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As a cornerstone MLB franchise, the Dodgers boast a proud tradition of individual and team achievement. Perhaps the most under-appreciated player in their long team history is Willie Davis.

A centerfielder by trade, Davis played 14 years in a Dodger uniform from 1960 through 1973. Today more than a half-century after a trade to Montreal ended his time in Los Angeles, Davis stands high on the Dodger franchise leaderboard.

A 6’2″, 180-pound specimen, he remains 3rd in hits, 6th in doubles, 2nd in triples, 4th in total bases, 6th in runs scored, 9th in RBI and and 5th in WAR by position players. Considering the franchise started National League play in 1890, that’s saying something.

The club has now played more seasons in Los Angeles than in Brooklyn. Looking at the LA leaderboard, Davis shines even more brightly. He stands atop the Angelinos’ list in hits, triples, total bases, and position player WAR, ranks second in doubles, and third in steals and runs batted in.

It was Davis’ multifaceted skill set that made him a star, particularly his speed.

It’s has been said that 2/3 of the earth’s surface is covered by water, the rest by Willie Davis. The three-time Gold Glover led the league in defensive WAR in 1964 and placed in the top-10 four times.

On the base paths, Davis was a terror, tallying 20 or more steals in 11 consecutive campaigns in Los Angeles. He topped the NL in stolen base percentage in 1976 and finished in the top-5 of the category 7 times.

His speed also helped Davis in the batter’s box. Three times he posted double-digit numbers in triples, twice leading the National League.

In the low run-scoring environment, Davis’ skills helped Los Angeles win three National League pennants and two World Series championships.

Despite his production and value, Davis’ Cooperstown candidacy never got off the ground. In fact, he has yet to appear on any ballot for the Hall of Fame. That’s in direct defiance of his 60.7 career WAR – the highest total among those who have never been on the ticket.

Shown here is Davis’ signature authenticated by PSA/DNA.

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Willie Davis’ 14-year LA career ended when the Dodgers traded him to the Montreal Expos on December 5, 1973. The deal was a one-for-one swap for right-hander Mike Marshall.

The trade was decidedly one-sided. In 1974 Marshall pitched an MLB-record 106 games for the Dodgers and earned the Cy Young Award. In ’75 he made his second-straight All Star team. After the trade, Marshall won and saved more games, had a high winning percentage, and a lower ERA than before it.

Davis’ lone year north of the border was productive. Davis had 180 hits, a total surpassed only twice in his 14 years. Davis’ 27 doubles were only two shy of his career high. The 89 RBI in ’74 was surpassed only in his 1970 season. Defensively, it was the centerfielder’s final season with a positive dWAR.

His efforts earned him the title of Montreal Expos Player of the Year for 1974. Davis took the mantle from pitcher Marshall who earned the honor each of the two previous seasons.

After that, Davis’ career wound down. In 1975 on the one-year anniversary of the trade to Montreal, the Expos sent Davis to Texas who flipped him to St. Louis in June. He finished the ’75 campaign with 144 hits, 27 doubles, 67 RBI, 23 steals, and a .277 average.

Before the World Series ended, Davis changed address again. The day before Carlton Fisk hit his iconic home run in Game 6 of the World Series, the Cardinals traded him to the Padres. In San Diego, Davis’ 132 hits in the bicentennial year – his lowest output since 1963 – marked his 15th-straight triple digit tally.

Davis left the US to play in Japan in 1977 and ’78. In those two seasons he hit .298 with a combined 43 homers and 169 RBI. His final campaign in professional baseball came in 1979 with the Angels. In 43 games he appeared as a pinch hitter or pinch runner 32 times.

Willie finished his career with 2,561 hits, 1,217 runs, 395 doubles, 138 triples, 1,053 RBI, and a .279 batting average. His excellence becomes apparent when with WAR.

Davis’ career 60.7 WAR puts him ahead of many of the game’s immortals. Among them are Harmon Killebrew, Vladimir Guerrero, Willie Stargell, Hank Greenberg, David Ortiz and dozens of other Cooperstown men.

This image above is from the Heilbroner Baseball Bureau. It’s an information card filled out by Mike Marshall, the man the Dodgers received when they traded Willie Davis.

The statistical service was founded by the manager of the 1900 Cardinals, Louis Heilbroner. The Bureau was the first commercial statistical bureau dedicated entirely to baseball and was founded in 1909.

Believing pro athletes should not be seen as heroes, Marshall refused to sign autographs for most of his life. Because of that, his signature remains difficult to find. The pitcher filled out this card in its entirety including the penning of his name. It’s one of the earliest example of his handwriting that exists.

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Despite his outstanding play, Willie Davis was selected to just two All Star games. Once there, he made the most of the opportunity.

In his first appearance in the Mid Summer Classic Davis came on in the bottom of the 4th inning to play centerfield. Hall of Fame third baseman Brooks Robinson promptly led off the inning with a fly ball that Davis gloved. The next time his NL squad came to bat, Davis laced a two-out single to center off of Robinson’s Oriole teammate and Cooperstown man Jim Palmer.

Davis’ next appeared in the All Star Game in 1973. After sitting for the first five innings, Davis pinch hit for teammate and Hall of Fame hurler Don Sutton. With one out in the top of the 6th, Davis came to bat with Ron Santo on first. Stepping in against the fearsome Nolan Ryan, Davis hammered a fastball over the right field fence for a two-run home run. Hit no-doubt shot pushed the NL’s lead to 7-1.

Davis came up for his final All Star at bat in the top of the 8th against Yankee reliever Sparky Lyle. With a single to right, Davis ended his All Star participation 3-for-3 with two singles, a homer, a run scored and two RBI.

In the collection is an endorsement questionnaire filled out by Nolan Ryan. The eight-time All Star is asked if he currently has any licensing contracts or product endorsements. His response shows he does not.

When the contract was signed in 1974, even the game’s superstars were thin on money-making opportunities away from the diamond.

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It was a strange sight when Willie Davis came to bat against Nolan Ryan in the 1973 All Star Game in Kansas City. Having forgotten his Dodger batting helmet in LA, Davis stepped to the plate with Hank Aaron’s Atlanta Braves helmet atop his head.

Ryan delivered one of his trademark fastballs. Davis crushed it, the ball flying over the right field wall at Kansas City’s Royals Stadium. Here’s a video of the momentus clout. In it look for Aaron’s #44 on the back of the helmet.

The above image is a Aaron’s invitation to play in the 1973 Mid Summer Class in which Davis had his All Star clout. The invite comes from National League president Chub Feeney.