In 1961, 21 year old local boy, Willie Davis became the Dodger’s starting center fielder. He was to become the replacement for the great Duke Snider, beating out among others the legendary Don Demeter :-). I was 10 years old at the time. Being the gawky string bean kid that I was, I had no real idea of the concept of “cool.” Even though I didn’t know what “cool” was, it was something I desired nevertheless. Then came Willie Davis. He may have been the “coolest” player I ever saw. He was so exciting, yet he seemed do everything so effortlessly. Little did I know that despite his immense talent, within the baseball player there struggled a troubled soul who, although seemingly happy in his own skin, never quite measured up to what others expected of him. The 3-Dog as he was lovingly known was always one of my favorite players. Watching him nonchalantly leg out a triple was sheer baseball delight.
William Henry Davis was born April 15, 1940 in Mineral Springs, Arkansas. When he was about 2 years old, his family moved to Los Angeles where he grew up. Willie Davis was a three-sport letterman in baseball, basketball, and track & field at Roosevelt High School, located in the Boyle Heights are of Los Angeles. He was an amazing athlete in high school. He once ran a 9.5-second 100-yard dash and he set a city record in the long jump of 25 feet 5 inches.
After he graduated from high school, (before there was a player draft), he was signed by Dodger scout, Kenny Myers, who Davis credits for giving him the confidence needed to become a major league baseball player. In an interview with Roy Firestone, Davis shared that Myers asked him, “how would you like to play centerfield for Dodgers?” To which Davis queried, “do you think I can?” and Myers responded, “you are going to be their center fielder.” Davis signed, and Myers was absolutely correct! Davis started his professional career in 1959, with the Reno Silver Sox, a “C” league team, where he got off to an outstanding start, hitting .365, with a .958 OPS. He had 40 doubles, 16 triples, and 15 home runs. While at Reno, Davis scored from first base, nine times on singles. Folks, I don’t care how good you are, that’s not easy to do!! He was then promoted to the Green Bay Bluejays, where in 30 at bats he struggled to a .133 batting average. Despite the slow finish to his initial season, the following year start, he was promoted to the Spokane Indians, a Dodger AAA club where he had a terrific season, hitting .346, with 43, doubles, 26 triples and 12 home runs, 30 stolen bases, and a .902 OPS. He was the minor league player of the year. That year the Dodgers called him up to the big club, where in 22 games he hit .318. After he first came up, some projected Davis as the second coming of Willie Mays. Those who saw him run insisted that he was faster than base stealing king Maury Wills. Willie Davis was lightening fast. As Bruce Jenkins wrote,
“In a race from first to third with a running start, I’m not sure even Bob Hayes could have caught him.”
“He was the only person I’ve ever seen score on a fly ball from second base when he did it in Vero Beach. Willie running the bases was one of the best. He was exciting,” said former Dodgers coach Manny Mota.
Other teammates recalled a play where he beat out a rundown between second and third, turned the corner, got caught in another rundown between third and home, and beat that. Another teammate recalled him scoring from second on a bunt hit down the third base line, scoring before 3rd baseman Bob Aspromonte even picked up the ball. He was known, by fans and players alike as the “3 Dog.” According to Davis, he was nicknamed “3 Dog” while he and several other teammates where at a dog track in Arizona, betting on the races. Apparently, several of the winning dogs that day came from the 3 spot. Hence his teammates then christened him the 3 Dog because of his greyhound-like speed. He also wore the number “3″ for all of his Dodgers career and that might have had something to do with it as well.
In 1961, as a 21 year old, he became the Dodgers starting center fielder. And so, the enigma that would become Willie Davis began. That year he hit a pedestrian .254, with 6 triples and 19 doubles. He did manage 12 home runs, but only 45 RBI. He stole 12 bases that year. And, as he showed throughout most of his career, he didn’t strike out much, but he also rarely walked.
