Before They Wore Dodger Blue
Last week, I was contracted by a gentleman named Eric Vickrey, who describes himself as an Author and Baseball Historia n. Well, I’ll just tell you what he said: “ I’m Eric Vickrey, a Washington state-based author and baseball historian. My third book, Before They Wore Dodger…
Last week, I was contracted by a gentleman named Eric Vickrey, who describes himself as an Author and Baseball Historian. Well, I’ll just tell you what he said:
“I’m Eric Vickrey, a Washington state-based author and baseball historian. My third book, Before They Wore Dodger Blue: Tommy Lasorda and the Greatest Draft Class in Baseball History, will be published by August Publications on December 7th.
— Eric Vickrey
In 1968, just three years after MLB adopted an amateur draft, the Dodgers pulled off what remains the best draft in baseball history. That year, they selected Davey Lopes, Bobby Valentine, Bill Buckner, Steve Garvey, Ron Cey, Doyle Alexander, Geoff Zahn, Joe Ferguson, and Tom Paciorek. These players came up through the minors under up-and-coming manager Tommy Lasorda and formed the nucleus of the Dodgers’ next great era.
Enhanced by interviews with 70 former players, executives, scouts, and other team personnel, Before They Wore Dodger Blue chronicles MLB’s transition from the Bonus Baby era to an amateur draft and details how the Dodgers front office pulled off their franchise-altering prospect haul. The book then follows the Dodgers prospects and Lasorda as they climb the minor-league ranks, including the Spokane Indians’ Pacific Coast League championship over Chuck Tanner’s Hawaii Islanders.
If you’re interested, I’d be happy to send you an advanced copy of the book as a PDF. All I ask is that if you like it that you consider a shout out on LA Dodger Talk. And if you prefer a hard copy, I can make that happen in December.“
That’s right up my alley, and he did send me the PDF. I’ve read a little of it and can tell you that I will certainly read the book when it’s released. Here’s an excerpt:
So how did the Dodgers pull off such an extraordinary draft? Was it the genius of Campanis and his venerable group of eagle-eyed scouts? Was it an astute minor-league development system that maximized prospects’ potential? Or was it pure luck? As with many things in life, there isn’t one clear answer. Naturally, there was a certain amount of luck involved. But in the words of Campanis’s mentor, Branch Rickey, “Luck is the residue of design.”
— Before They Wore Dodger Blue by Eric Vickrey
Here’s the Book Cover again:
BTW, my book, “The Mountainmover,” is due out in May 2026.
I thought this was an excellent video (sent to me by Jayne Cobb):
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Discussion (83)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Passan’s off-season preview:
Open on www.espn.comhttps://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/46999006/mlb-2025-26-offseason-passan-predictions-free-agency-kyle-tucker-schwarber-alex-bregman“Los Angeles a longer shot” for Tucker.
Beyond the Yankees, who would like a return engagement with Bellinger — particularly if Trent Grisham rejects a qualifying offer … the Dodgers, who nontendered Bellinger three years ago, have expressed interest as they peruse the outfield market.
Teams are gauging the cost to acquire Washington shortstop CJ Abrams.
Teams are trying to get a young bat from the Athletics for controllable starting pitching. They aren’t particularly inclined to mess with one of the best lineups in baseball and will focus on the free agent market.
Ohtani, YY, Glasnow, Snell, Sasaki and Sheehan are what the 6 man looks like now, right?
Then there’s: Ryan, Stone, Casparius, Wrobleski, Knack and maybe Frasso?
Serwinowski, Ferris and Copen ended in AA and probably get a bump at some point?
It feels like one to three of those have to move, EVEN if there are injuries. No?