Cy Young Profile: Orel Hershiser, 1988

 Pitcher, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  30 (Sept. 16)

5^th season with Dodgers

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 190

 

Prior to 1988:

Born in Buffalo, New York, Hershiser moved with his family to Toronto, Canada and Cherry Hill, New Jersey. Following his graduation from Cherry Hill East High School, where he was an All-Conference pitcher as a senior, Hershiser moved on to Bowling Green State University. As a junior in 1979, he pitched a no-hitter on his way to a 6-2 record. Selected by the Dodgers in the June amateur draft, he signed and was assigned to Clinton of the Class A Midwest League where he went 4-0 with a 2.09 ERA and 33 strikeouts over 43 innings pitched. Hershiser spent 1980 and ’81 with San Antonio of the Class AA Texas League where he was utilized primarily as a reliever and posted a 5-9 tally with a 3.55 ERA and 14 saves in 1980 and 7-6 with a 4.68 ERA, 15 saves, and 95 strikeouts in 1981. Still a reliever with the Albuquerque Dukes of the Class AAA Pacific Coast League in 1982, Hershiser appeared in 47 games (7 of them starts) and was 9-6 with a 3.71 ERA and 93 strikeouts. With Albuquerque again in 1983, he appeared in 49 games (10 starts) and posted a 10-8 mark with a 4.09 ERA and 16 saves. Receiving a September call-up to the Dodgers, Hershiser appeared in eight games and had no decisions and a 3.38 ERA. He stuck with the Dodgers in 1984 as a long reliever who was moved into the rotation in June due to injuries and compiled an 11-8 tally with a 2.66 ERA and four shutouts among his 8 complete games, as well as a string of 33.2 consecutive scoreless innings. He placed third in NL Rookie of the Year voting. The Dodgers won the NL West in 1985 and Hershiser improved to 19-3 with a 2.03 ERA and 157 strikeouts while completing 9 games, 5 of them shutouts, to establish himself as LA’s new ace. He also placed third in league Cy Young balloting. The mild-mannered, but tenacious, pitcher was nicknamed “Bulldog” by manager Tommy Lasorda, who wanted to encourage his toughness on the mound. The Dodgers dropped in the standings in 1986 and Hershiser posted a 14-14 record with a 3.85 ERA and 153 strikeouts. He was a .500 pitcher again in 1987 at 16-16 with a 3.06 ERA and 190 strikeouts while accumulating a league-leading 264.2 innings. He was also an All-Star for the first time. With a sinker, fastball, curve, and changeup, Hershiser maintained his effectiveness in the rotation.

 

1988 Season Summary

Appeared in 36 games

P – 35, PH – 1

 

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

 

Pitching

Games – 35

Games Started – 34 [4, tied with eight others]

Complete Games – 15 [1, tied with Danny Jackson]

Wins – 23 [1, tied with Danny Jackson]

Losses – 8

PCT - .742 [3, tied with Danny Jackson]

Saves – 1

Shutouts – 8 [1]

Innings Pitched – 267 [1]

Hits – 208 [12]

Runs – 73

Earned Runs – 67

Home Runs – 18 [12, tied with Rick Sutcliffe, Kevin Gross & Nolan Ryan]

Bases on Balls – 73 [12]

Strikeouts – 178 [7]

ERA – 2.26 [3]

Hit Batters – 4

Balks – 5 [20, tied with six others]

Wild Pitches – 6

 

League-leading shutouts were +2 ahead of runners-up Danny Jackson & Tim Leary]

League-leading innings pitched were +6.1 ahead of runner-up Danny Jackson

 

Midseason Snapshot: 13-4, ERA - 2.62, SO - 92 in 140.2 IP

 

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Most strikeouts, game – 9 (in 9 IP) at Montreal 8/30

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 2 (in 9 IP) at Houston 6/29

 

Batting

 

PA – 105, AB – 85, R – 1, H – 11, 2B – 2, 3B – 1, HR – 0, RBI – 6, BB – 1, SO – 18, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .129, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 19 [1], SF – 0

 

Fielding

Chances – 98

Put Outs – 32

Assists – 60

Errors – 6

DP – 6

Pct. - .939

 

Postseason Pitching:

