So Cal's All-Time Roster: No. 55
No. 55:
Our pick:
==Orel Hershiser, Dodgers (1983-'94, 2000)
We guarantee you, the only Orel on the list. And the only one nicknamed "Bulldog."
The 1988 season has his fingerprints all over it (sorry, Gibson), as he won the Cy Young Award and established a new scoreless inning streak -- 59, which only came about because he pitched 10 scoreless innings in the final weekend of the season at San Diego. A 23-8 record and 2.26 ERA wasn't so bad, either. In the playoffs, he became the man of all roles. He started Games 1, 3 and 7 against the Mets (the last, a complete-game shutout) and also got the save in Game 4. In the World Series, he threw a complete-game shutout in Game 2 (personally outhitting the Oakland Athletics) and then clinched it in Game 5 with another complete game, earning playoff MVP (again, sorry Gibby, and Mickey Hatcher, and Franklin Stubbs).
Rewind to his rookie season, when he started as a middle reliever, but ended up 11-8 with four shutouts. In '85, he finished an unreal 19-3 with a 2.03 ERA -- and was only third in the Cy Young voting.
Three All-Star appearances, 2,014 career strikeouts (some of which came, regrettably, with Cleveland, San Francisco and the New York Mets) and a won-loss record of 204-150. Not quite Hall of Fame numbers, which is why his number hasn't been retired and, in fact, is worn pretty swell by catcher Russell Martin these days.
Imagine a battery of Hershiser and Martin.
First runner up:
Runner-ups:
==Tom Fears, UCLA ('46-'47), Rams ('48-'56, also wore No. 80)
The Hall of Famer ranks third on Rams' all-time receptions list with 400 and is fifth with 5,397 receiving yards. Led NFL in receptions three times and touchdown receptions once. Posted two 1,000-yard seasons. Scored game-clinching, 73-yard touchdown to lift Rams to 1951 NFL championship over Cleveland. He holds the Rams' playoff record with three 100-yard games during postseason. Also holds Ram playoff records with 28 receptions and 572 yards.
Second runner-ups:
==Junior Seau, USC football ('88-'89)
==Kiki Vandeweghe, UCLA basketball ('76-'80), Clippers ('92-'93)
==Russell Martin, Dodgers ('06- )
Other No. 55s:
==Chris Claiborne, USC football ('96-'98)
==Matt Millen, Raiders ('80-'88)
==Carl Ekern, Rams ('76-'88)
==Gary Cunningham, UCLA basketball ('60-'62)
==Maxie Baughan, Rams ('66-'70)
Sports Illustrated's choice for the all-time No. 55: Hershiser, over Seau.
Did we miss anyone?
You've got our vote, now let's see yours: