May 4th, 2020 at 8:00 am 
by 0799291000348 Comparing the best Dodgers players of all-time is a common exercise every offseason. Was Gil Hodges or Steve Garvey the best first baseman; Roy Campanella or Mike Piazza the top catcher; Pee Wee Reese or Maury Wills the best shortstop? As I have noted before, I believe it is impossible to compare players from different eras, playing in different parks, against a different quality of pitching and hitting. But what about favorite Dodgers teams?
The great part of picking your favorite team, or player, is that one does not have to objectively justify the selection. Statistical performances certainly play a role in the choices fans make, but other, non-quantifiable criteria can enter into our choices.
Over my 66 seasons of following the Dodgers, I have numerous favorite players like Campanella, Duke Snider, Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale, Tommy Davis, and more recently Clayton Kershaw, Corey Seager, and Cody Bellinger. Likewise, I have several favorite teams, with the 1955 squad at the top of my list. Of course, it is easy to pick the team that won the Dodgers first World Series in team history, but there are other reasons why that team was special to me.
My maternal grandfather was a Yankees fan, and he would good-naturedly remind me of his team’s dominance over the Dodgers in the Fall Classic. Of course, he did so warmheartedly, but my fifth-grade classmates in Torrance California were not as kind. They took great delight in belittling the Brooklyn Bums to the only Dodgers fan in the class. The teacher was even a Yankees fan. I can still recall how sweet it was to be the Dodgers fan after the seventh game victory in 1955.
The core of the ’55 team included my baseball heroes: Campanella, Hodges, Reese, Jackie Robinson, Snider, Carl Furillo, Don Newcombe, and Carl Erskine. At the time I did not pay attention to players’ ages. As far as I was concerned they were ageless – as if Brooklyn had found the fountain of youth. But the hard truth was that Reese and Robinson were 36 years old, Campanella and Furillo were 33, and Hodges was 31. This would be the last hurrah as a team for The Boys of Summer.
Offensively, the team in the regular season was led by Snider (42 home runs, 136 RBI, and 1.046 OPS), Campanella (32 home runs, 107 RBI, .978 OPS), Hodges (27 home runs, 102 RBI, .877 OPS), and Furillo (26 home runs, 95 RBI, .891 OPS). The ace of the pitching staff was Newcombe (20 wins, 5 losses, 3.20 ERA), supported by veterans Erskine (11 wins, 8 losses), Clem Labine (13 wins, 5 losses), and 22-year-old left-hander Johnny Podres.
Snider was the Dodgers offensive force in the World Series, slashing .320/.370/.840/1.210 with four home runs.* But history records the Dodgers heroes to be Podres, who pitched two complete-game victories against the Yankees, and 25-year old left fielder Sandy Amoros.
Under the enormous pressure of pitching game number three, with the Dodgers having lost the first two games of the series, Podres pitched a complete-game victory at Brooklyn’s Ebbets Field, holding the Bronx Bombers to two earned runs. Then, in the crucial seventh game, Podres shutout the Yankees at Yankee Stadium, and the Dodgers had their first World Championship. But that victory could well have turned into another heartbreaking World Series loss for the Bums if not for the incredible play made by Amoros in the bottom of the sixth inning.
Amoros had just entered the game, replacing Don Zimmer in the lineup (George Shuba had pinch-hit for second baseman Zimmer in the top of the 6th inning). The left-handed throwing Amoros moved to left field, with Jim Gilliam moving from left to second base. With no outs, the Yankees Billy Martin was on second base with a walk and Gil McDougal at first on a bunt single when left-handed-hitting Yogi Berra hit a fly ball down the left field line at Yankee Stadium which seemed certain to score at least one run and perhaps tie the game. But, as if destined, Amoros ran from left/centerfield and made the sensational catch, then throwing a strike to shortstop Reese, who, in turn, threw to Hodges at first base to force out McDougal for a game-saving double play.
For this 10-year old Dodgers fan, the 1955 World Series was magical and that team remains my favorite of all time. But there are several Los Angeles Dodgers teams that are also special … but more about those teams later.