In 1962, Davis batted .283 with 85 runs batted in and posted career highs in home runs (21), runs (103) and hits (171). The same season, Davis and Wills set an NL record for stolen bases by two teammates with 136 (Wills had 104, Davis 32), being the table setters for Tommy Davis (no relation, but his best friend), who set the Dodger record for RBI that year.
In 1963, Davis had another disappointing year, batting .245, with a .646 OPS. He did steal 25 bases. In 1964, Davis batted .294 with a career high 42 stolen bases. In 1965, he took another step backward, hitting only.238, with a .609 OPS. That off-season, Davis dedicated himself to learn Ted Williams’ the “Science of Hitting” and it paid off in 1966 with a .284 average. 1967 and 1968, however were once again mediocre years as he could only muster batting averages of .257 and .250, respectively.
Davis hit a career-high .311 in 1969; his 31 game hitting streak that year, was the longest in the major leagues since Dom DiMaggio hit in 34 straight games in 1949 and broke Zack Wheat’s franchise record of 29, set in 1916. It remains the longest by a Dodger in franchise history. In 1970 he hit .305. In 1971 he had another hitting streak of 25 games in 1971, ending with a .309 average and double figures in doubles (33), triples (10), home runs (10) and stolen bases (20).
Davis made the NL All-Star team in 1971 and 1973, and won the Gold Glove each year from 1971-73. He helped the Dodgers win the World Series in 1963 and 1965. In the 1965 World Series, he set a record (since broken) of three stolen bases in a single game, including one where he had to crawl into second base after stumbling and falling. But, adding to the enigma that is Willie Davis, what he is most remembered for is the 1966 World Series when he committed a Series-record three errors on two consecutive plays, first by losing a fly ball in the sun, then by dropping the next fly ball and overthrowing third base. This happened to be the final game ever pitched by Sandy Koufax. Mind you, the Dodgers would not have won that game, or the series simply because they couldn’t hit there way out of a paper bag, getting swept in 4 games by the Orioles, and being shut out in the final three games. Nevertheless, Davis was always remembered for those 3 errors.
After the 1973 season he was traded to the Montreal Expos for pitcher Mike Marshall; he batted .295 for Montreal before being traded to the Texas Rangers in December 1974. He hit only .249 for the Rangers in 42 games in 1975 before finishing the season with the St. Louis Cardinals, batting .291. In 1976 he hit .268 for the San Diego Padres, then spent two years in Japanese baseball with the Chunichi Dragons and Crown Lighter Lions. He played his final major league season with the California Angels in 1979, and made two pinch hitting appearances in the American League Championship Series before retiring.
Looking at his career as a whole, you see that Davis spent 14 of his 18 major league seasons with the Dodgers. He might not have been the most famous two-time All-Star outfielder in history, but Davis was reliable, fast, and durable. In an 18-season career, he posted a .279 batting average with 182 home runs and 1053 RBI in 2429 games played. He also collected 2561 hits and 398 stolen bases. At the end of his career he ranked seventh in major league history in putouts (5449) and total chances (5719) in the outfield, and third in games in center field (2237) behind only Willie Mays (2827) and Tris Speaker (2690) in major league history; he was also ninth in National League history in total outfield games (2274). Davis won Gold Glove Awards from 1971-73. He had thirteen seasons of 20 or more stolen bases, led the NL in triples twice, and retired with the fourth most triples (138) by any major leaguer since 1945. He holds Los Angeles club records for career hits (2091), runs (1004), triples (110), at bats (7495), total bases (3094) and extra base hits (585). His 31-game hitting streak in 1969 remains the longest by a Dodger. In addition to the Los Angeles records he retains, his club mark of 1952 games was surpassed by Bill Russell in 1984; Steve Garvey broke his records of 849 RBI and 321 doubles in 1981 and 1982 respectively. Garvey and Ron Cey passed his Los Angeles club record of 154 home runs in 1979; Davis’ record for left-handed hitters was broken by Shawn Green in 2004. That’s not a bad career for most players. Yet for some, his career was considered a disappointment. However, the expectation that he would, or could, be the next Willie Mays, together with his perceived lackadaisical attitude, haunted him throughout his career.
