1965

1965 World Champions

The 1965 World Champion Los Angeles Dodgers were built on a combination of strong pitching, defense, speed, an N.L. Rookie of the Year, a switch-hitting infield, the enthusiasm of a journeyman outfielder, and more pitching.

Led by a formidable starting threesome of Sandy Koufax, Don Drysdale and Claude Osteen, with a bullpen of Ron Perranoski and Bob Miller, the Dodger arms made up for the lack of power as the Dodgers finished last in the N.L. in home runs.

Early in the 1965 season, the Dodgers suffered a serious blow when their most productive hitter of the past three seasons - Tommy Davis - suffered a broken ankle. Replacing him was outfielder Lou Johnson, playing for his fifth club. "Sweet Lou's" presence was a definite spark as he added 12 home runs, along with an infinite amount of hustle and desire.

Koufax was brilliant throughout the season. His fourth career no-hitter - a perfect September 9 - kept the Dodgers one-half game off the Giants' pace. Ironically, the Dodgers managed just one hit in Koufax's masterpiece

The Giants then went on a tear that saw them win 17 of 18 games in mid-September to take a four game lead with 12 to play. The Dodgers then started their own winning streak that would see them take 14 straight and 15 of their final 16 games.

On September 28, Johnson's 12th-inning home run put the Dodgers in first place to stay. Koufax wrapped up the pennant for the Dodgers four days later when he checked the Milwaukee Braves, 3-1.

The Dodgers, by virtue of their impressive pitching, were favored over the Minnesota Twins going into the World Series. And their switch-hitting infield of first baseman Wes Parker, second baseman (and Rookie of the Year) Jim Lefebvre, shortstop Maury Wills, and third baseman Jim Gilliam was looking forward to becoming the first unit of its kind to play in a World Series.

But the Twins had their own plans and beat Drysdale and Koufax in the first two games in Minnesota. In their return to Dodger Stadium, Osteen got the Dodgers turned around by collecting his sixth straight career win - a 4-0 shutout.

Drysdale evened the Series at two games apiece when he pitched a five-hitter with help from home runs by Parker and Johnson. The fifth game was all Koufax as he throttled the Twins on four hits, 7-0. Wills had four hits and scored two runs, while Gilliam had a pair of RBIs.

The Twins won the sixth game as the Series moved back to Minnesota, but Koufax (with Drysdale ready in the bullpen) brought the Dodgers the World Championship in game seven, with a 2-0 shutout.

Johnson homered and Parker tripled home Ron Fairly in the fourth inning to give Koufax all the runs he needed. Gilliam made a great defensive play with two on and two out in the fifth to thwart the Twins' only bid.

The Dodger pitching staff had allowed just two runs in the four World Series wins to carry the club to a World Championship, coming through just as it had done through the heated pennant race.

Union Oil Promo by Paul Kratter

• About the Artist: Paul Kratter, a freelance artist living in Pasadena, has numerous works to his credit among the ranks of professional sports. Besides being commissioned on several portraits for the Dodgers over the past few years, Kratter has also worked with the San Francisco Giants, the Oakland Athletics and several teams in the National Football League. A graduate with honors from Pasadena's Art Center College of Design, Kratter also enjoys painting and photographing the outdoors and animal life.

Sandy Koufax Perfect Game

September 9, 1965

1965 World Series Game 5

October 11, 1965

Dodger Stadium
FINAL: Dodgers 7, Minnesota 0: Series now 3-1

• Koufax Complete Game Shutout:
  • 4 Hits
  • 1 Walk
  • 10 Strikeouts

World Champions Bat

• Los Angeles Dodgers 1965

1965 World Series Champions