The Los Angeles Dodgers are wearing a Maury Wills patch on their jersey for the remainder of the 2022 regular season as part of their honoring the franchise icon who passed away Monday night. Wills died at the age of 89 in his home in Sedona, Arizona.
The Dodgers will continue to wear the Vin Scully jersey patch for 2022, and previously did so for Jim Gilliam (1978), Tim Crews (1993), Don Drysdale (1993), Roy Campanella (1993), Pee Wee Reese (1999), Duke Snider (2011), Don Newcombe (2019), Tommy Lasorda (2021) and Don Sutton (2021).
“Maury Wills was one of the most exciting Dodgers of all-time,” Dodgers president and CEO Stan Kasten said in a statement. “He changed baseball with his base-running and made the stolen base an important part of the game. He was very instrumental in the success of the Dodgers with three world championships.”
Wills played 12 seasons with the Dodgers over two separate stints. After spending two years with the Pittsburgh Pirates and one with the Montreal Expos, Wills returned to the Dodgers organization in 1969 for the final four seasons of his career.
The seven-time All-Star led the National League in stolen bases for six consecutive seasons from 1960-65, which included a then-MLB record 104 in 1962. Wills earned a Gold Glove Award and was named MVP for the 1962 season as well.
He was on four Dodgers teams that reached the World Series (1959, 1963, 1965 and 1966), during which Wills played a part in the franchise winning titles in each of the first three of those appearances.
Wills became the first MLB player to bat on artificial turf when the Dodgers played at the Houston Astrodome on April 18, 1966. He remained connected to the Dodgers organization after retiring by working as an instructor during Spring Training.
In April of this year, Wills became the fourth member inducted into the “Legends of Dodger Baseball,” joining Steve Garvey, Don Newcombe and Fernando Valenzuela, who each were part of the inaugural class in 2019.
The “Legends of Dodger Baseball” recognizes franchise greats for their impact both on and off the field. Inductees receive a plaque honoring their achievements while playing for the Dodgers, which also goes on permanent display at Dodger Stadium.
Dave Roberts remembers Maury Wills
Dodgers manager Dave Roberts wears No. 30 in honor of Wills, and was emotional when reflecting on their relationship.
“Maury was very impactful to me personally and professionally,” Roberts said. “He’s going to be missed.”
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