The Greatest Dodgers of All Time Part II
Overview
The Batting Reserves
I placed them in the order of which they had the best batting average
Thomas P. Burns (1894): Batted: Right
Baseball was still fairly young and new, but at 29 years old "Oyster" Burns was already becoming the leagues best hitter. 1894 was a great year for him where he only struck out 18 times in 569 plate appearances and had an OPS of .910.
Side Note: In the offseason he would work in a fish market selling oysters, hence the name Oyster Burns.
Stephen Louis Sax (1986): Batted: Right
At 26 years old Steve already had a championship ring, won the Rookie of the Year award and was nominated to his 3rd All Star game. He ended the 1986 season with over 200 hits, 43 doubles, 40 stolen bases and in 704 plate appearances he only struck out 58 times. Running away with the Silver Slugger Award.
Gary Antonian Sheffield (2000): Batted: Right
In his second year as a Dodger, Gary made an immediate impact with his bat leading most batting categories for the Dodgers, he earned a spot in the All Star game. Aside from his 43 homeruns, the Biggest stand out was his OPS of 1.081
Manuel Rafael Mota Geronimo (1972): Batted: Right
Possibly The Best Pinch Hitter for the Dodgers, maybe also in MLB, ever! At 34 years young, the great Dodger veteran had 410 plate appearances with only 15 strike outs and was also a tremendous fielder, being near perfect with a .993 fielding percentage.
Paul Anthony Lo Duca (2001): Batted: Right
519 plate appearances with only 30 strikeouts and an OPS of .917, Paul at 29 years old was considered to be a mix between Mike Piazza and Mike Scioscia. A great contact hitter with some power while being able to play multiple positions aside as the Dodgers every day catcher. He appeared in 33 games at first base and 5 in the outfield.
William Joseph Buckner (1974): Batted: Left
At Only 24 years old on this particular season, the speedy Bill made great contact with the bat. In 620 plate appearances he only struck out 24 times and scored 83 times himself.
Roy Campanella (1953): Batted: Right
This one is very debatable. The MVP, N.L. RBI Leader and All Star. 590 plate appearances with only 58 strikeouts and an OPS of 1.006 aaaand a 54% success rate catching base stealers. I mean how and why is he not the starting catcher?! Honestly he is one of my favorite Dodgers of all time so it's nothing personal.
Side Note: Campy played in both the Washington Negro League and Mexican League in Monterrey with the Sultans before heading to the minors.
William Henry Davis (1969): Batted: Left
The 10 year Dodger veteran, Willie Davis had a 31 game hitting streak and in 540 plate appearances he only struck out 39 times.
Side Note: Attended Theodore Roosevelt High School a 3 sport stand out ran 100 yard dash in 9.5 seconds. City record long jump of 25 feet! Speed and hitting ability.
Raul Ramon Mondesi Avelino (1997): Batted: Right
The 26 year old ended the '97 season with an OPS of .901 and 42 doubles. Also winning his 2nd Gold Glove and becoming the First Dodger ever to join the 30-30 club with 30 homeruns and 32 stolen bases.
Harold Peter Henry Reese (1954): Batted: Right
At 36, The 12 year Dodger veteran and Captain was selected for his 10th consecutive All Star game. Scoring 98 times, "Pee Wee Reese" had 661 plate appearances with only 62 strikeouts. THE LEGEND, LEADER AND ROLE MODEL FOR THE DODGERS OF ALL TIME!
Carl Reginald Smith (1977): Batted: Switch
The second year Dodger veteran went to the plate 603 times scored 104 times and struck out only 76 times. Became an All Star with an OPS of 1.003 and had 3 Home runs in the 1977 World Series.
Great Side Note: In 1981 a giants fan taunted and threw a batting helmet at Smith where Reggie then jumped into the stands and started beating on the fan. Smith was ejected and the fan was arrested. Ha!
Gilbert Raymond Hodges (1954): Batted: Right
Gil made the All Star roster for the 6th consecutive time and set the team record for homeruns. He came around to score 106 times and had a .952 OPS. He also led the league in putouts and assists.
Side Note: Along with Duke Snider, they were the only duo to hit the most homeruns and RBI's together in the 50's. A fan favorite, never booed even during his world series 0/21 hitting slump, and possibly the best defensive 1st baseman of all time.
Eric Peter Karros (1999): Batted: Right
At 31, He had his Best Statistical Career Season in all categories with a .912 OPS and is the only Dodger in history to hit 2 homeruns in one inning.
Side Notes: Tied for the most 30 homerun and 100 RBI seasons (5). 2nd most homeruns in MLB history who never appeared in an All Star game.
Johnny B. Baker Jr. (1980): Batted: Right
The veteran "Dusty" Baker appeared to the plate 638 times and only struck out 66 times. Didn't make the All Star roster, but he sure got the Silver Slugger award. Ha!
Ronald Charles Cey (1975): Batted: Right
Part of the most successful and time enduring infield, Ron was very Productive and exciting to watch defensively and offensively. Coming to the plate 662 times and only striking out 74 times. At the young age of 27 he made All Star roster
Andre Ethier (2009): Batted: Left
At 27 he was nicknamed "Captain Clutch" for his 6 walk off hits, 4 coming by way of a homerun which tied the All Time Major League record. A 3 Homerun game against Seattle, that drove in a career high 6 RBI's, guaranteed the Silver Slugger Award and came in 6th for the MVP.
The Greatest Dodgers of All time
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