During his rookie year, Orel Hershiser received a nickname from legendary Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda: "Bulldog." The story goes that Lasorda was looking to bring out more toughness in the young right-hander, a mild-mannered personality off the mound.
It turned out to be quite the apt nickname, as Hershiser made a name for himself as a fearsome competitor, embarking on a short but dominant peak highlighted by one of the all-time best postseason performances by a pitcher.
Here’s a look at 10 of the top moments of Hershiser's 18-year career, in chronological order:
Getting started
A 17th-round pick by the Dodgers out of Bowling Green State University in 1979, Hershiser spent five seasons in the Minors before making his Major League debut on Sept. 1, 1983, about two weeks before his 25th birthday. Facing the Expos in Montreal, Hershiser came on in relief and went three-up, three-down in his first inning of work before coming back out and allowing three runs (one earned).
Going the distance
In 1984, Hershiser made his first Opening Day roster and pitched primarily in long relief until an injury to Jerry Reuss opened a spot in the rotation. Hershiser seized on the opportunity by throwing his first complete game on June 29, 1984, holding the Cubs to one run and striking out eight. He was in the rotation to stay from that point on, finishing third in NL Rookie of the Year balloting in his first full season.
The streak
In 1968, Don Drysdale went on an unthinkable run by holding opposing teams scoreless across 58 consecutive innings. Twenty years later, as a broadcaster for the Dodgers, Drysdale was on hand to see Hershiser break his record. From Aug. 30 to Sept. 28, 1988, Hershiser kept opponents off the board for 59 straight innings, which remains the Major League record. He threw five straight shutouts to open September and just fell short of a sixth, tossing 10 innings to set the record before the Dodgers lost in 16.
An epic NLCS
On the heels of his record-setting scoreless streak, Hershiser kept the legend going with an incredible performance in the 1988 NL Championship Series against the Mets. In starts in Games 1 and 3, he allowed his first runs in more than a month -- five runs (three earned) in 15 1/3 innings. But in Game 4, with the bases loaded and two outs in the 12th inning, Hershiser was called on to convert the save while on zero days' rest. He did so on three pitches, then tossed a five-hit shutout in Game 7, ultimately earning the series MVP nod.
A Series to remember
Hershiser's shutout to cap the 1988 NLCS was just the beginning. When the Dodgers faced the A's in the World Series, Hershiser tossed another shutout in Game 2 and went the distance for the third straight outing in the Game 5 clincher. For his efforts, Hershiser became the first pitcher to win both the NLCS and World Series MVPs in the same season.
Awards season
After bringing home a World Series ring and postseason MVP accolades, Hershiser continued to add hardware to his trophy case in 1988. He was the unanimous NL Cy Young Award winner after going 23-8 with a 2.26 ERA in 267 innings, leading the Majors with 15 complete games (eight shutouts). He also won a Gold Glove, putting the finishing touches on an outstanding campaign.
Back under the lights
Following 13 seasons with the Dodgers, Hershiser signed with Cleveland in 1995 and returned to the postseason for the first time since that fateful '88 run. He was vintage Hershiser, tossing a scoreless start against the Red Sox in the ALDS before going 2-0 with a 1.29 ERA (three runs, two earned, in 14 innings) in the ALCS against the Mariners. Hershiser received another Championship Series MVP honor, this time in the AL.
The 200 club
In the twilight of his career, Hershiser entered 1999 10 wins shy of 200 for his career. Despite an up-and-down beginning to the season, he steadily crept toward the milestone before reaching it with seven innings of two-run ball against the Expos on July 22, 1999. Notably, his 200th career win came as a member of the Mets, against whom he authored his signature NLCS performance 11 years prior.
Turn of the century
From one career milestone to another, Hershiser reached the 2,000-strikeout mark in his final start as a Met on Oct. 3, 1999. Never a particularly overpowering pitcher, Hershiser's strikeout rates dipped further in the final years of his career, but he was able to surpass the 2,000 mark through his renowned competitiveness and longevity.
One last time
Hershiser pitched in the postseason for the final time in 1999, capping a strong track record of Championship Series performances with a pair of relief outings, tossing 4 1/3 scoreless innings in the NLCS. His Mets may have fallen to the Braves in six games, but he showed himself to be a proven postseason performer until the end.