Ron Cey was part of the Dodger haul in the 1968 draft that's considered the best in MLB history
Most consider the Dodgers 1968 draft the greatest in baseball history. Nine of their selections went on to perform for at least a decade in the Major Leagues. Among them were Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Buckner, Doyle Alexander, Joe Ferguson, Tom Paciorek, Bobby Valentine Geoff Zahn, and Ron
Ron Cey was part of the Dodger haul in the 1968 draft that's considered the best in MLB history
Most consider the Dodgers 1968 draft the greatest in baseball history. Nine of their selections went on to perform for at least a decade in the Major Leagues. Among them were Steve Garvey, Davey Lopes, Bill Buckner, Doyle Alexander, Joe Ferguson, Tom Paciorek, Bobby Valentine Geoff Zahn, and Ron Cey.
Third baseman Cey debuted for the Dodgers in 1971 and was their regular third baseman two years later. He was part of a Dodger core that included men from the draft and those obtained from the draft’s talent.
Predictably, the era’s Dodger squads were strong. From 1973-1980 they averaged 92 wins per season.
Cey provided steady defense and a potent bat. In August of ’79, Cey broke the Los Angeles Dodger for career home runs. He held the mark for more than two decades before Eric Karros bested it in 2000. When Cey’s time in Los Angeles was over, his Dodger home run total trailed only Brooklyn greats Duke Snider, Gil Hodges, and Roy Campanella for the franchise that started in 1884.
Nicknamed “Penguin” for his running gate, Cey still ranks in the Dodger franchise top-10 for offensive and defensive WAR. After a dozen years in Los Angeles, he was traded to the Cubs.
In each of his first two seasons in Chicago, he finished with at least 24 homers and 90 runs batted in. With Cey at the hot corner in ’84, the Cubs earned their first postseason berth since 1945.
In January of ’87 the Chicago traded Cey to Oakland where he played the final 45 games of his career.
Shown here is a 1981 Topps baseball card that Cey autographed.
Ron Cey played third base in the Dodgers record-setting infield that played together for 8 1/2 years
The Dodger infield of Ron Cey, Bill Russell, Davey Lopes and Steve Garvey gave Los Angeles fans plenty to cheer about. The productive quartet played 8 1/2 seasons together as the longest-running infield in big league history. The played their first game together on June 23, 1973 in the second game
Ron Cey played third base in the Dodgers record-setting infield that played together for 8 1/2 years
The Dodger infield of Ron Cey, Bill Russell, Davey Lopes and Steve Garvey gave Los Angeles fans plenty to cheer about. The productive quartet played 8 1/2 seasons together as the longest-running infield in big league history.
The played their first game together on June 23, 1973 in the second game of a doubleheader against the Reds. The final time taking the field as teammates was in the Game 6 clincher over the Yankees in the 1981 World Series. In between the Dodger fearsome foursome saw individual and team success.
The infield combined to represent the Dodgers 21 times in the All Star Game. The Dodgers finished first or second in the division every year but one during their time together, earning four National League championships along the way. Their final game as a quartet crowned their run with the 1981 World Series title.
Only Russell remained with the team throughout his career. The shortstop played a team record 18 years in the Dodger uniform. The others left to contribute to other franchises. Garvey, Cey and Lopes met in the 1984 NLCS, a Series won by the first baseman’s Padres over the Cubs team with Cey and Lopes.
By the time their careers ended, the four combined for 165.4 WAR. Cey led the way with 53.7, followed by second baseman Lopes at 42.3. Garvey finished at 38.1 WAR with Russell at a respectable 31.3 mark.
Their 833 starts together is a benchmark unlikely to ever be surpassed. Dodger fans of the era will always remember their beloved infield.
Shown here is an Upper Deck authenticated tribe to the record-setting infield signed by each player.
Cey was part of baseball's first quartet of teammates with 30 homers in a season
In 1977 the Dodgers displayed power never before witnessed in baseball history. Steve Garvey, Reggie Smith, Ron Cey, and Dusty Baker each smashed 30 home runs. The majestic show marked the first time four teammates reached the mark in the same season. The fearsome foursome played together from 1976
Cey was part of baseball's first quartet of teammates with 30 homers in a season
In 1977 the Dodgers displayed power never before witnessed in baseball history. Steve Garvey, Reggie Smith, Ron Cey, and Dusty Baker each smashed 30 home runs. The majestic show marked the first time four teammates reached the mark in the same season.
The fearsome foursome played together from 1976 through 1981. In ’77 and ’78 they helped the Dodgers earn back-to-back National League pennants. Both years they came up short, losing in the World Series to the Yankees. Redemption came in 1981 when they finally tamed their October New York foes.
After the World Series-winning campaign Smith left for San Francisco. The following offseason Garvey headed south to San Diego while Cey headed for the Windy City. Baker stayed in LA through ’83 before joining the Giants.
Shown here is an autographed baseball card of Cey’s teammate Steve Garvey. The two were teammates for the entirety of Cey’s Los Angeles stay from 1971 through 1982.
Cey earned the Babe Ruth Award for his 1981 postseason heroics; he was also a World Series MVP
In strike-shortened 1981, Los Angeles won the World Series. Cey shared the Series MVP Award with Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager. He also took home the Babe Ruth Award given each year to Major League Baseball’s most outstanding postseason performer. Nicknamed “Penguin” for his runn
Cey earned the Babe Ruth Award for his 1981 postseason heroics; he was also a World Series MVP
In strike-shortened 1981, Los Angeles won the World Series. Cey shared the Series MVP Award with Pedro Guerrero and Steve Yeager. He also took home the Babe Ruth Award given each year to Major League Baseball’s most outstanding postseason performer.
