Episode 36: Unsung Heroes (1988 Dodgers Edition)

In today's episode, host K.P. Wee (author of the 2018 book The 1988 Dodgers: Reliving the Championship Season) talks about Dave Anderson and Brian Holton, a pair of unsung heroes—and forgotten contributors—on the 1988 L.A. Dodgers. Holton went 7-3 with a sparkling 1.70 ERA for the 1988 world champions, including a 6-4 victory against the Cincinnati Reds 33 years ago this week on June 25, 1988. One of his other victories in 1988 came against the powerful New York Mets—making him the only Dodger pitcher to record a victory over the NL East champs during the regular season. Anderson, meanwhile, filled in admirably at shortstop over a two-month stretch and helped the Dodgers reach first place—and hang on to top spot in the NL West. Of course, when a contending ballclub loses its starting shortstop (which the Dodgers did in 1988 when everyday shortstop Alfredo Griffin was sidelined after being hit in the hand by a Dwight Gooden fastball), it often means disaster—the 1987 Toronto Blue Jays and 1995 California Angels are brought up as examples—but Anderson's play ensured that disaster didn't strike in L.A. that season.