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Orel Hershiser
Nickname(s): Bulldog
Born: 1958

RHP 1983-2000 Dodgers, Indians, Giants, Mets

All-Star in 1987-89
Gold Glove Award in 1988

	IP	W-L	ERA
Career	`3130.1`	`204-150`
League DS	`24.2`	`1-0`	`2.92`
League CS	`65.1`	`4-0`	`1.52`

Books and articles about Orel Hershiser

At his peak in the 1980s, Orel Hershiser was at the top of the National League, the ace of a stacked Los Angeles Dodger rotation. He was a marvel on the mound, one year stringing together 59 consecutive scoreless innings, breaking a 20-year-old record. After he underwent reconstructive shoulder surgery in 1990, forcing him to miss the entire year and some of the next, nobody could say whether or not the man they called "Bulldog" was going to recover. But he toughed it out, like his namesake, and ended up winning 106 more games, a testament to his tenacity and love for the game.

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The fourth Orel in his family (his son is the fifth), Hershiser always maintained fine control on the mound, mixing a wide array of pitches, including his trademark sinker. After his surgery he learned to adapt, and added a slider, two-seam fastball, and excellent pickoff move to his arsenal.

Hershiser was promoted through the Dodgers system to the bigs in 1983, and was placed in the bullpen for his first full season in 1984. When he began to struggle, manager Tommy Lasorda called him into his office to have a pep talk with the youngster, bestowing the nickname "Bulldog" on him. Whatever Lasorda said to him in the "Sermon on the Mound," as the pep talk later become known, worked. Hershiser finished the season strong, even getting a bunch of well-deserved starts under his belt. In 1985, as the club's number three starter behind Jerry Reuss and Fernando Valenzuela, Hershiser proved he belonged, going 19-3 with five shutouts, notching a 2.03 ERA. To top that off, he had a win and a tough-luck no-decision in the NLCS against the Cardinals.

But as commanding as his 1985 was, Hershiser was close to unstoppable in 1988. Perhaps no other pitcher has ever finished a season the way Hershiser finished his remarkable 1988 campaign. After pitching five consecutive shutouts, the sinkerballer broke former Dodger Don Drysdale's record 58.2-inning scoreless streak by one out (giving him 59 innings) with a ten-inning scoreless, no-decision effort in his final start of the season at San Diego. With his eight shutout innings in the LCS opener against the Mets, he went 67 innings without being scored upon. He picked up a save against the Mets in Game Four the day after a start, finished the Mets off with a shutout in Game Seven, and followed with another against the Athletics in the World Series en route to becoming the first NL player to win the MVP in both postseason series. In the one series game he batted in (Game Two), he went 3-for-3 with two doubles, a run, and an RBI while surrendering only three hits, all to Dave Parker.

The following season, Hershiser once again posted a fine ERA of 2.35, but with little run support had to settle for a 15-15 record. Still, at the end of his sixth year in the bigs, the Dodgers ace had tallied 98 wins and didn't seem like he was going to slow down. Then came a disastrous start in April 1990 against the St. Louis Cardinals, when Hershiser came off the mound in the sixth inning with intense pain in his right shoulder. After discovering severe damage in his right shoulder, the Dodger ace was forced to have arthroscopic surgery, taking him out of the game until the following year. He came back cautiously, pitching two games in the minors, and then rejoined Los Angeles, winning the last six of his starts to close out the 1991 season.

Even if he wasn't the Orel of old, the fact that Hershiser did return to the game to notch 200+ innings in both 1992 and 1993 is impressive enough. His final years with the Dodgers produced average statistics, and he signed with the Cleveland Indians in April 1995. Regaining some of his pre-surgery magic, Hershiser went 16-6 with the Tribe that year, and picked up the ALCS MVP Award by raking in two wins with a 1.29 ERA.

Despite garnering 15 and 14 wins in 1996 and 1997, respectively, Hershiser's ERA were well over 4.00, and it was clear the pitcher was in the sunset of his career. He signed on with the San Francisco Giants as a free agent in the offseason, and ended up with another double-digit win season, but a 4.41 ERA as well. When the New York Mets picked him up as a free agent, the club was looking for veteran poise and authority in the clubhouse, as well as a solid arm that could give the team a quality start. Indeed, one thing Hershiser was never short on was leadership and a strong clubhouse presence.

