"When the Los Angeles Dodgers traded Davey Lopes to the Oakland Athletics for Lance Hudson on February 8, 1982, it marked the end of the longest-running infield in MLB history. That stretch began June 23, 1973, when the Dodgers lineup included Steve Garvey at first base, Lopes at second base, Ron Cey at third base and Bill Russell playing shortstop in the second game of a doubleheader against the Cincinnati Reds."
"A seemingly nondescript game and new infield for the Dodgers wound up being the start of MLB and franchise history. The quartet played together for the rest of the 1973 season, then eight more in a record that still stands. Just as improbable as the infield's historic stretch together was how it came to be. Garvey spent two years playing third base but struggled to make throws across the diamond."
"Russell and Lopes both began their professional careers before converting to shortstop and second base, respectively. Russell was first to join the Dodgers organization, as he was selected in the ninth round of the 1966 Draft. Garvey, Lopes and Cey were each picked in the 1968 Draft after initially being taken by other clubs but declining to begin their respective careers."
The Dodgers infield of Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Ron Cey and Bill Russell began playing together on June 23, 1973, and remained intact through the 1981 World Series, establishing the longest-running infield in Major League Baseball history. Position shifts and conversions created the quartet: Garvey settled at first after struggling at third, while Russell and Lopes converted to shortstop and second base. The group anchored teams that won four National League pennants and one World Series, produced numerous All-Star appearances, and concluded their final game together with a World Series rally over the New York Yankees.
Read at Dodger Blue
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]