Books and articles about Lenny Dykstra

Nicknamed "Nails" for his scrappy style of play, Lenny Dykstra did everything all out -- he worked hard, played hard, and partied hard. An integral member of the brash Mets of the mid-1980s and the blue-collar Phillies of the early 1990s, Dykstra epitomized the gritty leadoff hitter, blossoming to use power as well as speed in his repertoire.

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Dykstra rose through the Mets' farm system to become their part-time leadoff hitter and center fielder in 1985, and in 1986 won the larger part of the role, thanks to steady fielding, good speed and flashy, fan-pleasing catches. One of the Mets' "Partners in Grime" along with second baseman Wally Backman, the pesky Dykstra helped ignite the Mets' offense from the top of the batting order.

Initially known for his slap singles-hitting style, Dykstra always longed to drive balls over the fence, and in the 1986 postseason the California native showed his first flashes of power. In the dramatic third game of the LCS, his two-run ninth-inning homer off Astros relief ace Dave Smith gave the Mets a 6-5 victory. After New York lost the first two games of the World Series, Dykstra's leadoff homer in Game Three sparked a 7-1 victory, and his two-run dinger off Boston right fielder Dwight Evans's glove in Game Four helped the Mets even a Series which they eventually won in seven games.

Dykstra continued to produce for the Mets, but some charged that his post-season power surge had tempted Dykstra to swing too much for the fences. In 1987 and 1988, Dykstra struck out more than he walked for the first time in his professional career. On Father's Day, 1989, the Mets shipped Dykstra and Roger McDowell to the Phillies for Juan Samuel.

It was the first of many unpopular trades by the Mets. As Samuel bombed in New York, Dykstra took off for the Phils. Bulking up in the off-season, he quickly established himself as an offensive force in 1990, at or near the top of the NL in five major offensive categories. In 1993, Dykstra enjoyed a career year, establishing individual highs in homers, RBIs, stolen bases, runs, and hits. In games where Dykstra scored, the Phils were 69-29 -- a large part of the reason the eclectic club (led by the madcap Mitch Williams and the slovenly John Kruk) went from worst to first. Philadelphia lost the World Series in six games to the Toronto Blue Jays, but Dykstra batted at a .348 clip and whacked four homers, including two two-run shots in Game Four.

Throughout his career, Nails pushed himself to the limits, sliding and diving, playing hard baseball. Unfortunately, this led to frequent visits to the disabled list, including four broken bones, four knee surgeries, and a bad back that would eventually take him out of the game for good in 1996.

His off-field problems weighed heavily as well. In March of 1991, Dykstra, a notorious high-stakes bettor, was linked to a gambling probe in Mississippi; just two months later, he broke his collarbone in a car wreck after John Kruk's bachelor party.

Towards the end of his career, Dykstra, who constantly sported a chaw-stuffed cheek as a player, began campaigning against the use of chewing tobacco. "Copy my hustle. Copy my desire," he urged in a TV ad. "But, please, don't copy my tobacco use." Considered a great managerial prospect during his playing career, Dykstra sought a skipper's position in the minors after retirement. (AG)

FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY » August 21, 1983: Class A outfielders Vince Coleman (Macon, South Atlantic League) and Donnell Nixon (Bakersfield, California League) each break Rickey Henderson's single-season record by stealing their 131st bases of the season. Coleman will finish the season with minor-league record 145 stolen bases, despite having missed 31 games with a broken hand. Nixon will tally 144. Jeff Stone (South Atlantic League) will swipe 123 while Len Dykstra will set a Class A Carolina League record with 105 thefts. » October 11, 1986: Len Dykstra's 2-run home run off Dave Smith with one out in the bottom of the 9th gives the Mets a 6–5 win over the Astros and a 2-1 lead in the NLCS. » October 21, 1986: Len Dykstra's leadoff home run helps Bob Ojeda beat his old team 7–1 to give the Mets their first win. The Sox now lead in the World Series, 2–1. » April 9, 1987: Gary Carter drives in his 1,000th career run with an 8th-inning single that scores Len Dykstra as the Mets defeat Pittsburgh 4–2. » August 9, 1988: The Cubs and Mets play the first official night game at Wrigley Field, a 6–4 Chicago victory. New York's Lenny Dykstra hits the first night home run, supplanting Phil Bradley, whose leadoff home run last night was washed out. Reliever Frank DiPino is the winner over Mets' starter Sid Fernandez. » June 18, 1989: The struggling Phillies trade. Reliever Steve Bedrosian and a player to be named later go to the Giants for pitchers Dennis Cook and Terry Mulholland and 3B Charlie Hayes, then send 2B-OF Juan Samuel to the Mets for OF Len Dykstra, P Roger McDowell, and another player to be named later. » May 27, 1990: John Smoltz is two outs away from a no-hitter when the Phillies Len Dykstra doubles. Smoltz finishes with a 6–1 two-hit win for the Braves. » June 11, 1990: The Phils Lenny Dykstra's hitting streaks stops at 23 games, as he goes 0-for-8 in a doubleheader with Montreal. Dykstra's average drops from .407 to .392. » March 12, 1991: At a gambling trial in Mississippi, Philadelphia Phillies OF Lenny Dykstra admits to having lost $78,000 playing poker during the 1988 and 1989 off-seasons. » May 6, 1991: Phillies OF Lenny Dykstra crashes his Mercedes into two trees while driving home with Darren Daulton from teammate John Kruk's bachelor party. Dykstra, who is charged with driving under the influence, suffers three broken ribs, a broken collarbone, and a broken cheekbone, and will be sidelined until mid-July. Daulton's injuries are less severe. » September 17, 1993: Expos OF Curtis Pride -- who is mostly deaf -- gets his 1st major league hit in Montreal's 8-7, 12-inning win over the Phillies. The Phillies score all seven in the 6th when they knock out Pedro Martinez. Darren Daulton homers and Lenny Dykstra hits a triple in the frame. Mitch Williams walks two and gives up a hits in the 12th in losing. Tim Scott is the winner, striking out the side in the 12th. » October 11, 1993: The Phillies notch their 2nd 4-3, 10-inning victory of the NLCS and take a 3-games-to-2 lead over the Braves. Lenny Dykstra's homer off Mark Wohlers is the winning hit, while Darren Daulton also knocks a round-tripper. Exactly seven years ago, Dykstra hit a 10th inning home run to beat the Astros in the NLCS. » October 17, 1993: home runs by Jim Eisenreich, a three run blast, and Lenny Dykstra lead Philadelphia to a 6-4 win over Toronto to even the Series at a game apiece. Terry Mulholland records the win. » October 20, 1993: In one of the wildest games in World Series history, the Blue Jays come out on top in Game four with a 15-14 victory. Toronto's 6-run rally in the 8th inning is capped by Devon White's 2-run triple, while Lenny Dykstra hits a pair of homers for the losers. » October 23, 1993: In a dramatic finish, Joe Carter of the Blue Jays homers off of Mitch Williams with 2 men on base in the bottom of the 9th to give Toronto an 8-6 victory and the World Championship. Lenny Dykstra hits his 4th homer of the Series for the Phils. Paul Molitor is named the WS MVP. » August 21, 2000: Potomac's Esix Snead breaks Len Dykstra's Carolina League record of 105 steals by swiping his 106th. Snead has a batting average of .242 and OBA of .338. It's the 10th time in the last 20 years that a minor-leaguer has stolen 100 or more bases in a season. According to Howe Sports data, the eight thieves who stole 100 or more bases in the minors were :Vince Coleman, Macon (South Atlantic), 1983—145: Donell Nixon, Bakersfield (California), 1983—144: Jeff Stone, Spartanburg (South Atlantic), 1983—123: Alan Wiggins, Lodi (California), 1980—120: Marcus Lawton, Columbia (South Atlantic), 1985—111: Snead: Dykstra, Lynchburg (Carolina), 1983—105: Donell Nixon, Chattanooga (Southern), 1984—102: Vince Coleman, Louisville (American Assoc.), 1983— 101: Albert Hall, Durham (Carolina), 1980—100.