Hershiser was known to be a giving personality in the community as well as the clubhouse, getting heavily involved in many charities, including the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and the Harambee Preparatory School in Los Angeles. Stating that "you don't have to be a wimp to be a Christian," Hershiser attributed his devout adherence to religion as the motivating factor and source of strength during his playing years. He would often calm himself on the mound by singing Christian hymns, in attempts to drown out other voices in the stadiums. He got a chance to share one of his songs, with the nation in 1988, when Johnny Carson asked him to sing a verse on The Tonight Show, just after the Dodgers had won the World Series. A devoted husband and father, Hershiser would never smoke or drink, and steered clear of swearing. In the 1990s, he became a motivational Christian speaker, offering his services throughout the country.

The Mets got exactly what they were looking for in Hershiser's 40-year-old arm and strong clubhouse presence. He ended up pitching 179 innings, helping the Mets to the NLCS, where they lost to the Atlanta Braves in six games. The following year, Hershiser joined his old club, the Dodgers, for one last shot at glory. Refusing to go gently into that good night, the pitcher put off retirement as long as possible. After floundering with a 1-5 record and 13.14 ERA, Los Angeles sent Hershiser down to the minors, and then reluctantly put the much-loved Dodger on waivers. He retired in July 2000, accepting a job in the LA front office as a player-personnel consultant.

Considered one of the wiser players of the game, Hershiser studied the facets of baseball intricately. Whether it was upgrading the quality of his pitches or his fielding, he would work hard, day in and day out. And despite records he posted in his glory days with the Dodgers, one of the most significant milestones came with his durability. Hershiser finished with 204 wins, 106 of which came after a surgery that could have ended his career. (AG/TG)

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FROM THE BASEBALL CHRONOLOGY

ť October 4, 1924: For the 4th straight year, the Giants are in the Series. At 3B is Fred Lindstrom, at 18 years, 10 months, the youngest ever to play in a World Series. President Calvin Coolidge is among 35,760 who jam the DC stands in Game One as an Army band greets the two teams by playing Sidewalks of New York and Dixie. George Kelly drops a home run into the temporary bleachers in the 2nd, and Terry does the same in the 4th for a 20 New York lead. Art Nehf (14-4) gives up one in the 6th. In the last of the 9th, the Senators score to send the game into extra innings. The Giants net two runs in the 12th. In the last of the 12th, Washington scores one, but the rally falls a run short, and Walter Johnson (23-7) loses his World Series debut. Johnson strikes out 12 in the loss. Nehf becomes the 5th pitcher to get three hits in a World Series game, a feat that will not be repeated until Orel Hershiser does it in 1988.

ť June 6, 1979: The Mariners make OF Al Chambers the number-one pick in the free-agent draft, but his big league career will last just 57 games. The Mets take UCLA P Tim Leary with the 2nd pick. The Blue Jays, picking 3rd, take high school C Jay Schroeder, who will play football for UCLA and will be drafted #1 in 1984 by the Colts, but will never catch in the ML. Kansas City picks football players on the 4th (Dan Marino) and the 17th (John Elway) rounds. Brad Komminsk (Braves) is the 4th pick, SS Juan Bustabad (A's) is 5th, with Andy Van Slyke (Cards) 6th. Bustabad is one of 13 of 16 picks who will not sign with the A's, but he does sign with the Red Sox, who will pick him #1 in the 1980 January draft. The Dodgers pick Orel Hershiser in the 17th round and the Yankees take Don Mattingly in the 19th round. Brett Butler goes to the Braves in the 23rd. The Reds take prep infielder Daniel Lamar in round one, then get slightly better results in the second round with Bob Buchanan and Keefe Cato.

ť September 30, 1983: The Dodgers beat the Giants 43 and the Padres beat the Braves 32, giving Los Angeles the National League West title. Orel Hershiser pitches the final two innings in relief of Fernando Valenzuela to record his first ML save.

ť June 29, 1984: In Los Angeles, Steve Sax hits a 1st inning triple, then swipes home, and Orel Hershiser scatters nine hits to lead the Dodgers past the Cubs and Rick Sutcliffe 71. Hershiser will not miss another start until he injures his shoulder in 1990, and Sutcliffe will not lose again in the regular season.

