Yes, we know that this is taking a while!

As many of you know, we here at Notinhalloffame.com are slowly generating the 50 of each major North American sports team.  We have a new one to unveil today, that of the Los Angeles Dodgers.

One of the most celebrated franchises in all sports, the Los Angeles Dodgers were initially the Brooklyn Grays in 1883, but it was a long time before they found an identity.

The organization changed its name multiple times since its origin, the Atlantics (1884), back to the Grays (1885-87), then the Bridegrooms (1888-90), the Grooms (1991-95), the Bridegrooms again (1895-98, the Superbas (1899-1910), the Trolley Dodgers (1911-12), then the Dodgers (1913), the Robins (1914-1931), before settling on the Dodgers again in 1932.  

The Brooklyn Dodgers would sign Jackie Robinson to integrate baseball, and in 1955, on their eighth attempt, they finally won their first World Series.

The fans of Brooklyn were not rewarded for their loyalty and patience, and like the crosstown New York Giants, westward the Dodgers went in 1957, where they remain to this day.

In Los Angeles, the Dodgers won three World Series Titles in their first ten years in the new environment, capturing it all in 1959, 1963, and 1965.  The 1970s saw them competitive at the decade's end, and they won two more Championships in the 1980s (1981 and 1988).  

In recent years, the Dodgers have been a top team, with their last World Series win coming in 2020, giving them seven in total.

Our Top 50 lists in Baseball look at the following:

1.  Advanced Statistics.

2.  Traditional statistics and how they finished in the National League.

3.  Playoff accomplishments.

4.  Their overall impact on the team and other intangibles not reflected in a stat sheet.

Remember, this is ONLY based on what a player does on that particular team and not what he accomplished elsewhere and also note that we have placed an increased importance on the first two categories.

This list is updated up until the end of the 2022 Season.

The complete list can be found here, but as always, we announce our top five in this article.  They are:

1. Clayton Kershaw

2.  Sandy Koufax

3. Christy Mathewson

4. Duke Snider

5. Dazzy Vance

We will continue our adjustments on our existing lists and will continue developing our new lists.  

Look for our more material coming soon!

As always, we thank you for your support.

Mike Griffin arrived in Brooklyn in 1891, a seasoned 26-year-old outfielder who had already established himself as a premier run-scorer and a defensive vacuum in center field. While his journey in the borough began after a stint in the short-lived Players' League

In his inaugural season in Brooklyn, Griffin attained a remarkable level of situational hitting, leading the National League with 36 doubles and recording a career-high 65 stolen bases. He demonstrated comprehensive mastery of the outfield, earning recognition as one of the finest defensive center fielders of his era, while establishing a statistically significant pattern of consistent high-volume performance. He reached a level of durability that enabled him to score over 100 runs in nearly every full season he played in Brooklyn, proving to be the primary catalyst for a team that depended on his ability to generate runs from the top of the batting order.

Griffin's impressive 1894-1898 run saw him batting at least .300 for five seasons, peaking at .358 in 1894. He became a key player, team captain, and briefly interim manager in 1898.  As good as he was, Griffin would have one of the most acrimonious exits in baseball history.

After the 1898 season, Griffin was surprised when the organization finalized a "syndicate" merger with the Baltimore Orioles, ending his playing days. He refused to sign a contract with new manager Ned Hanlon for less than his previous $3,500. His contract was sold to Cleveland and St. Louis, but Griffin decided his career was over. He ended his career by winning a $2,300 lawsuit against Brooklyn for breach of contract, a symbolic victory at age 33.

His end with Brooklyn was not pretty, but his play was solid, with a .305 Batting Average, 1,168 Hits, and 264 Stolen Bases.

An All-Star with the Pirates in 1945, Elwin “Preacher” Roe made the most of his belated opportunity with the depleted World War II roster, but when the Majors were replenished, the next two years saw his ERA balloon over five, though likely this was the result of the after-effects of a fractured skull he suffered from a fight while refereeing a high school basketball game.  Now over 30, it appeared that Roe’s run in the Majors would end shortly, but Dodgers GM, Branch Rickey, had other ideas.

