On April 3rd, 1974, the Dodgers traded pitcher Bruce Ellingsen to the Cleveland Indians for 17-year-old Pedro Guerrero. The Indians were desperate for pitching. It would turn out to be one of the most lopsided one-for-one trades ever.
Guerrero went to Orangeburg in the Western Carolina League to start and played 19 games there before moving on to low A Bellingham where in 82 games he hit .316. Over the next 3 years, he played at Danville, Waterbury, and Albuquerque. Never hitting below .305.
He was mainly a 3rd baseman, but also played 1B and the outfield. At Albuquerque in 1978, he hit .337 in 132 games with 14 HR’s and 116 RBI’s. He was called up to the Dodgers in September of 1978, and got his first hit, a pinch-hit single in a blowout loss against Randy Jones and the Padres. He pinch-hit for Rick Sutcliffe.
Pedro was born on June 29th, 1956 in San Pedro de Macoris, in the Dominican Republic. He was barely in his teens when he left school to help support his family cutting cane for the island’s rum industry. His salary was barely 3 dollars a week.
He helped support his divorced mother and siblings by day, and at night he would play drums, and on the weekends he would play organized baseball. By age 16 the hard-hitting Guerrero stood out among his peers in a local youth league, primarily playing 3rd base.
Latin scouting pioneer, Reggie Otero, representing the Cleveland Indians, traveled there to scout Guerrero. Guerrero, who was 5’11” 157 Lbs. at the time, and Otero looked at the width of his shoulders back and front and knew he would get stronger and bigger. He was living on rice and beans.
In late 1972, Otero offered Guerrero a pro contract which had a 2500 dollar bonus to be paid on New Years Day, 1973. Guerrero went to rookie ball in the Gulf Coast League. When the Indians needed pitching, the lefty Ellingsen was traded for Guerrero on the recommendation of Otero who had recently been hired by Al Campanis.
In 1979, Pedro got into 25 games. He hit his first MLB HR off of Bob Owchinco of the Padres and finished with 2. In 1980, he played an important role with the team, filling in for Davey Lopes when he was ailing and taking over in CF for Rudy Law who was slumping. Overall he played 6 positions and hit .322 in 75 games with 7 HRs and 31 RBI’s. 1981 it was more of the same. He appeared in 98 games, hitting .300 with 12 HRs and 48 RBI’s. Getting selected for his first All-Star team. He hit .333 in the World Series against the Yankees and was tri MVP with Yeager and Cey.
1982, he finally became a regular. He played 137 games in the outfield and 24 at 3rd base. He hit .304 with 32 HR’s, and 100 RBIs. He was 3rd in the MVP vote and won a silver slugger award. Amazingly, unlike the year before, he was not on the All-Star team. 1983, more of the same. He hit .298, with 32 long balls and 103 RBI’s He earned another All-Star berth, and was 4th in the MVP vote. He hit .250 with no HRs in a losing effort against the Phillies in the NLCS. He also struck out over 100 times for the first time in his career.
In 1984, his batting average again went over .300 with a .303 mark. But his power and RBI’s numbers dipped. 16 and 72. He rebounded in 85 with a .320 avg, 33 HRs, and 87 RBI’s. Again named to the All-Star team. He was 3rd in the MVP vote. He again struggled in the NLCS against the Cardinals, hitting .250 with no homers and 4 RBI’s. The Jack Clark series.
Pedro had become the first Dodger to hit 30 HR’s and steal 20 bases in 82. He repeated that in 83. In 1985 he hit 15 HR’s in June, a record, and tied the LA mark for the most HR’s in a season, 33. Pedro was an aggressive baserunner, but not a real good slider. In spring training in 1986, he ruptured a tendon sliding and missed most of the 1986 season. He got into only 31 games and hit .246.
In 1987, he rebounded again, this time hitting .338, the highest BA by any Dodger since Tommy Davis hit .346 in 1962. He made the All-Star team again and had 27 HRs and 89 RBI’s. He walked almost as much as he struck out, and his OPS was .955. In 1988, he started out pretty good and was hitting .298 after 59 games. But his slugging pct was way down and he only had 5 HRs. The Dodgers, needing starting pitching traded him to the Cardinals on August 16 for John Tudor.
Over his 11 years with the team, Pedro hit .309 with 171 HRs and 585 RBIs. He won 1 silver slugger award and made the All-Star team 4 times. He would play 5 years in St. Louis, never quite being the power source he was in LA again. But he did have an excellent year in 1989, hitting .311 with 17 HRs and 117 RBI’s. Making the All-Star team again and finishing 3rd once more in the MVP vote. He was released after the 1992 season, a year he only played in 43 games.
