While the Los Angeles Dodgers have made a strong case to be the latest MLB dynasty by winning back-to-back World Series titles and three in the last six years, their franchise history and success since 2000 is a mixed bag.
Up until the current era, there were middling levels of postseason accomplishments since the turn of the century. But there have also been impressive individual performances and players who carved out a special place in the Dodgers’ franchise history.
The DodgerBlue.com staff has ranked the best Dodgers players in the last 25 years. Among various factors considered, the all-time Dodgers list was compiled by evaluating a player’s contributions and significance to the franchise.
Dodgers quarter-century all-time team
No. 18: Manny Ramirez
On July 31, 2008, the Dodgers acquired one of the most-feared hitters in baseball, Manny Ramirez, in a trade with the Boston Red Sox. The deal proved to be one of the most impactful short-term acquisitions in franchise history and ignited the fanbase.
Ramirez went 2-for-4 in his first game with the Dodgers, and had another 2-for-4 effort the following day while slugging his first home run with the team. In his first month with the Dodgers, Ramirez was named National League Player of the Month after hitting .444 (44-for-106) with seven doubles, nine home runs, 25 RBI and 21 runs scored.
Ramirez, who had long been known for his on-field antics and elite bat, quickly endeared himself to Dodgers fans, and the area in left field became known as “Mannywood.”
He finished the year hitting .396/.489/.743 with 17 home runs, 53 RBI and 36 runs scored in 53 games for the Dodgers, playing a key role in L.A. winning the NL West division title and advancing to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 1988.
After becoming a free agent after the season, Ramirez re-signed with the Dodgers on a two-year, $45 million deal.
He started out the 2009 season batting .348 with six homers and 20 RBI, but on May 7, he was suspended 50 games for violating the joint drug prevention and treatment program for using a banned substance.
After returning on July 3, Ramirez was inserted back into the middle of the Dodgers’ lineup and went on to hit .269/.389/.492 with 15 doubles, 13 home runs, 43 RBI and 40 runs scored in 77 games.
Shortly after coming back from the suspension, Ramirez slugged his 537th career homer to pass Mickey Mantle for 15th on the all-time list.
The Dodgers again finished first in the NL West and advanced to the NLCS, but they were eliminated by the Philadelphia Phillies for the second straight year.
Over his two postseasons with the Dodgers, Ramirez hit .386/.500/.737 with five doubles, five home runs, 14 RBI and 12 runs scored in 16 games.
Ramirez opened the 2010 season by recording his 2,500th career hit on April 10, and on May 28, he hit his 549th homer to pass Mike Schmidt for 14th place on the all-time list.
But Ramirez spent much of the season injured and had three stints on the then-disabled list. He only appeared in 66 games, and when he returned in late August, Ramirez had lost his job and was placed on waivers before being claimed by the Chicago White Sox.
In his final plate appearance for the Dodgers, he was ejected by Gary Cederstrom for arguing a strike call on the first pitch. Ramirez still managed to hit .311/.405/.510 with eight home runs for the Dodgers in 2010 despite the injuries.
Over his three seasons in L.A., Ramirez hit .322/.433/.580 with 53 doubles, 44 home runs, 156 RBI and 130 runs scored and a 1.012 on-base plus slugging over 223 games.
Among Dodgers hitters with at least 850 plate appearances since the start of 2000, Ramirez is first in batting average and on-base percentage, third in slugging percentage, OPS and wRC+ (164), 29th in home runs, 30th in WAR (6.4) and 34th in RBI.
Among Dodgers in their top 30 home runs list over the quarter-century, Ramirez is the only player with fewer than 900 plate appearances, and one of two with less than 1,000.
No. 19: Gary Sheffield
No. 20: Adrián González
No. 21: Yasiel Puig
No. 22: Chris Taylor
No. 23: Russell Martin
No. 24: Kiké Hernández
No. 25: Miguel Rojas
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