Roe achieved incredible success in Brooklyn, being selected as an All-Star four years in a row from 1949 to 1952. During this time, he truly dominated the senior circuit, especially in 1951 when he had an outstanding season, going 22-3. His remarkable .880 winning percentage that summer is still one of the highest ever for a 20-game winner in modern history, earning him a well-deserved fifth place in the NL MVP voting.

Roe truly shined during some of the most exciting moments in the postseason, reaching new heights of confidence and skill. He was a dependable part of the World Series rotation, especially remembered for his outstanding performance in Game 2 of the 1949 World Series where he pitched a six-hit shutout against the Yankees. Although the Dodgers didn’t win the championship during his time, Roe finished with a commendable 2-1 postseason record and a strong 2.54 ERA, showing he was a clutch performer when it mattered most. His special "money pitch" and veteran experience made him a great partner to the fast-throwing Don Newcombe and Carl Erskine, helping to keep the Dodgers a formidable team in October.

Age and fatigue began to catch up to the 39-year-old left-hander, and the organization finalized a trade that sent him to the Baltimore Orioles, though he never did play for the club.  As a Dodger, Roe owned a scintillating 93-37 record, a winning percentage (.715), a 3.12 ERA, and 610 strikeouts.

In the late 1930s, Branch Rickey (then with the Cardinals) had built an intricate, sprawling farm system. To circumvent rules limiting how many players a team could control, Rickey "hid" prospects by moving them between various minor league clubs he secretly owned or controlled. Landis, who despised the farm system and saw it as a form of "chain-gang" baseball that suppressed player wages and mobility, launched a massive investigation.

MLB Commissioner Kennesaw Mountain Landis ruled that the Cardinals were illegally controlling dozens of players. He issued a "blanket emancipation," declaring 74 Cardinals prospects, including a young Pete Reiser, to be free agents.  Despite being declared a free agent, Reiser was still a Rickey favorite. Rickey didn't want to lose him, so he allegedly struck a "gentleman’s agreement" with Larry MacPhail, the GM of the Dodgers.  MacPhail would sign Reiser for $100, "stash" him in the Dodgers' system for a year, and then trade him back to the Cardinals once the heat from Landis died down.

However, Reiser spent a year in the minors for Brooklyn, his talent became undeniable. During Spring Training in 1940, Reiser was so explosive that the Dodgers' veteran players and manager Leo Durocher reportedly refused to let MacPhail trade him away, though Rickey himself would take over the administrative reins of the Dodgers in 1943.

Reiser spent a year in the minors for Brooklyn, and his talent became undeniable. During Spring Training in 1940, Reiser was so explosive that the Dodgers' veteran players and manager Leo Durocher reportedly refused to let MacPhail trade him away.

In 1941, at merely 22 years of age, Reiser attained an exceptional peak of achievement by authoring a remarkable season, during which he led the National League in batting average (.343), runs (117), doubles (39), triples (17), and slugging percentage (.558). He demonstrated comprehensive mastery of the game, finishing second in the Most Valuable Player (MVP) voting to his teammate, Dolph Camilli, an outcome that many baseball historians considered a significant oversight, considering Reiser’s league-leading 8.0 Wins Above Replacement (bWAR). During that summer, he reached a distinguished plateau of stardom, guiding the Dodgers to the Fall Classic and cementing his reputation as the premier player in the senior circuit.

The season after, Reiser was on track for another batting title, but disaster struck in the form of crashing face-first into the outfield wall at Sportsman’s Park. The concussion marked a turning point; he returned days later, but his ability to track the ball was compromised. Although he still made the All-Star team, he never regained his 1941 peak. His "fighting spirit" was both his greatest asset and his undoing. 

Like many ballplayers, Reiser served his country in World War II, but he returned to Ebbets Field significantly changed. Although he continued to show great effort, often crashing into walls and sustaining multiple fractures, he took a pivotal step in his career when traded to the Boston Braves. He left Brooklyn with 666 hits and a .306 batting average.