Between 1961 and 1977, Davis averaged 147 games played . He led the league in triples twice, in 1962 and 1970, and finished with 138 overall, which is the fourth-most by any major leaguer since 1945. He also stole at least twenty bases in eleven straight seasons between 1962 and 1972.
Yet, he was a roller-coaster ride of inconsistency. Despite his career numbers, Willie Davis also holds the distinction of never having his name on a Hall of Fame ballot. Mind you, I don’t think that Davis is a Hall of Fame caliber player, but, as pointed out by Harold Cole, in an Inside the Dodgers article, his omission from the ballot, was a great injustice, particularly when you consider that numerous lesser players were named. There were many, including Willie himself, who always felt that there was something lacking. There was a split of opinion as to whether or not Davis gave it his all.
. “He was so talented,” former teammate Maury Wills once said in an interview with the Los Angeles Times. “God really blessed him with some great tools—for any sport, really—speed, strength, agility—everything an athlete needs in order to make the big time.”
On the other hand, Buzzie Bavasi summed up the frustration many had with Davis when told the Los Angeles Times,
“There was nothing more exciting than to watch Willie run out a triple,” he added, “He could have been a Hall of Famer, but he had million-dollar legs and a 10-cent head.”
John Roseboro was less than kind in describing Davis’ work ethic.
. “He was egotistical….One time I asked to help him with his bunting, and he told me he didn’t need any help. ‘How many (bleeping) bunts did you beat out this year?’ he asked me. I never tried to help him after that. Willie wasn’t willing to work.”
.” “Willie, you see, did imitations,” wrote Jim Murray. “The only way you could tell it wasn’t Stan Musial was when he popped up. But Willie’s repertoire included Ted Williams, Billy Williams, Babe Ruth, Babe Herman (usually it came out more like Babe Phelps). He had more shticks than a Catskill comic. He wasn’t a ballplayer, he was a chameleon. Sometimes, he imitated three different guys in one night. None of them was Willie Davis. ‘Willie,’ Buzzie Bavasi used to ask him, ‘Why don’t you arrange it so that somebody imitates you?’” “First he tried to be Stan Musial and then Ernie Banks and he would imitate every hot hitter that came along,”
Montreal manager Gene Mauch told Ross Newhan of the Times.
“Now he’s simply Willie Davis and he’s damn exciting. If he goes 0-for-10 and changes, he’ll be a darn fool.”
One of his biggest defenders was Bill James.
. “Willie Davis, throughout the 1960s, was regarded as a huge disappointment, a player who never played up to his perceived ability,” historian and statistician Bill James wrote. “As John Roseboro said, ‘He has never hit .330 in his career. But he should have.’”
But James goes on to make the point that however vexing Davis may have been, he was judged too harshly, with contemporaries not appreciating the difficult hitting conditions he played in. The mid-1960s in general, and Dodger Stadium in particular, depressed offense considerably.
. “Davis was a terrific player,” James said. “True, he didn’t walk, and he was not particularly consistent – but his good years, in context, are quite impressive. … He should not be regarded as a failure, merely because he had to play his prime seasons in such difficult hitting conditions.”
Part of the perception of Davis as a player might also have to do with Davis’ personal life and the turns his life took after he retired. A Buddhist convert, he often irritated teammates by constantly fingering his prayer beads and chanting before games. After he retired, Davis struggled with substance abuse problems for the better part of 20 years. Also, in 1996, Davis was arrested for allegedly confronting his parents with a samurai sword and ninja throwing stars, threatening to burn their house down. It appears that his personal demons led to him being in constant financial troubles. Many, including the Dodgers sought to help him during this time, but as with his playing career, he did not always want to be helped.
