Hall Of Famers You Probably Forgot Played For The Dodgers

Welcome back, Dodgers Nation, as we take a look back at some Hall of Famers you’d be surprised wore blue and white.

Part One definitely had some major surprises and Part Two will be no different. It’s time to look at more Hall of Famers you probably forgot ever played for the Dodgers.

Frank Robinson 1972

Frank Robinson was one of the most intimidating players to face at the plate. He spent the first decade of his career with the Cincinnati Reds and instantly found success at the plate.

During his decade in Cincy, Robinson would crush it on the stat sheet.

He made 8 All-Star teams, won the 1956 Rookie of the Year, won an MVP in 1961, tallied 1,673 hits, 324 home runs, 1,009 RBIs and a .303 Batting Average.

His next chapter of his baseball career would begin on December 9, 1965, when the Cincinnati Reds traded him to the Baltimore Orioles in a blockbuster deal for Milt Pappas, Jack Baldschun, and Dick Simpson.

The dominance from Cincinnati carried over to Baltimore as Frank Robinson went on to make six All Star appearances, win another MVP in 1966, amassed 882 hits, 179 home runs, 545 RBIs, won the Triple Crown in 1966, a .300 batting average and to top it all off, he helped the Baltimore Orioles win their first two World Series in franchise history in 1966 and 1970.

The former of which Frank Robinson won World Series MVP after the Orioles swept the Dodgers for the team’s first World Series win.

A little over half a decade later, Frank Robinson would be traded to the team in blue that he terrorized six years earlier when the Orioles traded Robinson and Pete Richert to the Dodgers in exchange for Doyle Alexander, Bob O’Brien, Sergio Robles and Royle Stillman.

Even during his age-36 season, Robinson still produced 86 hits, 19 home runs, 59 RBIs and a .254 batting average.

His tenure with the Dodgers came to a close on November 28, 1972, when the Dodgers traded the future Hall of Famer, along with Bill Singer, Billy Grabarkewitz, Mike Strahler, and Bobby Valentine, to the California Angels(Now the Los Angeles Angels) in exchange for Andy Messersmith and Ken McMullen.

He would be inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1982.

Hoyt Wilhelm 1971-1972

Hoyt Wilhelm is the definition of a late bloomer as he didn’t hit the majors until his age 29 season. You would think that would make for a very short prime, but you’d be wrong.

The Hall of Fame Reliever lived up to his nickname “Old Sarge” and played 21 seasons until he was 49.

He played for nine different ball clubs in his career, but we’ll limit this to his three most successful tenures before his forgotten stint in Los Angeles.

Starting his career with the New York Giants (now the San Francisco Giants), Wilhelm hit the ground running early.

He made an All-Star appearance in 1953, compiled a 42-25 record, a 2.98 ERA, 41 saves, 385 strikeouts, and to top it all off, helped the Giants win the 1954 World Series in a sweep over the Cleveland Indians (Now Guardians).

Fast forward to 1958, where Wilhelm was a member of the Baltimore Orioles, where he was still one of the game’s elite closers through his mid to late 30s.

From 1958-1962, the Old Sarge put up impressive stats including six All-Star selections, a 43-39 record, a 2.42 ERA, 40 saves, 458 strikeouts and a no-hitter.

On January 14, 1963, the Baltimore Orioles traded the future Hall of Famer, along with Ron Hansen, Dave Nicholson, and Pete Ward, to the Chicago White Sox for future Hall of Fame Shortstop Luis Aparicio and Al Smith.

Wilhelm’s dominance continued during his six seasons in Southside from his age of 40 to 45.

He posted a 41-33 record, a 1.92 ERA, 99 saves and 521 strikeouts. Truly unprecedented numbers and was performing miles better than players half his age. We fast forward once again to July 10, 1971, where Wilhelm would spend the final two seasons of his career as a member of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

The Old Sarge was on his last legs and played sparingly. He went 0-2 with a 3.14 ERA, had 24 strikeouts and 4 saves. On July 21, 1972, the Dodgers released Wilhelm, and he retired soon after. He was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1985.

Juan Marichal 1975

Few players have ever given the Dodgers more pounding migraines than San Francisco Giants legend Juan Marichal.

In his 14 seasons as the Giants’ ace, he went 37-18 against the Dodgers with a 2.36 ERA and 305 strikeouts while making 10 All-Star appearances.

Dodger Nation finally breathed a sigh of relief when it was announced that the San Francisco Giants traded the franchise legend to the Boston Red Sox for an undisclosed amount of cash considerations. His 14-year reign of terror against the blue and white was finally over.

His time in Boston was very brief, as he went 5-1 with a 4.87 ERA and 21 strikeouts. The Boston Red Sox would release Marichal on October 24, 1974.

Surprisingly, he signed with his arch nemesis, the Los Angeles Dodgers, for one final rodeo on March 15, 1975.

This was a shock to many people, given his vicious rivalry when he played against him for almost a decade and a half as a member of the Orange and black.

His good friend in left fielder Manny Mota influenced him to join the Dodgers. Marichal saw very little action in L.A., going 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA and 1 strikeout.

The legendary pitcher would call it a career mid-season due to problems with his back. His name would be enshrined in the Baseball Hall of Fame seven years later in 1982.

To read Part One of Hall of Famers You Probably Forgot Played for the Dodgers, click here.

Hall Of Famers You Probably Forgot Played For The Dodgers

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