Arriving in Brooklyn in 1892, William “Brickyard” Kennedy was a right-hander with a booming voice and a work ethic forged in the clay pits of his Ohio hometown. While he earned the nickname "Roaring Bill" for his vocal presence on the diamond, it was his off-season labor in a brickyard that gave him the moniker that would stick for over a century

Kennedy hit his peak early, with back-to-back 20-win seasons in 1893 and 1894. He demonstrated exceptional endurance, pitching a career-high 382.2 innings in 1893. Although his career 3.98 ERA in Brooklyn seems modest today, he reached a high value simply by staying on the mound. A key team presence, he remained competitive even in 1895 with a 19-12 record and a spikes to 5.05 ERA, showing teammates’ confidence in his ability to finish.

A key asset for the 1899 and 1900 Brooklyn Superbas, Kennedy helped them win consecutive National League pennants. He posted a 22-9 record with a 2.79 ERA in 1899, showing he still reached elite levels of efficiency. Beyond pitching, he was a skilled hitter, with 306 hits and a .256 average during his Brooklyn years, often contributing significantly during high-stakes battles of the 1890s.

After a decade of service and 177 wins, the organization concluded that his high-velocity years had ended and released Kennedy in 1901.  He compiled a 177-148 record, a 3.98 ERA, and 721 strikeouts for Brooklyn.

Jimmy Sheckard played for Brooklyn on three different occasions; though this was in a tight vacuum, you could argue that his first MLB half was indeed with Brooklyn.

Following his ‘loan' to the Baltimore Orioles in 1899, where he led the league with 77 stolen bases, Sheckard returned to Brooklyn in 1900 and achieved the pinnacle of his individual performance in 1901. He authored a remarkable season, batting a career-high .354 and leading the National League in triples (19) and slugging percentage (.534). He demonstrated comprehensive mastery of the game that summer, recording 104 RBIs and 11 home runs, a statistical record that cemented his reputation as the most formidable hitter in a lineup that secured consecutive pennants for Brooklyn.

1903 would be an incredible campaign for Schekard. He enjoyed a campaign in which he led the league in both home runs (9) and stolen bases (67), a rare dual-honor summit reached by only a handful of players in history. While his offensive output sometimes dipped, like in the tough 1904 campaign, his defense was consistently top-notch. He was a mainstay in the outfield, setting a National League record with 14 double plays, showcasing a "cannon" arm that often ended rallies early.

Following a season at the bottom of the standings, the team traded the popular Sheckard to the Chicago Cubs for a four-player package including Jack McCarthy and Doc Casey. In Chicago, he reached new heights, winning two World Series titles and setting a season record with 147 walks, while his time in Brooklyn was also memorable. In Brooklyn, Sheckard had 966 hits, a .295 batting average, and 212 stolen bases.

Whit Wyatt didn't merely find renewed success in Brooklyn; he essentially crafted a new career. By the time he joined the Dodgers in 1939, he was 30 years old and was largely viewed as a discarded player from the American League, having spent the previous year in the minor leagues. However, while three other teams saw him as finished, Brooklyn recognized him as an untapped ace. 

After a decade of obscurity, he reached Ebbets Field and instantly elevated his play, earning four straight All-Star selections from 1939 to 1942. He displayed a sudden, localized dominance that peaked during the landmark 1941 season. That year, Wyatt was not just a contributor but a standout. He led the league with 22 wins and five shutouts, while his advanced metrics, leading the NL in FIP (2.44), WHIP (1.058), and SO/BB (2.15), established him as the clear staff leader. He finished third in MVP voting, a placement that would likely have secured a Cy Young award if the trophy had been available.

Wyatt's brilliance propelled the Dodgers to the 1941 pennant, ending a 21-year drought. He provided high-leverage efficiency, notably outdueling the Yankees in Game 2 of the World Series for Brooklyn's only win. He remained a key part of the rotation during the early war years, with 18 wins in 1942 and 14 in 1943, earning MVP votes both seasons. His mound command defied age, showing improvement as the stakes increased.

In 1944, as the heavy workload and his mid-thirties began to take their toll, the organization finalized a deal to sell his contract to the Phillies, but it lasted only 10 games before Wyatt called it a career.

Wyatt had an ERA of 2.86 with an 80-46 Record with Brooklyn.  That might be 80 more Wins than many baseball writers thought he would do.