G – 6 (NLCS vs. NY Mets – 4 G; World Series vs. Oakland – 2 G)

GS – 5, CG – 3, Record – 3-0, PCT – 1.000, SV – 1, ShO – 2, IP – 42.2, H – 25, R – 7, ER – 5, HR – 0, BB – 13, SO – 32, HB – 2, BLK – 0, WP – 3, ERA – 1.05

MVP: NLCS & World Series

 

Awards & Honors:

NL Cy Young Award: BBWAA

MLB Player of the Year: Sporting News

Gold Glove

All-Star

6^th in NL MVP voting (111 points, 33% share)

 

NL Cy Young voting:

Orel Hershiser, LAD: 120 pts. – 24 of 24 first place votes, 100% share

Danny Jackson, Cin.: 54 pts. – 45% share

David Cone NYM: 42 pts. – 35% share

 

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Dodgers went 94-67 to finish first in the NL Western Division by 7 games over the Cincinnati Reds. The pitching staff led the league in complete games (32), shutouts (24), and saves (49). The revamped Dodgers, benefiting from the presence of strong pitching, led by Hershiser who finished off the regular season with a record 59 consecutive shutout innings, and a deep bench, won with regularity and took control of the NL West race in August and September. Won NLCS over the New York Mets, 4 games to 3. The series turned on LF Kirk Gibson’s 12^th inning home run that capped a dramatic Game 4 win in which Hershiser relieved and recorded a save. Hershiser also started the climactic Game 7 and pitched a shutout. Won World Series over the Oakland Athletics, 4 games to 1. The injured Kirk Gibson sparked the underdog Dodgers with a dramatic pinch home run that won Game 1. Hershiser started and won Games 2 and 5, which proved to be climactic, to receive Series MVP honors.

 

Aftermath of ‘88:

Despite a fine 2.31 ERA in 1989, Hershiser’s record dropped to 15-15 with the offensively challenged Dodgers, who scored only 17 runs in his 15 losses. He was still an All-Star and led the NL in innings pitched for the third consecutive year with 256.2. His heavy workload resulted in a shoulder injury that required reconstructive surgery in 1990, limiting him to just four starts. He returned to action in May of 1991 and over the course of 21 starts compiled a 7-2 mark with a 3.46 ERA. He was back up over 200 innings in 1992 and went 10-15 with a 3.67 ERA. In 1993 Hershiser registered a 12-14 tally with a 3.59 ERA and 141 strikeouts over 215.2 innings pitched. In the strike shortened 1994 season, he was 6-6 with a 3.79 ERA. A free agent in the offseason, the Dodgers wanted him to retire at age 36 and become a non-playing member of the organization. Feeling he could still pitch effectively, he signed with the Cleveland Indians. Cleveland topped the AL Central and advanced to the World Series in 1995 while Hershiser put together an 11-2 second half run on the way to a 16-6 overall record with a 3.87 ERA. He was the MVP of the ALCS triumph over Seattle thanks to a 2-0 mark and 1.29 ERA and was 1-1 with a 2.57 ERA in the World Series loss to Atlanta. The Indians were division champs again in 1996 and Hershiser went 15-9 with a 4.24 ERA. He was 14-6 with a 4.47 ERA for pennant-winning Cleveland in 1997 despite spending time on the disabled list due to a stiff back. He was badly roughed up in the World Series loss to the Florida Marlins. A free agent in the offseason, he signed with the San Francisco Giants for 1998 and produced an 11-10 record with a 4.41 ERA. Moving on to the New York Mets in 1999, he compiled a 13-12 tally with a 4.58 ERA as the Mets made it to the postseason as a Wild Card entry. Hershiser returned to the Dodgers in 2000 at age 41 and was 1-5 with a 13.14 ERA when he was let go in late June, thus ending his career. For his major league career, he posted a 204-150 record with a 3.48 ERA, 68 complete games, 25 shutouts, and 2014 strikeouts over 3130.1 innings. With the Dodgers he was 135-107 with a 3.12 ERA, 65 complete games, 24 shutouts, and 1456 strikeouts over 2180.2 innings. Appearing in 22 postseason games, Hershiser went 8-3 with a 2.59 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 132 innings. A three-time All-Star, he received votes in Cy Young Award voting four times, including the one win. A decent hitting pitcher, he was awarded a Silver Slugger in 1993. He also received one Gold Glove for his fielding prowess. Following his playing career, he went into broadcasting and was also pitching coach for the Texas Rangers from 2002-05. He has also been successful at playing poker in major competitions.

