We'll cut right to the chase -- this list was the hardest one thus far in our series of attempting to narrow down the nine greatest players in the history of each MLB franchise.
For many franchises, you could create a pretty impressive list just out of those who were the first ones off for the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers:
- Dazzy Vance: A Hall of Fame pitcher who won the 1924 National League MVP
- Pee Wee Reese: A 10-time All-Star infielder who was part of some of the greatest teams in franchise history and ultimately inducted into the Hall of Fame
- Fernando Valenzuela: The author of "Fernandomania," who made six All-Star teams and won both the NL Rookie of the Year and Cy Young Award in 1981
- Maury Wills: The 1962 NL MVP is the Dodgers' all-time leader in stolen bases with 490
- Orel Hershiser: In 1988, Hershiser won the NL Cy Young Award, before being named the MVP of the NLCS and World Series
- Zack Wheat: Another Hall of Famer, Wheat spent 18 seasons with the Dodgers and is second among all position players in franchise history with a 62.7 fWAR
- Kenley Jansen: The all-time leader in saves among Dodgers' pitchers, Jansen's 350 career saves are 13th in MLB history
- Ron Cey: A six-time All-Star, Cey was the MVP of the 1981 World Series
- Steve Garvey: During 14 seasons with the Dodgers, Garvey made eight All-Star teams, won the 1974 NL MVP and hit 211 home runs
- Johnny Podres: One of the better pitchers in franchise history, Podres was a four-time All-Star and won the 1955 World Series MVP
- Justin Turner: The 2017 NLCS MVP has 13 career postseason home runs and is one of the most popular players in franchise history
In our defense, eight of the players who did make our list are already in the Hall of Fame. The ninth will be a first-ballot Hall of Fame when he becomes eligible. So for all the franchise greats it was hard to leave off this list, we believe that we've narrowed down the nine greatest players in Dodgers history:
9. Mike Piazza (1992-1998)
Mike Piazza is one of the greatest players in Dodgers history.
(Jed Jacobsohn/Getty Images)
Best Season as a Dodger: 1997 - .362/.431/.638 with 40 home runs, 124 RBIs, 69 walks, 1.070 OPS, 185 OPS+ and a 9.1 fWAR
Career Stats as a Dodger: .331/.394/.572 with 177 home runs, 563 RBIs, 283 walks, 896 hits, .966 OPS, 160 OPS+ and 33.8 fWAR
While Piazza is most remembered for his time with the New York Mets, he won the 1993 National League Rookie of the Year as a Dodger and finished runner-up for the NL MVP in 1996 and 1997. Arguably the greatest hitting catcher in MLB history, Piazza won five Silver Slugger Awards as a Dodger. Trading him to the Florida Marlins in 1998 was one of the worst decisions in franchise history. Piazza -- who made five All-Star teams during his time with the Dodgers -- was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2016.
8. Gil Hodges (1943; 1947-1961)
Gil Hodges is one of the greatest players in Dodgers history.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Best Season as a Dodger: 1954 - .304/.373/.579 with 42 home runs, 130 RBIs, 74 walks, .952 OPS, 141 OPS+ and an 8.3 fWAR
Career Stats as a Dodger: .274/.360/.488 with 361 home runs, 1,254 RBIs, 925 walks, 1,884 hits, .847 OPS, 120 OPS+ and 41.6 fWAR
Among all players in Dodgers history, Hodges is in the top three in career home runs (361), extra-base hits (703), RBIs (1,254) and walks (925). Hodges was an eight-time All-Star and won three Gold Glove Awards during 16 seasons with the Dodgers. Hodges will finally be inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2022.
7. Don Sutton (1966-1980; 1988)
Don Sutton is one of the greatest players in Dodgers history.
(Malcolm Emmons/USA Today)
Best Season as a Dodger: 1972 - 19-9 with a 2.08 ERA, 162 ERA+, 2.24 FIP, 0.913 WHIP, 207 strikeouts, 18 complete games and a 7.1 fWAR
Career Stats as a Dodger: 233-181 with a 3.09 ERA, 110 ERA+, 3.05 FIP, 1.123 WHIP, 2,696 strikeouts, 156 complete games and 64.0 fWAR
Sutton never won a Cy Young Award, but he finished in the top five in voting in the NL every year from 1972 to 1976. Sutton led the NL in WHIP on three occasions and is the all-time leader among Dodgers pitchers in wins (233), innings pitched (3,816 1/3), strikeouts (2,696) and complete-game shutouts (52). Sutton was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1998. That same year, the Dodgers retired his No. 20.
6. Don Drysdale (1956-1969)
Don Drysdale is one of the greatest players in Dodgers history.
(Malcolm Emmons/USA Today)
Best Season as a Dodger: 1962 - 25-9 with a 2.83 ERA, 128 ERA+, 2.86 FIP, 1.113 WHIP, 232 strikeouts, 19 complete games and a 6.5 fWAR
Career Stats as a Dodger: 209-166 with a 2.95 ERA, 121 ERA+, 3.02 FIP, 1.148 WHIP, 2,486 strikeouts, 167 complete games and 59.3 fWAR
Drysdale spent his entire 14-year career with the Dodgers, making nine All-Star teams, posting two top-five finishes in National League MVP voting and winning the 1962 NL Cy Young Award in 1962. Drysdale was a three-time World Series Champion, who is third among all pitchers in franchise history with a 59.3 fWAR. His No. 53 was retired during the 1984 season.