After a cup of coffee with the St. Louis Browns in 1911, Jeff Pfeffer made it to Brooklyn in 1913, where the righthander became one of the most durable arms of the Deadball Era.

Pfeffer reached an absolute summit of efficiency in 1914. He authored a brilliant 23-12 record with a 1.97 ERA over 315 innings, a performance that surely would have made him the Rookie of the Year had the award existed then. He also had a career-high 135 strikeouts

Pfeffer reached his peak during the memorable 1916 season. He delivered an incredible performance, winning 25 games with a fantastic 1.92 ERA as the Robins proudly took the National League crown. He was a key player on the team, finishing among the top five in wins and innings pitched, and he proved to be a versatile asset during the postseason. In the 1916 World Series against the Boston Red Sox, he made a crucial save in Game 3 and pitched a tough seven innings in the Game 5 finale. Although the Robins fell short in the series, Pfeffer’s stellar statistics from 1914 to 1916—67 wins and a remarkably low ERA, stand out as one of the most impressive three-year stretches in franchise history.

Pfeffer’s baseball journey took an unexpected pause in 1918 when he enlisted in the U.S. Navy during World War I. When he returned in 1919, he scored a fresh wave of success, recording two consecutive 16-win seasons and playing a key role in helping Brooklyn clinch another pennant in 1920. However, after facing some challenges at the start of the 1921 season, the team decided to trade him to the St. Louis Cardinals.

With the Robins, Pfeffer had a 2.31 ERA with a record of 113- 80.

Van Lingle Mungo arrived in Brooklyn in 1931, replacing the legendary Dazzy Vance after his own shoes split. A right-hander with a fastball and an often erratic temperament, he was the only bright spot on a series of struggling "Daffy Dodgers" teams.

In 1933, Mungo achieved a new level of performance, posting a 16-15 record with an impressive 2.72 ERA for a team that was 23 games below .500. During this peak, he demonstrated complete control of his pitching arsenal, setting a career-high 238 strikeouts in 1936 to lead the league. Nonetheless, his career also included notable wildness; he led the NL in walks three times, driven by his aggressive style of pitching that aimed to overpower every batter he faced.

Mungo enjoyed a fantastic run from 1934 to 1937, earning four straight All-Star selections. During this period, he proved to be incredibly durable, leading the league in starts and innings pitched in 1934 and posting two seasons with 18 wins. However, his time was also known for his fiery personality; he often made headlines for his holdouts, late-night escapades, and a temper that once led him to destroy a clubhouse after a teammate mishandled a routine fly ball.

Mungo suffered a severe arm injury in 1937, which finalized his era as a power pitcher, though he managed to stick around the Majors as a junkball hurler.  In 1941, he was traded to a minor league team.

As a Dodger, Mungo had a 102-99 record with a 3.41 ERA.

After a brief run with the Cleveland Indians in 1924, it was back to the Minors for two years before the Brooklyn Robins signed Watty Clark in 1927.  

A left-handed workhorse who returned from two years in the minors to anchor a struggling staff. Known for a high-leg kick and control, he led the Robins during a tough stretch in the National League. In 1929, Clark matched few in durability, leading NL in innings (279.0) and starts. Despite league-leading losses for a mediocre team, he showcased command by leading NL in FIP (3.24), proving his performance was a valuable asset. He then had a stellar 1931 season, finishing 20th in MVP voting, with 14 wins and a 3.20 ERA.

In the 1932 season, he became a 20-game winner for the only time and led the league in FIP (3.13) for the second time. He was a giant in the rotation, logging 19 complete games and demonstrating the specialized precision that made him a nightmare for opposing hitters; however, he was traded to the New York Giants during the 1933 season, where he won a World Series.  A year later, Brooklyn reacquired Clark, and he would finish out his career with the now-named Dodgers in 1937.

For the Dodgers, Clark went 106-88 with a 3.55 ERA.

Jake Daubert didn't look like a ballplayer when he first emerged from the coal mines of Pennsylvania. After a false start in Cleveland, where he was discarded before ever seeing a pitch, the Brooklyn Superbas, the precursor to the Dodgers, took a chance on the quiet first baseman in 1910. He arrived as a "slashing chop hitter" with a game built on precision rather than power.