In addition to his playing career, Willie Davis also appeared in several TV programs, including “Mr. Ed”, “The Flying Nun”, and “Owen Marshall: Counselor at Law.” He was also a co-star of the 1970 Jerry Lewis comedy film, “Which Way to the Front?” In a 1969 episode of Bewitched, Samantha, attending a game at Shea Stadium to see the New York Mets host the Dodgers, remarks “Willie Davis just hit a grand slam!” The episode was filmed on August 22, 1969, a date when the Mets coincidentally beat the Dodgers. In reality, Davis went 2 for 4 in the game, but did not hit a grand slam.
Davis was found dead in his home in Burbank, California, on March 9, 2010, by a neighbor who sometimes brought him breakfast. Initial indications showed that he most likely died of natural causes. Davis was survived by four children.
Willie Davis was one of the most exciting, yet frustrating, players I ever watched play the game. He could run like a cheetah, could hit and played some good defense. It’s unfortunate that he was always compared to what others thought he could be, because Willie Davis, in his own right, was doggone exciting to watch!
UPDATE
And for all of our very special veterans on this glorious Memorial Day…
Discussion (57)
Disagree, not disagreeable
I just noticed that today was the 61st anniversary of the Pirate’s Harvey Haddix pitching a perfect game for 12 innings against the Braves. Unfortunately, Lew Burdette pitched 13 innings of scoreless ball and Harvey lost the game in the bottom of the 13th, 1-0. I remember that game and I know many others on this site also remember it. I think I can safely say that we will never see anything even close to that in the future.
Keeping fingers crossed.
MLB has presented their plan to the MLBPA. Now we wait and see if we are going to play ball or not.
I remember that incident well. Gibby stormed off of the field and the next day was the team meeting. What a lot of people forget is his play in the playoffs against the Mets. Gibson hit only .154, but he had 2 crucial homers that won games 4 and 5. They were on the verge of losing game 4 when Sciocia hit a 2 run game tying homer off of Gooden in the the 9th. Gibby’s solo shot in the 12th ended up being the game winner. His 3 run homer in the 5th inning of game 6 put the game out of reach. Hershiser, who came into the series with his 59 inning scoreless streak, threw 8 more scoreless innings in game 1 before the Mets got to him in the 9th. Gibby’s leg problems were increased when he dived for a ball on a wet field in NY. By the time game 1 of the World Series rolled around he was unavailable to start. Although he won a game and saved one, Hershiser faltered just enough twice in the series to allow the Mets to win those games. But the bullpen was pretty bad. Pena, Orosco and Howell all had relatively bad series. Pena managed the only save in the bunch. Hershiser and Holton had the others. Unsung heroes were Dempsey and Sciocia. The only 2 players who managed to hit over .300 for the series.
Oh what a bunch of memories you conjure up, AC. Makes me want to subscribe to the Athletic which I may do. Jason Jenks is right up my alley. Thank you for posting a few lines of his article. I really enjoyed it.
Jayson Jenks has done it again. After his article on Steve Sax and the pig’s head in his bed, and Tommy Lasorda’s Animal House article, Jenks has penned a masterpiece article in the Athletic on Kirk Gibson. This story goes back and forth between what was happening October 15, 1988, and also March 3, 1988. Almost everyone knows about October 15, and while date of March 3 may not bring back memories, the story about eye black on the bill of his cap before s ST game surely will. The story goes back and forth on what was happening behind the scenes on both days. It was a remarkable story.
It talks about how a 24 year old clubhouse attendant, Mitch Poole, was more than just a bit player in that evening’s events. I have also come to believe had it not been for Jesse Orosco, the player behind the eye black in the cap prank, there might not have been a 1988 WS to remember. I will steal a couple of lines from the article. The setting is the clubhouse the next day, and Gibson got up to speak on what happened.
I’m not here to finish in last place. It’s not OK. It’s one thing to have a good time, but next time I will beat your ass. Do not f… with my uniform and do not play these little games.
When we’re the last team standing and we win the World Series, I’ll be the one partying the hardest. But until then, we need to focus on what we’re doing and not be jacking around.
Tim Belcher, a rookie pitcher, thought, “Holy sh.., this guy is badass.”
Jay Howell thought, “Oh, f… yeah. We’ve got a new sheriff in town.”
