Dodgers fans know the names well: Nomar Garciaparra, Jerry Hairston Jr., Orel Hershiser, Rick Monday and Fernando Valenzuela. Their voices are almost as familiar to longtime fans as the melodious refrains of retired Hall of Fame play-by-play announcer Vin Scully.

But this group also brings an expertise to the broadcast booth that only comes from having played years at the Major League level. Their insights into the nuances of professional baseball make listening or watching each game akin to attending a seminar on Major League Baseball.

Hershiser and Valenzuela were pitching icons for the Dodgers. As a Dodger, Hershiser pitched in 353 regular-season games, winning 135 and losing 107, with a 3.12 earned run average, a three-time National League All-Star, and a Rawlings Gold Glove winner. In 1988 he won the NL Cy Young award, received the Most Valuable Player award for the 1988 NL Championship Series, and the World Series MVP. When Orel speaks about pitching, he speaks with authority.

Of course, Valenzuela was Fernando mania! In his rookie season (1981) he was an All-Star (first of six), the Rookie of the Year, won the NL Cy Young award, the Silver Slugger award for best hitting pitcher in the NL and a World Series ring; pitching a complete-game victory in Game-3 over the New York Yankees. Over his 11-season Dodgers career, Fernando won 141-games, lost 116, with a 3.31 ERA. In postseason pitching he won 5, lost 1, with a sub 2.00 ERA in 5 NL series. Another authoritative pitching voice for the Dodgers.

Whereas Hershiser and Valenzuela came up through the Dodgers minor leagues, Garciaparra, Hairston, and Monday joined the team later in their careers. Garciaparra only played with the Dodgers for three seasons (2006-2008), slashing .289 / .345 / .445 / .790. Hairston was a Dodger for two seasons, slashing .244 / .307 / .335 / .642 in a super-utility role-playing every position other than pitcher, and catcher. Monday played eight seasons slashing .254 / .355 / .443 / .798, and was a key member of the 1981 team that won the World Series; hitting the ninth inning/game-winning home run in the NLCS against Steve Rogers and the Montreal Expos.

Nomar Garciaparra, Jerry Hairston Jr., Orel Hershiser, Rick Monday, and Fernando Valenzuela are much more than the typical MLB announcers, or analysts. They bring their respective expertise to Dodgers fans in each broadcast, but they are also resources to current Dodgers players who may reach out for advice from guys who have actually played the game at the highest level.

The Dodgers have wonderful coaches, and special assistants, to work with players But there are other resources available if the players glance up to the broadcast booth.

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