The most decorated infield in Dodgers history began, of all things, with a small, innocuous lie.
On June 23, 1973, the Dodgers lost the first game of a doubleheader to the Cincinnati Reds. They lost 4-1. They only recorded seven hits. And before the nightcap that day, manager Walter Alston was looking for a way to shake up his lineup.
Utility infielder Steve Garvey was the solution.
“I was sitting in my locker,” Garvey recalled, “and Walter Alston came up and stopped me and asked me, ‘Have you ever played first?’ “
Garvey didn’t, not at all. There was a stint in Little League, another in triple A and a brief appearance off the bench 10 days ago, after some behind-the-scenes work at the position throughout the season.
“But,” added Garvey with a grin, “I won’t tell him.”
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Garvey, however, spoke coldly to his manager. “Oh, sure,” he replied. So, that night, he lined up with Ron Cey, Bill Russell and Davey Lopes.
Over the next 8½ years, the Dodgers’ infield rarely changed – the quartet went on to collect a combined 21 All-Star Game appearances, four National League pennants and a memorable 1981 World Series title game to each other.
“It’s one of those things in Dodger history that,” Cey said, “you don’t get back many times in 50 years.”
In fact, half a century ago, the Dodgers infield was honored on Friday night before the team’s game against the Houston Astros at Dodger Stadium. The team’s three Southern California residents – Garvey, Cey and Russell – were at the stadium to throw out the first pitch and watch the pregame video tribute.
More than that, however, they enjoy standing next to each other on the same field they’ve called home for nearly a decade.
“Just like your family,” Russell said. “We didn’t take it for granted then. You have to be successful to be together that long. “
That, the four are. Cey went to six straight All-Star Games from 1974 to 1979. Russell made the Midsummer Classic in 1973, 1976 and 1980. Lopes was a rookie of the year finalist in 1973, a Gold Glove winner in 1978. , and a four-time All-Star from 1978 to 1981.
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And then there was Garvey, who not only became a four-time Gold Glove winner at his adopted first base position but also won the NL Most Valuable Player Award in 1974 and appeared in eight consecutive All-Star Games until in 1981 – the year four. The infielders helped lead the Dodgers past the New York Yankees for the franchise’s first World Series title in 16 years.
“When you look at the accomplishments, the longevity, the contribution to the Dodger organization and baseball,” Garvey said, “all four of us are proud of it.”
This story originally appeared in the Los Angeles Times.