After a quiet start, Daubert experienced an impressive six-year streak of batting over .300, making him a regular presence at the top of the leaderboards. His peak occurred between 1913 and 1914, when he won consecutive National League Batting Titles. His 1913 season was particularly outstanding; he hit a career-high .350 and received the Chalmers Award, the precursor to the MVP. Besides his batting prowess, his speed was a significant advantage, often surprising opponents, as he stole 20 or more bases in six seasons with Brooklyn.

Beyond just the statistics, Daubert was a key figure in the era of “small ball.' He was especially skilled at bunting, setting a National League record with 392 career sacrifices, a record that still stands at the top of NL history. He combined outstanding bunt control with exceptional defense, often being compared to the legendary Hal Chase for his range and hands at first base. Daubert led the 1916 team to its first National League pennant, providing veteran leadership that helped transition the team from the rough early years to the organized success under Wilbert Robinson.

Daubert was traded to Cincinnati in 1919, leaving Brooklyn with 1,387 Hits and a Batting Average of .305.

Dolph Camilli began his Major League career with the Chicago Cubs, but it was with his second team, the Philadelphia Phillies, that he proved he was an everyday player.  The Dodgers took notice and traded for him, feeling that he had another level within him.  They were right, as across six seasons in Brooklyn, he served as the premier run-producer for Leo Durocher’s squad.

In his 1938 debut, Camilli reached a plateau of efficiency by leading the National League in walks (119) while belting 24 home runs. He quickly established himself as a professional mainstay, earning his first All-Star selection in 1939 and finishing 12th in the MVP voting in back-to-back years.

Camilli truly shined during the unforgettable 1941 season. He put together an impressive display of offensive skill, leading the National League with 34 home runs and 120 RBIs, and inspiring the Dodgers to their first pennant in more than twenty years. His achievements reached new heights when he was named the National League MVP, showing he was the spark that brought a lively championship spirit back to Ebbets Field. Even in the 1941 World Series against the Yankees, he stood tall as a key player in the middle of the lineup, embodying both the heart and soul of the team.  The end of his stay in Brooklyn would not be as pretty.

Believing he was beginning to age out of his prime, the organization finalized a trade that sent him to the rival New York Giants. In a legendary display of loyalty, or perhaps spite, Camilli reached a plateau of defiance and refused to report, choosing instead to go home and manage a team in the Pacific Coast League.

With the Dodgers, Camilli batted .270 with 139 Home Runs and 809 Hits.

Johnny Podres was one of the most successful southpaws in Dodgers history, especially when you look at the postseason.

Debuting for Brooklyn in 1953, Podres became a forever Dodgers star during the 1955 World Series. After a modest regular season, he won both of his starts against the Yankees. His most historic moment came in Game 7, where he pitched a 2-0 shutout at Yankee Stadium, securing Brooklyn's first and only world championship. This performance earned him the inaugural World Series MVP Award.

In 1957, following a one-year period of military service, he returned to lead the National League in several efficiency categories. He recorded a 2.66 ERA and six shutouts, concluding the season with a league-best 1.082 WHIP. As the franchise transitioned to Los Angeles, he continued to be a key member of the pitching staff, earning three consecutive All-Star selections (1958, 1960, 1962). His role in the rotation was instrumental during the team’s relocation to the West Coast. In 1961, he achieved a significant milestone in his career by securing 18 wins, the highest in the league, with a .783 winning percentage.

Sandy Koufax had become the undisputed ace of the Dodgers staff, but Podres was still a valuable commodity, with solid contributions in L.A.’s 1959 and 1965 Championships.  Podres was traded to Detroit during the 1966 Season, but by then, he was no longer the pitcher he had been.

With the Dodgers, Podres had a record of 136-104 with 1,331 Strikeouts.

Following his military service, Carl Furillo debuted in Brooklyn in 1946. He was a right-handed outfielder known for his quiet professionalism unlike the more famous "Boys of Summer." Nicknamed "The Reading Rifle" for his feared arm, he was the master of the high right-field wall at Ebbets Field.

