The Los Angeles Dodgers have been one of the greatest dynasties in MLB history.
They have won seven World Series since being created in 1883.
The Dodgers were founded in 1883 and were known as the Brooklyn Atlantics. The boys in blue went through many team names until the 1911 season in which they became the Brooklyn Dodgers. In 1958, they moved to Los Angeles and became the LA Dodgers.
LA has had some of the greatest players to ever play in the Majors. From Brooklyn with the great Jackie Robinson to California with All-Star Clayton Kershaw, the Blue Crew has always been full of stars. Now, we will pick who made the cut for the All-Time 26-man roster.
Make sure to check out all of our other All-Time Rosters.
Starting Lineup
Mike Piazza, C
Piazza is considered one of the greatest catchers ever. He played most of his career with the Mets and the Dodgers. He started his career with the Dodgers for six years and then was involved with a blockbuster deal that sent him to the Florida Marlins. In that deal, LA received Bobby Bonilla, Gary Sheffield, and Charles Johnson.
In 1993 with the Dodgers, Piazza was awarded NL Rookie of the Year with an outstanding .318 batting average along with 35 home runs. Throughout his 19-season career, the backstop appeared in the All-Star game 12 times. He received the Silver Slugger award 10 times along with several MVP votes.
With LA, Piazza hit a whopping 177 home runs in just seven seasons with the Blue Crew. He also came out with a .331 batting average after his years with LA.
Recently, in 2016, Piazza was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Gil Hodges, 1B
It is an extremely close call between Gil Hodges and Steve Garvey for the first-base slot, but Hodges comes out on top. While Garvey did have a better batting average, Hodges had a higher OBP, OPS, and SLG.
Hodges- WAR 43.3, AB 6,881, H 1,884, HR 361, BA .274, R 1,088, RBI 1,254, SB 63, OBP .360, SLG .488, OPS .847, OPS+ 120
Garvey- WAR 36.6, AB 6,543, H 1,968, HR 211, BA .301, R 852, RBI 992, SB 77, OBP .337, SLG .459, OPS .796, OPS+ 122
In 1947, the youngster played his first season as a Dodger after serving in the Marines for two years. In that season, Hodges changed positions from catcher to first baseman due to an incoming backstop named Roy Campanella. While spending most of his career with the Dodgers, the veteran finished his career with the New York Mets for two seasons.
The 6-foot-1 first baseman had a spectacular career with LA. He smacked 20+ home runs for 11 consecutive seasons all with the Dodgers. He finished his time with the Boys in Blue with a .274 average. Hodges is an eight-time All-Star and received the Gold Glove Award three times. He was extremely consistent throughout his career and definitely deserves his spot on the All-Time Roster.
Jackie Robinson, 2B
One of the greatest to ever play the game, Robinson is no doubt the best man for the second base slot. The stud is mostly known for breaking the color barrier. The second baseman’s major league career took off in the 1947 season, in which the Dodgers called him up. That year he received the NL ROY award for his outstanding performance. Robinson played extremely well throughout his career. In 1949 he had his best season. The six-time all-star received the NL Most Valuable Player Award. He led the league with a .342 batting average along with 16 home runs, 124 RBI, and a league-leading 37 SBs.
In 1962, Jack Roosevelt Robinson was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame.
Pee Wee Reese. SS
Pee Wee Reese is no doubt the greatest Dodger shortstop ever. Reese started his minor league career with the Boston Red Sox but then was traded to the Dodgers in 1939. The 10-time All-Star dominated throughout his years and led the league in many categories. Furthermore, the shortstop didn’t have much pop in his bat, but he got on base often (.366 OBP) and was a spectacular fielder (25.6 dWAR).
Reese left the Major Leagues for three years to serve in the military. He ended his career with a .962 fielding percentage along with a respectful .269 batting average. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1984 by the Veteran’s Committee.
Ron Cey, 3B
Besides Justin Turner, nobody comes near Cey for the third base slot. Cey was taken in the third round by the Dodgers in the 1968 MLB Draft. In the 1973 season, the young third baseman ranked sixth for the NL Rookie of the Year Award. In the 1981 World Series against the New York Yankees, the six-time All-Star received the WS MVP for his excellent performance.
