He was a batting machine and a huge threat running the bases. To learn more or opt-out, read our Cookie Policy. He was an 8-time All-Star, 3-time NL MVP, NL RBI Leader, and was a part of the team that won their first World Series back in 1955. So I just got to wondering whether it might be worth it to institutionalize a new era in retiring numbers. The Dodgers had two of them back to back. Conjoint Analysis

Fernando was transcendent, not just for his play of course, but the way he electrified LA in a way that none of the other players did. The old ballplayer cared about the name on the front. When Alston was hired to replace Chuck Dressen before the 1954 season, there was talk of Pee Wee Reese, the longtime team captain and shortstop about to enter his age-35 season, as the manager-in-waiting. He won the Rookie of the Year award, was a 6-time All-Star, NL MVP, batting champion, was a 2-time leader in stolen bases, and led the Dodgers to their first-ever World Series title. O’Malley’s words proved true, albeit 23 one-year contracts at a time. | Email Marketing, Expanded playoffs could lower bar for Dodgers in 2012, Reports: Dodgers were finalists for Fielder. Reddit community for fans of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Dodgers, with only one exception, only retire the jersey numbers of Hall of Famers.

Ya your right, your right. Jim Gilliam, Coach: No.

The Retired Numbers of the Los Angeles Dodgers. "The difference between the old ballplayer and the new ballplayer is the jersey.

Like Jackie Robinson, Jim Gilliam's impact went far beyond the field, as he ended up being one of the first African American managers in MLB history.

Alston managed a number of Dodgers stars in his 10 years in the minors, including Don Newcombe, Jim Gilliam, Carl Erskine, Clem Labine, and Johnny Podres.

Pee Wee Reese is one of the greatest shortstops of all time.

Today, we'll honor them by revewing all retired number in Dodgers' history.

The Dodgers have an unwritten policy of only retiring numbers of Hall of Famers — except for Jim Gilliam, a long beloved player and coach who died just before the 1978 World Series — but Alston’s number was retired six years before he was inducted to Cooperstown so perhaps that policy isn’t as absolute as we think.

He definitely earned his number retirement and the team wasted no time, honoring on August 14, 1998. A Los Angeles Dodgers uniform numbers list by Baseball Almanac which includes every single uniform number ever worn by every single Los Angeles Dodgers player in history. Walt Alston was about 50 years old then, but still strong and sturdy. With him, they won four World Series and seven pennants.

It would be more of a fan favorite selection and maybe if 2017 turned out differently then more of an argument could be made but anyways, I totally see your point as well. While they have retired numbers of players who were exclusively Brooklyn Dodgers, they didn’t actually begin retiring numbers until they reached LA (an interesting side note…

Dodgers win battle of Wills to stay alive. Lol ‍♂️. If there's an exception to be made, it's him.

He's 7th all-time in the list of strikeouts, threw 58 shutouts and was considered one of the most dominant pitchers in the league during his prime.

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He was just intimidating and terrifying on the mound. Even in his best years, he was at best a borderline all star. He was a 10-time All-Star and led the NL in stolen bases in 1952.

No. const newTags = "MLB, Los Angeles Dodgers, Sandy Koufax, Jackie Robinson".split(','); The Dodgers hold a rich history as one of the strongest teams in the world. But I think you could make cases to retire 34 (Fernando) and 16 (Ethier) I know Smith currently wears 16 and this isn’t to be taken to serious but what do you guys think of having those numbers retired?

He was a 9-time All-Star, 3-time World Series champion, CY Young award winner, led MLB in wins once, and three times in strikeouts. That's been thanks to the hard work some of their legendary players and managers put throughout their stints with the West Coast's club. I think that even overstates his contribution, given that he spent his entire career with the Dodgers, where many on the list above him did not. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1997 and is currently the oldest living Hall of Famer at age 92. | Polls Moreover, he's widely recognized for his outspoken support towards Jackie Robinson and other African American players trying to break the color barrier in baseball.

But over the weekend, I began thinking about the possibility that some of us might never see a Dodger uniform number retired again in our lifetimes.

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He's one of the most influential players of all time. “There is no shadow of Reese or anyone over Alston.

Mike Day Everything About Concrete Recommended for you That being said, it took them long enough to finally retire his number on August 15, 1997. Either way, it’s a great story: The Dodgers were blessed with uncommon stability at the helm in the dugout, with Alston and Tommy Lasorda combining for 43 consecutive seasons managing the team. When it had pulled to the side of the road, the manager hopped out of his seat, turned and faced his team.