5. Jackie Robinson (1947-1956)
Jackie Robinson is one of the greatest players in Dodgers history.
(Hulton Archie/Getty Images)
Best Season as a Dodger: 1949 - .342/.432/.528 with 16 home runs, 124 RBIs, 86 walks, .960 OPS, 152 OPS+ and a 9.6 fWAR
Career Stats as a Dodger: .311/.409/.474 with 137 home runs, 734 RBIs, 740 walks, 1,518 hits, .883 OPS, 132 OPS+ and 57.2 fWAR
Robinson didn't break the color barrier until his age-28 season, but put together an 11-year career that saw him make seven All-Star teams, win a batting title, claim the 1947 National League Rookie of the Year Award and also be named the senior circuit's MVP in 1949. One of the greatest second basemen in MLB history, Robinson was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1962. His No. 42 is the only universally retired number in baseball.
4. Duke Snider (1947-1962)
Duke Snider is one of the greatest players in Dodgers history.
(Bowman Gum/Wikimedia Commons)
Best Season as a Dodger: 1954 - .341/.423/.647 with 40 home runs, 130 RBIs, 84 walks, 1.071 OPS, 171 OPS+ and an 8.3 fWAR
Career Stats as a Dodger: .301/.384/.553 with 389 home runs, 1,271 RBIs, 893 walks, 1,995 hits, .936 OPS, 142 OPS+ and 63.4 fWAR
Snider is the all-time leader among Dodgers position players in fWAR (63.4), while also being the franchise's leader in offensive WAR (68.2), home runs (389), RBIs (1,271) and extra-base hits (814). Snider made seven All-Star teams as a Dodger, and is one of the greatest center fielders in MLB history. Snider's No. 4 was retired by the Dodgers in 1980, the same year he was elected to the Hall of Fame.
3. Roy Campanella (1948-1957)
Roy Campanella is one of the greatest players in Dodgers history.
(Wikimedia Commons)
Best Season as a Dodger: 1953 - .312/.395/.611 with 41 home runs, 142 RBIs, 67 walks, 1.006 OPS, 154 OPS+ and a 7.7 fWAR
Career Stats as a Dodger: .276/.360/.500 with 242 home runs, 856 RBIs, 533 walks, 1,161 hits, .860 OPS, 123 OPS+ and a 38.2 fWAR
Campanella's illustrious career didn't begin until he was 26 -- a year after Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier -- but he managed to win three National League MVPs, a batting title and make 11 All-Star Game appearances during his 10-year MLB career. Campanella was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1969, three years before his No. 39 was retired by the Dodgers.
2. Clayton Kershaw (2008-Present)
Clayton Kershaw is one of the greatest players in Dodgers history.
(Tom Pennington/Getty Images)
Best Season as a Dodger: 2014 - 21-3 with a 1.77 ERA, 197 ERA+, 1.81 FIP, 0.857 WHIP, 239 strikeouts, six complete games and a 7.9 fWAR
Career Stats as a Dodger: 185-84 with a 2.49 ERA, 155 ERA+, 2.77 FIP, 1.004 WHIP, 2,670 strikeouts, 25 complete games and 69.5 fWAR (stats current as of April 2022)
For 29 other franchises, Kershaw would probably be the greatest pitcher -- and perhaps just player -- that the team has ever employed. Kershaw is an eight-time All-Star, has won five ERA titles, is a three-time National League Cy Young Award winner, won the 2014 pitching triple crown and was also the league MVP that same season. Kershaw is certain to be a first-ballot Hall of Famer, and is already one of the most dominant left-handed pitchers in MLB history. His No. 22 will definitely be retired by the Dodgers at the conclusion of his career.
1. Sandy Koufax (1955-1966)
Sandy Koufax is one of the greatest players in Dodgers history.
(Malcolm Emmons/USA Today)
Best Season as a Dodger: 1963 - 25-5 with a 1.88 ERA, 159 ERA+, 1.85 FIP, 0.875 WHIP, 306 strikeouts, 20 complete games and a 9.2 fWAR
Career Stats as a Dodger: 165-87 with a 2.76 ERA, 131 ERA+, 2.69 FIP, 1.106 WHIP, 2,396 strikeouts, 137 complete games and 54.5 fWAR
Even though a left elbow injury limited him to just 12 seasons, Koufax is considered by most to be the greatest left-handed pitcher in MLB history. "The Left Arm of God" was a seven-time All-Star, won five ERA titles, three pitching triple crowns, three National League Cy Young Awards, two World Series MVPs and the 1963 NL MVP. Perhaps more than anyone ever, Koufax's name is synonymous with great pitching.
Previous Entires in This Series
- The 9 Greatest Players in Giants History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Astros History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Expos/Nationals History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Rangers History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Mariners History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Mets History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Angels History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Blue Jays History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Diamondbacks History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Orioles History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Marlins History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Phillies History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Rockies History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Rays History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Braves History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Guardians History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Reds History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Pirates History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Padres History
- The 9 Greatest Players in White Sox History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Royals History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Tigers History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Red Sox History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Brewers History
- The 9 Greatest Players in Cardinals History
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