Season Recap:
In their worst season since 1958, the Dodgers dropped to a sixth-place tie with Pittsburgh. A lack of offense, coupled with shaky defense and injuries spelled trouble from the get-go for Alston’s club. If not for the pitching heroics of Sandy Koufax and Don Drysdale, it could have been much worse for the club. Held to 223 innings pitched, Koufax was 19-5 and led the N.L. ERA list at 1.74 to go along with his seven shutouts. On April 24, he struck out 18 Chicago Cubs. Koufax pitched the third no-hitter in his career, a 3-0 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on June 4, to tie Bob Feller’s major league record. He just missed pitching a perfect game, walking Dick Allen on a 3-2 count in the fourth inning. Drysdale was the big workhorse with 321 innings, an 18-16 record and a fine 2.19 ERA. Center fielder Willie Davis topped the regulars in hitting with a .294 average and 42 stolen bases. Bob Miller went 7-7, primarily out of the bullpen, pitching in 70 games. Frank Howard, who had reported late to spring training due to personal problems, had trouble getting his stroke as he batted .226 with a team-leading 24 home runs. Key injuries to John Roseboro (right knee), Johnny Podres (left elbow), Tommy Davis (right shoulder) and Koufax (left elbow) slowed the club’s chances. Even coach Pete Reiser hit the shelf on April 16 as he suffered a heart attack. Shortstop Maury Wills topped the N.L. in stolen bases for the fifth consecutive season with 53. For the first time since 1948, the Dodger pitching staff failed to lead the National League in strikeouts, finishing second to the Cincinnati Reds. Executive Vice President and General Manager Buzzie Bavasi made a major trade with the Washington Senators in December, obtaining Claude Osteen, John Kennedy and cash in exchange for Howard and four players. Osteen made a big contribution the next season by winning the pivotal Game 3 of the World Series.