* * *
* Snider also hit four home runs in the 1952 World Series, also against the Yankees. He remains the only MLB player to accomplish that feat in two World Series.
* * * * * *
Posted in 
@Dodgers The 1953 was the greatest but the 1955 finally won one.
Indeed! ’53 was one of the best MLB teams ever to play the game.
Although I was very well aware of the Brooklyn Dodgers and The Boys of Summer as a youngster, I did not become fully enamored with ‘Dem Bums’ until they arrived in Los Angeles and played at the LA Memorial Coliseum in 1958. I was in absolute awe watching The Duke, Pee Wee, Hodges (et al.) play right before my very eyes.
That being said and because I was actually at Dodger Stadium for Game-3, the 1963 World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers – led by Don Drysdale and Sandy Koufax – will forever be my favorite Dodgers team.
As you eluded to, Jesse, having a favorite player or team is very much a generational thing. Chances are exceptionally good that 50s-era Dodger fans consider Pee Wee Reese as the best shortstop of all time; 60s-era Dodger fans Maury Wills; 70s-era Dodger fans Bill Russell; and current-era Dodger fans Corey Seager, who wasn’t even born until April 27, 1994.
But when it is all said and done, it’s all the same thing – pure, unadulterated love and passion for the Dodgers, regardless of the era.
Play Ball!
“But when it is all said and done, it’s all the same thing – pure, unadulterated love and passion for the Dodgers, regardless of the era.” EXACTLY!
The 1963 Dodgers is the greatest team. They swept the Yankee in four games, Sandy Koufax’s season was his best. Tommy Davis has a career season. Walter Aston’s best team. 99-63 record in ‘63
1963 was awesome, but ’62 was one of my favorites. That was Tommy Davis career season (230 hits; .346 BA; 153 RBI; scored 120 runs; 27 home runs; and an OPS+ of 148). Wills stole 104 bases. Team won 102 games but did not go to the WS. Alston also won 102 games in 1974. But more about that season later, as I will soon write why it is one of my favorites.
That’s right! 1962 was huge for Wills and T. Davis. I was upset with the playoff game vs SF, I was in the 5th grade, all of my classmates were Giants fans. I got the last laugh win the Giants lost to the Yankees
I think 77 was my favorite team. I loved Reggie Smith Dusty B Ron Cey Garvey Sutton John and Lopes Russell and Yeager.
Also a shout out to 81 with Fernando
’77 was the year that I took my son to meet Steve Garvey, his favorite player, at a car dealership in Thousand Oaks CA. Garvey was absolutely terrific to both of us — first class all the way.
@Dodgers 1965…some great memories.
’63 and ’77, but I have a special love for the ’88 team. On paper, they should never have achieved what they did. Tommy’s best of many great seasons.
88 was super special. Gibson and no cheating, imagine that. 81 was terrific finally getting past the Yankees. The Dodgers were great from 77-81.
I know that 1959 was not the most exciting Dodger team. After finishing seventh (in an eight team league) in 1958, and the “stars” really past their prime, winning the championship in 1959 was incredible. (thank you Larry Sherry)
’59 was special; total team effort as one Dodger would step up at right time. Where would that team have finished if not for the additions of Wally Moon and Maury Wills; or, the veterans Snider, Hodges, and Furillo producing offensively. Remember Roger Craig pitching great all season. Not to overlook the acquisition of Chuck Essegian during the season who hit 2 pinch hit home runs in the World Series.
Hi Jesse ………… Whenever I talk to a Dodger fan (I mean a REAL Dodger fan), they don’t hold the 1959 Dodger team in high esteem. Maybe they are right. However, that was the first season that I was old enough to be a fanatic Dodger fan. Growing up in central Illinois, the Dodgers were not an easy team to follow. Besides, all my friends were Cub or Cardinal fans or frequently a Yankee fan. I still remember taking my bike and riding the two miles to Faubers Grocery in an effort to open a pack of Topps baseball cards hoping to get another Dodger. I just wanted to say how much I appreciated your comment on the 1959 Dodger team. How nice to hear from another REAL dodger fan….. Glen
GREAT reply, Glen!
