This Day In Dodgers History: Magic Johnson, Andrew Friedman & Farhan Zaidi Introduce New Manager Dave Roberts

On Dec. 1, 2015, the Los Angeles Dodgers formally introduced Dave Roberts as the 28th manager in franchise history (10th since the club moved from Brooklyn to L.A.). Roberts, who is of African-American and Japanese descent, notably became the Dodgers’ first minority manager.

Roberts was accompanied by Dodgers part owner Magic Johnson, president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and then-general manager Farhan Zaidi at his introductory press conference inside the Stadium Club at Dodger Stadium.

Some considered the hiring of Roberts a bit of an upset as former Dodgers director of player development Gabe Kapler was thought to have an inside track and be Friedman’s preferred candidate.

Roberts spoke of wanting to instill a blue collar approach and team-first culture, then set out and accomplished as much in his first year. He was named National League Manager of the Year, joining Tommy Lasorda as the only rookie skippers in franchise history to win the National League West.

Roberts then went on to become the first manager in MLB history to lead his team to a division title in each of his first four seasons. He helped the Dodgers return to the World Series in 2017, marking their first appearance in 29 years.

That marked the start of back-to-back trips to the Fall Classic, though a championship has continued to elude the Dodgers. In 2019, Roberts guided the club to a franchise record 106 wins, but October saw more disappointment as the Dodgers were eliminated in the NL Division Series.

It led to questions about Roberts’ job security, though Friedman quickly put those to rest. “Frankly, I was surprised by the question,” he said soon after the Dodgers’ offseason began.

“This is a team that won 106 games and you look back over the last four years, what we have accomplished, what Dave has accomplished and compare that resume to resumes of others out there … obviously our goal is to win a World Series.

“When the season ends as abruptly as it did — it’s one of the more painful losses that I can remember — the whole thing is focusing on how we get to winning those 11 games in October, and in our mind Dave is absolutely a part of that and is an additive part of doing that.”

Prior to Roberts being hired the Dodgers had never won three consecutive division titles in franchise history.

In 2016 they became the first team to win the NL West in four consecutive seasons since the Divisional Era began in 1969 — a record that’s now been extended to seven. Overall, the Dodgers’ streak trails only the Braves (14) and New York Yankees (nine) for most consecutive division titles since 1969.

Roberts is 393-256 through his first four seasons as Dodgers manager. His 393 wins rank eighth all-time in franchise history, and he’s poised to surpass Jim Tracy (427 wins) and Mattingly (446) next season.