Cey had incredible power and he came through in big moments as in the 1981 World Series. He finished his Dodger career with 228 home runs with a .264 average and 842 RBI. Through Cey’s performance throughout his career, he shows why he should be on the All-Time 26-man roster.
Zack Wheat, LF
The perfect man for the job, Zack Wheat had a long, successful career with the Superbas/Robins (Dodgers old team neam). Wheat played for Brooklyn for 18 years, and in his 19th, Brooklyn released him and the Philadelphia Athletics signed the left fielder.
While Wheat didn’t hit a ton of home runs throughout his career, he got on base a ton and could field extremely well. The left fielder had a .966 fielding percentage along with a .317 career batting average. The 5-foot-10 left-handed hitter smacked almost 3,000 hits, finishing with 2,884. Eventually, in 1959, Wheat received his plaque for the Major League Hall of Fame.
Duke Snider, CF
Snider, the 16-year Dodger, had many successful seasons and definitely deserves the center field spot for the All-Time Roster. In 1947, the Dodgers decided to call up the young centerfielder. From then on, Duke Snider became a household name.
There is one word that you can say about Snider which sums up his career: CONSISTENT. The eight-time All-Star had great pop in his bat, got on base often, and held a .985 career fielding percentage. He led the Majors/NL in many categories, and in 1955 came in second place for NL MVP behind his fellow teammate Roy Campanella. In 1980, Snider deservedly was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Reggie Smith, RF
It was a tough decision between Dixie Walker and Reggie Smith for the right field slot, but when compared in their Dodger’s career, Smith has the edge.
Smith spent most of his career with the Boston Red Sox, and the Dodgers later in his career. On June 15, 1976, the St Louis Cardinals traded Smith to the Blue Crew in exchange for Joe Ferguson, Bob Detherage, and Freddie Tisdale.
Smith was the type of player who excelled on all cylinders; he had elite power, speed, and an All-Star glove.
He appeared in many All-Star games and received a Gold Glove Award in 1968. In his time with the Dodgers, the switch hitter hit 97 home runs along with 301 RBI and a .297 average. In 1981, Smith assisted LA in a World Series win over the New York Yankees.
Dixie Walker, DH
If not for Reggie Smith, Walker would have the spot for right field.
Walker bounced around from the Yankees, White Sox, and Tigers until he landed in Brooklyn. The Dodgers picked Walker up from the Tigers through waivers.
The right fielder had a hard time at the beginning of his career, but as the years went on he got better and better. Walker produced into a hitting machine and was also a solid fielder. In 1945 with Brooklyn, the four-time All-Star led the NL in RBI with 124. The 6-foot-1 left-handed hitter completed his Dodger career with a whopping 725 RBI with a .311 average.
Rotation
Clayton Kershaw, LHP
One of the greatest and most dominant pitchers in the 21st century.
Kershaw was taken by the Blue Crew in the first round of the 2006 MLB Amateur Draft. He’s been a stud since making his MLB debut 14 years ago. He won the Cy Young Award three times and received NL MVP back in 2014. For seven straight years, he placed top five in the NL Cy Young voting.
Enough about Kershaw’s awards; the lefty was just DOMINANT. He ripped up the Majors for so many years and led the league several times in strikeouts, ERA, wins, WHIP, and complete games. Everyone remembers “The Claw’s” big year: In 2014 Kershaw put on a show. He led the Majors with 21 wins, and an ERA of 1.77. He was so dominant that he reeled in the Cy Young Award and NL MVP.
Clayton Kershaw definitely deserves his spot in the All-Time rotation.
Sandy Koufax, LHP
Sandy Koufax is considered one of the best pitchers ever in the game of baseball. Koufax played all 12 years of his career with the Boys in Blue.
For the first half of Koufax’s career, he was considered an above-average starter. Then, the lefty went on a tear for the next six seasons. He led the league in several stats and received three Cy Young Awards and an MVP.
Kershaw and Koufax are fairly easy to compare to. They both had that one BIG year and a five-year stretch when they were dominant. Koufax’s big year was 1963 in which he had a league-leading 1.88 ERA, 25 wins, 306 strikeouts, and a 0.875 WHIP. Koufax received Cy Young and NL MVP in that 1963 season.
