The most honored infield in Dodgers history began with one small lie. On June 23, 1973, the Dodgers were stifled in the first game of two against the Cincinnati Reds. They lost 4-1, and recorded only seven hits. Before the night game later that day, the manager, Walter Alston looked for a way to shake up his lineup. Infielder Steve Garvey was his answer.
“I was sitting at my locker,” Garvey said, “and Walter came by and stopped me and asked me, ‘Have you ever played first?’”
Garvey hadn’t, not really. There was only one time in Little League, another in Triple A and a handful of appearances in the first few years of his big-league career.
“But,” Garvey added with a grin, “I wasn’t gonna tell him.”Instead, Garvey coolly lied to his manager. “Oh, sure,” he fibbed.
Hence, that night, he lined up alongside Ron Cey, Bill Russell and Davey Lopes to hit. Then, for the next eight and a half years, the Dodgers’ infield almost never changed again. The four went on to collect a combined 21 All-Star Game appearances, four National League pennants, and a memorable 1981 World Series title playing with one another.
“I was sitting at my locker,” Garvey said, “and Walter came by and stopped me and asked me, ‘Have you ever played first?’”
Garvey hadn’t, not really. There was only one time in Little League, another in Triple A and a handful of appearances in the first few years of his big-league career.
“But,” Garvey added with a grin, “I wasn’t gonna tell him.”Instead, Garvey coolly lied to his manager. “Oh, sure,” he fibbed.
Hence, that night, he lined up alongside Ron Cey, Bill Russell and Davey Lopes to hit. Then, for the next eight and a half years, the Dodgers’ infield almost never changed again. The four went on to collect a combined 21 All-Star Game appearances, four National League pennants, and a memorable 1981 World Series title playing with one another.