 

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Cy Young Profiles feature pitchers who were recipients of the Cy Young Award by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (1956 to present). The award was presented to a single major league winner from its inception through 1966 and from 1967 on to one recipient from each major league.  

MVP Profile: Kirk Gibson, 1988

Outfielder, Los Angeles Dodgers

Age:  31 (May 28)

1^st season with Dodgers

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 215

Prior to 1988:

A Michigan native, Gibson played football, basketball, and ran track in addition to baseball at Waterford-Kettering High School. Attending Michigan State on a football scholarship he became a starting flanker as a freshman. Later approached about playing baseball as well, Gibson excelled with his speed and power. In one season of baseball he hit .390 in 48 games with 16 home runs, 52 RBIs, and 21 stolen bases. Selected by the Detroit Tigers with the twelfth overall pick in the 1978 amateur draft and recognizing that baseball had better long-term career potential than pro football, Gibson signed with the Tigers for six years and $200,000. Initially assigned to Lakeland of the Class A Florida State League, in 54 games he batted .240 with 8 home runs and 40 RBIs. With his contract allowing him to return to Michigan State for his final football season, he performed well and was chosen by the NFL’s St. Louis Cardinals in the seventh round of the 1979 NFL draft. Assigned to Evansville of the Class AAA American Association in 1979, he suffered a knee injury that required arthroscopic surgery and appeared in only 89 games in which he hit .245 with 9 home runs and 42 RBIs. His average improved toward the end of the season, and Gibson excelled in the American Association playoffs, won by Evansville. A late-season call-up to the Tigers resulted in 39 plate appearances with a home run, four RBIs, and three stolen bases. Gibson impressed manager Sparky Anderson enough to remain with the club in 1980. Placed in center field, he showed promise until sidelined by a wrist injury that required surgery and limited his rookie season to 51 games in which he batted .263 with 9 home runs and 16 RBIs. Primarily playing in right field before being moved back to center field during the strike-interrupted 1981 season, Gibson started slowly until catching fire following the strike and ended up hitting .328 with 9 home runs, 40 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. Various injuries limited him to 69 games in 1982 in which he batted .278 with 8 home runs and 35 RBIs. Utilized significantly as a Designated Hitter in 1983 Gibson hit .227 in an uneven season with 15 home runs and 51 RBIs. The Tigers won the World Series in 1984 and Gibson, with an improved attitude and performance, contributed significantly to the championship season by hitting .282 with 27 home runs and 91 RBIs while starting in right field. In the postseason he was the MVP of the ALCS triumph over Kansas City by batting .417 with a home run and significantly contributing defensively. In the five-game World Series victory against San Diego he hit .333 with two home runs, including the clincher in Game 5, and 7 RBIs. He finished sixth in American League MVP voting. The team dropped to third in the AL East in 1985 although Gibson had another solid season in which he hit .277 with 29 home runs and 97 RBIs. He started the 1986 season fast until sidelined for 33 games due to an ankle injury. Appearing in 119 games he batted .268 with 28 home runs and 86 RBIs. “Gibby” started the 1987 season on the DL due to a torn rib muscle. Shifted to left field upon his return to the lineup he batted .277 with 24 home runs and 79 RBIs as the Tigers returned to the top of the AL East. In the offseason he signed a three-year, $4.5 million contract with the Dodgers, where he quickly established himself as a team leader.

1988 Season Summary

Appeared in 150 games

LF – 148, CF – 1, PH – 3

[Bracketed numbers indicate NL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 632 [20]

At Bats – 542

Runs – 106 [2]

Hits – 157 [19]

Doubles – 28 [20, tied with Ron Gant & Von Hayes]

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 25 [7, tied with Andy Van Slyke]

RBI – 76 [16]

Bases on Balls – 73 [11]

Int. BB – 14 [7, tied with Barry Bonds & Tim Raines]

Strikeouts – 120 [9]

Stolen Bases – 31 [14, tied with Kevin Bass]

Caught Stealing – 4

Average - .290 [11]

