On Aug. 27, 1988, Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda recorded his 1,000th career managerial victory in a 4-2 triumph over the Philadelphia Phillies. But it does not stop there.
The date of Aug. 27 is a memorable page in the story of the Dodgers organization, as it also marks the anniversary of Sandy Koufax’s first Major League victory, the end of an impressive team statistic and Jeff Kent’s 300th career home run.
Noteworthy moments in Dodgers history on Aug. 27
Tommy Lasorda’s 1,000th win
The Dodgers entered the game looking to maintain their spot atop the National League West standings and keep pace with the New York Mets, who held the best record in the league.
Kirk Gibson, Mike Marshall, Mickey Hatcher and Alfredo Griffen provided all the offense the Dodgers needed, driving in one run a piece. Meanwhile, Alejandro Peña and Jay Howell came in relief of Tim Leary to shut down the Phillies offense over the final 3.2 innings to secure the 4-2 win.
The Dodgers did not end up catching the Mets in the standings but they did defeat New York in the NL Championship Series en route to Lasorda’s second and final World Series championship.
The Hall of Fame manager was hired by the Dodgers organization in 1976 and his tenure lasted until 1996. Lasorda finished his career with 1,599 wins, and his 21 seasons as the Dodgers’ skipper rank second to Walter Alston in franchise history.
On a related note, Dave Roberts became the first Dodgers manager since Lasorda to reach 1,000 career wins when he achieved the milestone in July 2026.
Sandy Koufax’s first MLB win
Koufax made his Major League debut at just 19 years old on June 24, 1955. He made his first career start on July 6 but was mainly used out of the bullpen until the game against the Cincinnati Reds on Aug. 27, 1955.
For a 19-year-old rookie making his second career start, he certainly put on quite a show to earn his first victory on the mound. Koufax struck out 14 batters in a complete-game, two-hitter at Ebbets Field.
Some might call it a premonition of what was to come over the course of his Hall of Fame career.
The left-hander racked up 164 more victories over 12 seasons in the Majors.
Dodgers defense sets NL record
The next chronicle dates all the way back to Aug. 27, 1952, but it begins on Aug. 7, 1952, against the New York Giants.
The Dodgers won that contest, 7-5, in what also marked the start of a 23-game streak in which Brooklyn’s defense turned a double play.
Fast forward to Aug. 27, and a 1-4-3 double play turned by Clyde King, Jackie Robinson and Gil Hodges was where the streak ended. The Dodgers set the National League mark at 23, but were two games shy of the Major League record.
Jeff Kent hits 300 homers
Finally, Jeff Kent became the first second baseman in MLB history to hit 300 career home runs. Kent, perhaps somewhat fittingly, reached the milestone against the Houston Astros on Aug. 27, 2005.
Kent had already become the all-time home run leader among second basemen during the 2004 season, surpassing Ryne Sandberg’s 277 career total. Joe Gordon still holds the American League record with 246 homers.
Kent still holds the record to this day with his 351 career home runs. The 17-year veteran was inducted into the Hall of Fame in 2026.
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