On Dec. 6, 1973, the Los Angeles Dodgers traded away pitchers Claude Osteen and Dave Culpepper to the Houston Astros in exchange for slugger Jimmy Wynn, who helped the team reach the World Series in 1974.
Wynn had been a member of the Astros organization for 11 seasons before he was shipped off to the Dodgers. He found instant success upon being traded to L.A. with back-to-back All-Star seasons, which was double the amount of All-Star selections he had with the Astros.
Wynn played 150 games for the Dodgers in 1974, slashing .271/.387/.497 with 32 home runs and 108 RBI, helping LA reach the postseason for the first time in seven seasons with a National League best 102 wins.
The Dodgers defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates in the NL Championship Series before ultimately falling short against the Oakland Athletics in the World Series.
Wynn’s second season with the Dodgers wasn’t as great as his first, but he still made the All-Star team. The Dodgers had a respectable year in 1975, but the Cincinnati Reds were the NL West representative in the NLCS after winning 108 games.
Following the conclusion of the 1975 season, the Dodgers traded Wynn, Lee Lacy, Tom Paciorek and Jerry Royster to the Atlanta Braves in exchange for Dusty Baker and Ed Goodson.
Dodgers hire Grady Little as manager
After finishing with a record of 71-91 in 2005, the Dodgers and manager Jim Tracy mutually agreed to part ways due to philosophical differences. They filled the void by hiring former Boston Red Sox manager Grady Little on Dec. 6, 2005.
Little compiled a 188-136 record in two seasons with the Red Sox from 2002-03, but his contract was not renewed following his team’s loss in the 2003 American League Championship Series against the New York Yankees. His decision to not pull Pedro Martinez during the eighth inning of Game 7 was a hotly debated decision.
Little spent the following two seasons with the Chicago Cubs organization before he was hired by the Dodgers. In his first season, the Dodgers won 88 games in 2006 and clinched a playoff spot as the Wild Card, but were swept by the New York Mets in the NL Division Series.
The team failed to make the playoffs the following season. This resulted in rumors and speculation about Little’s job security, but he ultimately resigned on October 30, 2007. Joe Torre was later hired to take his place ahead of the 2008 season.
Dodgers sign Andruw Jones to two-year, $36 million deal
On Dec. 6, 2007, the Dodgers made a splash in free agency by signing five-time All-Star Andruw Jones to a two-year, $36 million contract. After 12 seasons with the Atlanta Braves, Jones hit the open market for the first time in his career after the six-year, $75 million extension he signed in 2002 expired.
Jones was coming off his weakest season as a professional when the Dodgers signed him, but had led the NL in home runs and RBI only two seasons prior.
The Dodgers’ gamble did not pay off as he not only continued to struggle at the plate, but his streak of 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards ended as well.
Jones also struggled to stay healthy for this first time in his career, being placed on the disabled list for the first two times of his career. On September 13, 2008, Jones was put on the 60-day disabled list, and removed from the playoff roster, effectively ending his season and career with the Dodgers.
On Jan. 15, 2009, Jones was officially released by the Dodgers following the worst season of his career as he slashed .158/.256/.249 in 75 games.
Make sure to follow Dodger Blue on Instagram! It’s the best way to see exclusive coverage from games and events, get your questions answered, and more!
