With the Los Angeles Dodgers reaching the World Series for the first time since 1988, several of the organization’s former players have turned out to show their support. Chief among them is Sandy Koufax, who has always maintained close ties.
The famed left-hander has enjoyed his share of success in the postseason, and is often willing to bestow some of his knowledge on current Dodgers. The latest recipient was Justin Turner, who’s been a driving force through the playoffs.
“Sandy told me, 162 [games] is work,” Turner said. “Once you get to the playoffs, it’s fun. And I thought that was a pretty cool way to look at it, and I agree with him a 100 percent.
“During the regular season it’s work, it’s a grind. Once you get onto these stages, it’s fun. And just to be in the moment and soak it in and take a step back and look around and see almost 60,000 people in Dodger Stadium on their feet going crazy, it’s pretty special.”
Turner was named a co-MVP in the National League Championship Series, and he hit a go-ahead home run in Game 1 of the World Series. The home run was Turner’s third of the postseason.
He increased his lifetime postseason RBI total to 26 — tying Duke Snider for the all-time Dodgers record. Since signing a Minor League contract with the Dodgers in 2014, Turner has accumulated 18.9 WAR (Baseball-Reference) with an .881 on-base plus slugging percentage to boot.
A first-time All-Star in 2017, Turner batted .322/.415/.530 with 32 doubles, 21 home runs and 71 RBI in 543 plate appearances during the regular season.
Through each of the Dodgers’ first two playoff series, Turner’s OPS exceeded the 1.000 plateau (1.226 in the NL Division Series, 1.145 in the NLCS).