OBP - .377 [4]

Slugging Pct. - .483 [9]

Total Bases – 262 [11]

GDP – 8

Hit by Pitches – 7 [8, tied with Mike Marshall, Candy Maldonado & Gary Carter]

Sac Hits – 3

Sac Flies – 7 [13, tied with seven others]

Midseason snapshot: HR – 15, RBI – 46, AVG - .299, SLG - .517

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at Cincinnati 8/11 – 10 innings

Longest hitting streak – 7 games

HR at home – 14

HR on road – 11

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at Chi. Cubs 7/14

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 4 at Atlanta 4/9

Pinch-hitting – 0 of 3 (.000) with 1 RBI

Fielding

Chances – 329

Put Outs – 311

Assists – 6

Errors – 12

DP – 3

Pct. - .964

Postseason: 8 G (NLCS vs. NY Mets – 7 G; World Series vs. Oakland – 1 G)

PA – 31, AB – 27, R – 3, H – 5, 2B – 0,3B – 0, HR – 3, RBI – 8, BB – 3, IBB – 2, SO – 6, SB – 2, CS – 0, AVG - .185, OBP - .258, SLG - .519, TB – 14, GDP – 0, HBP – 0, SH – 0, SF – 1

Awards & Honors:

NL MVP: BBWAA

Silver Slugger

Top 5 in NL MVP Voting:

Kirk Gibson, LAD: 272 pts. - 13 of 24 first place votes, 81% share

Darryl Strawberry, NYM: 236 pts. – 7 first place votes, 70% share

Kevin McReynolds, NYM: 162 pts. – 4 first place votes, 48% share

Andy Van Slyke, Pitt.: 160 pts. – 48% share

Will Clark, SF: 135 pts. – 40% share

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Dodgers went 94-67 to finish first in the NL Western Division by 7 games over the Cincinnati Reds. The revamped Dodgers, benefiting from the presence of Gibson, strong pitching and a deep bench, won with regularity and took control of the NL West race in August and September. Won NLCS over the New York Mets, 4 games to 3. The series turned on Gibson’s 12^th inning home run that capped a dramatic Game 4 win. Won World Series over the Oakland Athletics, 4 games to 1. Gibson was felled by a leg injury suffered during the NLCS but sparked the underdog Dodgers with a dramatic pinch home run that won Game 1.

Aftermath of ‘88:

Still bothered by his knee injury from the 1988 postseason, Gibson appeared in just 71 games in 1989 and batted .213 with 9 home runs and 28 RBIs before undergoing surgery. He returned to action with the Dodgers in June of 1990 and over the course of 89 games hit .260 with 8 home runs and 38 RBIs, although he stole 26 bases in 28 attempts. Gibson departed the Dodgers as a free agent in the offseason, joining the Kansas City Royals, who signed him to a two-year contract. With the Royals in 1991 he batted .236 with 16 home runs and 55 RBIs. Traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates in the spring of 1992, he was released in May after playing in only 16 games. Gibson returned to the Tigers in 1993 where he hit .261 with 13 home runs and 62 RBIs. Never regarded as an outstanding defensive player, he was primarily a DH in ’93 and again in 1994 when Gibson batted .276 with 23 home runs and 72 RBIs in the strike-shortened season. He retired in August of the 1995 season at age 38 while hitting .260 with 9 home runs and 35 RBIs. For his career, Gibson batted .268 with 1553 hits that included 260 doubles, 54 triples, and 255 home runs. He further scored 985 runs and compiled 870 RBIs and 284 stolen bases. In 310 games with the Dodgers he batted .264 with 293 hits, 56 doubles, 3 triples, 42 home runs, 142 RBIs, and 69 stolen bases. Appearing in 21 postseason games Gibson hit .282 with 7 home runs and 21 RBIs. He placed in the Top 20 in MVP balloting on four occasions and also was awarded one Silver Slugger. After returning to major league baseball as a coach, he went on to manage the Arizona Diamondbacks for all or parts of five seasons and compiled a 353-375 record that included one division title.

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MVP Profiles feature players in the National or American leagues who were winners of the Chalmers Award (1911-14), League Award (1922-29), or Baseball Writers’ Association of America Award (1931 to present) as Most Valuable Player.