Orel Hershiser
Encyclopedia
Orel Leonard Hershiser IV (born September 16, 1958) is a former right-handed pitcher
in Major League Baseball
. He is currently an analyst for Baseball Tonight
and Sunday Night Baseball
on ESPN
and a professional poker player for PokerStars. In 1988, he won the Gold Glove, Cy Young Award
, the NLCS MVP and the World Series MVP with the Dodgers.
Known for his slight frame and fierce competitive spirit, Hershiser was nicknamed "Bulldog
" by team manager Tommy Lasorda
.
to Mildred I. Gillman and Orel Leonard Hershiser III. From 1973 to 1975, he participated in ice hockey
with the Don Mills Flyers of the Greater Toronto Hockey League
. He attended Cherry Hill High School East
in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
, where he was the star pitcher on the school's baseball team. He first caught the attention of pro scouts as a pitcher at Bowling Green State University
in Bowling Green
, Ohio
where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon
fraternity.
in the 17th round of the 1979
amateur draft and was assigned to their Class A farm team, Clinton Dodgers. He spent four more seasons in the minor leagues with AA San Antonio Dodgers and AAA Albuquerque Dukes
before being called up to the major leagues.
on September 1, 1983
. He began as a middle reliever in 1984
, and he went 11–8 with a 2.66 ERA and four shutouts. He became a full-fledged starter in the Dodger rotation on July 14, 1984.
He had a breakthrough season in 1985
when he led the National League
in winning percentage, compiling a 19–3 record with a 2.03 ERA. The Dodgers won the National League West, and Hershiser finished third in Cy Young Award voting.
In 1986
, Hershiser went 14–14 with a 3.85 ERA. The next year
he was selected to his first All-Star Game
while compiling a 16–16 record with a 3.06 ERA.
. That year, he led the league in wins (23), innings (267), and complete games (15). He finished the season with a record 59 consecutive scoreless innings pitched, breaking the mark held by former Dodger Don Drysdale
. (He would then add 8 more scoreless innings in his next start-Game 1 of the NLCS, but the post-season innings do not count toward the record.) He also won his first Gold Glove. He was unanimously selected as the Cy Young Award
winner, with a record of 23–8 and a 2.26 ERA
.
In the 1988 National League Championship Series
between Hershiser's Dodgers and the New York Mets
, Hershiser not only started Games 1 and 3, but recorded the final out in Game 4 in relief for a save. He then pitched a shutout
in Game 7. He was selected MVP of the series.
Hershiser then capped his historic season in the World Series
by pitching a shutout
in Game 2 and allowing two runs in a complete game in the clinching victory in Game 5, winning the World Series MVP Award
.
Hershiser is the only player to receive the Cy Young award, the Championship Series MVP award, and the World Series MVP award in the same season. He later received both The Sporting News
Pitcher of the Year and Sports Illustrated
magazine's Sportsman of the Year
award for his accomplishments in 1988.
, Hershiser's performance on the mound was very similar to his previous year's effort. However, much like in '86 and '87, he suffered from a lack of offense from the Dodgers. His average run support fell from 4.05 runs/start in 1988 to 3.19 in 1989. His ERA was virtually unchanged in 1989, rising only to 2.31 from 2.26, while league average ERA rose from 3.35 to 3.43. His win-loss record plummeted to 15–15. The scoreless innings streak ended on April 5, 1989, in Cincinnati
. Barry Larkin
ended the string in the top of the first by singling, moving to second on an errant pickoff throw by Hershiser, and scoring on a Todd Benzinger
single. However, he did strike out Chris Sabo
and Eric Davis prior to Benzinger's streak-breaking RBI.
After averaging over 250 innings per season from 1985–89, Hershiser suffered a career-threatening injury when he tore the rotator cuff
in his pitching arm on April 25, 1990
, against the St. Louis Cardinals
. He missed 13 months before coming back on May 29, 1991. He went 7–2 as the Dodgers
finished in second place, losing the division title to the Atlanta Braves on the penultimate day of the season.
Although he was a good starter after his comeback, Hershiser would never regain the level of dominance that he had prior to the injury. He pitched for the Dodgers through the 1994 season
.
, he joined the Cleveland Indians
, and posted a 16–6 mark to play a pivotal role in helping the team reach the World Series
for the first time since 1954
.
Hershiser became the most valuable player of the 1995 American League Championship Series
against the Seattle Mariners
, and is the only player to win the LCS Most Valuable Player Award in both leagues. He pitched two more seasons for the Indians, and was 14–6 for the pennant-winning team in 1997
.
While with the Indians, Hershiser became somewhat of a folk hero in Cleveland and still is today. Although he only played with the Tribe for three seasons, he became the face of the franchise in the mid 1990s. A lasting image in Cleveland is the Bulldog screaming "take that" at the Atlanta Braves
dugout following a strikeout during the 1995 World Series.
(1998
) and New York Mets
(1999
) before rejoining the Dodgers for a final season in 2000
.
Hershiser appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated
three times: twice by himself, and once in a group photo with other Dodgers while celebrating the 1988 World Series
victory.
, and later in a front-office position with the same team, and as an analyst (both in print and in broadcasting) for ESPN
.