While Furillo initially commenced his career in center field, he achieved a pinnacle of versatility upon transitioning to right field, where he acquired the skill to interpret nearly 300 different trajectories of baseballs rebounding from the complex surface of the Ebbets Field walls. He owned the position, recording at least 10 assists in nine successive seasons and twice leading the league in this category. By 1949, he reached a new level of offensive excellence, batting .322 with 106 RBIs and finishing sixth in the MVP voting, thereby substantiating his capabilities beyond defensive prowess.

In 1953, Furillo secured the National League Batting Title with a .344 batting average, representing the highest mark achieved by a right-handed Dodger in the modern era at that time. Although he suffered a broken hand in a brawl against the Giants, which effectively ended his regular season in September, he notably returned for the Fall Classic, thereby reinforcing his reputation as a significant contributor in high-stakes games. Furthermore, he was a consistent presence for the 1955 World Series champions, hitting a career-high 26 home runs and playing a pivotal role in Brooklyn's first world championship.

After moving to Los Angeles with the team and contributing to the 1959 World Series victory, Furillo tore a calf muscle early the next year. He was released by the organization in May, sparking a lengthy legal battle in which Furillo claimed the team released him to dodge paying his 15-year pension. Although he won a court settlement, the dispute essentially blacklisted him from professional baseball.

He exited baseball with 1,910 Hits, 192 Home Runs, and a Batting Average of .299.

After a brief time with Newark in the Negro Leagues, Don Newcombe was signed by the Brooklyn Dodgers. After a few seasons in their minor league system, Newcombe was called up for the 1949 season, making him the third black pitcher in the Majors, but he was arguably the first dominant one.

With a towering 6-foot-4 frame, Newcombe captured the Rookie of the Year award after a 17-8 debut season that included 32 consecutive scoreless innings and a league-leading five shutouts, which he followed up with 19 wins in 1950 and his first 20-win season in 1951, while leading the league in strikeouts.  Newcombe looked ready to dominate, but he was drafted into the U.S. Military and served in Korea for 2 years.  

Following an underwhelming 1954 season, Newcombe demonstrated a remarkable resurgence. In 1955, he owned the mound, posting a 20-5 record that helped the Dodgers secure their inaugural and only World Series championship in Brooklyn. He subsequently delivered a stellar performance in 1956, posting a 27-7 record and leading the league with a WHIP of 0.989. This outstanding achievement granted him the distinction of being the first recipient of the Cy Young Award and concurrently named the National League Most Valuable Player, marking the first occasion on which a player received both honors within a single season.

Newcombe never came close to having another season like that again, and in the middle of the 1958 season, which he started 0-6 with a seven-plus ERA, he was traded to the Cincinnati Reds.

As a Dodger, Newcombe compiled a 123-66 record, a 3.51 ERA, and 916 strikeouts.  The Dodgers would honor Newcombe in 2019, along with three others, with plaques as "Legends of Dodger Baseball."

Jim Gilliam joined Brooklyn in 1953 as the last piece of the "Boys of Summer" puzzle, a versatile switch-hitter who enabled Jackie Robinson to move to third base. Quiet and tactically selfless, "Junior" served as the vital glue for the team during its significant transcontinental transition.

In 1953, Gilliam achieved a significant milestone as a debutant, leading the National League with 17 triples and accumulating 125 runs, which earned him the Rookie of the Year award. He promptly established a foundation of consistent excellence as the team's chief table-setter, recording three consecutive seasons with no fewer than 100 runs. By 1955, he demonstrated high-leverage on-base performance, evidenced by a .469 on-base percentage in the Fall Classic, that ultimately contributed to the Dodgers’ first and sole World Series championship in Brooklyn. In 1956, Gilliam was selected as an All-Star for the first time, batting .300 and leading the NL in Total Zone Runs as a second baseman. He excelled as the lead-off man, with a fourth straight 100-run season and finishing fifth in MVP voting.

