Prior to his release at the end of 2013, Justin Turner was a utility infielder for the New York Mets. After seeing him hit during a Cal State Fullerton Alumni game, third-base coach Tim Wallach signed him to a minor league contract with the Dodgers.
He earned a position on the roster and was invited to spring training. He earned two All-Star Game selections and became a fan favorite during his nine years with the Dodgers.
In addition, he was a World Series champion in 2020 and a co-National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player in 2017. He had a.296 batting average during his Dodgers career. It’s ironic that Turner exacted revenge on the team that fired him.In the 2015 Division Series against the Mets, he hit six doubles and had a batting average of.526, which was good. But in the series, New York would win.
A favor
Almost no scouting was done on Mike Piazza. He was viewed by most as a defensive liability. Consequently, Los Angeles selected him with the 1,390th overall pick in the 62nd round of the 1988 Major League Draft.
As a courtesy to Piazza’s father, Vincent, Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda made the final selection that year. Additionally, Lasorda proposed switching from first base to catcher. Observers continued to be dubious.
Piazza eventually gained recognition for his batting prowess, and in 1993 he joined the major leagues. With 35 home runs and a.318 batting average with 112 runs batted in, he was named the NL Rookie of the Year and made his first of 12 All-Star selections. Before his career was up, the former first baseman would become one of only eight players to hit over 400 home runs, maintain a.300 batting average, and strike out fewer than 100 times every season. The Dodgers eventually traded the future Hall of Famer away. For the final draft pick, it’s not awful.
Nearly a Giant
The Left Arm of God” had a bad start. The New York Giants extended an invitation to Sandy Koufax to try out. He uncorked a fastball over the catcher’s head during the workout because he was so anxious. The Giants were put off by this, and the left-hander eventually signed with the Dodgers.
The left-hander would still have trouble controlling himself, though. Until 1961 spring training, that is.Koufax’s colleague Gil Hodges, who was in charge of the B-squad game, informed the left-hander that Koufax would have to throw longer than expected since the pitcher who was meant to spell him after five innings had missed a flight.
Although it took him a while to get into his rhythm, the future Hall of Famer no-hit his opponents for seven innings. Koufax never turned around. The three-time Cy Young Award winner would go on to win four World Series (1955, 1959, 1963, 1965), win three pitching Triple Crowns, and pitch four no-hitters, including a perfect game. In 1963, he was again recognized as the National League’s Most Valuable Player. Koufax is regarded by many as the best left-hander of all time.
The fact that an alumni baseball game, a friendship, and an errant fastball may change a franchise’s history only serves to highlight how fantastic baseball is and how much it is worth.