In October 2005 Hershiser was a finalist to replace Jim Tracy as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers
, but instead opted to resign from his current job as the Texas Rangers
pitching coach and join their front office as Executive Director. Grady Little
was eventually hired by the Dodgers instead. As of October 2006 Hershiser was mentioned as a possible replacement for Ken Macha
of the Oakland Athletics, however he was ultimately passed over for Bob Geren
.
In early February 2006, after joining the front office of the Texas Rangers, Hershiser resigned from his Executive Director position. And on February 13, 2006
, Hershiser announced he would be rejoining ESPN as a baseball analyst for Baseball Tonight
and Wednesday Night Baseball
. He and partner Dan Shulman
switched to Monday Night Baseball
in 2008. In conjunction with his duties at ESPN, Hershiser has been color commentator at the Little League World Series
for several years, stating at least once that it is his favorite broadcasting assignment.
On March 4, 2010 Hershiser was named as the third man (with Jon Miller
and Joe Morgan
) on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball
telecasts. On December 1, 2010 Hershiser, Bobby Valentine
and Dan Shulman
were named as ESPN's new Sunday Night Baseball crew for the 2011 MLB season.
, with a fastball in the 89-91 mph range in his prime. However he possessed very fine control, and his average velocity on his fastball
was more than made up for with its tremendous sinking action. This caused batters to beat scores of balls into the ground, leading to easy outs. He complemented his sinker
with a well-above average curve ball that would often freeze hitters or cause them to completely lose their timing. He also threw a quality slider
that he would spot in on the hands of left-handed hitters, showing them something that moved in the opposite direction of his fastball. He also threw the odd changeup
and splitter
, but mainly stuck to his tremendous sinker and curve ball.
s and an ERA
of 3.48.
He was one of the better-hitting pitchers of his era: he got 163 hits in 810 at-bats, for a .201 batting average, with no home runs and 50 RBI. In 1993, when he batted .356 (26 hits in 73 at-bats), he won a Silver Slugger
award.
Hershiser signed with Poker Royalty to represent his poker career. He was invited to participate in the 2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. Playing under the PokerStars banner. Hershiser stunned the poker world by making the quarterfinals, defeating 2006 event champion Ted Forrest
, Allen Cunningham
, and Freddy Deeb
—players who had won a total of 12 World Series of Poker
bracelets
heading into the event. Andy Bloch
finally defeated him in the quarterfinals.
After his finish in the 2008 NBC Heads-Up Championship, Hershiser signed a deal to become a professional poker player with PokerStars
under the screen name ‘O. Hershiser’. Since signing with Friends of PokerStars, Hershiser has played in a number of events, including the 2008 World Series of Poker and the 2009 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Hershiser also won $54,570 on Sept 7, 2008 by taking 9th place in the $10,000 Pokerstars WCOOP (World Championship of Online Poker) Event 5.
Hershiser also has made a tradition of giving an autographed baseball to the poker player that eliminates him.
. They have two sons, Orel Leonard V (known as Quinton) and Jordan. Jordan graduated from St. Mark's School of Texas
in Dallas in 2007, and plays college baseball at the University of Southern California
as a pitcher and first baseman. Jordan's head coach is former Dodger Chad Kreuter
. Jordan played for the Madison Mallards in the Summer Collegiate Northwoods League. Beginning in the summer of 2011 Jordan played for the East Texas Pumpjacks of the Texas Collegiate League
.
He was a guest star on an episode of the Christian children's video series The Adventures of McGee and Me
entitled Take Me Out of the Ball Game. He was also seen singing hymns to stay relaxed in the dugout during the 1988 World Series
. On a subsequent appearance on The Tonight Show
, Johnny Carson
talked him into singing one for the audience.
In 2007, Hershiser competed in the World Series of Blackjack Tournament in Las Vegas.
In an ESPN Broadcast on August 19, 2010 of the Little League World Series, he admitted to having a dirt bike crash in terrain in Wyoming while visiting his fiance's family, requiring a soft cast and "a plate and several pins" in his left forearm. He apparently flipped over the handlebars to the left side without tucking his arm underneath him.
Pitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
in Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball
Major League Baseball is the highest level of professional baseball in the United States and Canada, consisting of teams that play in the National League and the American League...
. He is currently an analyst for Baseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight is a program that airs on ESPN. The show, which recapitulates the day's Major League Baseball action, has been on the air since 1990.-Air times:...
and Sunday Night Baseball
Sunday Night Baseball
Sunday Night Baseball is the Major League Baseball exclusive game of the week that is televised Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN during the regular season...
on ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
and a professional poker player for PokerStars. In 1988, he won the Gold Glove, Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
, the NLCS MVP and the World Series MVP with the Dodgers.
Known for his slight frame and fierce competitive spirit, Hershiser was nicknamed "Bulldog
Bulldog
Bulldog is the name for a breed of dog commonly referred to as the English Bulldog. Other Bulldog breeds include the American Bulldog, Olde English Bulldogge and the French Bulldog. The Bulldog is a muscular heavy dog with a wrinkled face and a distinctive pushed-in nose...