Kirk Gibson was one scary dude, but he will always be an unforgettable Dodger. But now Jesse Orosco should be someone to remember as well for what he did that may have started the whole thing. We also know that Orosco (nor any other teammate) never messed with Gibby again.
Dodgers fans are blessed with Pedro Moura and Andy McCullough as journalists writing on the Dodgers for the Athletic, but now Jayson Jenks has been adding some excellent pieces regarding the Dodgers. He seems to be writing on many of the Dodger pranks, but so be it. Behind the scenes on pranks makes for great stories.
Jayson Jenks, keep ’em coming.
Speaking of fresh air, has anyone in the major lock down areas noticed the air quality??
L.A. has been spectacular most of the time… But alas those cars soon will soon be back on the road…
M.T. is butt hurt an Indy term???
Great article 2D2. Thanks.
A grateful thank you to all those who have served and to those who currently do.
SCDodgerFan Marine Corps 1962-1968 Dodger fan 1951-Present
M.T. puts his foot in his orifice.. Navy is crappy??? Being ex Naval Air/ASW that hurts… I too wonder how one could pass up a full ride to Annapolis…
There’s been a few good athletes out of there the likes of David Robinson and RogerStaubach .
I guess we cant all be SEC…
My husband, a Viet Nam vet, and I used to go the Viet Nam Memorial in Sacramento every year in May. His old unit that he met up with, placed a wreathe on the memorial, and said a prayer to honor the men who did not come home. It was a heart-warming experience.
Crappy football team?
Hardly. They are 90-60 under their current coach and played in Bowl games every year but 2 since he’s been there (2007). They are 5-1 in their last 6 Bowl games.
You might want to look stuff up before you comment like that.
So Mark, your son turned down a scholarship to the Naval Academy? Seriously? Where did he choose to play?
When my youngest son was 8 we spent the 4th of July in DC and watched the parade down Constitution Avenue. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. We also saw the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and every other major tribute to the military. When it was all over with, I asked my son what he liked the best and without hesitation, he said “Arlington.” I asked him why and he said “It makes you understand how many people died so that we could be free,”
He was recruited by Navy to play football, but he turned them down. I figured it was because his mom was against him joining the military (her baby-but that’s another story), but he said “No Dad, they have a crappy football team.”
😉
The URL below was forwarded to me from Mark. All of the credit goes to Tom Darin of Los Angeles Dodgers, Inc., and of course are very own LA Dodgers.
https://ladodgers.sharefile.com/d-sbec4062eb7341a98
I saw Willie when he came up, and was sad when he was traded. I thought he was a good player and very exciting, but like Wes Parker, a very skilled defender and a banjo hitter, I was never confident in his ability to come through in the clutch. As a lifelong Dodger fan, Willie is one of those who I will always look at and wonder, what if? I bought the book about Roy Gleason, Lost in the Sun. It is a great read. The kid would have probably been one of the better players on the team. He was also signed by Kenny Myers, who was also his hitting guru. Gleason also had blinding speed, and it would have been very interesting to see him and the 2 Dog patrolling the outfield together. I am proud of my service, and only wish I could have done more. But my thanks goes out to those who made the ultimate sacrifice. The most moving thing I have ever seen is the changing of the guard at the tomb of the unknown soldier. If you have never witnessed it live, you cannot believe how solemn and heart wrenching it is. Precise in it’s movements, it is really something to see.
First and foremost, Happy Memorial day to all of you here at LADT and thanks for those of service…
ToyCannon23 – I’m digging your handle… Jimmy was one of my favorites…
3Dog may have had his warts, but the man was cooler than the other side of the pillow…
First to third was pretty…. Chasing down a ball in the OF like a gazelle…Smooth..
I know that Memorial Day is a holiday set aside to remember those who lost their lives in war and Veteran’s day is to honor all those that served or are serving in the military, I, nevertheless looked up those former Dodger players that served during war time.
