Top 25 Moments in Dodgers History

#15. Eric Gagne’s save streak

On August 26^th 2002, Eric Gagne blew a save.  He wouldn’t blow another one for almost another two years (July 5^th 2004 to be exact.)  He broke Tom Gordon’s MLB record of 54 straight converted saves in a row, and eventually made it to 84 straight games.  Gagne was as dominate a closer as there was at that time.  When he came into the game, Dodgers fans knew it was likely “Game Over,” a phrase that became a popular one for Dodgers fans when describing Gagne’s entrance.

#14. Cookie Lavagetto wins Game 4 of 1947 World Series

Probably one of the most dramatic situations you could think of in a baseball game.  In Game 4 of the 1947 World Series, Yankees pitcher Bill Bevens was pitching a no-hitter into the 9^th inning, looking to go up 3-1 in the series.  With a 2-1 lead, Bevens was one out away from accomplishing what had never been done in baseball up to that point (throwing a no-hitter in a playoff game.)  But he had also walked two batters in the inning, putting runners on 1^st and 2^nd.

Lavagetto came up as a pinch-hitter and knocked a double into right field, scoring the tying and go-ahead runs.  The Dodgers would not only break up the no-hitter, but also tie the series 2-2.  They would eventually lose in 7 games, but Lavagetto’s Game 4 hit was as memorable as they get.

#13. Dodgers win 1959 World Series

This was the second championship for the Dodgers franchise, and first since moving to Los Angeles.  It was also the first championship for a West Coast team.  Playing at the Memorial Coliseum, Games 3, 4, & 5 would all set attendance records for the World Series, with over 90,000 in each.

After getting crushed by the Chicago White Sox in the opener, 11-0, the Dodgers would bounce back and take four of the next five games, winning the series in six.

#12. Orel Hershiser passes Don Drysdale’s consecutive scoreless innings streak

Already mentioned on the list, Drysdale’s record of consecutive scoreless innings was remarkable.  Many likely thought it was a record that was out of reach.  But for the kind of year that Orel Hershiser had in 1988, nothing was out of reach.

During the final month of the season, Hershiser dominated.  After giving up runs during his start on August 30^th, he would go on to pitch 6 consecutive scoreless starts, pitching at least 9 innings in all of them.  In his last start of the streak, Hershiser pitched 10 shutout innings against the Padres to get the record.  Since that was his last start of the regular season, the streak technically ended there.  His next start would be Game 1 of the NLCS, where he pitched another 8 scoreless innings.

#11. Steve Finley’s grand slam wins division

On the second to last day of the regular season in 2004, the Dodgers were one win away from clinching the NL West.  But trailing the Giants 3-0 in the 9^th inning, they were in danger of having their division lead cut to 1 game, and possibly having to play a one-game playoff to reach to post-season.

The Dodgers would rally in the 9^th, scoring 3 runs off the San Francisco relievers before loading the bases for Steve Finley.  Acquired at the trading deadline that year, Finley launched a towering shot over the right-center field wall for a walk-off grand slam.  Doesn’t get much better than beating the rival Giants to win the division.