" by team manager Tommy Lasorda
Tommy Lasorda
Thomas Charles Lasorda is a former Major League baseball player and manager. marked his sixth decade in one capacity or another with the Brooklyn/Los Angeles Dodgers organization, the longest non-continuous tenure anyone has had with the team, edging Dodger broadcaster Vin Scully...
.
Early life
Hershiser was born in Buffalo, New YorkBuffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
to Mildred I. Gillman and Orel Leonard Hershiser III. From 1973 to 1975, he participated in ice hockey
Ice hockey
Ice hockey, often referred to as hockey, is a team sport played on ice, in which skaters use wooden or composite sticks to shoot a hard rubber puck into their opponent's net. The game is played between two teams of six players each. Five members of each team skate up and down the ice trying to take...
with the Don Mills Flyers of the Greater Toronto Hockey League
Greater Toronto Hockey League
The Greater Toronto Hockey League , formerly known as the "Metro Toronto Hockey League", is a minor level ice hockey organization based out of the Toronto region of Ontario. The league was founded in 1911 as the Beaches Hockey League by Fred C. Waghorne, Sr., and it is the largest minor hockey...
. He attended Cherry Hill High School East
Cherry Hill High School East
Cherry Hill High School East is a four-year comprehensive public high school located in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, United States, operating as part of the Cherry Hill Public Schools...
in Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill, New Jersey
Cherry Hill is a township in Camden County, New Jersey, in the United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the township had a population of 71,045, representing an increase of 1,080 from the 69,965 residents enumerated during the 2000 Census...
, where he was the star pitcher on the school's baseball team. He first caught the attention of pro scouts as a pitcher at Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University
Bowling Green State University, often referred to as Bowling Green or BGSU, is a public, coeducational research university located in Bowling Green, Ohio, United States. The institution was granted a charter in 1910 by the State of Ohio as part of the Lowry Bill, which also established Kent State...
in Bowling Green
Bowling Green, Ohio
Bowling Green is the county seat of Wood County in the U.S. state of Ohio. At the time of the 2010 census, the population of Bowling Green was 30,028. It is part of the Toledo, Ohio Metropolitan Statistical Area. Bowling Green is the home of Bowling Green State University...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
where he was a member of the Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon
Sigma Phi Epsilon , commonly nicknamed SigEp or SPE, is a social college fraternity for male college students in the United States. It was founded on November 1, 1901, at Richmond College , and its national headquarters remains in Richmond, Virginia. It was founded on three principles: Virtue,...
fraternity.
Minor league career
Hershiser was selected by the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
in the 17th round of the 1979
1979 in baseball
-Major League Baseball:*World Series: Pittsburgh Pirates over Baltimore Orioles ; Willie Stargell, MVP*American League Championship Series MVP: None.*National League Championship Series MVP: Willie Stargell...
amateur draft and was assigned to their Class A farm team, Clinton Dodgers. He spent four more seasons in the minor leagues with AA San Antonio Dodgers and AAA Albuquerque Dukes
Albuquerque Dukes
The Albuquerque Dukes were a minor league baseball team based in Albuquerque, New Mexico, USA.-History:The first Dukes team was formed in 1915 as part of the Class-D Rio Grande Association. The team finished in third place with a 32-25 record. Frank Huelman was the league leader in home runs,...
before being called up to the major leagues.
Early success
Hershiser was called up to the Los Angeles DodgersLos Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
on September 1, 1983
1983 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League Western Division but lost in the National League Championship Series to the Philadelphia Phillies 3 games to 1.- Offseason :* December 28, 1982: Acquired Pat Zachry from the New York Mets for Jorge Orta...
. He began as a middle reliever in 1984
1984 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Los Angeles Dodgers finished in fourth place in the National League West.- Offseason :*January 17, 1984: 1984 Major League Baseball Draft notable picks:- Opening day lineup :- Notable transactions :...
, and he went 11–8 with a 2.66 ERA and four shutouts. He became a full-fledged starter in the Dodger rotation on July 14, 1984.
He had a breakthrough season in 1985
1985 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1985 Los Angeles Dodgers won the National League West before losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Championship Series. Fernando Valenzuela set a major league record for most consecutive innings at the start of a season without allowing an earned run .-Offseason:*January 3,...
when he led the National League
National League
The National League of Professional Baseball Clubs, known simply as the National League , is the older of two leagues constituting Major League Baseball, and the world's oldest extant professional team sports league. Founded on February 2, 1876, to replace the National Association of Professional...
in winning percentage, compiling a 19–3 record with a 2.03 ERA. The Dodgers won the National League West, and Hershiser finished third in Cy Young Award voting.
In 1986
1986 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1986 Los Angeles Dodgers finished the season in fifth place in the Western Division of the National League.-Offseason:*January 14, 1986:1986 Major League Baseball Draft notable picks:-Notable transactions:...
, Hershiser went 14–14 with a 3.85 ERA. The next year
1987 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1987 Dodgers finished the season in fourth place in the Western Division of the National League.-Offseason:*December 10, 1986: Acquired Matt Young from the Seattle Mariners for Dennis Powell and...
he was selected to his first All-Star Game
1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
The 1987 Major League Baseball All-Star Game was the 58th playing of the midsummer classic between the all-stars of the American League and National League , the two leagues comprising Major League Baseball. The game was held on July 14, 1987 at the Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum in Oakland,...
while compiling a 16–16 record with a 3.06 ERA.
