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Dodgers: Remembering the first great 30-homer club

By Jack Trent Dorfman

LOS ANGELES - CIRCA 1985: A general view of the exterior of Dodgers Stadium from the parking lot circa 1985 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mike Powell/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES - CIRCA 1985: A general view of the exterior of Dodgers Stadium from the parking lot circa 1985 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Mike Powell/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – OCTOBER 19: Ashton Kutcher and wife Mila Kunis stand with former Los Angeles Dodgers player Ron Cey before game four of the National League Championship Series against the Chicago Cubs at Dodger Stadium on October 19, 2016 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

Ron Cey Third baseman, 30 home runs in 1977, 316 lifetime home runs, 2019 comp: Justin Turner

Affectionately dubbed “the Penguin” by Dodger fans, Cey was a five-time All-Star and a member of the famous infield succinctly referred to as “The Infield”, Cey is an all-time Dodger legend and definitely was a fan-favorite, and more than likely the best third baseman in Dodger history.

While being beaned by a Goose Gossage fastball is one his most famous exploits, Cey was a World Series co-MVP in 1981 and a steady hand at the hot corner for his whole Dodger career. He played the first 12 years of his 17-year career in Dodger blue, a stretch which included all five of his All-Star appearances. 1977 was the only season in which the Penguin reached 30 home runs.

In his five straight All-Star seasons from 1974 to 1979 (his age 26 to 31 seasons), he hit 18, 25, 23, 30, and 28 home runs. 1977 actually was the season in which he had his worst batting average (.241), but all those home runs netted him 110 RBI, another career-high he’d never surpass.

Cey leads this 30-homer club in a few key stats as well. Here’s what the LA Times dug up a year ago when remembering Cey:

"From 1977-81 Most homers: Cey, 122; Garvey, 118; Baker, 102. OPS+: Smith, 154; Cey, 129; Garvey, 126. WAR: Cey, 22.4; Smith, 16.7; Garvey, 16.3"

Even though names like Adrian Beltre or Pedro Guerrero, or even Justin Turner, may bring up hotter primes than that of Cey, he was a steady contributor and a very long-tenured one. He really is the Dodgers’ greatest third baseman.

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