1988 Los Angeles Dodgers

 One guy can do a lot to turn a teams fortunes around. Sure, talent on the field can be a huge factor, but the intangibles like attitude and leadership can work magic behind the scenes. It can become infectious one way or the other; poor attitude and leadership can make a pennant contender into a basement dweller, or great intangibles can take a team hovering around .500 and make them World Series threats.

The 1987 Dodgers were miserable. At 73-89 they could only muster a 4th place finish in the NL West and had no postseason hopes. Added to that, management was lambasted for their non-desire to go after future Hall of Famer Tim Raines when he was a free agent. Team ace Orel Hershiser could do it all on the mound but he made it clear he couldn't help with the offense. Some transactions were made, but LA still needed a big pickup.

Kirk Gibson was just freed from a toxic environment in Detroit and was looking to hook up with a winner. Dodger management wasn't going to let another Raines situation happen and scooped him up. His presence was made very early in the spring, when Jesse Orosco played a prank on him with eye black smeared inside his hat, and Gibson threw a tantrum and stormed out. The message was made clear: the Dodgers were going to be serious about winning and had no time for games.

With help from the legendary Manager Tommy Lasorda, the Dodgers traded in their lackadaisical attitude for a more professional approach to their goal of a title. They rolled to a 94-67 record and won out the division by 7 games over the Reds. But as seemingly easy it was for them to make the playoffs, they were looked on as heavy underdogs when the NLCS began. Their opponents, the New York Mets, dominated the NL East as well as the Dodgers, winning 10 of the 11 matchups in the regular season.

NLCS Game 1 favored the Dodgers, though, as Orel Hershiser took the mound with a legendary scoreless streak behind him from the regular season. He baffled New York until the 9th inning, where the Mets finally broke through and Lasorda pulled him for Closer Jay Howell who blew the save and game as the Mets stole Game 1.

The teams would trade wins back and forth and ended up tied 3-3, where Hershiser would take the mound again. This time he had more offense behind him and held a big early lead as he pitched a shutout to clinch the pennant for the Dodgers and gain series MVP honors.

The World Series would pit the Dodgers against another heavy favorite in the Oakland Athletics. But just like with the Mets, Hershiser proved to be the secret weapon as his pitching would baffle the A's hitters en route to the series MVP for the World Series as well. Game 1 looked to be in the bag for Oakland when Jose Canseco hit a grand slam, but with the score 4-3 in the bottom of the 9th, an injured Kirk Gibson stepped in to pinch-hit against Dennis Eckersley. Despite Hershiser's MVP performance, it was Gibson who took the spotlight for the series with his dramatic walk-off homer, celebrating as he limped around the bases.

From there, the series seemed figured out. Hershiser followed with a shutout in Game 2. Oakland would respond with a win in Game 3 thanks to a walk-off homer for Mark McGwire. Despite their weak lineup with Gibson missing, the two-headed pitching monster of Tim Belcher and Orel Hershiser would cancel out any advantage the Oakland offense might try to take advantage with. The Dodgers would take the series 4-1 and win their 2nd championship of the 80s.

Hershiser had a season for the ages in '88. He led the league with 23 Wins, 267 Innings, 15 Complete Games and 8 Shutouts as well as his record 59 inning scoreless streak. Cy Young was a no brainer, but he wasn't done there. Even during his streak, his mind was focused on the playoffs, where he'd go a combined 3-0, 2 Shutouts, a Save in the NLCS, 32 Strikeouts and both the NLCS and WS MVP awards. Hershiser knew he was in his prime and demanded a team around him to take advantage of this title window, and as a rarity for a team outside of the Bronx, management delivered for him.

If Tim Leary's 17 Wins weren't good enough, he added a Silver Slugger to sweeten the deal. He just barely bested Hershiser for the team lead in Strikeouts with 180.

Belcher had a very successful rookie season. He finished 3rd in Rookie of the Year voting and became a reliable arm to compliment Hershiser in October. When Orel had to pitch Game 7 against the Mets in the NLCS, it meant someone else had to take the ball for Game 1 of the World Series. He gave up the grand slam, but Gibson picked him up in the 9th, and Belcher rebounded by winning Game 4 to put the Dodgers a win away from the title. He also bested the Mets twice in the NLCS.

Other Starters in LA. Sutton was an LA legend brought back, but would ultimately prove unable to keep up anymore.

Howell led the team with 21 Saves while Pena locked down 12 of his own. Howell struggled in October, blowing the Save in NLCS Game 1 and picking up an additional loss when he game up the walk-off homer in Game 3 of the World Series. Despite the struggles, Lasorda still trusted him in Game 4 and Howell responded by finishing off the A's for the Save and putting LA up 3-1.
Pena picked up the Save in NLCS Game 2, but the Mets victimized him in a late inning rally in Game 3. He pitched in the wild Game 4 and picked up the Win, and was the pitcher of record when Gibson hit the walk-off in Game 1 of the World Series.

Remaining pitchers. After the 12 inning marathon that the NLCS Game 4 turned into (that LA had to dig so deep into the bullpen that Hershiser had to go pick up the Save for) Holton was called upon in Game 5 to get the final 5 outs for the Save.

Besides Gibson, the Dodgers were fairly weak offensively. This was a huge factor is why Oakland was heavily favored in the World Series. Sax was the only other hitter to get MVP votes. His 175 Hits and 42 Stolen Bases would lead the team. Frustrated with the organization, Sax would sign elsewhere after the championship season.

Scoscia would win his 2nd ring in Los Angeles and would later add a 3rd ring as Manager of the other team in the LA area. In the NLCS Game 4, Scoscia would hit the 9th inning game tying homer to force extra innings that LA would later win.

Other regulars not named Gibson, showing just how important the MVP and that pitching staff was to their success. In the World Series, Mike Marshall did add a 3-run homer in Game 2 to put the game out of reach early with Hershiser on the mound. Marshall also led the team with 82 RBI.

Bench men of the Dodgers featuring way too many barren charts. Hatcher did launch a couple homers in the World Series, with Davis adding one of his own despite a chart that says he shouldn't be able to. Yes, Tony Gwynn had a brother. And while Tony unquestionable had the better career, Chris Gwynn at least got to say he played on a championship team, even if only briefly.

The Dodger offense was Kirk Gibson, and more Kirk Gibson. The NL MVP and Silver Slugger led the team with a .290 Average and 25 Home Runs. His only at bat in the World Series would be his pinch-hit walk-off blast, as he was too injured to play otherwise. In the NLCS against the Mets he'd hit 2 Home Runs before an ill advised slide into 2nd Base during Game 5 would push his hampered leg too far.