1996 Los Angeles Dodgers season
The 1996 Los Angeles Dodgers season saw the Dodgers remain atop the standings most of the season. However, longtime manager Tommy Lasorda suffered a heart attack in mid-season and had to step down. Bill Russell, Lasorda's bench coach and a former Dodger player, was chosen to manage the rest of the season.
The Dodgers went into the final weekend of the season with a two-game lead on the San Diego Padres, needing only to win one of the final three games with the Padres to clinch the National League Western Division crown. However, the Padres swept the Dodgers and they limped into the playoffs as a Wild Card team. The Dodgers were swept by the Atlanta Braves in the National League Division Series.
The Dodgers used 15 different pitchers during the season, the fewest of any MLB team in 1996.
Offseason
- November 29, 1995: Acquired Mike Blowers from the Seattle Mariners for Miguel Cairo and Willie Otanez
- December 15, 1995: Acquired from the Montreal Expos for Omar Daal
- December 17, 1995: Acquired Billy Brewer from the Kansas City Royals for José Offerman
Regular season
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
Game log
Detailed records
| Month | Games | Won | Lost | Win % | ||
| April | 28 | 14 | 14 | 106 | 100 | |
| May | 27 | 15 | 12 | 114 | 97 | |
| June | 27 | 13 | 14 | 111 | 136 | |
| July | 26 | 15 | 11 | 116 | 94 | |
| August | 27 | 17 | 10 | 138 | 133 | |
| September | 27 | 16 | 11 | 118 | 92 | |
| Total | 162 | 90 | 72 | 703 | 652 |
Opening Day lineup
Notable Transactions
- July 31, 1996: Acquired Chad Curtis from the Detroit Tigers for Joey Eischen and John Cummings
- August 31, 1996: Acquired Dave Clark from the Pittsburgh Pirates for
- October 30, 1996: Chip Hale signed as a Free Agent with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Roster
Starting Pitchers stats
Relief Pitchers stats
Batting Stats
1996 Playoffs
[1996 National League Division Series]
The 1996 National League Division Series was played between Los Angeles Dodgers and Atlanta Braves. Atlanta ended up winning the series 3-0.Game 1, October 2
, Los AngelesGame 2, October 3
, Los AngelesGame 3, October 3
, Atlanta1996 Awards
- 1996 Major League Baseball All-Star Game
- *Mike Piazza starter
- *Todd Worrell reserve
- Rookie of the Year Award
- *Todd Hollandsworth
- All-Star Game MVP Award
- *Mike Piazza
- TSN National League All-Star
- *Mike Piazza
- Players Choice: Outstanding NL Rookie
- *Todd Hollandsworth
- Baseball Digest Rookie All-Star
- *Todd Hollandsworth
- Silver Slugger Award
- *Mike Piazza
- NL Pitcher of the Month
- *Hideo Nomo
- NL Player of the Week
- *Hideo Nomo
- Branch Rickey Award
- *Brett Butler
Farm system
Major League Baseball draft
The Dodgers selected 79 players in this draft. Of those, seven of them would eventually play Major League baseball.The top draft pick was third baseman Damian Rolls from Schlagel High School. He was selected by the Kansas City Royals in the 1999 Rule 5 draft and then traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, where he played parts of five seasons with a.248 batting average, 9 homers and 73 RBI.
Shortstop Alex Cora was drafted in the third round out of the University of Miami. He would play 14 seasons in the Majors, primarily as a utility infielder/defensive replacement. He hit.243 in 1,273 games
The most successful player in this draft class was left-handed pitcher Ted Lilly from Fresno City College, who was drafted in the 23rd round. A two-time All-Star, he would play 15 seasons in the Majors and had a 130-113 record and 4.14 ERA in 356 games.
| 1996 Draft Picks | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |