The greatest Dodger of all time: Sandy Koufax
What began with a simple question from sports writer Houston Mitchell: “Who are the 10 greatest Dodgers of all time?” turned into a massive wave of feedback, with 12,231 ballots surging in. And after a lengthy wait, we can finally reveal that the top Dodger of all time is legendary pitcher Sandy Koufax.
What made Koufax so great (beyond his victory on our ballot):
Koufax was the first pitcher to win multiple Cy Young Awards (1963, ‘65 and ‘66), as well as the first pitcher to win a Cy Young Award by a unanimous vote (1963, when he went 25-5 with a 1.88 ERA). Many people will tell you that the greatest pitcher in baseball history was Sandy Koufax on four days’ rest. Second greatest? Sandy Koufax on three days’ rest.
As for the rest of the top three, the groundbreaking Jackie Robinson came in second, and the longtime voice of the Dodgers, Vin Scully, took third.
Many thanks to everyone who sent in a ballot, and feel free to check out the rest of the top-ranking Dodgers here!
Photos: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times, Al Messerschmidt / Getty Images
This weekend’s box office champ “42” isn’t the first film to bring Jackie Robinson’s story to the big screen - Robinson, oddly enough, actually played himself in the 1950 film “The Jackie Robinson Story.”
Today marks the 66th anniversary of Robinson breaking the color barrier in baseball, with teams around the league marking Jackie Robinson Day. All players will be honoring the Hall of Fame inductee by wearing his number: 42.
Above, courtesy of our archives, is a shot of Robinson, Joe Nadel, and Al Green on the set of “The Jackie Robinson Story.” on Feb. 14, 1950.
Photo: Los Angeles Times
Happy Opening Day!
Though the 2013 baseball season technically began last night, today marks the beginning for teams outside of Texas - including the Los Angeles Dodgers and Angels.
Above is a look at some of the preparations and renovations the Dodgers have undertaken as part of a $100 million effort to rejuvenate their stadium. And that’s not even including the massive amount of cash the team has spent on new players over the past year.
Both teams, after missing the playoffs last year, are gunning to return to the postseason, whatever the cost.
Photos: Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times
Vin Scully will be back in the booth next season: The legendary Dodgers broadcaster has been the sound of summer in Southern California for more than half a century. We are blessed to be able to pull up a chair and spend part of another year with him.
Photo: Vin Scully. Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times
I can’t believe this song is still so viral. Even Psy was at Dodger Stadium and they decided to play the song to have fun. LOL
test reblogged from nobelone
Developing Chavez Ravine is likely in play for new Dodgers owner: Real estate experts say the rich price Guggenheim Baseball Management paid for the team probably means it is looking to do more with the land surrounding Dodger Stadium than simply park cars.
Photo: An aerial photograph of Dodger Stadium in November. Credit: Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times
They have a love affair solidified by music and Dodgers baseball: Nancy Bea Hefley is in her 25th season as the team’s organist, and husband Billy has been beside her all along.
Photo: Nancy Bea Hefley and her husband Billy before a game against the Padres on Friday at Dodger Stadium. Credit: George Wilhelm / Los Angeles Times
A 50th anniversary at Dodger Stadium, with a sober undertone: Hundreds of LAPD officers provide security at the stadium, a reminder of the opening day beating last year of Giants fan Bryan Stow. Fans have mixed feelings about the police presence.
Photo: The American flag is unfurled during the national anthem on opening day at Dodger Stadium. Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times
Like baseball’s purity, Vin Scully never gets old: Anyone who thinks the Dodgers’ legendary play-by-play man has ‘lost it’ really ought to just get lost. Or simply listen to Scully enthrall listeners while losing himself in the beauty of the game.
Photo: Legendary broadcaster Vin Scully, shown in August 2010, is continuing his “love affair” with baseball in the Dodgers’ booth this season. Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times
A day in the life of Dodger Stadium: When the game ends and fans leave, the activity never ceases, with seats to be hosed down, uniforms to be washed and a field to be groomed.
Photo: April 3, 2012, 10:21 p.m. Groundskeepers have the field to themselves after the stands and dugouts have emptied. Credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times
Decades later, bitter memories of Chavez Ravine: The Dodgers prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of the stadium in Chavez Ravine. For the neighbors who were uprooted from the site, it’s a somber milestone.
The Dodgers’ move to Los Angeles in 1958 — playing their first several years at the Coliseum — was a seminal event, heralding what many saw as the city’s arrival in the big leagues of world metropolises. But the removal of more than 1,000 mostly Mexican American families from Chavez Ravine to make way for the stadium is a dark note in L.A.’s history.
The last family was dragged away kicking and screaming and weeping, and the removals became a rallying symbol of Latino L.A. history and activism.
Photo: Tony Montez, 81, left, Pete Urrutia, 80, Albert Elias, 80, and Al Zepeda, 74, stroll a dirt path in Elysian Park that overlooks Dodger Stadium. Their families were among those forced out in the 1950s. Credit: Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times
Magic Johnson is perfect fit for Dodgers: Former Lakers great is the perfect guy to help reestablish bond between the fans and the franchise.
Photo: Lakers great Magic Johnson has all the skills necessary to be a strong owner for the Dodgers. Credit: Gary Friedman / Los Angeles Times
Frank McCourt isn’t off the roster yet: The Dodgers dangle as Joe Torre and Rick Caruso say they’re ending their bid. At issue: Frank McCourt’s hold on the parking lots. Times’ columnist Bill Dwyre writes:
We had heard the word “sell” and waved our goodbyes.
Then came the letter to Major League Baseball from one of the main bidding groups, saying it was pulling out because McCourt was demanding to keep the parking lots around Dodger Stadium, which, unlike the team, are not in bankruptcy and were split off into a separate corporation by McCourt in 2005. MLB let him buy this team in the first place and then let him split off the parking lots. That’s two strikes, Bud.
Photo: Frank McCourt. Credit: Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times
Oct. 11, 1965: Dodgers, from left, Maury Wills, Sandy Koufax and Willie Davis celebrate after winning Game 5 of the 1965 World Series against the Minnesota Twins. In that game, Koufax pitched a four-hit shutout, striking out 10.
View 130 photos for The Times’ 130th birthday on Framework.
Photo credit: Lou Mack / Los Angeles Times
Frank McCourt agrees to sell Dodgers: The agreement caps a tumultuous season that started with a fan nearly beaten to death in the parking lot and saw the team playing to a half-empty stadium.
Photo credit: Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times