1988
Hershiser arguably put together one of the best single seasons in pitching history in 19881988 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1988 season was a memorable one for the Dodgers as a squad that was picked to finish fourth wound up winning the World Series, beating the heavily favored New York Mets and Oakland Athletics on the way. Kirk Gibson carried the Dodger offense, winning the National League Most Valuable Player Award...
. That year, he led the league in wins (23), innings (267), and complete games (15). He finished the season with a record 59 consecutive scoreless innings pitched, breaking the mark held by former Dodger Don Drysdale
Don Drysdale
Donald Scott "Don" Drysdale was a Major League Baseball player and Hall of Fame right-handed pitcher with the Los Angeles Dodgers. He was one of the dominant starting pitchers of the 1960s, and became a radio and television broadcaster following his playing career...
. (He would then add 8 more scoreless innings in his next start-Game 1 of the NLCS, but the post-season innings do not count toward the record.) He also won his first Gold Glove. He was unanimously selected as the Cy Young Award
Cy Young Award
The Cy Young Award is an honor given annually in baseball to the best pitchers in Major League Baseball , one each for the American League and National League . The award was first introduced in 1956 by Baseball Commissioner Ford Frick in honor of Hall of Fame pitcher Cy Young, who died in 1955...
winner, with a record of 23–8 and a 2.26 ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
.
In the 1988 National League Championship Series
1988 National League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 4, 1988 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaThe series opened with a classic pitching matchup, pitting the Dodgers' Orel Hershiser, who had won 23 games during the regular season and carried a Major League record 59 consecutive scoreless innings into the game,...
between Hershiser's Dodgers and the New York Mets
1988 New York Mets season
The New York Mets' 1988 season was the 27th regular season for the Mets. They went 100-60 and finished 1st in the NL East. They were managed by Davey Johnson. They played home games at Shea Stadium.-Offseason:...
, Hershiser not only started Games 1 and 3, but recorded the final out in Game 4 in relief for a save. He then pitched a shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
in Game 7. He was selected MVP of the series.
Hershiser then capped his historic season in the World Series
1988 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 15, 1988 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaBecause of using ace Orel Hershiser in Game 7 of the NLCS, the Dodgers had to open with rookie Tim Belcher in Game 1. Meanwhile, Oakland sent a well-rested Dave Stewart to the mound. Both pitchers, however, would have...
by pitching a shutout
Shutout
In team sports, a shutout refers to a game in which one team prevents the opposing team from scoring. While possible in most major sports, they are highly improbable in some sports, such as basketball....
in Game 2 and allowing two runs in a complete game in the clinching victory in Game 5, winning the World Series MVP Award
World Series MVP Award
The World Series Most Valuable Player Award is given to the player deemed to have the most impact on his team's performance in the World Series, which is the final round of the Major League Baseball postseason...
.
Hershiser is the only player to receive the Cy Young award, the Championship Series MVP award, and the World Series MVP award in the same season. He later received both The Sporting News
The Sporting News
Sporting News is an American-based sports magazine. It was established in 1886, and it became the dominant American publication covering baseball — so much so that it acquired the nickname "The Bible of Baseball"...
Pitcher of the Year and Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
magazine's Sportsman of the Year
Sportsman of the Year
Since its inception in 1954, Sports Illustrated magazine has annually presented the "Sportsman of the Year" award to "the athlete or team whose performance that year most embodies the spirit of sportsmanship and achievement." Both Americans and non-Americans are eligible, though in the past the...
award for his accomplishments in 1988.
Post-1988 with the Dodgers
In 19891989 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1989 team came down to earth after the success of the 1988 season, finishing further down in the standings falling to fourth place in the Western Division of the National League.-Offseason:...
, Hershiser's performance on the mound was very similar to his previous year's effort. However, much like in '86 and '87, he suffered from a lack of offense from the Dodgers. His average run support fell from 4.05 runs/start in 1988 to 3.19 in 1989. His ERA was virtually unchanged in 1989, rising only to 2.31 from 2.26, while league average ERA rose from 3.35 to 3.43. His win-loss record plummeted to 15–15. The scoreless innings streak ended on April 5, 1989, in Cincinnati
1989 Cincinnati Reds season
The Cincinnati Reds' 1989 season consisted of the Cincinnati Reds attempting to win the National League West for the first time since 1979. The season was defined by allegations of gambling by Pete Rose. Before the end of the season, Rose was banned from baseball by commissioner A...
. Barry Larkin
Barry Larkin
Barry Louis Larkin is a retired Major League Baseball player. Larkin played shortstop for the Cincinnati Reds from 1986 to 2004 and was one of the pivotal players on the 1990 Reds' World Series championship team...
ended the string in the top of the first by singling, moving to second on an errant pickoff throw by Hershiser, and scoring on a Todd Benzinger
Todd Benzinger
Todd Eric Benzinger is a former Major League Baseball first baseman and outfielder who played from 1987 to 1995. Benzinger is a graduate of New Richmond High School in New Richmond, Ohio....
single. However, he did strike out Chris Sabo
Chris Sabo
Christopher Andrew Sabo is a former third baseman in Major League Baseball who played for the Cincinnati Reds , Baltimore Orioles , Chicago White Sox and St. Louis Cardinals . At 6'0" and 180 lb , he batted and threw right-handed...
and Eric Davis prior to Benzinger's streak-breaking RBI.