ť July 19, 1984: Orel Hershiser pitches his 3rd straight shutout for the Dodgers, striking out nine in a 100 two-hitter at St. Louis.

ť April 26, 1985: The Dodgers Orel Hershiser pitches his 2nd consecutive shutout, a 20 one-hitter against the Padres. San Diego's lone hit is Tony Gwynn's 4th-inning single.

ť October 2, 1985: The Dodgers clinch the National League West title with a 93 win over the Braves. Orel Hershiser raises his record to 19-3 with his 11th consecutive victory.

ť February 7, 1987: Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser becomes only the 2nd player ever forced to accept a pay cut through salary arbitration when he is awarded $800,000 for the 1987 season, a 20 percent cut (the maximum allowed by the Basic Agreement) from his 1986 salary. Hershiser was 14-14 with a 3.85 ERA in 1986.

ť October 3, 1987: Benito Santiago goes 0-for-3 against Orel Hershiser in San Diego's 10 win over Los Angeles, ending his ML-rookie-record hitting streak at 34 consecutive games. Santiago's streak is also the longest ever by a catcher. The win snaps the Padres' 9-game losing streak.

ť September 10, 1988: Orel Hershiser shuts out the Reds 50 to become a 20-game winner for the first time. It is his 2nd straight shutout.

ť September 23, 1988: At Candlestick Park, the Dodgers win 3-0, behind Orel Hershiser (23-8) who pitches a complete game shutout to extend his record-tying streak to 49 consecutive shutout innings. Mickey Hatcher's 2-out, 3-run homer in the 8th off starter Atlee Hammaker is all the scoring.

ť September 28, 1988: In his last start of the regular season, Orel Hershiser pitches 10 shutout innings to extend his consecutive-scoreless-inning streak to 59, breaking Dodger Don Drysdale's major-league record by one. San Diego's Andy Hawkins also pitches 10 shutout innings and the Padres eventually win 21 on Mark Parent's home run in the bottom of the 16th.

ť October 4, 1988: Dwight Gooden and Orel Hershiser start but neither get the decision. New York rallies for three 9th-inning runs to win the opening NLCS game over the Dodgers 32.

ť October 12, 1988: Series MVP Orel Hershiser shuts out New York on five hits to win game seven of the NLCS 60 and put the Dodgers into the World Series for the first time since 1981.

ť October 16, 1988: Orel Hershiser gives up three hits and hits three himself to beat Oakland 60.

ť October 20, 1988: Series MVP Orel Hershiser ends his dream season with a 52 four-hitter over the A's in game five of the World Series. Mickey Hatcher starts the Dodger scoring with a 2-run home run in the 1st off Storm Davis, Hatcher's 2nd home run of the Series. The win gives the Dodgers their first World Championship since 1981. Los Angeles is the only team to win more than one World Series in the 1980s.

ť November 10, 1988: Orel Hershiser (23-8) is a unanimous choice as National League Cy Young Award winner.

ť February 16, 1989: Orel Hershiser becomes the first player in ML history to sign a contract that calls for a $3 million salary by inking a 3-year, $7.9 million contract with the Dodgers that will pay him $3,166,667 in 1991.

ť April 6, 1989: In his first start of the season, Orel Hershiser gives up a run in the first inning of a 43 loss to the Reds to end his ML-record consecutive-scoreless-inning streak at 59.

ť August 28, 1989: Frank Viola and the Mets outduel Orel Hershiser and the Dodgers 10 in the first-ever regular-season matchup of defending Cy Young Award winners.

ť April 27, 1990: Dodgers ace Orel Hershiser will miss the rest of the season after undergoing surgery on his pitching shoulder. He hadn't missed a start since joining the club's rotation in 1984.

ť July 26, 1991: Against the Dodgers, Montreal's Mark Gardner pitches a no-hitter for nine innings before Lenny Harris beats out an infield single in the 10th. The Dodgers get two more hits, including an RBI single by Darryl Strawberry, to plate the only run of the contest. After a 2-out walk in the 1st to Eddie Murray, Gardner retires 19 in a row. The Expos manage only two hits themselves against the combined efforts of Orel Hershiser, Kevin Gross, and Jay Howell. Gardner is the 11th pitcher to lose a no-hitter after nine innings; the last being Jim Maloney, on June 14, 1965, and the first pitcher to hurl nine no-hit innings against the Dodgers since Johnny Vander Meer, in 1938.

