1967 Los Angeles Dodgers season


The 1967 Los Angeles Dodgers season marked the end of one of the franchise's most successful eras. One season after losing the World Series to the Baltimore Orioles, the Dodgers declined to a record of 73–89, and finished ahead of only the Houston Astros and the New York Mets in the National League race, 28½ games behind the NL and World Champion St. Louis Cardinals. It was the Dodgers' worst record since the war-affected 1944 season, and their worst peacetime record since 1937. The Dodgers would not return to the postseason until 1974.

Offseason

Season standings

Record vs. opponents

Opening Day lineup

Notable transactions

Season Recap

The Dodgers were coming off back to back National League titles, but were mildly surprised by ace pitcher Sandy Koufax's retirement after the 1966 season. Still, while not expected to be a contender in 1967, there was a solid nucleus that would have been expected to win in the neighborhood of 85 games. However, a couple of questionable trades further weakened an offense that was already considered below average.
In April, leading hitter and team home run leader Lou Johnson was injured sliding into home against the Braves and missed two months of the season. New shortstop Gene Michael batted.202, a full 100 points less than the man he replaced, as Maury Wills batted.302 for the Pirates. Ron Fairly, Willie Davis, and Bob Bailey all slumped off from their 1966 production; but one of the few bright spots was rookie Al Ferrara's.277 average and 16 home runs in just over half the season. Ultimately, the Dodgers scored fewer runs than any National League team except the last place Mets.
Despite the loss of Koufax, the pitching was generally solid, but the starters' won-loss records suffered from lack of run support despite solid ERAs. Rookie Bill Singer was 12–8 with a 2.64 ERA, Don Drysdale was 13–16 with a 2.74 ERA, and Claude Osteen was 17–17 with a 3.22 ERA. Don Sutton suffered from a "sophomore jinx", as he went 11–15 with a 3.95 ERA, nearly a full run higher than his 2.99 ERA in 1966. The bull pen was led by Ron Perranoski, Jim Brewer, and Phil Regan, who combined for 23 saves and all had an ERA under 3.
The Dodgers lost 10 of their first 16 games and never got closer than 7 games out of 1st place. They were never able to top the.500 mark, and while they were a respectable 42–39 at home, they were a dismal 31–50 on the road.

Batting

Starters by position

Note: Pos = Position; G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PosPlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
2B110388102.263333
3B136494129.261850
CF143569146.257641
LF10433089.2701141
RF153486107.2201055
1B139496102.247531
C11633491.272424
SS9822345.20207

Other batters

Note: G = Games played; AB = At bats; H = Hits; Avg. = Batting average; HR = Home runs; RBI = Runs batted in
PlayerGABHAvg.HRRBI
659816.163010

Pitching

Starting pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO

Other pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; IP = Innings pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGIPWLERASO
30100.2542.6874

Relief pitchers

Note: G = Games pitched; W = Wins; L = Losses; SV = Saves; ERA = Earned run average; SO = Strikeouts
PlayerGWLSVERASO

Awards and honors

LEAGUE CHAMPIONS: Albuquerque, Ogden

1967 Major League Baseball Draft

This was the third year of a Major League Baseball Draft. The Dodgers drafted 87 players in the June draft and 9 in the January draft. The top draft pick was third baseman Donnie Denbow from Southern Methodist University. He played in the Dodgers farm system through 1970. In 177 games in the rookie leagues and Class-A, he hit.242.
Of this years draft class, only catcher Steve Yeager, drafted in the fourth round, made any impact in the Majors. He played with the Dodgers from 1972–1985 and hit 102 home runs during his career.
RoundNamePositionSchoolSignedCareer spanHighest level
1Travis KingRHPSouth Georgia CollegeYes1967–1972AA
2James HerbertLHPSouthern University and A&M CollegeNo

RoundNamePositionSchoolSignedCareer spanHighest level
1Larry BurchartRHPOklahoma State UniversityNo
Dodgers – 1967 June
1967–1971MLB
2James DoranOFStaunton Military AcademyYes1967–1968A-
3Jeffrey BowmanRHPModesto Junior CollegeNo
4Maurice SmithCUniversity of Illinois at Urbana–ChampaignYes1967A-
5Paul DeVaneyRHPRochester Business InstituteYes1967–1968A-
6Michael BablerRHPChabot CollegeNo
7Eldon JonesLHPTrinidad State Junior CollegeNo
Athletics – 1970
1970–1973AA

