1978 Los Angeles Dodgers

1978 Los Angeles Dodgers / Franchise: Los Angeles Dodgers / BR Team Page

Record: 95-67, Finished 1st in NL Western Division (1978 NL)

Clinched Division: September 23, 1978, vs. San Diego Padres

Won NL Pennant

Managed by Tommy Lasorda

Coaches: Red Adams, Monty Basgall, Mark Cresse, Jim Gilliam, Preston Gomez and Jim Lefebvre

Ballpark: Dodger Stadium

History, Comments, Contributions

After winning the National League pennant, the 1978 Los Angeles Dodgers suffered through a "bad luck" World Series. After convincing wins in Games 1 and 2, the Dodgers dropped the next four, though hardly indicative of their effort and reflected more the New York Yankees' lucky breaks. Game 4 included the infamous baserunning interference by Reggie Jackson which was not called by the umpires. Don Sutton pitched well in Game 6, but light-hitting Brian Doyle established his postseason legend with that contest, while the Yankees' other middle infielder, Bucky Dent, played superlatively. Davey Lopes and Ron Cey both had a great series, but Reggie Smith and Steve Garvey seemed to vanish.

Awards and Honors

• All-Stars: Ron Cey, Steve Garvey, Tommy John, Davey Lopes, Rick Monday and Reggie Smith
• NL Gold Glove: Davey Lopes (2B)

Further Reading

• 2022 Los Angeles Dodgers Media Guide, pg. 370
• Michael Fallon: Dodgerland: Decadent Los Angeles and the 1977-78 Dodgers, University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE, 2016. ISBN 978-0-8032-4940-0
• Gregory H. Wolf: "Larry Parrish's Bat, Ellis Valentine's Arm Highlight Expos' Come-from-Behind Victory; June 9, 1978: Montreal Expos 10, Los Angeles Dodgers 9 At Olympic Stadium", in Norm King, ed.: Au jeu/Play Ball: The 50 Greatest Games in the History of the Montreal Expos, SABR, Phoenix, AZ, 2016, pp. 34-35. ISBN 978-1-943816-15-6

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NL Championship Series (3-1) Dodgers over Phillies

World Series (4-2) Yankees over Dodgers

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