Los Angeles Dodgers fans have had much to celebrate over the last century. One of the most popular and successful MLB franchises of all time, the Dodgers have had their fair share of nerve-racking moments. From the tense final moments of Sandy Koufax’s perfect game in 1965 to the most recent 2020 World Series triumph over the Tampa Bay Rays, it’s been edge-of-your-seat entertainment almost the whole way.
There are undeniably a handful of genuinely unforgettable examples among the tense moments throughout the Dodgers’ history. We’ve searched the archives to find some of our all-time favorite episodes.
Sandy Koufax and his Quest for Perfection
Sandy Koufax was an imperious pitcher during the 1960s, playing in the All-Star game a remarkable seven times in eight years. He also helped the Dodgers to four World Series championships between 1955 and 1965, establishing himself as a true franchise legend.
Known for his ferocious fastballs and notoriously tricky curveballs, Koufax was an expert in striking and hitting out. Modern bettors would love the Dodgers legend, especially with the rising popularity of NRFI betting (No Run First Inning). We’re not sure many other pitchers could recreate Koufax’s ability to keep hitters quiet in the first inning and beyond. Nevertheless, current NRFI stats can give you a good idea of other pitchers on Koufax’s level.
It won’t be easy to match the Brooklyn-born pitcher’s ability – his successful quest for perfection in 1965 is all the proof you need. Dodgers fans held their collective breath against the Chicago Cubs on September 9 as Koufax became the sixth pitcher ever to throw a perfect game. He retired 27 batters in a row, a remarkable run with MLB fans worldwide on the edge of their seats.
The 1963 World Series
Sandy Koufax was most notable for his individual heroics but also helped the Dodgers to several World Series championships. The 1963 World Series was arguably the most hair-raising moment in this spell of dominance, with the Dodgers coming up against historic rivals, the New York Yankees.
The Boys in Blue had just moved to the new Dodger Stadium, and what a way to christen it. A narrow 2-1 victory had hearts in mouths throughout, but it ended as a beautiful moment in the franchise’s history.
Kirk Gibson
Undeniably one of the greatest World Series moments, Kirk Gibson’s walk-off against the Oakland Athletic in 1988 is unforgettable for any Dodgers fan who witnessed it live. Trailing the Athletics 4-3 at the bottom of the ninth inning, the Dodgers needed a spark from somewhere. Up stepped the limping Kirk Gibson to hit a homer that sent the stadium into rapture. It’s often called the most remarkable home run ever, and we can see why.
Justin Turner’s “Kirk Gibson”
If you thought Kirk Gibson’s legendary home run in 1988 couldn’t get any better, wait. Precisely 29 years to the day, Justin Turner channeled the memory of this incredible moment and hit another walk-off home run against the Chicago Cubs in 2017.
It paved the way for the Dodgers to enter their first World Series since 1988 and earned Justin Turner a co-MVP award with Chris Taylor. The walk-off was also incredibly special for Dodgers fans who had begun to wonder when their team would be back in the big time.
Game 6 of the 2020 World Series
The 2020 Los Angeles Dodgers World Series win is one of the great moments in modern Dodgers history, but it didn’t come without a struggle. There were plenty of nail-biting moments, especially with the Tampa Bay Rays continuously pegging The Blue Crew back. Game 6 was always going to be a pivotal point in the series, and it started uncertainly, with the Rays taking an early lead.
Fortunately, the Dodgers rallied in the last several innings, especially after Rays coach Kevin Cash removed the influential Blake Snell. Mookie Betts said afterward: “had he stayed in that game, he may have pitched a complete game. I don’t know exactly what would’ve happened, but he was rolling. He was pitching really, really well”.
It was stressful for Dodgers fans, who could finally sigh relief after Snell came out and the Dodgers pressed on for the win.
