Dodgers: Ranking the best Opening Day lineups in Los Angeles history

On the day that we should be celebrating the start of the 2020 season, let’s rank the best Opening Day lineups in Los Angeles Dodgers history.

The Dodgers franchise has a rich history that dates back to the late 19th century. There are so many Dodgers greats who have reached immortal status while wearing the blue and white, from Jackie Robinson to Pee Wee Reese to Steve Garvey. While all of these players are part of Dodgers lore, not all of them made their name while playing in Los Angeles.

On the day that baseball was supposed to open its 2020 season, I thought it would be fun to rank the best Opening Day lineups in Dodgers history, focusing on the teams that called LA their home.

My criteria is simple. I am not looking for the best lineup on Day 2 of the season, or the best lineup that played the most games. I am only concerned with the names on the lineup card on Opening Day of each season and deciding which lineups are the best.

I consider the historical significance of players, but the biggest factor used in evaluating individual names within a lineup is how they performed during that season. Think Justin Turner in 2014. He might not be one of the best second baseman in Dodgers history, but for that one season, he was a great hitter. I also take into account the Opening Day starter as part of the Opening Day lineup. This is the National League, after all.

Without further ado, the best Opening Day lineups in Los Angeles Dodgers history:

5) 1958: Where it all began

Ok, so I lied. This first lineup is a bit ceremonial, but important to remember in the context of Dodgers history in Los Angeles. Their first game as the “LA” Dodgers resulted in a loss to those horrible Giants, who also had relocated out west from New York.

The first Opening Day lineup card for the Los Angeles Dodgers is perhaps most memorable for the player missing from it. Roy Campanella, who had started at catcher the previous nine openers, was absent after he was partially paralyzed in a car accident during the offseason. Rube Walker took his place, an anemic hitter, who only ended up standing in for 44 at-bats during the ’58 season.

Even without Campanella, the ’58 lineup that served as the first of the Los Angeles era featured three Hall-of-Famers, more than any other Opening Day fielded by the Dodgers since. Duke Snider started in left field, his career coming toward an end, but still finishing the season with an impressive .312/.371/.505 slashline over 106 games. Don Drysdale took the hill, on the opposite end of the aging curve than Snider, just getting his career going. And Pee Wee Reese started his final Opening Day as a Major Leaguer.

It’s the 1958 lineup that sets the stage for the rest of my rankings of the best Opening Day lineups in Los Angeles history.

4) 1994: The Rookies of the Year

If you grew up a fan of this team in the nineties, you probably had a poster of Eric Karros or Mike Piazza in your bedroom. The Dodgers were in the midst of dressing a Rookie of the Year every season back then, with Karros handing the award to Piazza who handed it over to Mondesi (who eventually handed it over to Hideo Nomo in 1995). The 1994 Opening Day lineup featured three of these young stars.

Piazza continued to amaze with his second Silver Slugger award while smashing .319/.370/.541 from the catcher position. Erik Karros had a down year, but still provided protection in the middle of the lineup with a .426 slugging percentage.

With a core of young talent, the ’94 lineup also received production from two veteran players in Brett Butler and Tim Wallach, both proving one of their best years was ahead of them at advanced points in their careers. Wallach cracked 23 home runs, his most since 1987, and even received a few MVP votes. Butler helped set the table at the top of the lineup, hitting .314 with a .411 on-base percentage. He still had his speed, too, as he led the National League in triples with nine.

Of course, this opening lineup was made complete with the Bulldog, Orel Hershiser, on the mound. At this point of his career, he wasn’t the pitcher he once was , but he was still effective during his final season with the Dodgers.

3) 1978: Almost champions

The Dodgers trotted out the same lineup for three straight Opening Days between 1977-1979. But I think 1978 was the best iteration, as Rick Monday put together his best season as a Dodger to complement the ever-reliable production from Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, and Reggie Smith.

Monday made the All-Star team in 1978 in what was really his last full productive season as a professional. He joined the Dodgers in 1977, but batted .230 and saw his power drop significantly from the season before with the Cubs. In 1978, while he didn’t get all of his power back, he upped his slugging percentage from .383 to .468. With Monday adding depth to the lineup, this veteran group presented a tough match-up for an opposing pitcher.

Steve Garvey led the league in hits and finished second in MVP voting. Ron Cey improved his average 30 points on the season before and made his fifth All-Star team. And switch-hitting Reggie Smith continued to rake with an OPS+ of 162.

The dependable Don Sutton took the ball for Game 1 in what turned out to be his final Opening Day start for the boys in blue, handing the reins to Burt Hooten the next two seasons. This lineup would carry the Dodgers to their second consecutive World Series match-up against the New York Yankees.

2) 2014: Justin Turner becomes a superstar

Justin Turner was a utility player for the Mets before joining the Dodgers in 2014 and turning into a .340 hitter seemingly overnight. With Turner replacing Mark Ellis at second base, this Dodgers lineup developed into a random combination of has-beens and up-and-comers who each decided to have breakout seasons at the same time.

Adrian Gonzalez built off his 2013 season to become Silver Slugger again. Yasiel Puig played his most complete season as a Dodger, suiting up for 148 games, making his lone All-Star team, and batting .296/.382/.480. Even Juan Uribe, at 35-years-old, found the fountain of youth, batting .311 over 103 games.

Most special about this Opening Day lineup was Clayton Kershaw. By now, he was automatic as the first day starter, but in 2014, he had perhaps his best season ever, leading the National League in wins, ERA, and complete games, on his way to the Cy Young and MVP awards.