Orel Hershiser's 1988 Major League Baseball season stands out as one of the most dominant individual performances in the sport's history. That year, the Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher not only set a new major league record for consecutive scoreless innings but also led his team to a World Series championship, collecting an impressive array of personal accolades along the way. His achievements transcended the baseball world, earning him recognition as a top
athlete across American sports.
Setting a New Standard: The Scoreless Innings Streak
In 1988, Hershiser etched his name into the record books by pitching 59 consecutive innings without allowing a run. This remarkable streak began in the sixth inning of an August 30 game against the Montreal Expos and concluded in the tenth inning of a September 28 game against the San Diego Padres. This feat surpassed the previous record of 58 and two-thirds innings, which had been set by another Dodgers pitcher, Don Drysdale, in 1968. Drysdale, who was then a radio announcer for the Dodgers, had the unique experience of calling Hershiser's games as he pursued and ultimately broke his own record.
During this historic run, Hershiser demonstrated exceptional skill in navigating high-risk scoring situations, preventing opposing hitters from scoring a single run. The streak included only regular season innings, though he also pitched eight scoreless innings to start Game 1 of the 1988 National League Championship Series, unofficially extending his combined streak to 67 innings. The streak officially ended in his first inning of work in the 1989 season against the Cincinnati Reds, when a run was yielded.
Postseason Heroics and MVP Honors
Hershiser's incredible regular season performance was just a prelude to his postseason dominance. After his NLCS Game 1 performance, he continued his scoreless pitching, adding 21 and one-third scoreless innings across the 1988 NL Championship Series and the 1988 World Series. His pivotal role in the Dodgers' success earned him both the National League Championship Series Most Valuable Player (MVP) Award and the World Series MVP Award.
In the NLCS, the Dodgers faced the New York Mets, who were heavy favorites, having beaten the Dodgers ten out of eleven times in the regular season. Hershiser's contributions were crucial, including a save in Game 4 and a complete-game shutout in the decisive Game 7. He allowed only five hits in that Game 7 effort, striking out Howard Johnson to end the game and secure the series for the Dodgers. He then went on to pitch a shutout in Game 2 of the World Series against the Oakland Athletics, and secured his second win in Game 5, leading the Dodgers to the championship.
A Season of Unprecedented Recognition
Beyond his on-field achievements, Hershiser's 1988 season garnered significant recognition outside of baseball. He was awarded the 1988 NL Cy Young Award, an honor given to the league's best pitcher. This unanimous vote underscored the overwhelming consensus regarding his exceptional performance. His season was further celebrated when he earned the Sportsman of the Year from Sports Illustrated in December 1988 and was named the Associated Press Athlete of the Year in January 1989. He became the first non-Olympian in 20 years to win the Associated Press award in an Olympic year, highlighting the widespread impact of his remarkable year.