After averaging over 250 innings per season from 1985–89, Hershiser suffered a career-threatening injury when he tore the rotator cuff
Rotator cuff
In anatomy, the rotator cuff is the group of muscles and their tendons that act to stabilize the shoulder. The four muscles of the rotator cuff, along with the teres major muscle, the coracobrachialis muscle and the deltoid, make up the seven scapulohumeral muscles of the human body.-Function:The...
in his pitching arm on April 25, 1990
1990 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Dodgers finished in second place to the Cincinnati Reds in the 1990 National League Western Division race, as the teams pitching staff led the majors with 29 complete games...
, against the St. Louis Cardinals
1990 St. Louis Cardinals season
The 1990 St. Louis Cardinals season was the team's 109th season in St. Louis, Missouri and its 99th season in the National League. The Cardinals went 70-92 during the season and finished 6th in the National League East division.-Offseason:...
. He missed 13 months before coming back on May 29, 1991. He went 7–2 as the Dodgers
1991 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1991 season featured an exciting National League Western Division race between the Dodgers and the Atlanta Braves. The Braves edged out the Dodgers to win the division by one game...
finished in second place, losing the division title to the Atlanta Braves on the penultimate day of the season.
Although he was a good starter after his comeback, Hershiser would never regain the level of dominance that he had prior to the injury. He pitched for the Dodgers through the 1994 season
1994 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The Dodgers were leading the National League's Western Division in the 1994 season when a players strike halted the season.-Offseason:*November 17, 1993: Acquired Delino DeShields from the Montreal Expos for Pedro Martínez...
.
Cleveland Indians
In 19951995 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was the Major League Baseball season that led to the Indians returning to the World Series for the first time since . In a season that started late by 18 games - giving it just a 144 games - the Indians finished in first place in the American League Central Division...
, he joined the Cleveland Indians
Cleveland Indians
The Cleveland Indians are a professional baseball team based in Cleveland, Ohio. They are in the Central Division of Major League Baseball's American League. Since , they have played in Progressive Field. The team's spring training facility is in Goodyear, Arizona...
, and posted a 16–6 mark to play a pivotal role in helping the team reach the World Series
1995 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 21, 1995 at Atlanta-Fulton County Stadium in Atlanta, GeorgiaAtlanta ace Greg Maddux pitched a two-hit complete game victory in his first World Series appearance ....
for the first time since 1954
1954 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians advanced to the World Series for the first time in six years. It was the team's third American League championship in franchise history...
.
Hershiser became the most valuable player of the 1995 American League Championship Series
1995 American League Championship Series
-Game 1:Tuesday, October 10, 1995 at Kingdome in Seattle, WashingtonThe Indians called on the veteran Dennis Martinez for Game 1. The Mariners rode the arm of Bob Wolcott. Wolcott got off to a shaky start by walking three straight hitters to open the game. But he would get out of the bases loaded...
against the Seattle Mariners
1995 Seattle Mariners season
The Seattle Mariners' 1995 season was the 19th in the history of the franchise. The team finished with a regular season record of 79–66, tying the California Angels for first in the American League West...
, and is the only player to win the LCS Most Valuable Player Award in both leagues. He pitched two more seasons for the Indians, and was 14–6 for the pennant-winning team in 1997
1997 Cleveland Indians season
The Cleveland Indians season was a season in American baseball. It involved the Indians making their second World Series appearance in three years...
.
While with the Indians, Hershiser became somewhat of a folk hero in Cleveland and still is today. Although he only played with the Tribe for three seasons, he became the face of the franchise in the mid 1990s. A lasting image in Cleveland is the Bulldog screaming "take that" at the Atlanta Braves
1995 Atlanta Braves season
The 1995 Atlanta Braves season was the 125th season in the history of the franchise and 30th season in the city of Atlanta. The team finished the strike-shortened season with a record of 90–54, the best in the National League, en route to winning the World Series. For the sixth straight season,...
dugout following a strikeout during the 1995 World Series.
Later career
He later joined the San Francisco GiantsSan Francisco Giants
The San Francisco Giants are a Major League Baseball team based in San Francisco, California, playing in the National League West Division....
(1998
1998 San Francisco Giants season
-Offseason:* November 11, 1997: Chris Singleton and Alberto Castillo were traded by the Giants to the New York Yankees for Charlie Hayes and cash.* November 21, 1997: Brent Mayne was signed as a free agent by the Giants....
) and New York Mets
New York Mets
The New York Mets are a professional baseball team based in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York. They belong to Major League Baseball's National League East Division. One of baseball's first expansion teams, the Mets were founded in 1962 to replace New York's departed National League...
(1999
1999 New York Mets season
The New York Mets' 1999 season was the 38th regular season for the Mets. They went 96-66 and finished 2nd in the NL East but won the NL Wild Card by beating the Cincinnati Reds in a one game playoff. They were managed by Bobby Valentine...
