The 1986 Dodgers
- 1986 Record:
- 73-89, finished fifth place in the N.L. Western Division
- Postseason:
- None
- Manager:
- Tommy Lasorda
- All-Stars:
- Steve Sax, 2B; Fernando Valenzuela, P; Tommy Lasorda, Coach
- Home Attendance:
- 3,023,208
Season Recap:
The 1986 Los Angeles Dodgers season was upset even before the first pitch in the first game was thrown when Pedro Guerrero severely injured his knee in the final exhibition game at Dodgertown, Vero Beach, Florida. Guerrero’s absence from the lineup as one of the top RBI men in the decade of the 1980s reduced his own production, and left exposed the other top Dodger hitters to opposition pitching. The Dodgers were 28-38 in one-run games and it is likely a player of Guerrero’s caliber would have made the difference in many of those losses. In 1985, the Dodgers were fifth in the National League in RBI by the number four hitter, but without Guerrero, that RBI total slipped to tenth place in the N.L. The season began on a hard note and the club struggled to score runs. On June 30, they were 7 1/2 games back and were eight games below .500 and many in the baseball industry had written off the season for the Dodgers. However, the club found their stride in July and won 15 of 25 games. At one point, they would win 12 of 14 games, and on August 6 were only 5 1/2 games out of first place. However, a stretch of seven losses in their next nine games in August would finish any chances they hoped to have for the season. Dodger pitching was not quite as strong as in previous seasons as they were 5th overall in the N.L. in ERA (3.54). Their pitching problems were related to their bullpen and their lack of offense. The club had the second highest number of blown saves in the N.L. and they were 12th in the N.L. in a relief pitcher holding a lead. The pitching staff suffered as the team had the third highest number of tough losses in the N.L. (where the starting pitcher pitches at least six innings and allows three earned runs) and still takes the loss. Fernando Valenzuela was the leading pitcher not just on the Dodgers, but in the N.L. as his 21 wins and 20 complete games were highest in the league. Valenzuela’s ERA for the season was 3.14 and the baseball writers voted him second in the N.L. Cy Young Award. Valenzuela also added to his laurels by winning a Gold Glove for fielding. In July, at the All-Star Game in Houston, Valenzuela tied Carl Hubbell’s 52-year old record in the game when he struck out five consecutive hitters. The offense tried, but not could replace Guerrero’s bat in the lineup. Bill Madlock led the club in RBI with 60 while Franklin Stubbs drove in 58 and Mike Marshall had 53. Stubbs led the club in home runs with 23 and Marshall hit 19. Steve Sax was a productive catalyst with a .332 batting average, second highest in the N.L. Sax led the N.L. in singles (157), was 7th in stolen bases (40), and 2nd in doubles (43).
Below are the Dodger Front Office department heads and personnel who worked for Peter O’Malley.
- Board of Directors
- Peter O’Malley, President; Harry M. Bardt; Roland Seidler, Jr., Vice President, Treasurer; Terry O’Malley Seidler, Secretary
- President:
- Peter O’Malley
- Executive Vice President:
- Fred Claire
- Vice President, Player Personnel:
- Al Campanis
- Vice President, Minor League Operations:
- William P. Schweppe
- Vice President, Marketing:
- Merritt Willey
- Vice President, Treasurer:
- Roland Seidler, Jr.
- Assistant to the President:
- Ike Ikuhara
- Controller and Assistant Treasurer:
- Ken Hasemann
- Director, Financial Projects:
- Bob Graziano
- Assistant Secretary:
- Irene Tanji
- Assistant Secretary and General Counsel:
- Sam Fernandez
- Director, Community Relations:
- Don Newcombe
- Community Relations:
- Roy Campanella
- Community Relations:
- Lou Johnson
- Director, Dodger Network:
- Dave Van de Walker
- Director, Dodgertown:
- Charlie Blaney
- Director, Merchandising:
- Jim Campbell
- Director, Publicity:
- Steve Brener
- Director, Publications:
- Toby Zwikel
- Director, Scouting:
- Ben Wade
- Director, Community Services – Special Events:
- Bill Shumard
- Director, Stadium Club and Transportation:
- Bob Schenz
- Director, Stadium Operations:
- Bob Smith
- Director, Ticket Department:
- Walter Nash
- Director, Ticket Marketing, Promotions:
- Barry Stockhamer
- Traveling Secretary:
- Billy DeLury
- Auditor:
- Michael Strange
- Team Doctors:
- Dr. Frank W. Jobe; Dr. Robert M. Woods