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Bulldog
Orel Hershiser chews up the competition
The man with the odd name and amazing arm was born in Buffalo, New York in 1958. He went to high school in New Jersey before attended Bowling Green State University. That’s where the lanky right-hander caught the eyes of pro scouts. He was a 17th round draft pick by the Los Angeles Dodgers and spent four years in their farm system. He made his major league debut in 1983 as a middle reliever and became a starter the following year. He didn’t throw the heat that makes stars out of a lot of pitchers. Instead he possessed incredible control. His curve ball and slider had more moves than Tommy Lasorda on a trampoline.
Hershiser’s crowning year was 1988. He led the league in wins and complete games. He finished the regular season by beating Dodger great Don Drysdale’s record for scoreless innings pitched. His mark, 59 innings, is still the record twenty years later. For his incredible regular season performance, Hershiser won the Cy Young award. In the NL pennant race against the Mets, he scored two wins in two starts and a save in game four. The Dodgers won the pennant after Hershiser pitched a shutout game seven. Afterwards, was selected MVP of the series.
In the World Series against the A’s, he pitched another shutout in game two. The Dodgers won it all in game five after he pitched the entire game. Again, he was voted series MVP. His feat of winning two MVPs and the Cy Young in the same year has never been repeated.
In recent years, Hershiser has channeled his completive spirit into poker. In 2008 he played in the NBC National Heads-Up Poker Championship where he beat Ted Forrest, Allen Cunningham and Freddy Deeb to make into the quarterfinals.
When he’s not playing poker, Hershiser is a baseball analyst for ESPN.
