The Eighties in America - Salem Press (2009)

Hershiser, Orel

Identification American baseball pitcher
Born September 16, 1958; Buffalo, New York

Orel Hershiser was one of the top starting pitchers in the
major leagues in the last half of the 1980’s.

Nicknamed “Bulldog” by Los Angeles Dodgers’ man-
ager Tommy Lasorda, mild-mannered Orel
Hershiser developed into a consistent, determined,
and formidable pitcher. In 1984, his first full year
playing Major League Baseball, the right-hander
made the conversion from relief work to starting as-
signments. The following year, his record was a spec-
tacular nineteen wins to only three losses, the best in
the majors. Hershiser, along with the rest of the fine
Dodger pitching staff, helped his team win the West-
ern Division of the National League.
In 1988, Hershiser had one of the best seasons
in major-league pitching history. With twenty-three
wins that season, he led the National League. He
also tied for the most complete games and the most
shutouts in either league. Hershiser ended the regu-
lar season amid great fanfare, because he had a
chance to beat Don Drysdale’s seemingly untouch-
able record of fifty-eight and two-thirds consecutive
scoreless innings pitched. After his fifth straight
shutout, Hershiser was only nine and two-thirds in-
nings shy of the record, but he had only one regular-
season starting opportunity left. Remarkably, on
September 28, 1988, Hershiser held the San Diego
Padres scoreless for ten innings to break Drysdale’s
record. In his first playoff appearance, moreover, he
pitched eight more shutout innings.
Hershiser’s overall playoff performance in 1988
was equally remarkable. He saved one game against
the New York Mets then shut the Mets out in the cli-
mactic seventh game to win the National League
Championship pennant. The 1988 World Series be-
came known for Kirk Gibson’s game-winning home
run in game one. Hershiser, however, shut out the
Oakland As in game two, holding them to only three
hits. He went on to win the clinching game of the se-
ries, yielding only four hits in that contest. He was
named the most valuable player of both the National
League Championship and the World Series. In addi-
tion to winning the 1988 Cy Young Award and a Gold
Glove, Hershiser was selected as the Associated Press
(AP) Professional Athlete of the Year, as well as being
namedSports Illustrated’s Sportsman of the Year.

In three seasons in the 1980’s, Hershiser led the

National League in innings pitched, testifying to his

durability. Three times, his earned run average was

the third best in the National League, and once it

was second. Only teammate Fernando Valenzuela

and the Toronto Blue Jays’ Dave Stieb hurled more

shutouts in the 1980’s than did Hershiser. The

Dodgers’ hitting was often mediocre, a fact that is re-

flected in Hershiser’s win/loss record, but his consis-

tency made Hershiser a feared opponent.

Impact Orel Hershiser’s pitching performance in

1988 was one of the best on record. He helped lead

the Los Angeles Dodgers to their second World

Series triumph of the decade. His talent and his gen-

tlemanly respect toward the press and fans made

Hershiser a role model in a decade during which

professional baseball experienced much turmoil and

role models were in demand.

Further Reading

Hershiser, Orel, and Jerry B. Jenkins.Out of the Blue.

Rev. ed. New York: Berkeley, 1990.

Hershiser, Orel, and Robert Wolgemuth.Between the

Lines: Nine Principles to Live By. New York: Warner

Books, 2001.

Stout, Glenn.The Dodgers: 120 Years of Dodgers Base-

ball. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2004.

M. Philip Lucas

See also Baseball; Baseball strike of 1981; Gibson,

Kirk; Sports; Valenzuela, Fernando.

Hill Street Blues

Identification Television drama series

Creators Steven Bochco (1943- ) and

Michael Kozoll (1940- )

Date Aired from January 15, 1981, to May 12,

1987

Hill Street Bluesbuilt its success on a large ensemble cast.

Portraying an interconnected set of dramas involving the

lives of its many regular characters—based in and around

an urban police station—the show captured many of the

complexities and contradictions of the 1980’s, which it rep-

resented as an age of economic recession and inequality; in-

stitutional corruption, indifference, and inadequacy; rac-

ism; and personal frustration.

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