As longtime Dodger fans know, the Dodgers have not had an official team captain since Hall of Fame shortstop Harold Peter Henry “Pee Wee” Reese retired from the game on September 26, 1958.

Oh, sure, there have been several unofficial team captains – guys like Davey Lopes, Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Adrián González, and more recently, Chase Utley. But (apparently) out of respect for the Captain of the famed ‘Boys of Summer’ and his well-documented relationship with fellow Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson, there has been no official team captain since Reese, who played from 1940 through 1958 – less 1943-1945, when he served in the U.S. Navy during World War II.

Enter Justin Turner.

Since signing with the Dodgers as a free agent on February 6, 2014, it has been well established that the Long Beach, CA native and seventh-round draft pick in 2006 by the Cincinnati Reds out of Cal State Fullerton has been the Dodgers unofficial team captain.

As fans know all too well, the 36-year-old Turner has been plagued with injuries throughout the 2021 season. On Wednesday night during the Dodgers ugly 9-2 loss to the Atlanta Braves in Game-4 of the 2021 National League Championship Series in front of a sold-out Dodger Stadium crowd of 53,025, Turner’s season – and postseason – came to an abrupt end when he blew out his left hamstring while trying to beat out a double play on a routine grounder to Braves second baseman Ozzie Albies, who indeed completed the step-and-throw double play of Turner.

“Early indication, it’s a Grade-2 (left hamstring strain), so I think that’ll be it for him,” a solemn Dave Roberts told reporters postgame.

A painfully difficult way for the Dodgers unofficial captain to end his very good 2021 regular season (.278/.361/.471/.832), but un-Justin-Turner-like 2021 postseason (.118/.211/.206/.416). Turner is currently in the first year of a two-year/$34-million contract, with a club option for 2023.

But without question, the most painful part of Turner’s injury for Dodger fans came when cameras caught beloved Dodgers first baseman (and unofficial co-captain) Albert Pujols helping his very obviously hurting teammate down the dugout stairs and into the Dodgers clubhouse – a painfully emotional moment if ever there were one.

Godspeed to you on a speedy and complete recovery, Captain Turner (Sorry, Pee Wee).

Play Ball!

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