The Los Angeles Dodgers are one of the most iconic franchises in sports and have multiple legends among Major League Baseball’s all-time greats. Five Dodgers recently made ESPN’s List of the Top 100 MLB Players.
ESPN polled their staff and pitted players against each other in head-to-head voting, ranking players based on several factors.
- Career WAR
- Hall of Fame Status
- Peak Performance
- Overall Contributions to the Game
The highest-ranked Dodgers player is Sandy Koufax, who came in on ESPN’s list as the 32nd-best player of all-time, the same number he wore. Joining Koufax on the list were Jackie Robinson (No. 38), Clayton Kershaw (No. 52), Roy Campanella (No. 83), and Duke Snider (No. 95).
The Hall of Famer was a seven-time All-Star and three-time World Series Champion. He also won the MVP once, along with three Cy Young Awards, three pitching triple crowns, and five ERA titles.
Robinson debuted in 1947 and most famously broke the MLB color barrier. Along with his historic achievement, Robinson is among the most talented players ever.
In 10 seasons with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Robinson hit .311/.409/.474 with 197 stolen bases, 137 home runs, 734 RBI, and 947 runs scored in 1,382 games.
He was named an All-Star seven times and won an MVP Award, batting title, and Rookie of the Year, which was later named to honor him. The Hall of Famer also helped the Dodgers win the 1955 World Series.
The only Dodgers player on ESPN’s list who is still active, Kershaw has had a remarkable 15-year career, which could last even longer. Sports betting sites such as Parimatch have him as a first-ballot lock for the Baseball Hall of Fame when he hangs up his cleats.
The native Texan owns a career 2.48 ERA in 2,581.0 innings with a record of 197-87. He also has three seasons with an ERA below 2.00. This past season he was 12-3 with an ERA of 2.28. The 2020 World Series champion has been named an All-Star eight times and won five ERA titles, three Cy Youngs, the pitching triple crown, a Gold Glove, and the 2014 MVP Award.
Campanella played for ten seasons as the Brooklyn catcher and joined the league one season after Robinson as both became important figures in the civil rights movement.
The Hall of Fame catcher was an 11-time All-Star and three-time MVP, including during the Dodgers’ championship season in 1955. In 1,215 games, Campanella hit .276/.360/.500 with 242 home runs and 856 RBIs.
Snider is the only player on the list who played for the Dodgers in Brooklyn and Los Angeles, spending 11 seasons in Brooklyn and five in L.A.
The Hall of Fame center fielder was an eight-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion in his 18-year career. In 2,1143 games, Snider hit .295/.380/.540 with 407 home runs, 1,333 RBIs and 1,259 runs scored.