Gilliam reached a new level of versatility after the franchise moved to Los Angeles in 1958. In 1959, he showed his keen batting eye, leading the National League with 96 walks and anchoring a young team that won its first West Coast title. His position shifted between second base, third base, and the outfield, but his efficiency stayed steady; he earned All-Star honors in Brooklyn (1956) and Los Angeles (1959) and finished in the MVP top ten twice. As the 1960s began, he transitioned into a specialized role as the "accomplice" to Maury Wills; batting second, he famously took pitches and fell behind in the count, giving Wills the freedom to dismantle opponents on the basepaths. This tactical selflessness fueled the Dodgers' high-speed offense and led to another World Series victory in 1963, where he played a reliable hand in the sweep of the Yankees.  He reached his absolute summit of defensive value in Game 7 of the 1965 World Series, making a lunging, backhanded stab of a Zoilo Versailles grounder to save the game for Sandy Koufax.

Gilliam joined the coaching staff in 1966, but due to injuries on the team, the organization activated him in May, and the 36-year-old veteran responded by batting .280 over 111 games.  He went back to coaching and was in that capacity when he passed away from a cerebral hemorrhage just before the start of the 1978 World Series. The Dodgers honored Gilliam by retiring his number 19 two days after.

While Gilliam might not be considered Hall of Fame worthy, he should have at least been on the ballot when he was eligible in 1972.  With the Dodgers, Gilliam accumulated 1,889 hits with 203 stolen bases and a .265 batting average.

In 1939, the Brooklyn Dodgers signed Dixie Walker as a waiver-wire reclamation project, a player whose early promise in the Yankees' organization had been sidetracked by recurring injuries. Once touted as the heir to Babe Ruth in the Bronx, he had bounced around from Detroit to Chicago before finding his footing at Ebbets Field, and boy, did he find his footing!

Following a strong debut in 1939, Walker showed a remarkable talent for spotting gaps, batting .308 in 1940 and .311 in 1941. He quickly established himself as a key player, finishing in the top ten of MVP voting two years in a row and contributing to the Dodgers’ 1941 pennant win.  Brooklyn did not win the World Series, but without Walker, they would have never made it there.

During the wartime period, Walker enjoyed a prolific streak of performance that few league players could rival. In 1944, he demonstrated exceptional hitting skill by winning the National League Batting Title with a .357 average, surpassing even the legendary Stan Musial. In 1945, he continued to excel by leading the league with 124 RBIs, establishing himself as a clutch run producer capable of carrying the team’s offense. Despite the return of the league's biggest stars in 1946, Walker remained a top-tier player, finishing second in MVP voting after batting .319 with 116 RBIs.

Walker maintained a batting average above .300 in seven out of his eight full seasons with the Dodgers. While not a power hitter by specialization, he demonstrated consistent efficiency, accumulating over 1,200 hits with the team. His tenure ended amidst controversy in spring 1947 when the Georgia native wrote a letter to management requesting a trade as the Dodgers prepared to integrate. Despite remaining professional, batting .306 and driving in 94 runs to help the team reach the World Series, his outspoken opposition to the new era in baseball made his departure inevitable.

Walker was traded to the Pittsburgh Pirates after the 1947 season.  As a Dodger, Walker accumulated 1,295 hits, a .311 average, and the 1944 Batting Title.

There is always one player on these top 50 lists that seems impossible to lock down.  For the Dodgers, that man is Roy Campanella, a three-time MVP, but had they been judged by current metrics, he likely would not have won any.

Roy Campanella joined Brooklyn in 1948 after playing in the Negro Leagues. He was a stocky catcher with a unique combination of agility and power. Although Jackie Robinson broke the color barrier in 1947, Campanella joined him a year later to form a resilient and emotional pairing on the team, known as the "Boys of Summer.” By 1949, Campanella showed an impressive ability to control the running game, starting an incredible run of eight straight All-Star selections. He quickly became a key player, setting a high standard for catchers in baseball history.

During the early 1950s, Campanella won three National League MVP Awards in 1951, 1953, and 1955. His 1953 campaign remains a standout outlier for catchers; he belted a personal-best 41 home runs, led the league with 142 RBIs, and batted .312. He showcased total mastery of the "triple threat" for catchers: elite power, high average, and high-caliber defense. While modern metrics sometimes debate the value of those MVP votes, his specialized influence on the game’s best pitching staff was undeniable, as he led the league in caught-stealing percentage five times, once reaching a staggering 69.4% in 1951.

