-Matthew McConkey
My first memory of Orel Hershiser came in the 1988 World Series. I remember watching him pitch and noticing right away how determined he was to go after the hitters in the box. His aggressiveness earned him the nickname "Bulldog". He was one of the more determined pitchers I watched as a kid on the mound. I could see that "Bulldog" mentality in the games he pitched.
I learned more about Hershiser from one of my childhood friends who grew up in the era in which Hershiser pitched. Justin was the biggest fan (still is) of the decorated righty from the L.A. Dodgers. He taught me a lot about the pitcher back then, way before the internet was even a thing. He also taught me a lot about baseball.
When I selected Orel for this week's feature, I learned more about how good he was back in the day. To say the least, I'm now a fan of #55. He doesn't get a lot of play outside of L.A., but he should. His number should be retired at Dodger Stadium, if you ask me.
In the late 1980s, Hershiser was one of the league's elite pitchers, having been selected as an all-star three consecutive seasons (1987, 1988, 1989). His durability was among the National League's best as he led the league in Innings Pitched during those three all-star seasons (264.2, 267, 256.2, respectively).
During the 1980s (1983-1989), Hershiser was one of the best pitchers in baseball. He was 98-64 with a 2.64 ERA, 1,457 innings, 1.149 WHIP, started 191 games, had 58 complete games, and 23 shutouts while striking out 1,011 hitters.
The crown jewel in Hersisher's career was the 1988 season. He was the National League's Cy Young Award winner, NLCS MVP, and World Series champion with series MVP honors. He also won his only Gold Glove.
Hershiser never recaptured that kind of magic after the 1988 season. He was never an all-star after 1989, but he was able to notch out an excellent playing career. Orel pitched another 11 seasons after 1989 with the Dodgers, Indians, Giants, and Mets, starting 275 games and logging 1,673.1 innings. He was 105-81 with a 4.04 ERA and a 1.344 WHIP during those last 11 seasons.
At ages 36-40, showing that he still had gas left in the tank, Hershiser established himself as one of the game's most reliable pitchers despite his age. In that stretch, he was 69-43, started 157 games, and logged 949.2 innings with a 4.32 ERA and a 1.372 WHIP.
He also started 11 postseason games during the ages of 36-40 with the Indians and Mets, going 4-3 with a 3.28 ERA, pitching 74 innings with a 1.149 WHIP.
*3 X All-Star
*WS Champion in 1988
*WS MVP in 1988
*NLCS MVP in 1988
*1988 National League Cy Young Award winner
*Led the National League in Innings Pitched three consecutive seasons (1987, 1988, 1989)
*Led the National League in Wins in 1988 with 23
*Won his only Gold Glove in 1988
*Won his only Silver Slugger award in 1993
*Led MLB in 1988 with 15 Complete Games and 8 Shutouts
*Had a career-low 2.03 ERA (min 230 IP) in 1985 with a career-low 1.031 WHIP
*Holds the MLB record for consecutive scoreless innings by a pitcher with 59 (August 20, 1988, and ended on September 28, 1989)
Orel Hershiser Stats