In 93, 94, and 95, he played in an Independent league, the Mexican league, and the minors with the Midland Angels before finally hanging it up after the 95 season. He finished his career with a .300 Avg, 215 HRs, and 898 RBI’s. He also had 96 stolen bases. His 171 HR’s are 10th on the Dodgers all-time list.
Pedro was out of baseball for quite a while. He was arrested in September of 1999 for allegedly trying to buy 33 POUNDS of cocaine from an undercover agent. He was acquitted of drug conspiracy charges when his attorney argued that his client’s intellect prevented him from understanding the implications of the alleged drug deal. Hirsch detailed a portrait of a former MLB All-Star, referencing his lack of education and inability to perform simple everyday tasks.
From 2011 to 2014, Pedro managed in some foreign leagues. He had been introduced to managing by a former teammate, Mike Marshall, who was the commissioner of the Arizona Winter League. Mike hired him to be a hitting coach. In September of 2017, Pedro suffered what was considered a serious stroke while in New York City. Doctors thought he was brain dead, but he was only in a coma. The next morning he made what was considered a miracle recovery. And he was moved out of the ICU and was talking to friends and family.
Pedro returned to Dodger Stadium when the team celebrated the 1981 team and took a photo with his co MVP’s, Steve Yeager and Ron Cey. I always liked Pedro. He played hard and when he connected, the ball went a long way. I always believed that when he went down in spring training in 1986, and it was close to the end of spring, the Dodger’s chances of doing anything that season went down the tubes. He was always fun to watch.
Discussion (48)
Disagree, not disagreeable
Congratulations to the Big Man, Kenley Jansen’s 341st save of his career, tying him with Hall-of-Famer Rollie Fingers for 14th most all-time.
Up next, Randy Myers.
Glad we won….
Wonderful William lives up to his name again I see.
Terrific Trea helped a lot too.
Yes, players need rest, and everyone has to get enough AB’s to stay competitive but sitting Seager vs Gray was asinine. Doc said himself they’re in a sprint now and they dropped the opener to a pathetic team. Not the time to sit Seager vs a pitcher he’s faired well against to play McKinney.
As a kid I saw Pedro Guerrero play for the Danville Dodgers against the Quad-City Angels. He was one of my favorite Dodgers growing up. Broke my heart when they dealt him for Tudor. Tudor stunk for the Dodgers, blew out his arm, and returned to the hated Cardinals.
Former Dodger outfielder, Juan Encarnation arrested and accused of sexually abusing his daughter. Can people in this world get any more sick? This crap just turns my stomach.
Much better ab’s for Bellinger tonight. Is there anybody else that you’d want up late with the game on the line than Smith right now. Time for Betts, JT, Seager and Muncy to up their game this last month if we’re gonna catch the Giants. It seems like we have to go on a 10 game winning streak just to get a game on the Giants.
Count me in as a “bunt against the shift” girl. Not just for Cody, but for everyone except Pujols. The pitchers should capitalize on their training, even during “swing away” at bats. We need that free single. We need that edge against the Braves and Giants. And the Rockies, for that matter too.
Great Game for the Dodgers,, Great mile stone for Kenley. Yeah AJ
Great walk down memory lane on the Pedro Guerrero story
Just one small correction, San Pedro de Macoris is in the Dominican republic.
Vinney used to say it was baseballs shortstop factor.
I’m sure it was just an oversight Bear,and I don’t mean to be critical
I love all the dodger history stories you post
Maybe I’m in the minority, but David Price as a starter still makes me nervous. He seems like he labors to put batters away and has trouble holding a lead (or a tie). Of course the Rockies have me blacked out, so I couldn’t see him. I keep imagining a cutter over the heart of the plate…
Dodgers face Senzatela tomorrow. ERA over 4, 2-9 record. Mitch White will most likely start. They will face Smyly, Morton and Freid when Atlanta comes in. Two lefty’s. Pollock got a key base hit to drive in a run in the 9th. He is the only Dodger player hitting over .300. Trea Turner was hitting well over .300 when he was traded here. Pollock the only Dodger over .280.
Trea Turner is a very good player. The odds of the Dodgers resigning Corey Seager as a short stop diminish every game Trea Turner wears Dodger blue.
Will Smith has been the Dodgers best player this month hands down. While Muncy, Taylor, Turner, and the rest of the gang have flailed at balls, he has continued to be clutch when they need him the most, and he did it tonight with a solid single and not a homer.,
Freight Train Treinen Gets Job Done in 8th.
