Dodgers: Five players you forgot played at Chavez Ravine

Many great players have adorned the Dodgers blue, but there are some you might have forgotten about.

As a Dodgers fan, it’s hard to truly forget about a player. The names of random relief pitchers and second basemen fill the minds of fans across Dodgers Nation, easily recalled during any discussion about America’s favorite past time. Of course, some names are easier to recall than others. Fernando Valenzuela, Kirk Gibson, Steve Garvey, Cody Bellinger, all roll off the tongue.

Then there are the players you only remember when they are brought up in conversation. Let’s help you remember five notable players who had a cup of coffee with the the boys in blue.

1) Jim Thome

Acquired at the trade deadline in 2009, Jim Thome waived his no-trade clause to give himself a chance to win the World Series with the Dodgers. Unfortunately, Thome didn’t become a big factor for that Dodgers squad, as foot problems limited him to an exclusive pinch-hitting role, in which he batted 4-17 with seven strikeouts. Thome’s biggest moment in a Dodgers uniform came in the 2009 National League Championship Series when he connected on a key pinch-hit in the bottom of the 8th of Game 2, helping the Dodgers with their only win of the series.

2) David Wells

After signing with the Dodgers for the stretch run of the 2007 season, David Wells told reporters, “I’ve been sitting around for 19 days doing nothing. I just played catch a couple of times, that was it.” The 44-year-old left-hander lost his rotation spot with the Padres and was released three weeks before arriving in Chavez Ravine. The Dodgers were in no position to be choosy in finding another starter with Brett Tomko and Mark Hendrickson taking turns losing games from the back of the rotation. Despite mediocre numbers, Wells actually did his job on most nights, allowing three runs or less in five of his eight starts.

3) Curtis Granderson

Looking for an extra bat for the postseason, the Dodgers acquired the likable Granderson in an August deal with the Mets for cash considerations. Granderson, who hit 19 home runs for the Mets before being traded, added another 7 with the Dodgers, but did so while batting an anemic .182. Things didn’t get better in the postseason; in fact, they turned worse, as the 36-year-old outfielder struck out eight times in 15 at bats, forcing manager Dave Roberts to leave him off the World Series roster.

4) Josh Reddick

Dodgers fans probably want to forget the Astros right fielder once wore Dodger blue. Acquired in a trade deadline deal with Rich Hill in 2016, Reddick played 47 games in Los Angeles before signing in Houston the following winter. That put Reddick with the Astros during the time they have been proven to be stealing signs from opposing pitchers. Reddick apparently could have used some more help during the 2017 World Series, as he only hit 4-24 against LA.

5) Rickey Henderson

After playing for eight different teams over an amazing 24-year career, Rickey Henderson played his final season calling Dodgers Stadium home. The Hall-of-Famer signed with the Los Angeles in July of 2003, acquired on the same day the team brought in Jeromy Burnitz from the Mets. General manager Dan Evans was looking to build up depth in the outfield following injuries to Brian Jordan and Dave Roberts. Henderson played in 30 games for the Dodgers, batting .208/.321/.306, and stealing three bases.

Thanks for reading! Check back for more news, analysis, and historical moments as we wait for the 2020 season to begin.