Chapter 5: 1983, the Dodgers squeeze out a Fimple
A new generation of Dodgers makes the postseason in a very difficult year
After the Dodgers missed out on repeating as NL West champions to Atlanta on the last day of the 1982 season, the team continued to retool for 1983. The biggest change was at first base where the team’s most recognizable face, first baseman Steve Garvey, had left to go to San Diego as a free agent. Replacing Garvey was much heralded prospect Greg Brock.
Unfortunately, Brock never quite lived up to his hype and also played in an era when most fans couldn’t see past his batting average (.224) and ignored his 20 home runs (a lot for 1983) and 83 walks (a lot for any season.)
The Dodgers were without relief ace Steve Howe at the end of the year after he missed a team flight in late September. Howe had been suspended by the team earlier in the year for missing another game. Howe would sit out all of the 1984 season. Tom Niedenfuer took over the closer role.
Mike Scioscia was expected to take over the catching fulltime, but he hurt his shoulder early in the season and missed most of 1983. That left Steve Yeager with the bulk of the work, but in August, Yeager got hurt. And who was left? A AAA catcher named Jack Fimple.
It would be a stretch to say Fimple was particularly good. He hit slightly better than Yeager and was competent behind the plate. And Fimple’s regular playing time coincided with the Dodgers best play of the season. Fimple did not have.to be great. He just needed to be something better than a black hole in the lineup. And he provided that.
Also, his name was Jack Fimple. You can’t discount that.
The Dodgers most potent offensive threat came from Pedro Guerrero, who had replaced Ron Cey at third base. Steve Sax had a Rookie of the Year season at second.
Thanks in part to a late season collapse by Atlanta, the Dodgers were able to take over the race in August. The most memorable game of the season happened on September 11, 1983 when the Dodgers rallied for a 6-3 deficit in the ninth to pull out a 7-6 win with the game ending on a squeeze bunt by R.J. Reynolds. This game’s description is best done by Jon Weisman, who treasures this game.1
The Dodgers struggled in September as they seemed tired, but they still held on to the division as the Braves struggled even more.
1983 was the last season where the Dodgers played a tie game. They played 14 innings in San Diego before rain halted the game with a 4-4 score. The game was replayed in its entirety as part of a doubleheader the next day, which the Padres swept. The Dodgers also lost a home date when they had their first ever August rainout at home in a game against the Mets. It could not be rescheduled to be played in L.A. so it was made up in a doubleheader in New York.
The playoffs will likely be little remembered by Dodgers fan. The Phillies won Game One 1-0 on a first inning homer from Mike Schmidt. The Dodgers bounced back to win Game 2, but the Phillies won the last two in Philadelphia by 7-2 scores as Gary Matthews seemed to homer all the time. And the Dodgers made stars out of Al Holland and Charles Hudson.
Since the Dodgers had won the NLCS in their first four tries, I operated under the assumption that they always would. That proved to be very wishful thinking on my part.
My favorite part of the ending of the game is that Gene Garber still threw out RJ Reynolds at first base even after seeing Pedro Guerrero score the winning run.