Dodgers Way
FanSided

Dodgers: Ranking the Top 5 left fielders in franchise history

By Sean Kaufman

VERO BEACH, FL - CIRCA 1977: (L-R) Dusty Baker #12, Steve Garvey #6, Reggie Smith #8 and Ron Cey #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses together for this portrait during Major League Baseball spring training circa 1977 at Holman Stadium in Vero Beach, Florida. The number at the end of each bat displays the amount of home runs each player hit the previous season. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images)
VERO BEACH, FL - CIRCA 1977: (L-R) Dusty Baker #12, Steve Garvey #6, Reggie Smith #8 and Ron Cey #10 of the Los Angeles Dodgers poses together for this portrait during Major League Baseball spring training circa 1977 at Holman Stadium in Vero Beach, Florida. The number at the end of each bat displays the amount of home runs each player hit the previous season. (Photo by Focus on Sport/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 6
Next
Dodgers
LOS ANGELES: Kirk Gibson#23 of the Los Angeles Dodgers high fives Pedro Guerrero (Photo by: Andrew D. Bernstein/Getty Images) /

Best Dodgers left fielders: 5) Kirk Gibson

Kirk Gibson’s Dodger tenure was brief, yet he remains a legend among the Dodger faithful.

After a bizarre collusion scandal amongst baseball owners, the former Michigan State Spartan was granted release and signed with the Dodgers after nine seasons in Detroit. Gibby immediately assumed a leadership role with his new club. He wasn’t shy about criticizing his teammates, and set an example with his hard-nosed style of play.

In his one full season in LA, Gibson hit .290 with an .860 OPS to go along with 25 homers and 31 steals (in only 35 tries) en route to the NL MVP award. His hitting and leadership propelled the Dodgers to the postseason after a fourth-place finish the year before, and the rest is history.

Gibson cemented himself in the Dodger annals with his legendary pinch-hit walk-off home run off Hall-of-Fame closer Dennis Eckersley in Game One of the 1988 World Series.

Gibby wasn’t even expected to play, as both of his legs were injured, but he hobbled to the plate and set the tone for the rest of the Series; the Dodgers beat the heavily favored Oakland A’s four games to one. Unfortunately, Gibson’s next two seasons were marred by injury and he signed with the Royals in 1991, but Dodger fans will always remember him triumphantly pumping his fist as he rounded the bases in ‘88.

Home/Dodgers All-Time Lists