in position to serve in one small role for the big club that year.

4 months ago Article 511 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Danny Heep, one of the Stunt Men

Danny Heep never was as effective as he was as a Met but he still started a game in the 1988 World Series.

4 months ago Article 16 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Jesse Orosco, the prankster

Jesse Orosco was a proven stalwart reliever, but was his most valuable contribution to the 1988 Dodgers a prank gone wrong?

4 months ago Article 1027 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: John Shelby, a streaker in center field

John Shelby's 24-game hitting streak and then a key NLCS plate appearance contributes to Dodger's ultimate victory

4 months ago Article 245 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Brian Holton, the patient journeyman

Brian Holton spent more time in Albuquerque than did Walter White, but his patience was rewarded with a career year in 1988 in the bullpen for the Dodgers.

4 months ago Article 68 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Mike Devereaux, greener pastures ahead

Mike Devereaux's contributions in 1988 were small but he would go on to win an NLCS MVP and be part of a World Series winner

4 months ago Article 426 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: John Tudor, the hired slinger

John Tudor played on two St. Louis Cardinals teams that just missed winning it all, but finally got his ring with the 1988 Los Angeles Dodgers, despite being a non-factor in the LA post-season success.

4 months ago Article 109 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Pedro Guerrero, the last hurrah

Pedro Guerrero began the 1988 season out of position, and ended it out of Los Angeles, shipped to St. Louis in a trade for the National League leader in ERA.

4 months ago Article 173 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Tim Leary, no one expected this

Tim Leary bounced back from a lackluster 1987 season to solidify the 1988 Dodgers rotation.

4 months ago Article 359 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Franklin Stubbs, from stuntman to starter

Franklin Stubbs began 1988 as one of the "Stuntmen" - the Dodgers opening-day bench players - but wound up starting every game of the World Series.

4 months ago Article 405 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Fernando Valenzuela, the injured superstar

Fernando Valenzuela started opening day for the Dodgers in 1988, but injuries and ineffectiveness limited the highest paid pitcher in baseball to his worst season to date.

4 months ago Article 217 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Ricky Horton, the late LOOGY pickup

The Dodgers acquired the left-handed Horton from the White Sox on Aug. 30, providing a second southpaw for the bullpen.

4 months ago Article 282 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Brad Havens, the mop-up man

Havens was one of 19 players to pitch for the Dodgers in 1988, though despite making the opening day roster he was not around for the finish.

4 months ago Article 577 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Alfredo Griffin, the defense-first shortstop

Alfredo Griffin, a key off-season acquisition, played through injury to win the first of his three World Series rings.

4 months ago Article 679 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Jeff Hamilton, treasuring his chance

Hamilton finally got his chance to play regularly in the major leagues in 1988, and he ended up a starter on a World Series winning team.

4 months ago Article 95 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Mickey Hatcher, more than a stunt man

Mickey Hatcher, the poster boy for contact hitting with limited power, hit the same number of home runs as the Bash Brothers in 1988 World Series.

4 months ago Article 281 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Don Sutton comes home

After an eight-year absence from the team, Don Sutton came home, and the results were far from what Dodgers fans had hoped for from the only Los Angeles Dodgers home grown Hall of Famer.

4 months ago Article 851 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Steve Sax, the table setter

Sax opened what would be his final campaign as a Dodger with a leadoff home run in the first game of the season, getting the season started off on the right foot.

4 months ago Article 314 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: William Brennan, getting his feet wet

Brennan was one of 11 pitchers to start a game for the Dodgers in 1988, and made his major league debut on July 19 against the Cardinals.

4 months ago Article 51 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Jose Gonzalez, the defensive replacement

Jose Gonzalez didn't get a ton of playing time on the 1988 Dodgers, but his speed and defensive versatility earned him a spot on the postseason roster, and he played a key role in one of the most memorable moments of the season.

4 months ago Article 618 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Ramon Martinez, the phenom

Martinez made five opening day starts for the Dodgers and won 123 games in parts of 11 years in Los Angeles, and he made his major league debut as a 20-year old in 1988.

5 months ago Article 327 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Mike Marshall, he got the bat

Mike Marshall, who missed on average 38 games a year for the Dodgers, had his healthiest campaign with the Dodgers in 1988 and was a key part of their lineup.

5 months ago Article 962 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Tim Belcher, the rookie

Belcher was a key member of the 1988 Dodgers pitching rotation, and finished third in National League Rookie of the Year voting.

5 months ago Article 129 comments

1988 Dodgers player profile: Kirk Gibson, the shot in the dark

Gibson hit the most famous home run in franchise history, and remains the last Dodger to win the MVP award.