(Getty). Team Names: Los Angeles Dodgers, Brooklyn Dodgers, Brooklyn Robins, Brooklyn Superbas, Brooklyn Bridegrooms, Brooklyn Grooms, Brooklyn Grays, Brooklyn Atlantics Seasons: 137 (1884 to 2020) Record: 11017-9835, .528 W-L% Playoff Appearances: 34 Pennants: 24 World Championships: 6 Winningest Manager: Walter Alston, 2040-1613, .558 W-L%

Starting lineups for the Dodgers and Braves in Game 6 of the National League Championship Series. The number 19 of infielder Jim Gilliam was retired just after his unexpected death from a massive brain hemorrhage suffered while he was a Dodgers coach near …

He holds the team's records for home runs (389), RBIs (1,271), strikeouts (1,123), extra-base hits (814), and intentional walks in one season (26). He led the team to 4 World Series titles (1955, 1959, 1963, and 1965) and won 2,040 games with a .558 winning percentage.

Dodgers reliever Kenley Jansen looked the best he has in at least a month in his scoreless inning to close out Game 5 of the NLCS, including three strikeouts. His New York Times obituary in 1984 mentions one headline of his hiring as Dodgers manager as, “Alston (Who’s He?) There is some debate when it actually happened. Alston remains the gold standard for Dodgers managers.

Davey Lopes homered in a 4-2 win. In the midst of what may be the most dominant 5-season stretch for any left-handed pitcher in @mlb history, Sandy Koufax found yet another way to demonstrate his dominance #OTD in 1964 when he became the 1st NL pitcher to record 2 career immaculate innings. Campanella spent his entire 9-year MLB career with the Brooklyn Dodgers.

He made it to 7 All-Star Games with the Dodgers and helped them make it to 6 World Series, winning a couple of them.

And while it may not carry the same historical significance that Robinson’s number 42 does, it is every bit as important in bringing racial equality to the game. But with one notable exception, each of the franchise's 10 retired numbers was worn by a player or manager who spent the majority of his career with the Dodgers and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of . On June 5, 1977, the Dodgers retired manager Walt Alston’s uniform number 24, after the longtime skipper led them to four World Series wins and seven National League pennants in …

‘’If anybody doesn’t like this bus, they can step outside with me and we’ll settle it.’’.

His playing career was nowhere near compared to what he achieved as a manager, as he was one of the greatest baseball masterminds of all time. Don Sutton played for the Dodgers for 14 years (1966-80) before bouncing around the league and eventually coming back home to retire with them in 1988. He served there as a player, as a coach, and as a manager. “There is nobody looking down Alston’s neck — in the front office or anywhere else,” owner Walter O’Malley told The Sporting News.

Number retired: Oct. 10, 1978. That, combined with his relentless contributions to the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers made them retire his number on October 10, 1978.

I'm curious about what your thoughts are on this subject, and also – if, hypothetically, my idea came to pass, which number you'd like to see retired next?

We just got too much history. I loved Ethier, but no way he should have a number retired. Ever since the dawn of baseball, The Blue Crew has lived up to the highest standards.

Koufax kept the ball on a string.

Before Alston, the Dodgers won zero championships. Lasorda managed the Dodgers for 20 years, winning a couple of NL Manager of the Year awards and leading them to 2 World Series titles. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Alston was in charge of the Dodgers from 1954 to 1976, following on their transition from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.

14, Gil HodgesI've never had a problem with the Dodgers' retired-number policy, which was only ignored following the emotional passing of longtime Dodger player and coach Jim Gilliam during the 1978 playoffs. Since then, others to wear Garvey's number are Brent Mayne, Jason Grabowski, Kenny Lofton, Tony Abreu and Joe Torre. His hustle granted him a couple of All-Star Game selections, the NL Rookie of the Year award, and helped the team win 4 World Series titles.

He could pitch, he could hit, he could field, just someone everyone looked up to. But with one notable exception, each of the franchise's 10 retired numbers was worn by a player or manager who spent the majority of his career with the Dodgers and was inducted into the Baseball Hall of The Dodgers finally retired his number on July 1, 1984.

Robinson was a gifted and unprecedented athlete. So that's why the 34 of Fernando Valenzuela doesn't hang in the pantheon with Jackie Robinson's 42, Sandy Koufax's 32 and the like.

And on this day 43 years ago, the Dodgers made sure nobody would wear Alston’s number 24 ever again. No. Please also read our Privacy Notice and Terms of Use, which became effective December 20, 2019.