RoundNamePositionSchoolSignedCareer spanHighest level
1Donnie Denbow3BSouthern Methodist UniversityYes1966–1971A
2Thomas HarrisSSCentral Gwinnett High SchoolYes1967–1971A
3William RainerOFSouthern Methodist UniversityYes1967–1968A
4Steve YeagerCMeadowdale High SchoolYes1967–1986MLB
5Ron CashSSLakeside High SchoolNo
Tigers – 1971
1971–1976MLB
6Kenneth HansenRHPMaryvale High SchoolNo
Reds – 1971
1971–1973AA
7Rusty BodkinOFFort Lauderdale High SchoolNo
Cardinals – 1968
1967–1971A
8Leland SaxonLHPPalmetto High SchoolYes1967–1968Rookie
9Gary Wedel3BGardena High SchoolYes1967–1970A
10Carmine Marceno1BChristopher Columbus High SchoolYes1967–1970A
11Charles BoggsCWest Virginia UniversityYes1967–1968A
12Robert LamberLHPNew York City College of TechnologyYes1967Rookie
13Kara HallINFDos Palos High SchoolYes1967–1971A
14James Loll1BCrespi Carmelite High SchoolNo
Royals – 1969
1969Rookie
15Glenn WoodruffCAliceville High SchoolNo
Indians – 1972
1972–1974AA
16Jack DonovanRHPSt. Peter's High SchoolNo
Angels – 1971
1971–1975AAA
17Robert Knight2BKing High SchoolNo
Cubs – 1969
1969–1970A
18Don Stoulil3BBishop Alemany High SchoolYes1968–1971A
19Abraham SearsSSPerry High SchoolYes1967–1968A
20Larry KingRHPWillingham High SchoolYes1967Rookie
21Bruce MatteRHPMiami UniversityNo
Mets – 1968
1968–1970A
22Leon Murray1BFremont High SchoolNo
Giants – 1970
1970Rookie
23Malcolm Bass2BGulf Coast Community CollegeYes1967A-
24Norman DermodyRHPSeton Hall UniversityYes1967–1970AA
25James HughesSSOkawville High SchoolYes1967Rookie
26James NortonCBishop Alemany High SchoolNo
27Mike RapkinLHPMonroe High SchoolNo
28Gregory SmithRHPSierra High SchoolNo
29Jim FlynnRHPRoosevelt High SchoolYes1967–1973AAA
30James BrunnworthRHPEdwardsville High SchoolYes1967–1971AA
31Ronald ThompsonRHPRoosevelt High SchoolNo
32Dave ThompsonOFSanta Barbara High SchoolNo
Angels −1968
1968–1969A
33John BranniganLHPCliffside Park High SchoolNo
34Robert HuellemeierRHPMount de Sales High SchoolNo
35William WrightCCarson-Newman CollegeNo
36Chava FloresSSArtesia High SchoolYes1968Rookie
37Greg MattinsonOFGrossmont CollegeNo
38Charles Kingsbury3BClaremont High SchoolNo
39Willie StricklandOFFremont High SchoolNo
40Gene Martin3BSanta Monica High SchoolNo
41Larry TingleRHPYerington High SchoolYes1967–1969A
42Douglas BarkerRHPDavis High SchoolNo
Phillies – 1969
1969–1971A
43Dennis MurphyRHPSouthwest Miami High SchoolYes1967–1969A
44James O'BrienOFSacred Heart UniversityNo
45Phillip Cabibi2BGarey High SchoolNo
46James SouthworthRHPLos Angeles Valley CollegeNo
Senators – 1970
1970–1972AAA
47Gene WillettsCJohnson & Wales UniversityNo
48William SusaRHPReseda High SchoolNoA
49Steven NapoliOFBishop Alemany High SchoolNo
50John MarinoCLos Angeles Valley CollegeNo
51David ConwayOFLos Angeles Valley CollegeYes1967–1968A
52William GravesRHPWestmont CollegeYes1967–1970AA
53Harold ArmstrongSSHueneme High SchoolNo
54Stephen LeeLHPMonroe High SchoolNo
Giants – 1971
1971A
55Joseph JacobsenCRoosevelt High SchoolNo
Twins −1969
1969–1972A
56Michael McPartlin3BNiagara County Community CollegeNo
57David DaleRHPCulver Military Academy High SchoolNo
58Stephen EastonLHPSierra High SchoolNo
Athletics – 1971
1971–1973AA
59David LloydOFJefferson High SchoolNo
60Patrick Manahan3BSylmar High SchoolYes1967–1970A
61Albert Rossi2BSt. Francis High SchoolNo
62Frank RuckerLHPEnsley High SchoolNo
63Bruce EllingsenLHPLakewood High SchoolYes1968–1975MLB
64Francis KarmelichCFelix Lasuen High SchoolNo
Senators – 1970
1970–1972A
65Tom LundstedtCProspect High SchoolNo
Cubs – 1970
1970–1975MLB
66Antonio LatourLHPIndian River Community CollegeNo
67Craig FoxLHPNo
68Barton Bell2BMesa Community CollegeSELECTION VOIDED
69Harold MurrayCSmith-Cotton High SchoolNo
70Keith LieppmanSSSouthwest High SchoolNo
Athletics – 1971
1971–1979AAA

RoundNamePositionSchoolSignedCareer spanHighest level
1Pat BrownOFUniversity of Texas at AustinNo
Yankees – 1969
1969–1971AA
2Robert Bosson1BColumbia UniversityNo
3Larry BurchartRHPOklahoma State UniversityYes1967–1971MLB
4Raldolph KohnCUniversity of GeorgiaYes1967–1970A
5Samuel ScheschukCUniversity of Texas at AustinYes1967A-
6Jack CreelRHPGulf Coast Community CollegeYes1867–1968A
7David Speas3BSan Diego Mesa CollegeYes1967–1969A
8Walter AdeyLHPHudson Valley Community CollegeYes1967–1971A
9Jom KeirnsOFCentral State UniversityNo
10Lucky ThompsonSSUniversity of California, San DiegoNo
Cardinals – 1968
1968–1971AA
11Clarence ClevelandOFChipola CollegeNo
Phillies – 1971
1971Rookie
12Larry LinvilleOFArizona State UniversityNo
White Sox – 1968
1968–1971A
13Patrick O'BrienLHPUniversity of ArizonaNo
14Bruce WadeRHPEl Camino CollegeNo
15Richard BinderLHPUniversity of Illinois at Urbana-ChampaignNo
16Douglas BritteleRHPRutgers, the State University of New JerseyNo
17Glenn Bisbing3BRider UniversityNo
Reds – 1968
1968–1969A