Remembering Dodger players that served in the military:
World War I
Burleigh Grimes
Rube Marquard
Casey Stengel
World War II
Rex Barney
Boyd Bartley
Jack Bolling
Bobby Bragan
Al Campanis
Hugh Casey
Claude Corbitt
Cliff Dapper
Dutch Dietz
John Douglas
Red Durrett
Herman Franks
Larry French
Roland Gladu
Ray Hathaway
Chris Haughey
Ed Head
Billy Herman
Gene Hermanski
Kirby Higbe
Gil Hodges
Chet Kehn
Cookie Lavagetto
Vic Lombardi
Cal McLish
Gene Mauch
Rube Melton
Eddie Miksis
Mickey Owen
Don Padgett
Pee Wee Reese
Pete Reiser
Lew Riggs
Johnny Rizzo
Jackie Robinson
Stan Rojek
Bill Sayles
Duke Snider
Korean War
Boyd Bartley
Jim Baxes
Chuck Churn
Roger Craig
Larry French
Danny McDevitt
Don Newcombe
Erv Palica
Joe Pignatano
John Roseboro
Norm Sherry
Daryl Spencer
Vietnam War
Roy Gleason
Times have changed over the years. I doubt that we’ll see very few present or future players that serve. Individuals like football player Pat Tillman, would be very rare exceptions.
Thank you posting this article. When I became Dodger fan in 71 (I was 10) he was my favorite player. He was on the yearbook cover with Walter Alston that year and really made an impression on me. Always wonder what might have been with ‘3Dog’ he was so silky smooth but never had the consistency or heart to me to take it to the next level. I know Dodger Stadium not the easiest place to hit but think Roseboro summed it up best ‘He has never hit .330 in his career. But he should have.’”
Bobby, you familiar with Sant Mat?
Yeah, Willie Davis could be fun to watch, but count me among those who felt he didn’t do as much with his talent as he could have had he been motivated to work on his game. Things came too easily for him. His career OPS is in the low .600’s. 9800 plate appearances and 418 BB’s. World class speed and a decent contact rate he should have been able to hit .300 every year. How can you be that fast and not be a threat to bunt? Today, sure, nobody bunts. But back then everyone did. Everyone but him.
This will no doubt be the quietest Memorial Day in my lifetime.
99% recovery rate? Open it up! We can afford it, right? Remember Cliff Clavin’s Buffalo Theory?
“Well ya see, Norm, it’s like this… A herd of buffalo can only move as fast as the slowest buffalo. And when the herd is hunted, it is the slowest and weakest ones at the back that are killed first. This natural selection is good for the herd as a whole, because the general speed and health of the whole group keeps improving by the regular killing of the weakest members.In much the same way, the human brain can only operate as fast as the slowest brain cells. Excessive intake of alcohol, as we know, kills brain cells. But naturally it attacks the slowest and weakest brain cells first. In this way, regular consumption of beer eliminates the weaker brain cells, making the brain a faster and more efficient machine. That’s why you always feel smarter after a few beers.”
Same thing applies here.
Big props to all our vets on this thread! From what I remember, Badger was a Marine, and Bear I believe was in the Army. I’d love to know who else served and in which branch.
I myself didn’t serve. Granted I’m Sikh and back when I was finishing high school there weren’t religious accommodations for turbans, etc. So even if I really wanted to join the military, I wouldn’t be allowed to, unless I cut my hair/shaved etc. But I came from a long line of soldiers in India. My dad, grandfather, great grandfather (and maybe even further back) served in the Indian Army. So perhaps if I never immigrated to America at age 5, I would’ve been in the Indian army as well.
Today, Sikhs do serve in the US Army, Navy, and Air Force. If I were 18 and coming out of high school now? I wonder…
Either way, drinks on me for any vet who I see at Dodger Stadium (whenever that may be)
I did not let 2D2 know that I was going to publish his Willie D. article on Memorial Day, so I took the liberty of adding a very special thank you to ALL of our veterans for this day (Update above). On behalf of myself, Mark, Harold, and 2D2, we here at LADT want you to know that WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU!! GOD BLESS YOU!!