Cast Your Vote for the L.A. Sports Hall of Fame

The Sports Report Hall of Fame

In an engaging initiative, the Dodgers Dugout newsletter has unveiled its Dodgers Dugout Hall of Fame, inviting readers to nominate former Dodgers players for inclusion in this fan-driven honor. The most recent inductee, Clayton Kershaw, has brought the total number of honorees to 17.

With this success in mind, a new concept has emerged: the Sports Report Hall of Fame, to be determined by reader votes. Each Thursday over the coming weeks, a different category of nominees will be presented for voting.

This week focuses on professional baseball, allowing voters to select up to 10 players based solely on their performances while with the Dodgers or Angels. Notably, contributions from the rest of their careers are not considered. As a Los Angeles-centric Hall of Fame, some deserving players may not have reached the official Hall of Fame despite their merits.

To secure induction, a player must appear on at least 75% of the ballots, while the five individuals receiving the fewest votes will be removed from future ballots for a minimum of two years. Eligibility requires that players be retired, and those who spent the majority of their careers in Brooklyn are excluded.

Readers can cast their votes for this week’s ballot until May 6 at 11:59 p.m. Results will be announced shortly thereafter.

The first ballot for the Dodgers and Angels category includes:

• Walter Alston: Managed the Dodgers to three World Series titles in Los Angeles.
• Garret Anderson: The Angels’ all-time leader in several categories, who tragically passed away recently.
• Gene Autry: The first owner of the Angels and a vital figure in the team’s formation.
• Ron Cey: A key member of four Dodgers World Series teams.
• Willie Davis: Holds the record for the most hits (2,091) as a Dodgers player.
• Brian Downing: Ranked among the top five in several Angels hitting categories.
• Don Drysdale: A formidable pitcher who provided a dominant one-two punch alongside Sandy Koufax.
• Chuck Finley: The all-time leader in wins (165) for the Angels.
• Jim Fregosi: The Angels’ first great player who later managed the team to its first postseason appearance.
• Steve Garvey: NL MVP in 1974; remains a highly recognized figure in team history.
• Vladimir Guerrero: Won AL MVP in his first season with the Angels and entered the Hall of Fame as an Angel.
• Orel Hershiser: Achieved legendary status during the 1988 season.
• Jaime Jarrin: The long-serving Spanish broadcaster for the Dodgers.
• Clayton Kershaw: A talented pitcher often compared to Sandy Koufax.
• Sandy Koufax: Known for perhaps the greatest five-season stretch in baseball history.
• Tom Lasorda: Managed the Dodgers to two World Series titles.
• Davey Lopes: A remarkable base stealer and leadoff hitter who passed away recently.
• Peter O’Malley: The last Dodgers owner who prioritized affordability for fans.
• Walter O’Malley: Played a critical role in moving the Dodgers from Brooklyn to Los Angeles.
• Mike Piazza: A subject of speculation regarding what might have been had he not been traded.
• Bill Russell: Holds the record for the most games played (2,181) with the L.A. Dodgers.
• Nolan Ryan: A standout pitcher for the Angels known for multiple no-hitters.
• Tim Salmon: Named Rookie of the Year in 1993, a key player in the 2002 World Series championship team.
• Mike Scioscia: A former catcher for the Dodgers who later managed the Angels to their sole World Series title.
• Vin Scully: Often regarded as the greatest announcer in sports history.
• Don Sutton: Holds the record for the most wins (233) in Dodgers history.
• Fernando Valenzuela: An iconic figure who won both the Cy Young Award and Rookie of the Year in 1981.
• Maury Wills: Famous for stealing 104 bases in 1962 and winning the MVP award.

Voting for this week’s nominees is open, with those who receive 75% of the ballots earning election into the Sports Report Hall of Fame.