I have to admire that pick off. Dodgers game to win.
I mean Yency Almonte
Pedro Almonte Will be the next Cy Young winner. Unbelievable
What in the world is up with the ball and strike calling? Seems to get worse daily.
Friggin Giants won again. This resting guys is not going to cut it with the way the Giants are playing. Doc needs to put the best lineup out there day in and day out with the way the Giants are playing.
If the Dodgers signed Story for a year looking for him to revalue himself?
SS TT
RF Betts
CF Bellinger (Fixed up)
3B Story
1B Muncy
DH Turner
C Smith
LF Pollock
2B Lux
Doing the opener again. This time Knebel. I really think these statheads ignore the human element in this game. I’m sure Price would rather start and Knebel would rather pitch at the back end of a game. If it’s such a great strategy, why not always do it?
The Pirates released Gregory Polanco. He had been put on waivers and not claimed.
Tonight’s Lineup:
HITTERS H-AB RBI HR SB AVG
T. TurnerSS 148-464 56 20 25 .319
M. Muncy1B 99-382 76 28 2 .259
M. Betts2B 94-343 44 17 7 .274
J. Turner3B 118-420 70 21 1 .281
W. SmithC 89-335 62 21 3 .266
C. BellingerCF 43-250 32 9 2 .172
C. TaylorLF 121-438 66 18 13 .276
B. McKinneyRF 51-252 27 9 2 .202
C. KnebelP —– — — —
08/28/21 Los Angeles Dodgers recalled RHP Edwin Uceta from Oklahoma City Dodgers.
08/28/21 Los Angeles Dodgers optioned RHP Andre Jackson to Oklahoma City Dodgers.
We just have to agree to disagree about Bellinger. His time would be up for me until next year. He’d be on the IL starting today. Taylor and Muncy may be slumping but Bellinger’s WAY beyond that! His ab last night was embarrassing. Jansen had a bad week and you were willing to kick him to the curb. This has been an entire season for Bellinger
Our number pick in the 2021 Draft Maddux Bruns made his debut in the ACL last night and I’m sure he was a little nervous:
IP .2 H1 R3 ER3 BB3 SO1 HR1 ERA 40.50 Balks 2
My favorite Pedro G. story: Lasorda asks Petey (as he called him) what he is thinking about when he is playing third base. Petey replies, “Boss, first I pray they don’t hit the ball to me. Then I pray they don’t hit the ball to Steve Sax.”
I have no problem with an Opener. Makes sense on a baseball level. I just read an article at fangraphs on why certain players don’t like it and not surprisingly it’s about money, not strategy .” In other words, the opener seems like it could be an effective way for teams to limit pitcher salaries. And given the “baseball reasons” teams can provide for decisions that impact bonuses, it seems as if it would be difficult for a player to effectively argue bad faith on the part of the team, especially given the plausible baseball reasons for the opener.”
Cody is our centerfielder. I get that. I too await the blind squirrel connection. I thought we could do better but obviously it isn’t up to me and Taylor is currently slumping too so, whatever. There’s no explanation as to why Cody won’t bunt that makes any sense to me. The other night even the third baseman was behind second, the only player on that side of the field was the left fielder and Cody flailed away making out after out. It’s not going to change so we wait patiently for that one connection every 15 at bats or so. Yeah, as long as others are hitting we can live with it. But, we haven’t exactly been tearing the cover off the ball of late.
First & foremost, thanks Bear for once again posting an article that takes you down memory lane!!! The picture of Yeager, Pedro and the Penguin was great…
Pedro pretty bad at 3B!! Does anybody remember Steve Garvey at 3B, you needed paramedics behind 1B…
MT, you’re still sort of in an asylum… It’s like running thru a mine field!!
Dodger “DIRTY KENLEY” Horse, hbdodger48 “POS ROBERTS” P.S. HB it’s Pujols!!!
There’s a few more, but they should put down the pipe and call the NA hotline…
Sticking with baseball, anybody out there seen this 12YO pitcher from South Dakota Gavin Wear??? The best I’ve see since since Sean Burroughs held the CIF hostage chucking for Long Beach along with the LLWS.. The greatest youngster I ever saw play ball… A giant among kids!!
I’ll end this with I hate playing in CO and for God’s sake get off Belli!!! He should be our CF for the duration!!!
I really like Cody, but when he comes to bat I am hopeful, but not confident. His shoulder could still not be strong enough, but a weak shoulder does not make you swing at pitches way out of the strike zone. Does he need glasses as much as many of the umpires? I still can’t understand why lefties don’t lay down a bunt against the shift when there is no one there. Cody’s speed would almost guarantee a hit if he could bunt it toward 3B.
