In 1977, and again in 1978, the Dodgers lost the World Series to the hated New York Yankees. The third time was the charm: in 1981, the Dodgers beat the Yankees.
“Fernandomania” dominated the regular season, but Fernando Valenzuela struggled during his only World Series start. He pitched a complete game, a 5-4 victory, but walked seven and threw a now-heretical 147 pitches.
The Dodgers' cleanup hitter in that game, first baseman Steve Garvey, hit .417 in the World Series.
Four decades later, Garvey is running for the United States Senate. On Wednesday, two of his teammates from that 1981 championship team endorsed: no, not Garvey, but Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Oakland).
Dusty Baker and Dave Stewart are among five former major leaguers listed as sponsors in an announcement issued by Lee's office on Wednesday.
Lee is fourth in polls for the vacant California Senate seat, with Rep. Adam B. Schiff (D-Burbank) comfortably ahead and Garvey and Rep. Katie Porter (D-Irvine) battling for second place . Election Day is Tuesday, although early voting is already underway. The top two finishers advance to the second round in November.
Lee's announcement highlighted five former players' endorsements of the Oakland Athletics, his hometown team. Stewart, who was born and raised in Oakland, won 20 games four times for the A's and was the most valuable player of the 1989 World Series. Baker, who went to high school and college in Northern California, finished his career with the A's in 1985-86.
“As a long-time A's fan,” Lee said in a statement, “it means the world to me to have the support of A's greats who have contributed so much to our community in Oakland and the East Bay.”
After the A's revealed their plans to move to Las Vegas, Lee introduced what he called the “Moneyball Act,” which would strip Major League Baseball of its prized antitrust exemption if a relocating team does not provide financial compensation to its former team. native city. The bill was presented last June; Since then no action has been taken in this regard.