I was the only child of four born in CA. My entire family was from Chicago. They moved out to Burbank, CA in 1952. My dad was a HUGE Cubs and Bears fan, and when the Dodgers moved out west in ’58, he would take my brothers and me to the Coliseum whenever the Cubs or Bears came out to play the Dodgers or Rams.
As I noted in my initial reply, my dad took us to Game-3 of the 1963 WS, thus, that was and still is my favorite Dodgers team.
Thanks for dropping in on TBLA. Please don’t be a stranger. You are definitely among friends here.
You bring back great memories for me. I was a Dodgers fan but lived in SoCal. I would ride my bike to a local market, or the adjacent liquor store (which my parents forbid me to do), in order to buy Topps baseball cards, and when I had the money from chores I would buy magazines, or The Sporting News to read about my beloved Dodgers.
1974 Dodgers
1b Steve Garvey
2b Davey Lopes
SS Bill Russell
3b Ron Cey
LF Bill Buckner
CF Jimmy Wynn
RF Willie Crawford
C Steve Yeager
# Joe Ferguson (RF/C)
P Andy Messerschmidt
Closer Mike Maeshal
A wonderful team that also included bench players Manny Mota, Lee Lacy, and unheralded middle infielder Rick Auerbach. Don Sutton, Doug Rau, and Tommy John joined Messersmith in the starting rotation; John with a record of 13-3 and 2.59 ERA. TJ should be in the HOF, as should Gil Hodges.
The Dodgers are “my team”. I had many “favorite” teams throughout the years, changing with each new set of players. 1959 was the first year I was aware of the Dodgers (being born during spring training of 1956, when the Dodgers were still reigning champions & getting ready to defend said championship). Even at 3, Vin Scully’s voice would put me to sleep as I listened to Dodger games on the radio. So, ’59 team holds a special place in my heart. Next, with the new “kids” from ’59 now fully ingrained in the starting lineup on a regular basis, ’62-’66 was a whole era that captured my heart…Wills, Roseboro, the Davises, Koufax, Drysdale, Gilliam, Fairly, later Wes Parker & Jim Levebre. ’64 was disappointing as well as the ’66 World Series, but I loved that 5 season era. Then darkness…they traded Wills? How could they? The one year of NL pennant glee in ’74, then a couple of dark years even with “The Infield”. ’77/’78 was great, until the World Series, getting spanked by the Yankees AGAIN two years in a row. Redemption in ’81 as the sun set on “The Infield”. Another dark era until ’88; the surprise team of all-time! Still can’t watch Gibson’s Game 1 at bat and listen to Vinnie’s call without it causing tears to stream down my face…even after all this time and watching dozens of times. Then “Dodger Darkness” until about spring training 2008…I watched a game from Vero Beach & saw this kid named Kershaw with the most amazing curveball since Sandy. This was going to be special!! Favorite team? The Dodgers players & seasons come & go…I can’t really name one…I’m always “in the moment” when it comes to them. With the crew of players they have NOW, they really should’ve won MANY since 2009, especially the last 3 full seasons.
That said, my highlight years (as opposed to ‘favorite teams’) are: ’59, ’62, ’65, ’77, ’81, ’88 and the last 5 seasons which I’ve been fully invested in more than I have since the mid ’60s
Thank you for the OUTSTANDING reply, Steve! You and I are of near-identical eras (I was born in December of ’53).
I didn’t really become aware of baseball (other than playing in the street with neighbor kids – “Car, Car, C-A-R!”) until the Dodgers moved to LA in 1958. My dad was a HUGE Cubs and Bears fan and took my brothers and me to my first Dodger game at the LA Memorial Coliseum that year (when they played the Cubs, of course). I immediately became a huge Wally Moon fan with his famous ‘Moon Shots’ over that goofy fence in left field.
To this day I count my blessings that I (we) got to witness many of the very best to ever play the game in person.
Thanks again for dropping in on us, and for the GREAT memories!