) before rejoining the Dodgers for a final season in 2000
2000 Los Angeles Dodgers season
In 2000, the Dodgers set a club record for home runs with 211, led by Gary Sheffield, who tied Duke Snider's single-season club mark with 43. Eric Karros became the L.A. Dodger all-time leader with his 229th home run and Dave Hansen set a Major League record with seven pinch-hit home runs. Kevin...
.
Hershiser appeared on the cover of Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated
Sports Illustrated is an American sports media company owned by media conglomerate Time Warner. Its self titled magazine has over 3.5 million subscribers and is read by 23 million adults each week, including over 18 million men. It was the first magazine with circulation over one million to win the...
three times: twice by himself, and once in a group photo with other Dodgers while celebrating the 1988 World Series
1988 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 15, 1988 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaBecause of using ace Orel Hershiser in Game 7 of the NLCS, the Dodgers had to open with rookie Tim Belcher in Game 1. Meanwhile, Oakland sent a well-rested Dave Stewart to the mound. Both pitchers, however, would have...
victory.
Post-retirement
Hershiser has served as a pitching coach for the Texas RangersTexas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
, and later in a front-office position with the same team, and as an analyst (both in print and in broadcasting) for ESPN
ESPN
Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, commonly known as ESPN, is an American global cable television network focusing on sports-related programming including live and pre-taped event telecasts, sports talk shows, and other original programming....
.
In October 2005 Hershiser was a finalist to replace Jim Tracy as manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers
Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers are a professional baseball team based in Los Angeles, California. The Dodgers are members of Major League Baseball's National League West Division. Established in 1883, the team originated in Brooklyn, New York, where it was known by a number of nicknames before becoming...
, but instead opted to resign from his current job as the Texas Rangers
Texas Rangers (baseball)
The Texas Rangers are a professional baseball team in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, based in Arlington, Texas. The Rangers are a member of the Western Division of Major League Baseball's American League, and are the reigning A.L. Western Division and A.L. Champions. Since , the Rangers have...
pitching coach and join their front office as Executive Director. Grady Little
Grady Little
William Grady Little is a former manager in Major League Baseball. He managed the Boston Red Sox from 2002 to 2003 and the Los Angeles Dodgers from 2006 to 2007...
was eventually hired by the Dodgers instead. As of October 2006 Hershiser was mentioned as a possible replacement for Ken Macha
Ken Macha
Kenneth Edward Macha is a former Major League Baseball third baseman and manager. During an 8-year managing career, he managed the Oakland Athletics , whom he guided to the American League's Western Division championship in both his first and final seasons with the team, and the Milwaukee Brewers...
of the Oakland Athletics, however he was ultimately passed over for Bob Geren
Bob Geren
Robert Peter Geren is a former Major League Baseball catcher and manager. During a 5-year playing career, he played for the New York Yankees and the San Diego Padres . He managed the Oakland Athletics from 2007 through 2011...
.
In early February 2006, after joining the front office of the Texas Rangers, Hershiser resigned from his Executive Director position. And on February 13, 2006
2006 in baseball
-Headline Event of the Year:*The 2006 World Baseball Classic final 4 teams are Japan, Cuba, Korea and the Dominican Republic, with the United States at 3–3 failing to qualify for the semi-finals. Under the leadership of manager Sadaharu Oh and veterans Ichiro Suzuki and Daisuke Matsuzaka, Japan ...
, Hershiser announced he would be rejoining ESPN as a baseball analyst for Baseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight
Baseball Tonight is a program that airs on ESPN. The show, which recapitulates the day's Major League Baseball action, has been on the air since 1990.-Air times:...
and Wednesday Night Baseball
Wednesday Night Baseball
Wednesday Night Baseball is a live game telecast of Major League Baseball that airs every Wednesday night during the regular season on ESPN and is also available in high definition on ESPNHD...
. He and partner Dan Shulman
Dan Shulman
Daniel "Dan" Shulman is a Canadian sportscaster, currently employed with the American network ESPN as well as Canadian network TSN....
switched to Monday Night Baseball
Monday Night Baseball
Monday Night Baseball is a live game telecast of Major League Baseball that airs most Monday nights during the regular season on ESPN and is also available in high definition on ESPNHD. The official name of the game is Monday Night Baseball presented by Vonage. The game starts at 7 p.m...
in 2008. In conjunction with his duties at ESPN, Hershiser has been color commentator at the Little League World Series
Little League World Series
The Little League Baseball World Series is a baseball tournament for children aged 11 to 13 years old. It was originally called the National Little League Tournament and was later renamed for the World Series in Major League Baseball. It was first held in 1947 and is held every August in South...
for several years, stating at least once that it is his favorite broadcasting assignment.
On March 4, 2010 Hershiser was named as the third man (with Jon Miller
Jon Miller
Jon Wallace Miller is an American sportscaster, known primarily for his broadcasts of Major League Baseball. He is currently employed as a play-by-play announcer for the San Francisco Giants. He was also a baseball announcer on ESPN until the network chose not to renew his contract following the...
and Joe Morgan
Joe Morgan
Joe Leonard Morgan is a former Major League Baseball second baseman who played for the Houston Astros, Cincinnati Reds, San Francisco Giants, Philadelphia Phillies, and Oakland Athletics from 1963 to 1984. He won two World Series championships with the Reds in 1975 and 1976 and was also named the...
