Throughout Dodger history there have been quite a few big-name Dodgers to wear uniform number 12. For us old-timers the number 12 is synonymous with the great Tommy Davis, who proudly wore the number when he won consecutive batting titles with the Dodgers in 1962 and 1963. And who can forget Dusty Baker, Steve Finley and Jeff Kent. And for you Brooklyn Dodger fans, Ralph Branca was wearing number 12 when he gave up the painful ‘Shot Heard ‘Round the World’ home run to Bobby Thompson. The date? October 3, 1951.

On Saturday there were a couple of other Dodger number 12’s in the news, both of whom may not be household names for many baseball fans but are very familiar names for die-hard Dodger fans.

It was confirmed on Saturday morning that former Dodger catcher Brad Ausmus, who wore number 12 while with the Dodgers in 2009 and 2010, has been named as the new manager of the Detroit Tigers replacing future Hall of Fame manager Jim Leyland, who stepped down after 22 seasons as a MLB manager when the Tigers were eliminated from the postseason by the eventual World Champion Boston Red Sox.

The 44-year-old Ausmus spent 18 seasons in the majors including his final two with the Dodgers as a back-up catcher to former Dodger Russell Martin and mentor for current Dodger catcher A.J. Ellis.

Although not known for his offense, Ausmus was very well know for his defense and his tremendous knowledge of the game and his ability to work with pitchers.

Brad Ausmus has always been highly thought of and well respected by his teammates, coaching staff, the media and the fans.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

“There’s no question he can be a manager,” said former Dodger manager Joe Torre of Ausmus in 2009 during Brad’s first season with the Dodgers. “He’s a smart cookie, everybody knows that, and he has an engaging personality.”

As he frequently did, Torre allowed one of his players to manage his team on the final game of the season – he chose Brad Ausmus. The date?  October 3, 2009.

Former Dodger manager Joe Torre selected Ausmus to manage the Dodgers for the final game of the 2009 season. The Dodgers beat the Rockies 5-3 under Brad’s leadership.
(Photo credit – Jon SooHoo)

Ausmus, a New Haven, Connecticut native, finished his major league career with a .251 batting average and 80 home runs. During his two seasons with the Dodgers he hit .266 with one home run in the 56 games in which he appeared. The three-time Gold Glove catcher finished his career with 12,839 putouts as a catcher (behind only Iván Rodríguez and Jason Kendall), seventh in games caught at 1,938, and 10th in fielding percentage at .994. During his career he threw out 30.2% of would-be base stealers. He spent three seasons as the Tigers catcher in 1996, 1999 and 2000, representing the team in the 1999 All-Star Game.

Ausmus, who is Jewish, has always been very active in the Jewish community and was inducted into the National Jewish Sports Hall of Fame in 2004. He was selected to manage Team Israel in the Qualification round of the 2013 World Baseball Classic. Israel lost to Spain in extra innings of the final pool game, thus missing out on a trip the World Baseball Classic semi-final rounds.

Ausmus was formally introduced as the new Tigers manager at a press conference on Sunday afternoon.

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The other guy proudly wearing Dodger uniform number 12 is top Dodger prospect Corey Seager, who is representing the Dodgers in the 2013 Arizona Fall League with the Glendale Desert Dogs.

Seager, one of four 19-year-olds playing in the AFL this season (and the youngest) was selected for Saturday evening’s nationally televised AFL Fall Stars Game as a member of the West team that defeated the East team by a score of 9-2. And though Seager didn’t have what you would call an outstanding game going 0 for 3 with a strikeout, he did drive in the second run of the game (and the inning) on a fielders choice ground out. Because of his excellent speed, Seager was able to avoid being doubled up at first base, thus allowing a run to score and giving Seager an RBI.

Although Seager is struggling a bit in the Arizona Fall League, he could very well end the 2014 season at Double-A Chattanooga. (Photo credit – Walter Barnard)

The 6′ 4″ / 215-pound Kannapolis, North Carolina native and brother of Seattle Mariners third baseman Kyle Seager played a flawless shortstop for the AFL West team and just got under a towering fly ball to straightaway center that was caught just in front of the warning track.

Although Seager throws right-handed, he bats exclusively left-handed and has a beautiful swing that is reminiscent of former Dodger J.D. Drew – power and all.

Seager has a fluid and powerful left-handed swing.
(Photo credit – Ron Cervenka)

There is some speculation that the Dodgers may move Seager over to third base this coming season as a possible heir-apparent for Juan Uribe (if the Dodgers re-sign Uribe, that is), but with the shortstop range of Hanley Ramirez on the decline, it is far more conceivable that Ramirez will move over to third base and Seager will replace Ramirez at shortstop. Realistically, Seager is still a minimum of one full minor league season away from the Majors, but he is definitely on a fast track.

“If it was today he’d probably start out at High-A and move to Double-A at some time during the season,” said Ned Colletti of their likely plans for Seager in 2014. “Corey’s got a chance to be a great player,” added the Dodger GM.