Season Recap:
Pitching dominated the game in 1968 and the Dodgers’ All-Star hurler Don Drysdale was certainly at the forefront of the headlines. “Big D” strung together a record-setting 58 2/3 consecutive scoreless innings which included shutouts against the Cubs, 1-0, Astros, 1-0, Cardinals, 2-0, Astros, 5-0, Giants, 3-0 and Pirates, 5-0, before a sacrifice fly by Philadelphia’s Howie Bedell ended the incredible string (which eclipsed Walter Johnson’s 56 scoreless innings skein) on June 8. Drysdale’s “string of pearls” might have been stopped against the Giants when he loaded the bases with no outs in the ninth inning and plunked Dick Dietz with an inside fastball, apparently forcing in the run and ruining the shutout. However, veteran umpire Harry Wendelstedt ruled that Dietz made no attempt to get out of the way of the pitch and after a 10-minute rhubarb ensued, Dietz flied out to right. Ty Cline then grounded into a force out at the plate, while Jack Hiatt popped up to end the game and give a relieved Drysdale his fifth consecutive shutout, which tied Doc White of the New York Highlanders in 1904. While the Dodgers’ offense sputtered all season long with the second-lowest team batting average at .230, All-Star catcher Tom Haller provided a solid season with a team-leading .285 batting average. Drysdale finished with a 14-12 overall record to lead a pitching staff that ranked second in the league with a 2.69 ERA, while relief pitcher Jim Brewer was 8-3 with 13 saves and a 2.49 ERA. Young Dodgers Bill Sudakis and Willie Crawford blended in nicely with veterans like Paul Popovich, Len Gabrielson, Ken Boyer and Ron Fairly. In May, Executive Vice President and General Manager E.J. Buzzie Bavasi resigned after 18 years with the Dodgers as G.M. to become President of the expansion San Diego Padres. Initially, Vice President and Director, Minor League Operations Fresco Thompson assumed Bavasi’s responsibilities as General Manager. After Thompson passed away on November 20, 1968, Dodger Scouting Director Al Campanis was promoted to take on the Player Personnel decisions. The Year 1968 was critical to the future success of the Dodgers. In January 1968 in the Secondary Phase of the Free Agent Draft, the Dodgers selected Davey Lopes and Geoff Zahn. In the Regular Phase for the June Free Agent Draft, the Dodgers selected Bill Buckner, Bobby Valentine, Tom Paciorek and Joe Ferguson, while in the Secondary Phase they picked Steve Garvey and Ron Cey.