1958 Los Angeles Dodgers

1958 Los Angeles Dodgers / Franchise: Los Angeles Dodgers / BR Team Page

Record: 71-83, Finished 7th in National League (1958 NL)

Managed by Walter Alston

Coaches: Joe Becker, Chuck Dressen, Greg Mulleavy and Rube Walker

Ballpark: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum

History, Comments, Contributions

The 1958 Los Angeles Dodgers had the worst win-loss record of any Dodger team from 1945 to 1966. The team finished seventh in the National League, in their inaugural season in Los Angeles, CA. The Pythagorean was even worse than their 71 wins, indicating that they should have won only 68 games.

The hitters were second in the league in home runs and first in stolen bases, but otherwise were pretty mediocre. Gil Hodges and Charlie Neal tied for the team lead with 22 home runs, but neither was in the top ten in the league. Jim Gilliam led the team with 18 stolen bases, good for fifth in the league. Duke Snider led the team in on-base percentage and slugging percentage.

19-year-old Ron Fairly and 21-year-old Frank Howard were rookie outfielders, making their debuts on September 9th and September 10th, respectively.

It was a young pitching staff with an average age of 25. 25-year-old Johnny Podres led the team with 13 wins. 22-year-old Sandy Koufax was already in his fourth season in the majors, and won in double figures for the first time. 21-year-old Don Drysdale was already a star, having won 17 games in 1957. 21-year-old Stan Williams was a rookie who went 9-7, the only starter with a winning record.

Reliever Clem Labine, who had led the National League in saves in 1956 and 1957, was second in the league in 1958 with 14 saves. Johnny Klippstein had 9 and Ed Roebuck had 5.

Awards and Honors

• All-Stars: Johnny Podres and Johnny Roseboro
• NL Gold Glove: Gil Hodges (1B)