Cody’s splits are considerably worse than Taylor’s. Neither is helping much now but Cody has looked hopeless for quite a while.
We sucked as a team last night. 6 for 33 with 12 Ks. No hits with runners in scoring position. Betts didn’t help, Muncy has a spasm, Seager is 4 for his last 27, even Pollock and Justin were 0fer last night. That was a begonia against a bad club, but a club that is 7-3 in their last 10.
Try again tonight.
In a one game playoff, I would absolutely start Belli in CF. Scoring will be low and I want the chance to have a Belli bomb, or a walk and some great baserunning or a rob at the wall to be deciding factor in the game. Not a misplayed ball in CF leading to a little league play with circus music in the background like game 4 of the World Series last year.
Giants Notes: Gausman, Bryant
By TC Zencka | August 28, 2021 at 11:13am CDT
Kevin Gausman has had hip discomfort since an incident way back on April 24, per John Shea of the San Francisco Chronicle. He tweaked it during a play at first base last night, but managed to stay in the game and work through it. The Giants ace should continue to take his turns in the rotation.
Kris Bryant, meanwhile, was removed from the game after experiencing tightness in his side during his first at-bat of the game. He is going to be evaluated today. For the Giants, they have the depth to be cautious with Bryant, even if it doesn’t result in a stint on the injured list. Bryant has a history of these ticky-tack injuries that aren’t severe enough to make him miss time, even if his productivity can suffer. He has a .268/.318/.549 line in 22 games with the Giants.
Here’s something to put in your pipe and smoke:
Cody Bellinger has started most games this month.
Coincidently, the Dodgers have their best record of any month this year in August (18-5) and Cody Bellinger has been the CF.
Right after we lose the one game playoff? And 5 months of the worst OPS in baseball is more than a funk!
If Cody Bellinger does not snap out of his funk, there will be a time a decision has to be made.
That time is not here.
Let’s just say if we had 8 Cody Bellinger’s in the lineup we’d be a lot closer to Arizona than the Giants! He’d have to play 2 outfield positions to make up for his hitting this year. I like Cody and I’m rooting for him but he’s a huge overall liability right now. It’s not like we’re 10 games up in the standings and can afford to let him work through this. We’re headed for a one game playoff with some lefty waiting to take us down!
This Ramos kid in RC has some helium.
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When you have a stating pitcher like Andre Jackson and that’s what he has been doing 99% of the time in the minors and has shown that he can in his one start in the majors prior to last night’s game , then START him. Graterol is not a starter or an opener, he is a reliever in the 6th or 7th inning. The mindsets of a starter, opener and relievers are completely different.
Petey certainly could rake, but he was horrible with the glove.
Pedro Guerrero was my first ever “favorite player” in sports.
Always liked Pedro. Part of a fun era.
Dodgers lurking weakness vs LHP again rears it’s head. Some of our best RH bats seem to also struggle vs LHP. So looking forward, who do we have to look out for in the playoffs who can deploy a LHP to totally stifle the Dodgers?
I can’t say I’m surprised. I really hate the bush league “opener” nonsense. You take people out of their comfort level in order to gain a slight advantage by not facing the top of the lineup an additional time. I have yet to see this strategy work out consistently.
Then, there was the lineup. With JT batting 2nd, Pujols batting 4th and Will Smith batting 8th? WTF?
I realize that Muncy needed a day and Belli could use one as well. It’s tempting to roll out a bunch of right handers against lefty Freeland, but it allows the pitcher to really get in a groove facing the same side hitters throughout the lineup. Not to mention, Freeland has reverse splits.
The lineup has been solid, but not great lately. I still don’t see them clicking. The pitching has been fairly outstanding during this run. Hopefully, we get well over the weekend, clean up these next couple of games and be ready to do some real damage by the time we play the Braves and Giants.
I don’t understand people going mental last night complaining about Bellinger’s only AB when his “replacement” CT3 goes 0-3 with a K. J Turner 0-4, Albert 0-3 with a horrendous play at 1B and unfortunately our one hot hitter Pollock taking the night off.
We did hit several warning track shots that would have been the difference in the game, but the top of the order needs to get on base more to put enough pressure on the pitcher to do some real damage. Will Smith had 3 hits batting in the 8th spot and the rest of the team matched that 3 hits with no walks by anyone. You just aren’t going to get a lot of opportunities with that kind of production. Hopefully, we don’t see another Yahtzee lineup like last night’s.