Campy anchored five different pennant-winning teams. In the 1955 World Series, he was a high-stakes contributor to the franchise's only title in Brooklyn, batting .318 during the regular season and outdueling teammate Duke Snider for his third MVP.  It was a phenomenal run in Brooklyn, but tragedy reared its ugly head.

Just as the team was getting ready to move to Los Angeles, a devastating accident involving a flipped rental car caused a broken neck and left him permanently paralyzed. This injury abruptly ended a distinguished career, denying West Coast fans the chance to see a legend in his final years. Campanella was inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1969, in his seventh year of eligibility.  His number 39 would also be retired by the team. Campanella compiled a .276 average, 242 home runs with the team.

Again, if this rank does seem a little low, remember that the Dodgers ahead of him have much longer tenures than Campanella, though not all of them were as important.  Seriously, the Dodgers are the hardest to rank!

From Wisconsin, Grimes began his Major League career with Pittsburgh, where he noticeably lost 13 consecutive Games, so the Pirates fan base did not shed any tears when he was traded to Brooklyn after the 1917 Season.  Perhaps, they should have.

Grimes made an immediate impact with the Robins, going 19-9 with a 2.13 ERA in his debut season, and once the spitball was outlawed in 1920, he was grandfathered in and allowed to use it throughout the rest of his career.  

Between 1921 and 1924, Grimes reached his peak of durability, establishing himself as the leading "innings-eater" of his era. In 1921, he topped the National League with 22 wins and 136 strikeouts, delivering an exceptional season that included pitching over 300 innings, a milestone he achieved four times during his time with Brooklyn. Demonstrating complete control on the mound, he amassed 158 wins with the Robins and proved his prowess at the plate as well, with 227 hits and a solid .251 batting average.

In 1925 and 1926, his efficiency dipped, and his record was finalized at 12-19 and 12-13, respectively. Looking to revitalize the staff, the organization traded him to the New York Giants in 1927.  While he continued to reach new summits elsewhere, including a World Series title with the Cardinals and another 25-win season in Pittsburgh, his statistical footprint remains anchored in his 158-121 mark in Brooklyn.

Grimes was chosen by the Veterans Committee in 1964 to enter the Baseball Hall of Fame.

The MLB career of Nap Rucker began in 1907, a high-velocity southpaw who stepped onto the mound for a franchise still searching for its footing. Pitching for teams known as the Superbas and the Robins, Rucker operated as a specialized workhorse during the Deadball Era, frequently outclassing the struggling squads behind him. For a decade in Brooklyn, he provided a dominant arm that was often obscured by a lack of run support, standing as a high-quality pillar for a franchise that was nearly 180 games below .500 during his tenure, even when he wasn't involved in the decision.

In 1908, he displayed a masterclass in run prevention by tossing the first no-hitter in franchise history against the Boston Doves, a 14-strikeout masterpiece that recorded a 101 Game Score, a mark that went unequaled by a Dodger until Sandy Koufax’s perfect game in 1965.  In 1910, he led the league in innings pitched (320.1), complete games (27), and shutouts (6). Despite this herculean effort, he finished with an 18-loss record, a testament to the specialized futility of the teams he fronted. He followed this with a career-high 22 wins in 1911, posting a season in which he led the league in bWAR among pitchers (8.7). Remarkably, despite being arguably the most valuable player in the league that year by modern metrics, he received zero votes for the inaugural Chalmers Award (the era's MVP), as the writers prioritized the bats of winning teams over a dominant lefty on a 64-win club.

Known as one of the fastest pitchers of his day, Rucker showed a specialized resilience by adopting a knuckleball later in his career after his velocity began to fade. Between 1907 and 1913, he was a tactical mainstay who consistently finished in the top ten for Pitcher bWAR, twice leading the entire league in that category.

His career was cut short by arm fatigue that led to his retirement at just 31. After pitching over 2,300 innings of intense play, his effectiveness declined, and he made his last appearance in 1916, the same year the "Robins" won the National League Pennant. He finished with a 134-134 record, but his impressive 2.42 ERA underscores his true dominance.