Davey Lopes Stats & Facts
Davey Lopes
Positions: Second Baseman and Outfielder
Bats: Right • Throws: Right
5-9, 170lb (175cm, 77kg)
Born: May 3, 1945 in East Providence, RI
Draft: Drafted by the San Francisco Giants in the 8th round of the 1967 MLB June Amateur Draft from Washburn University (Topeka, KS) and the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2nd round of the 1968 MLB January Draft-Secondary Phase from Washburn University (Topeka, KS).
High School: La Salle Academy (Providence, RI)
Schools: Iowa Wesleyan College (Mount Pleasant, IA), Washburn University (Topeka, KS)
Debut: September 22, 1972 (Age 27-142d, 10,937th in MLB history)
vs. SFG 5 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Last Game: October 4, 1987 (Age 42-154d)
vs. CIN 1 AB, 0 H, 0 HR, 0 RBI, 0 SB
Full Name: David Earl Lopes
Pronunciation: \LOAPS\
Notable Events and Chronology for Davey Lopes Career
After a late start, Davey Lopes starred as the second baseman in the famous 1970s Los Angeles Dodgers’ infield, adding a nice blend of speed and power. Used in the leadoff role most of his career, he was one of the best base stealers of all-time, retiring with more than 550 swipes at a success rate of 83%. When Steve Sax came along, the Dodgers discarded Lopes but he stayed in the majors for six more years, stealing 47 bases at the age of 39.
Biography
One of the most effective thieves in a basestealing era, Lopes stole five in a game on August 24, 1974 to tie a 70-year-old NL record and in 1975 he set a since-broken ML record with 38 consecutive successful steals. He was the league leader in 1975 (77) and 1976 (63), and he stole five in the 1981 LCS and added four more in the World Series. He set the NLCS career record of nine, and his ten in the WS ranks third. He stole 47 bases at age thirty-nine and 25 at forty. His career total of 557 stolen bases ranked 10th all-time as the 1980s ended.
Perhaps the best moments in Lopes’s career came in the 1978 World Series against the Yankees. He hit two HR and drove in five runs in Game One, and added another HR in the sixth and final game. In a losing cause, he hit .308 with two steals for the Series.
When the Dodgers traded Lopes to the A’s following the 1981 World Series, they broke up the longest-running infield ever. Lopes has played with Steve Garvey, Bill Russell, and Ron Cey for nine seasons. Lopes won the 1978 Golden Glove at second base and had excellent power for his position. He hit a career-high 28 HR in 1979 and hit 17 twice. He coached for the Rangers following his playing career in the late 1980s.
Best Season: 1979
With third baseman Ron Cey having one of his best seasons, and Lopes having a power-packed year, it’s a wonder the Dodgers failed to win their third straight division crown. Lopes hit 28 homers, which was 11 more than he would ever hit in any other year. He also stole 44 bases in 48 tries.
Factoids
Davey Lopes rarely wore batting gloves during his career, but he almost always put on gloves when he reached base.
In the span of a week in 1974, Davey Lopes showed how multi-faceted he was offensive. On August 20, he hit three homers against the Cubs in Wrigley. On August 24, he stole five bases against the Cardinals in St. Louis, tying a major league record.
At the age of 39 and 40, Davey Lopes stole 47 and 25 bases respectively – both are major league records for a player that age.
Most Game-Ending Grand Slams
Alex Rodriguez… 3
Vern Stephens… 3
Cy Williams… 3
Bob Aspromonte… 2
Albert Belle… 2
Bobby Bonds… 2
Steve Finley… 2
Ruppert Jones… 2
Ralph Kiner… 2
Davey Lopes… 2
Mark McGwire… 2
Jim Presley… 2
Nomar Garciaparra… 2
David Eckstein… 2
@ET-DC@eyJkeW5hbWljIjp0cnVlLCJjb250ZW50IjoicG9zdF90YWdzIiwic2V0dGluZ3MiOnsiYmVmb3JlIjoiTGVhcm4gTW9yZSBhYm91dCB0aGUgdGVhbXMsIHBsYXllcnMsIGJhbGwgcGFya3MgYW5kIGV2ZW50cyB0aGF0IGhhcHBlbmVkIG9uIHRoaXMgZGF0ZSBpbiBoaXN0b3J5IGp1c3QgY2xpY2sgdGhlIHRhZ3MhICAiLCJhZnRlciI6IiIsImxpbmtfdG9fdGVybV9wYWdlIjoib24iLCJzZXBhcmF0b3IiOiIgfCAiLCJjYXRlZ29yeV90eXBlIjoicG9zdF90YWcifX0=@