As Hall of Fame ceremonies commence in Cooperstown this weekend, it’s a good opportunity to reflect on five superstar players (most of them Hall of Famers) who were lost by the Dodgers during their careers.
Five Superstar Players Lost by the Dodgers
Tom Seaver
The Dodgers drafted Tom Seaver in the 10th round of the 1965 draft, after being scouted by the one and only Tommy Lasorda. Seaver wanted a $50,000 signing bonus. Los Angeles, through Lasorda, countered with $2,000. Seaver chose to go back to the University of Southern California. The future Hall of Famer went back into the draft pool the following January and eventually signed with the New York Mets after the Commissioner voided the Atlanta Braves’ pick of Seaver on a technicality.
Dave Stewart
Dave Stewart was selected in the 16th round of the 1975 MLB Draft by Los Angeles. Upon the advice of Sandy Koufax, Stewart converted from a catcher to a pitcher. Stewart made the 1981 Opening Day roster for the Dodgers and did not allow a run in his two World Series appearances against the New York Yankees. The Dodgers bested the Yankees in six games to win the title.
In August of 1983, the Dodgers traded Stewart to the Texas Rangers for Rick Honeycutt and a player to be named later. However, when he signed with Oakland Athletics in 1986, Stewart found his overpowering stuff. From 1987 to 1990, he had four 20-win seasons, the highlight of which was Stewart being selected as World Series Most Valuable Player in 1989 against the San Francisco Giants. He went 2-0 with an ERA of 1.69.
Adrián Beltré
The Dodgers signed Adrián Beltré in 1994 at the age of fifteen. Coming from the Dominican Republic, it took time to tame Beltré’s talent. But in 1998, when Tommy Lasorda vouched for him, Beltré made his major league debut. The eventual five-time Gold Glover finally broke out in 2004, An ankle injury, ironically, forced Beltré to refine his swing. As a result, he would hit 48 home runs, drive in 121, and have the best season of any position player in Dodger history, with a Wins Above Replacement rating of 9.7, ahead of Jackie Robinson‘s WAR of 9.6 in 1949. In spite of this, Frank McCourt’s management fumbled negotiations, and Beltré signed with the Seattle Mariners. Beltré would eventually amass over 3,000 hits in his Hall of Fame career. He is one of the new inductees in Cooperstown this weekend.
A career that started in LA and ends in Cooperstown. Congratulations Adrián Beltré on being inducted into the 2024 Hall of Fame! pic.twitter.com/NRMHkhSj6N
— Los Angeles Dodgers (@Dodgers) January 23, 2024
Roberto Clemente
In 1954, in order to keep him away from the rival New York Giants, the Brooklyn Dodgers offered Roberto Clemente a $5,000 salary and a $10,000 signing bonus. The amount of the bonus prevented the Dodgers from protecting Clemente from the Rule Five Draft. Consequently, the Pittsburgh Pirates plucked Clemente from the Dodger farm system for $4,000. He won 12 straight Gold Gloves, compiled 3,ooo hits, and won two World Series (1960, 1971). In the latter year, he took home MVP honors against the Baltimore Orioles.
Pedro Martínez
Pedro Martínez signed with Los Angeles in 1988. Concerned that he would wear down as a starter, the Dodgers used him as a reliever. In the most infamous trade in Dodgers history, Martínez was traded to the Montreal Expos for Delino DeShields in 1994. Martínez won five ERA titles, three Cy Young Awards, the pitching Triple Crown, and a World Series with the Boston Red Sox in 2004. He is one of only four pitchers in MLB history to have 3,000 strikeouts and less than 1,000 walks.
Fans are left to wonder what could have been if these five stars had remained in Dodger Blue.
Photo Credit: © ALEX BOERNER/TCPALM / USA TODAY NETWORK