) on ESPN's Sunday Night Baseball
Sunday Night Baseball
Sunday Night Baseball is the Major League Baseball exclusive game of the week that is televised Sunday nights at 8 p.m. ET on ESPN during the regular season...
telecasts. On December 1, 2010 Hershiser, Bobby Valentine
Bobby Valentine
Robert John "Bobby V" Valentine is an American professional baseball manager and former player who is currently the manager of the Boston Red Sox. He previously managed the Texas Rangers and New York Mets as well as the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan...
and Dan Shulman
Dan Shulman
Daniel "Dan" Shulman is a Canadian sportscaster, currently employed with the American network ESPN as well as Canadian network TSN....
were named as ESPN's new Sunday Night Baseball crew for the 2011 MLB season.
Pitching style
Hershiser was not an overpowering pitcherPitcher
In baseball, the pitcher is the player who throwsthe baseball from the pitcher's mound toward the catcher to begin each play, with the goal of retiring a batter, who attempts to either make contact with the pitched ball or draw a walk. In the numbering system used to record defensive plays, the...
, with a fastball in the 89-91 mph range in his prime. However he possessed very fine control, and his average velocity on his fastball
Fastball
The fastball is the most common type of pitch in baseball. Some "power pitchers," such as Nolan Ryan and Roger Clemens, have thrown it at speeds of 95–106 mph and up to 108.1 mph , relying purely on speed to prevent the ball from being hit...
was more than made up for with its tremendous sinking action. This caused batters to beat scores of balls into the ground, leading to easy outs. He complemented his sinker
Sinker (baseball)
In baseball, a sinker , is a type of fastball pitch which has significant downward and horizontal movement. The sinker is known for inducing a lot of ground balls...
with a well-above average curve ball that would often freeze hitters or cause them to completely lose their timing. He also threw a quality slider
Slider
In baseball, a slider is a pitch that breaks laterally and down, with a speed between that of a curveball and that of a fastball....
that he would spot in on the hands of left-handed hitters, showing them something that moved in the opposite direction of his fastball. He also threw the odd changeup
Changeup
A changeup is a type of pitch in baseball. Other names include change-of-pace, Bugs Bunny change-up, the dreaded equalizer, and simply change. The changeup is sometimes called an off-speed pitch, although that term can also be used simply to mean any pitch that is slower than a fastball...
and splitter
Split-finger fastball
A split-finger fastball or splitter is a pitch in baseball. It is named after the technique of putting the index and middle finger on different sides of the ball, or "splitting" them. When thrown hard, it appears to be a fastball to the batter, but suddenly "drops off the table" towards home...
, but mainly stuck to his tremendous sinker and curve ball.
Career statistics
In his career, Hershiser had a 204–150 regular season record with 2,014 strikeoutStrikeout
In baseball or softball, a strikeout or strike-out occurs when a batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. A strikeout is a statistic recorded for both pitchers and batters....
s and an ERA
Earned run average
In baseball statistics, earned run average is the mean of earned runs given up by a pitcher per nine innings pitched. It is determined by dividing the number of earned runs allowed by the number of innings pitched and multiplying by nine...
of 3.48.
He was one of the better-hitting pitchers of his era: he got 163 hits in 810 at-bats, for a .201 batting average, with no home runs and 50 RBI. In 1993, when he batted .356 (26 hits in 73 at-bats), he won a Silver Slugger
Silver Slugger
The Silver Slugger Award is awarded annually to the best offensive player at each position in both the American League and the National League, as determined by the coaches and managers of Major League Baseball...
award.
Poker
Hershiser started playing poker competitively in 2006. After being out of baseball for a few years, he needed a competitive fix, moved to Las Vegas and befriended a poker instructor. He has become a regular at Red Rock’s poker room in Las Vegas, playing $2–$5 NLHE. In the baseball off-season, he plays about five days per week. And even during baseball season when he flies to the ESPN studios several days a week, he still manages to get in one or two sessions a week. Soon, Hershiser was known as The Bulldog at the poker table.Hershiser signed with Poker Royalty to represent his poker career. He was invited to participate in the 2008 NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship. Playing under the PokerStars banner. Hershiser stunned the poker world by making the quarterfinals, defeating 2006 event champion Ted Forrest
Ted Forrest
Ted Forrest is an American professional poker player, currently residing in Las Vegas, Nevada.- Tournament Wins:...
, Allen Cunningham
Allen Cunningham
Allen Cunningham is an American professional poker player.Cunningham studied civil engineering at UCLA before dropping out of school to play poker professionally. At the age of 18, he began playing at in Indian casinos...
, and Freddy Deeb
Freddy Deeb
Kassem Ibrahim "Freddy" Deeb is a professional poker player who emigrated from Lebanon to the United States at the age of 19.-Before poker:...