Don Drysdale, RHP
Not on the level of Kershaw and Koufax, but Drysdale is still one of the best Dodger pitchers in history.
Similar to the previous two pitchers, Drysdale was a Dodger for his whole career. The 6-foot-5 right-hander made nine appearances in the All-Star game and received the NL Cy Young Award in his dominant year in 1962. In that season Drysdale had a career-high 25 wins along with a 2.83 ERA. He also landed in fifth place for NL MVP.
Imagine having two of the best pitchers on one team: that’s what the Dodgers had. They reeled in Drysdale and Koufax and are considered one of the greatest duos ever.
Dazzy Vance, RHP
Unlike the previous three pitchers, Vance did not spend his whole career with the Dodgers. He played MOSTLY for the Dodgers, but also played for the Yankees, Reds, Pirates, and Cardinals. Vance was a strikeout machine; he led the NL in strikeouts for seven consecutive seasons with Brooklyn.
In 1924 with the Dodgers, the righty struck out a career-high 262 with a league-leading 2.16 ERA. Nevertheless, he received the NL MVP topping Cardinals Rogers Hornsby.
Vance was considered one of the best pitchers of his time in the 1920’s/30’s. He was best known for his flaming fastball and throwing a no-hitter against the Philadelphia Phillies in 1925.
Don Sutton, RHP
Sutton is one of those pitchers who played for 20+ seasons and seemed to be ageless. Sutton spent his first 15 seasons with the Dodgers from 1966-1980. He was then handed over to the Houston Astros.
Sutton’s best season with LA was in 1980 in which he was astounding. He had a league-leading 2.20 ERA, with 128 strikeouts, and a 0.989 WHIP. Sadly, the righty didn’t receive any votes for NL Cy Young.
The four-time All-Star was extremely consistent throughout his career. He has a career ERA of 3.26, with 3,574 strikeouts, and a record of 324-256.
Due to Sutton’s incredible performance throughout his career, he was inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame in 1998
Bullpen
Kenley Jansen, RHP
Considered one of the best Dodger bullpen arms ever, Jansen has been incredible throughout his ongoing 12-year career. The closer has not moved from LA since being a rookie in 2010. In his rookie season, the young star finished seventh in the NL Rookie of the Year voting.
The three-time All-Star holds a career 2.38 ERA with 349 saves and 1,021 strikeouts.
Jansen has a three-pitch repertoire; cutter, sinker, and slider. He throws all of those pitches extremely well, but mostly uses his devastating cutter. Jansen has been one of the best/most reliable closers in the 21st century.
Eric Gagne, RHP
Similar to Jansen, Gagne was an extremely dominant reliever and is considered one of the greatest Dodger pitchers ever.
Gagne, the eight-year Dodger, was drafted in the 1994 MLB draft by the Chicago White Sox. The Sox didn’t sign the rookie so LA picked up the right-hander.
Gagne received Tommy John surgery early in his career and his Major League debut got postponed to the 1999 season. He started off his career as a starter, but then changed to a closer in 2002.
In 2003 with the Dodgers, the three-time All-Star received the NL Cy Young Award which is extremely rare for a reliever. In his Cy Young season, Gagne led the NL in saves, and GF (games finished). He is well known for his 84 consecutive saves between 2002-2004.
Clem Labine, RHP
Labine was considered one of the first “closers” in the game. From 1950 through the 1960 season, Labine dominated the league with the Blue Crew. In 1956 and 57′, Labine led the National League in saves. The right-handed pitcher also led the NL in games played in 1955.
The “closer” helped the Dodgers win four pennants, and two world series.
Labine holds a 3.63 career ERA with the Dodgers along with 81 saves, and 473 strikeouts. Although Labine is forgotten by many, the closer made a huge impact for relievers in baseball.
Jim Brewer, LHP
Brewer spent most of his relief career with the Chicago Cubs and the Dodgers. LA acquired Brewer through trade from the Cubs; Chicago sent Brewer and Cuno Barragan in exchange for Dick Scott.
The lefty spent most of his career as a middle reliever, but in 1968 the Dodgers shifted him a setup man/closer. For the next six seasons, Brewer gave a boost to the Dodgers ‘pen by averaging 15+ saves a season with a total of 449 strikeouts.
