Dodgers Glory Years In LA

Of course a very strong case can be made for the late 1950's through the mid 1960's. But I was just a kid then. I couldn't really remember most of the stuff that went on. I DO remember the electricty when Sandy Koufax was pitching, & waiting at the airport in 1966 when the Dodgers came home after getting mopped up by the Orioles. That era was brief compared to the next one however.

The period I remember best was the 1970's - 1980's. This came to mind recently when Frsank McCourt made mention of how many times the Dodgers have qualified for the postseason within a certain number of years, & how that was an LA Dodger record. I couldn't help but wonder how that would have stood up if there was a wild card back when I was a teenager & the Dodgers & Reds dominated the National League. How many of those Reds are in the Hall of Fame, or could be if not for extenuating circumstances? I can think of Sparky Anderson, Tony Perez, Joe Morgan, & Johnny Bench. Pete Rose would most definitely be there if he hadn't screwed up. The Big Red Machine was one of the most {if not THE most} powerful teams I ever saw. Yet the Dodgers went toe to toe with them most years & won three pennants in the 1970's. One more in the 1980's.

I also wanted to start this fantasy thread with divisional play, because in the old days only one team made the playoffs. MLB could have used a format to include two wild cards with the advent of divisional play. I don't think that would have been too out there. So let's start with the Dodgers rise post Sandy Koufax...

1970 - 87-74 / .540 2nd place in Western Division. Third best record in NL. They would have made the playoffs.
1971 - 89-73 / .549 2nd place in Western Division. Fourth best record in NL. They would have made the playoffs.
1973 - 95-66 / .590 2nd place in Western Division. Second best record in NL. They would have made the playoffs.
1974 - 102-60 / .630 1st place in Western Division. Best record in NL. They lost to the A's in the World Series.
1975 - 88-74 / .543 2nd best record in Western Division. 3rd best record in NL. They would have made the playoffs.
1976 - 92-70 / .568 2nd best record in Western Division. Tied for third best record in NL. They would have made the playoffs.
1977 - 98-64 / .605 1st place in Western Division. Second best record in NL. They lost to the Yankees in the World Series as Reggie Jackson hit five homeruns.
1978 - 95-67 / .586 1st place in Western Division. Best record in NL. They lost to the Yankees in the World Series again.
1980 - 92-71 / .564 2nd place in Western Division. 2nd best record in NL. Lost one game playoff to the Astros. They would have made the playoffs.
1981 - 63-47 / .573 2nd best record in Western Division. 3rd best record in NL. Won the first half of the season with weird strike shortened season. So they qualified for the playoffs anyway. Finally beat the Yankees in the World Series.
1982 - 88-74 / .543 2nd place in Western Division. Fourth best record in NL. They would have made the playoffs.
1983 - 91-71 / .562 1st place in Western Division. Best record in NL. Lost to Phillies in playoffs.
1985 - 95-67 / .586 1st place in Western Division. Third best record in NL. Lost to Cardinals in a heartbreaking fashion in NLCS.

I count {under this imaginary scenario of course} 13 postseason appearances in 16 years. I'd say that was a committment to excellence. Also, there were 8 seasons of at least 90 wins. We've had what? Two in six under McCourt?

I always considered Walter O'Malley to be the ideal of a good & committed sports franchise owner {like Jerry Buss}. His son not so much so. Peter was more of a caretaker owner. Even some of the stars he won with in the early to mid 1980's were players acquired while Walter was still alive & had influence. Those included Pedro Guerrero, Fernando Valenzuela, Jerry Reuss, Bob Welch, Steve Sax, & Bill Russell.

It makes me sick though when I hear Frank McCourt talking about the 'Dodger Way.' What would he know? His idea of the 'Dodger Way' is the cheapest way he can put a product on the field the lemmings will buy. A lot of those players I mentioned from bygone eras were acquired through trade, & were already established stars with relatively hefty salaries. Everything is relative to the times. We had to have had one of the biggest payrolls around. So apparently the 'Dodger Way' was really to simply put the best possible product out there by any means necessary.

How do I quote someone here?

3Dogg:

It makes me sick though when I hear Frank McCourt talking about the 'Dodger Way.' What would he know? His idea of the 'Dodger Way' is the cheapest way he can put a product on the field the lemmings will buy. A lot of those players I mentioned from bygone eras were acquired through trade, & were already established stars with relatively hefty salaries. Everything is relative to the times. We had to have had one of the biggest payrolls around. So apparently the 'Dodger Way' was really to simply put the best possible product out there by any means necessary.

How do I quote someone here?

If you mean to quote on if the posters in your reply, there's a link to click in the top right hand corner of the post you want to quote that says, 'quote'.

Mike Scioscias tragic illness:

If you don't see it, 3Dogg, it's because the quote feature doesn't work in IE8.

Yeah, that too. <me hitting my head>

"Sorry to disappoint anybody, but it worked just fine here. I clicked on the "quote" link, and the message appeared in the text box, with the "quote" and "cite" tags, just like it does with Firefox."

I think I'll copy & paste. Thanks anyway.

Mike Scioscias tragic illness:

Are you in IE8, Harpo?

Only for that one post.  I use Firefox, but was compelled to try it with IE8, just for the "challenge" factor.
 

BluePastorKyle:

Mike, I'm using IE8 and it works just fine for me.

Works for me in IE8 as well.