Davey Lopes wasn't just a Dodgers Great, but was also a Fleer Great. To prove it, here is a 2004 Fleer Great card with his signature in my collection.Lopes was part of a long line of speedy ballplayers to come out of the Dodgers farm system, but he could do a little bit more. Davey Lopes could hit home runs.
Over his Dodger career he had a total of 418 stolen bases and 99 round-trippers. The latter number might not sound that impressive, but keep in mind that 66 of those homers were hit over a four year period (1977 to 1980). I guess you can say he hit his stride those years.
In his best season, 1979, Lopes slugged 28 homers while swiping 44 bases. He would also be a gold glover and was 16th in MVP voting that year. Considering he did all that before the steroid era makes his accomplishments ever more remarkable.
Lopes was a driving force in the Dodgers National League pennants in 1974, 1977 and 1978, but it was in 1981 when he would finally get a World Championship ring. Unfortunately, it would prove to be his last year in Blue. Steve Sax had already taken much of his playing time as a new era of Dodger infielders was about to take hold. In the afterglow of the Dodgers 5th World Series title that season, Lopes would be traded to Oakland.
No comments:
Post a Comment