In 1973 with LA, the 36-year-old had one of his best seasons yet. He held a 3.01 ERA, with 20 saves and 56 strikeouts. Nevertheless, Brewer was chosen to make his first appearance in the All-Star game as a Dodger.
One of Brewer’s most prized moments was helping LA win a World Series in 1965.
Jay Howell, RHP
Howell struggled in his first few years in the Majors, but made great progress and became an All-Star pitcher. He played for many teams throughout his 15-year career. From the Reds, Cubs, Yankees, A’s, and finally the Dodgers in a three-team deal prior to the 1988 MLB season.
In 1988, the three-time All-Star assisted the Dodgers to a World Series ring. In that 1988 season, the 33-year old recorded 70 strikeouts along with an astonishing 2.08 ERA.
Howell was a great option in the bullpen and most definitely deserves his spot on the All-Time roster.
Jonathan Broxton, RHP
One of the more recent relievers, Broxton was selected by the Dodgers in the second round of the 2002 free-agent draft.
Broxton was a great arm in the bullpen for LA and his best years were played in Dodger Stadium.
Both of his All-Star game appearances were with the Dodgers in back-to-back seasons in 2009 and 2010. In those All-Star seasons, the 6″4 right-hander was dominant and had a total of 187 strikeouts with a record of 12-8.
Takashi Saito, RHP
Takashi Saito decided to join the Dodgers as a 36-year old from Japan in 2006. In his seven-year career in the MLB, Saito was with LA for three seasons.
In his rookie season, he placed eighth in NL Cy Young voting and seventh for NL Rookie of the Year.
The Japanese native was incredible in his three years with the Dodgers. He had a 1.95 ERA with 245 strikeouts along with a 12-7 record.
Bench
Justin Turner, 3B
Turner has been one of the greatest third basemen in the 21st century. The star went from the Reds to the Orioles and eventually landed in LA.
In the 36-year-old’s career with the Dodgers, Turner holds a .298 batting average along with 143 home runs.
Now with LA, in the 2021 MLB season, Turner is continuing his dominance by smacking 25 home runs and holding a steady .275 batting average. In 2020, Turner helped the Blue Crew defeat the Tampa Bay Rays in the World Series for LA’s first win since 1988.
Jim Gilliam, 2B/3B
Behind Jackie, Gilliam was one of the best Dodger infielders. The second baseman spent his first few years in the Negro League with the Baltimore Elite Giants. In 1951, the Dodgers signed the infielder from Baltimore through free agency.
The two-time All-Star received NL Rookie of the Year in 1953 with the Dodgers after leading the Majors in triples with 17.
After his rookie season, Gilliam spent another 13 years in the Majors with the Blue Crew and held a .265 AVG with 558 RBI and 203 stolen bases.
Steve Garvey, 1B
It was a tough call between Hodges and Garvey, but Garvey had to be benched. He had a spectacular career and played most of his career with the Dodgers and a few years with the San Diego Padres.
The first baseman made 10 appearances in the All-Star game and in 1974 received the NL MVP Award. He led the National League in the hit category in 1978 and 1980 with LA. Garvey finished his years with the Dodgers with a .301 batting average along with 211 home runs and 1968 hits.
Carl Furillo, RF
The right field slot was filled with stars like Dixie Walker and Reggie Smith so it would be hard to give Furillo the spot. Although, Furillo was a spectacular player all around. The right fielder spent his entire 15-year career with the Dodgers.
He made two appearances in the All-Star game and received many votes for MVP in the 1949 season. Furillo’s skills showed out in the 1953 season in which he led the league in batting average with .344. In that season, he smacked 21 home runs and brought in 92 RBI.
Roy Campanella, C
Nicknamed Campy, Campanella played in the Negro Leagues for many years until 1946 in which the Dodgers recruited him. He played around in the Minors for a couple of years and eventually made his way to the Majors.
The catcher was incredible in his 10 years with Brooklyn. He received the National League MVP three times and is an eight-time All-Star. Eventually, he finished his Major League career with a .276 average paired with 242 home runs. The 5-foot-9 backstop finished with a .360 OBP, 500 SLG, and an .860 OPS. He was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 1969.
Honorable Mentions:
Tommy Davis, LF/3B
Orel Hershiser, RHP
Fernando Valenzuela, LHP
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