ť April 8, 1995: The Indians sign free agent P Orel Hershiser.

ť May 9, 1995: The Indians score eight runs before any outs are recorded in the 1st inning, tying a major league record. Paul Sorrento, Kenny Lofton and Carlos Baerga each hit home runs in the stanza, as Cleveland goes on to a 10-0 victory behind Orel Hershiser and Paul Assenmacher.

ť October 4, 1995: Behind the pitching of Orel Hershiser, Cleveland shuts out Boston, 4-0, for their 2nd win in their Division Series.

ť October 14, 1995: Cleveland evens the ALCS at 2 games apiece with a 7-0 win behind Ken Hill. Eddie Murray and Jim Thome homer for the Indians, and Orel Hershiser gets his 3rd victory of the postseason.

ť October 26, 1995: Cleveland stays alive with a 5-4 win in Game 5 of the WS. Orel Hershiser gets credit for the win, and Albert Belle, Jim Thome, Luis Polonia, and Ryan Klesko all reach the seats.

ť July 27, 1996: The Orioles score 10 runs off Orel Hershiser, including a grand slam by Rafael Palmeiro, to whip the Indians 142 at Camden Yards. Hershiser gives up 11 hits and four walks in five 1/3 innings.

ť April 30, 1997: Mark McGwire hits two tape-measure blasts as the A's outslug the Indians, 119, in 10 innings. McGwire's first shot, off Orel Hershiser, is the first ever off the Jacobs Field scoreboard and dents the Budweiser sign. It travels an estimated 485 feet. His 2nd, in the 10th, is the tie-breaker.

ť June 6, 1997: At Fenway Park, Indian C Sandy Alomar ties a major-league record with four doubles in four at-bats and Orel Hershiser allows one run in seven innings to beat Tom Gordon. Alomar is the 38th player to bang four doubles.

ť October 11, 1997: The Orioles waste a masterful pitching performance from Mike Mussina, as Cleveland scores a run in the bottom of the 12th inning when Marquis Grissom steals home on a botched bunt attempt. Baltimore C Lenny Webster fails to chase after the ball, which he is sure was tipped by batter Omar Vizquel. Mussina gives up only three hits and one run in seven innings, while striking out 15 Indians. Orel Hershiser holds Baltimore scoreless through seven innings, allowing only four hits himself, as the Indians win, 2-1.

ť December 9, 1997: The Giants sign free agent P Orel Hershiser.

ť September 26, 1998: The hot Giants rip the Rockies, 84, to stay tied with the Cubs for the wild card. Orel Hershiser wins his 11th, despite allowing eight hits in 5+ innings. One of the hits is Larry Walker's 23rd homer, and he adds another two hits to run his average to .362.

ť March 25, 1999: The Mets sign free agent P Orel Hershiser to a contract.

ť December 17, 1999: The Dodgers sign free agent and former Dodger star P Orel Hershiser to a contract.

ť April 19, 2000: The Astros top the Dodgers, 10-3, as LA starting P Orel Hershiser ties a modern major league record by hitting four batters in only one 1/3 innings of work. OF Richard Hidalgo is hit by two of Hershiser's pitches, and is also plunked by reliever Matt Herges, to tie another ML mark. The five HPB also ties another 20th century mark by both pitchers and batters, done by Atlanta and Cincinnati on July 2, 1969.

ť June 27, 2000: The Dodgers release veteran P Orel Hershiser, who announces his retirement.

ť July 6, 2000: Dodgers P Orel Hershiser announces his retirement.

ť April 22, 2001: Colorado's Pedro Astacio throws a brilliant game against the Snakes in Arizona, winning, 21. They hit him two times, and he hits them four times, tying a major-league record for HBP in a game. The last to do so was Orel Hershiser on April 19, 2000. Pedro is lifted in the 9th after hitting his 4th batter and allowing a single. Larry Walker has a solo home run to back Astacio's 50th career win with the Rocks, the first franchise pitcher to reach that level.