Doc said yesterday that Mookie would be playing 2nd base possibly today. So, I’m assuming Seager or TT will sit. Too much sitting for my liking especially when we trail in the standings. It worked against the Pirates, let’s see how well this works against the Rocks.
Andre Jackson now has a 1.04 ERA in his two games totalling 8.2 innings. What’s he got to do to get a start? Stop with this opener BS! We aren’t the Rays.
Vesia finally tripped up a little bit with that home run. It wasn’t a horrible pitch, low and away but lacked his typical velocity. That extra insurance run for the Rockies probably had a lot to do with the lack of performance in the bottom of the ninth.
With Mookie getting on base and over to scoring position with no outs, it would have been almost automatic to get him in to tie the game. But, down by two our guys were swinging for the fence and the umpire was helping out Estevez by turning a walk to Seager into a K looking. It was a disgraceful call considering the score and the game situation, more than a full ball off the plate.
All 6 runs in the game came from homers. This approach needs to change.
Cody needs a complete re-tool of his swing. When he connects on some of his majestic long balls it might be a thing of beauty, but when he is facing an off speed pitch he has way too many things to adjust to. His stand-up straight stance, his on top of the plate stance in the box, his flat bat positioning and his load all need to tweaked.
I think he needs a leg kick as his timing mechanism a la CT3 and JT. The leg kick allows for the hands to load and and put them in a natural offensive position while thinking FB but adjusting to an off speed pitch.
Something has to be done. I called him Joe Charboneau several weeks ago and I hope I’m wrong, but I have serious doubts we will see him attain his superstar status again. Is he a head case? Is he stubborn to wanting to make an adjustment? Is he coachable? I have no idea, but my eyes don’t fail me and from what I see he is an absolutely horrible offensive player and should not get anything more than a spot start from here until we turn then page to the offseason.
No more excuses, no more comments that he’s back because he gets one hit and no more “wait till next year when he has a proper off season and strengthens the shoulder.” All of that might be neccessary, but that’s next year. For now I’m from Missouri and he needs to show up. He hasn’t to this point and he needs to continue to sit.
After Fernando, Pedro was my favorite player!!
I enjoyed your post on Guerrero, Bear! I always liked him as a player. It’s a bit of a contradiction, don’t you think, between his supposed inabiliity to manage every day tasks, and being able to manage a ball club? Either he had a very clever defense attorney or it doesn’t take much to be a manager!
Losing to Colorado last night reminds me why I’d prefer to avoid a WC game. Anything can happen. A good pitcher, we have a poor offensive night, and we’re out of the playoffs. That’s a scenario to avoid. Good thing the Giants also lost last night. Let’s hope Atlanta can beat them again.
6 for 33, 12 Ks, 0 for 3 WRISP. At home against the worst road team in the league.
Yep, can’t win them all. But that’s a half empty glass they left sitting on the bar.
Maybe now is not the time to ask about Kershaw.
LOS ANGELES — Clayton Kershaw took the next step in his rehab on Friday at Dodger Stadium, throwing his second bullpen session of the week.
After throwing a 20-pitch fastballs-only bullpen on Tuesday, Kershaw progressed to throwing about 30 pitches on Friday, which is closer to his normal workload. He also threw sliders and curveballs for the first time since reinjuring his elbow on July 27 during a three-inning simulated game.
“It was good,” Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said of Kershaw’s bullpen session. “He’s still not, obviously, ripping it 100 percent. But it was a positive day for Clayton. We’ll probably see how he feels tomorrow and probably schedule another ‘pen.”
The next bullpen session would likely be on Monday, though it’s unclear just how many pitches the left-hander will throw. It’s also unclear when Kershaw will graduate from bullpen sessions and face live hitters.
Kershaw isn’t eligible to return from the injured list until Sept. 5, but the chances of him returning on that date are slim. The Dodgers still need to build him up as a starter and they believe there’s still time to do so while also acknowledging that Kershaw’s rehab progress needs to be basically perfect in order for him to be fully stretched out before the postseason.
When asked if Kershaw could end up being a reliever or a two-inning opener, Roberts wouldn’t rule out the possibility and said they will have open communication. A big part of that decision will depend on Kershaw’s health. When Kershaw was asked about coming out of the bullpen, he said he’s not quite there yet and would still like to return as a starter.
“We’ll find out. We’ll find out,” Kershaw said on Tuesday, when asked if there’s enough time in the regular season for him to return as a starter. “I want to pitch. I want to help and I want to start.”
For those who worried, nobody picked up Felix on the wire and he’s back with the Dodgers:
08/27/21 Los Angeles Dodgers sent RHP Neftali Feliz outright to Oklahoma City Dodgers.