—players who had won a total of 12 World Series of Poker
World Series of Poker
The World Series of Poker is a world-renowned series of poker tournaments held annually in Las Vegas and, since 2005, sponsored by Harrah's Entertainment...
bracelets
World Series of Poker bracelet
The World Series of Poker bracelet is considered the most coveted non-monetary prize a poker player can win. Since 1976, a bracelet has been awarded to the winner of every event at the annual WSOP. Even if the victory occurred before 1976, WSOP championships are now counted as "bracelets". ...
heading into the event. Andy Bloch
Andy Bloch
Andrew Elliot Bloch is a professional poker player. He holds two electrical engineering degrees from MIT and a JD from Harvard Law School.-Poker:...
finally defeated him in the quarterfinals.
After his finish in the 2008 NBC Heads-Up Championship, Hershiser signed a deal to become a professional poker player with PokerStars
PokerStars
PokerStars is the largest online poker cardroom in the world. PokerStars' satellite tournaments produced the 2003 World Series of Poker champion, Chris Moneymaker. 1983 champion Tom McEvoy, 2005 champion Joe Hachem, 2009 champion Joe Cada and 2010 champion Jonathan Duhamel and others also represent...
under the screen name ‘O. Hershiser’. Since signing with Friends of PokerStars, Hershiser has played in a number of events, including the 2008 World Series of Poker and the 2009 PokerStars Caribbean Adventure. Hershiser also won $54,570 on Sept 7, 2008 by taking 9th place in the $10,000 Pokerstars WCOOP (World Championship of Online Poker) Event 5.
Hershiser also has made a tradition of giving an autographed baseball to the poker player that eliminates him.
Personal
Hershiser was married to Jamie Byars from 7 February 1981 until their divorce in 2005. He currently lives in Las Vegas, NevadaLas Vegas, Nevada
Las Vegas is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Nevada and is also the county seat of Clark County, Nevada. Las Vegas is an internationally renowned major resort city for gambling, shopping, and fine dining. The city bills itself as The Entertainment Capital of the World, and is famous...
. They have two sons, Orel Leonard V (known as Quinton) and Jordan. Jordan graduated from St. Mark's School of Texas
St. Mark's School of Texas
The St. Mark's School of Texas is a nonsectarian preparatory day school for boys located in Preston Hollow, Dallas, Texas, USA. The School offers grades 1–12.-History:...
in Dallas in 2007, and plays college baseball at the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
as a pitcher and first baseman. Jordan's head coach is former Dodger Chad Kreuter
Chad Kreuter
Chadden Michael "Chad" Kreuter is a former catcher in Major League Baseball and the former head coach of the USC Trojans baseball team....
. Jordan played for the Madison Mallards in the Summer Collegiate Northwoods League. Beginning in the summer of 2011 Jordan played for the East Texas Pumpjacks of the Texas Collegiate League
Texas Collegiate League
The Texas Collegiate League is a collegiate summer baseball league comprising teams of the top college players from North America and beyond. The TCL is based in Coppell, Texas, and shares its headquarters with the Coppell Copperheads, the DFW Metroplex-area team...
.
He was a guest star on an episode of the Christian children's video series The Adventures of McGee and Me
The Adventures of McGee and Me
The Adventures of McGee and Me! is an American Christian television series created by Ken C. Johnson and Bill Myers. The series premiered on June 4, 1989, spanning twelve episodes until its conclusion on June 11, 1995...
entitled Take Me Out of the Ball Game. He was also seen singing hymns to stay relaxed in the dugout during the 1988 World Series
1988 World Series
-Game 1:Saturday, October 15, 1988 at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, CaliforniaBecause of using ace Orel Hershiser in Game 7 of the NLCS, the Dodgers had to open with rookie Tim Belcher in Game 1. Meanwhile, Oakland sent a well-rested Dave Stewart to the mound. Both pitchers, however, would have...
. On a subsequent appearance on The Tonight Show
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under the Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night....
, Johnny Carson
Johnny Carson
John William "Johnny" Carson was an American television host and comedian, known as host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for 30 years . Carson received six Emmy Awards including the Governor Award and a 1985 Peabody Award; he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987...
talked him into singing one for the audience.
In 2007, Hershiser competed in the World Series of Blackjack Tournament in Las Vegas.
In an ESPN Broadcast on August 19, 2010 of the Little League World Series, he admitted to having a dirt bike crash in terrain in Wyoming while visiting his fiance's family, requiring a soft cast and "a plate and several pins" in his left forearm. He apparently flipped over the handlebars to the left side without tucking his arm underneath him.
See also
- List of MLB individual streaks
- List of Major League Baseball leaders in career wins
- List of Major League Baseball wins champions
- MLB All-Time Hit Batsmen ListMLB All-Time Hit Batsmen ListThis is a list of top 100 Major League Baseball pitchers who have the most hit batsmen of all time. There is an of hitters who have been hit by pitch the most times.Active players are denoted in bold text.-The List:* Bold denotes active player...
- Top 100 strikeout pitchers of all timeTop 100 strikeout pitchers of all timeIn baseball, a strikeout occurs when the batter receives three strikes during his time at bat. Strikeouts are associated with dominance on the part of the pitcher and failure on the part of the batter....