Nicknamed “Penguin” for his running gate, Cey still ranks in the Dodger franchise top-10 for offensive and defensive WAR. After a dozen years in Los Angeles, he was traded to the Cubs.
In each of his first two seasons in Chicago, he finished with at least 24 homers and 90 runs batted in. With Cey at the hot corner in ’84, the Cubs earned their first postseason berth since 1945.
In January of ’87 the Chicago traded Cey to Oakland where he played the final 45 games of his career.
In the collection is a ticket to historic Game 5 of the 1981 World Series signed by the Dodger third-baseman. After World Series defeats to the A’s in ’74 and the Yankees in ’77 and ’78, they had yet to win it all.
The ’81 Fall Classic opened in New York with two Yankee victories. In Los Angeles for Games 3 and 4, Cey went 4-for-7 with a homer and 5 runs batted in to help the Dodgers even the Series.
Los Angeles led 2-1 in pivotal Game 5 when Cey come to the plate in the bottom of the 8th. Yankees fireballer Goose Gossage uncorked an 0-1 fastball that hit Cey in the helmet. The Dodger Stadium crowd of 56,115 went silent as their man collapsed in the batter’s box.
Cey was helped off the field in favor of pinch runner Kenny Landreau. His team made the lead stand up as the Dodgers went ahead 3 games to 2 heading to New York.
Though the Dodgers have won it all six times since moving to Los Angeles, they’ve never clinched it in front of the hometown faithful. By attending Game 5 and witnessing the third Dodger win of the Series, the bearer of this ticket came the closest any Dodger fans has to seeing a clinch in LA.
Initially there was doubt if Cey would be able to play in The Big Apple’s Game 6 because of the beaning. Despite being dizzy and lightheaded, likely from a concussion, Cey made his way into the starting lineup.
His 5th-inning single up the middle broke a 2-2 tie and put the Los Angeles ahead to stay. The Dodgers pulled away with four in the sixth and one in the eighth to win 9-2. At last, Cey and the record-setting infield were world champs.
In the four Los Angeles wins, Cey went 6-for-12 with a .600 on-base percentage, three runs scored and six RBI in the MVP performance. In the off-season, General Manager Al Campanis traded second baseman Lopes to Oakland, ending the infield’s time together.
In 2025 Ron Cey became the 9th inductee into the Legends of Dodger Baseball
In 2025 the Dodger recognized Ron Cey’s contribution to the franchise by inducting him into the Legends of Dodger Baseball. The third baseman is the ninth man in franchise history to receive the honor. The six-time All-Star played 12 of his 17 seasons in Los Angeles. At the time of his inducti
In 2025 Ron Cey became the 9th inductee into the Legends of Dodger Baseball
In 2025 the Dodger recognized Ron Cey’s contribution to the franchise by inducting him into the Legends of Dodger Baseball. The third baseman is the ninth man in franchise history to receive the honor.
The six-time All-Star played 12 of his 17 seasons in Los Angeles. At the time of his induction he ranked fifth in franchise history in home runs (228) and walks (765), sixth in WAR (47.7), and 10th in RBI.
Shown here is a 1981 Topps baseball card featuring three Dodger future stars. Jack Perconte and Mike Scioscia take the first two spots from left to right. The third man is pitcher Valenzuela. Cey’s teammate for three seasons.
In 1968, the Dodgers drafted nine players who would go on to play a total of 148 seasons in the Major Leagues, appear in 23 All Star games, total over 11,000 hits, and club more than 1,100 home runs. The two pitchers from the draft tallied 305 big league wins. Add in six Gold Glove Awards, a batting championship, an All Star MVP award, a regular-season MVP award, a World Series MVP award, and the N.L. record holder for consecutive games played, and it’s easy to see why many believe it’s the greatest draft by any team in the history of professional sports. “The draft of 1968 was historical,” said Ron Cey, one of the players drafted that year. “97% of the cream of the crop each year is supposed to fail. That draft might be the best draft in history with a bunch of guys who played 15 years or so, Bobby Valentine, Billy Buckner, Davey Lopes, Tom Paciorek, Doyle Alexander, Steve Garvey, Joe Ferguson, myself. That’s a lot of guys right there.” Cey failed to include 111-game winner, Geoff Zahn, a Dodger teammate for three seasons. The selection of those players laid the foundation for continued excellence in Los […]
Watching the play offs I can’t help but think back on the Dodgers of my days. Back in the 70’s and 80’s …. Amazing memories! Thanks for all the good times at Dodger Stadium ❤️🤗
We loved going on Sunday’s to Dodger Stadium to see you n the rest of the team play !!! My kids especially loved Fan Day so that they could meet all you players !!! Thank you for the great memories !!!! 💙💙
I agree with this statement on this draft class. A baseball purest n lifelong yankee fan. But outside of coaching bobby valentine was a bust due to injuries.
Visiting the hall of fame was a magnificent experience i will never forget!!wish I had more time!!!??
Watching the play offs I can’t help but think back on the Dodgers of my days. Back in the 70’s and 80’s …. Amazing memories! Thanks for all the good times at Dodger Stadium ❤️🤗
We loved going on Sunday’s to Dodger Stadium to see you n the rest of the team play !!! My kids especially loved Fan Day so that they could meet all you players !!! Thank you for the great memories !!!! 💙💙
I agree with this statement on this draft class. A baseball purest n lifelong yankee fan. But outside of coaching bobby valentine was a bust due to injuries.
And Scott Rolen voted into the HOF.